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2021 GMC Sierra 2500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
48% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 60% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 11 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 37%).
Does the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 19 of 40 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%), and the largest group is filed under power train (12). For comparison, the 2020 scores 47% and the 2022 scores 30%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2021 compares with other GMC Sierra 2500 years
Of the 14 GMC Sierra 2500 years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (48%). The worst is the 2023 (66%), the best the 2010 (11%). By volume, the 2021 drew 51 complaints (19 drivetrain), against 76 for the 2020 and 43 for the 2022.
GMC Sierra 2500 years to avoid and best years →
2010 Sierra 2500 problems · 2011 Sierra 2500 problems · 2012 Sierra 2500 problems · 2013 Sierra 2500 problems · 2014 Sierra 2500 problems · 2015 Sierra 2500 problems · 2016 Sierra 2500 problems · 2017 Sierra 2500 problems · 2018 Sierra 2500 problems · 2019 Sierra 2500 problems · 2020 Sierra 2500 problems · 2021 · 2022 Sierra 2500 problems · 2023 Sierra 2500 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 19 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 GMC Sierra 2500 transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a…
5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2021 GMC Sierra 2500? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500
Does the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 19 of 40 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 is power train: 12 of 51 complaints (24%) name it, followed by exterior lighting (9) and engine (8). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 48% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 60% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 GMC Sierra 2500 years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 24V797000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module: software). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which GMC Sierra 2500 years are better?
Among the GMC Sierra 2500 years we track, the 2010 (11%), the 2016 (28%) and the 2022 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (48%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/gmc-sierra-2500
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.