2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
87/100
#3 most-complained of 16 Silverado 3500 years
The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 has a Complaint Index of 87, ranking 3rd worst of 16 model years. NHTSA lists 40 complaints, 5 recalls, 1 crash, and 1 fire, with Electrical System and Structure & Body problems tied at 30% share each.
- Complaints
- 40
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System12 (30%)
- Structure & Body12 (30%)
- Transmission & Powertrain7 (18%)
- Brakes5 (13%)
- Fuel System5 (13%)
- Other5 (13%)
- Engine3 (8%)
- Airbags2 (5%)
- Steering2 (5%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (3%)
What owners report
- Trailer lighting module gives false "check trailer wiring" warnings and cuts trailer lights even without a trailer connected.
- Power tailgate opens and closes on its own while driving, sometimes at highway speed, causing loads to shift or fall out.
- Smoke and fire reported coming from the rear of the vehicle at a median mileage of 15,521, worsening when the accelerator or brake was pressed.
- Vehicle loses power and steering unexpectedly, with the transmission failing to engage after restart following a stall.
- Radar-based collision sensors intermittently stop working at highway speed with no warning light, and dealers find no cause.
- Fuel filter's inner mesh liner develops a hole, letting water and sludge contaminate the fuel system and trigger a check engine light.
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V797000Oct 24, 2024Transmission & Powertrain463,295 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:valves/valve body
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.
Remedy: 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 defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.
- NHTSA 24V060000Feb 1, 2024Structure & Body570,434 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with power-unlatching tailgates. The tailgate's electronic gate-release switch may short circuit due to water intrusion, which can result in the tailgate inadvertently unlatching while the vehicle is in park.
Risk: An unlatched tailgate may open while driving and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving. Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232426400.
- NHTSA 21V758000Sep 29, 2021Brakes3,241 vehiclesPark Outside
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:electric:control module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles with electronic brake control modules (EBCM) replaced during vehicle assembly. The bolts that attach the brake pressure modulator valve (BPMV) assembly may not be properly tightened, which could fail to seal the two sub-assemblies and allow water intrusion.
Risk: Water in the BPMV may cause an electrical short circuit and increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will replace the BPMV assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 20, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212349181.
2021 compared with other Silverado 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 a bad year?
- Among 16 model years of the Silverado 3500 with data, 2021 ranks 3rd worst with a Complaint Index of 87 and carries an Avoid verdict relative to other years of this truck.
- What are the most common problems on the 2021 Silverado 3500?
- NHTSA data shows Electrical System and Structure & Body issues each make up 30% of complaints, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 18%, Brakes and Fuel System at 13% each.
- Does the 2021 Silverado 3500 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2021 Silverado 3500, covering transmission control module software, tailgate release switches, electronic brake control modules, and seat belt bolts, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2021 Silverado 3500 compare to other years?
- The 2021 model's Complaint Index of 87 is much higher than best-rated years like 2017 (0) and 2014 (13), but lower than the worst year, 2024, which scored 100.