2021 GMC Sierra Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 10 NHTSA recalls and 663 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required. The counts include both the light-duty (1500) and the heavy-duty (2500/3500) pickups, which NHTSA lists under the same model name.
F
10/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2021 GMC Sierra
The 2021 GMC Sierra shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
Own or buying a 2021 GMC Sierra?
Check your specific VIN free for recalls and specs. Full vehicle history report: one-time $4.99, no subscription, no auto-renewal.
10
NHTSA Recalls
10 recalls on record
663
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
10
Crash Reports
7 fire reports
⚠️
NHTSA Recalls — 2021 GMC Sierra (10)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized GMC dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Tires: Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
An ABS system that cannot control the rear wheels independently increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will provide the appropriate spare tire and apply a new spare tire information label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 18, 2021. Owners may contact…
🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Power Assist: Electric: Control Module
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…
🔧 Seat Belts
If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26,…
🔧 Seat Belts
If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer…
🔧 Latches/Locks/Linkages: Tailgate: Latch
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…
🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module: Software
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…
🔧 Tires
Overcured tires may experience a carcass break in the sidewall resulting in a sudden air loss or could develop a belt edge separation which could lead to partial or full tread/belt loss. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect vehicles and replace tires that have DOT number and production mold number combinations identified by Continental, free of charge. The recall began…
🔧 Tires: Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will provide a new 17" spare tire and wheel assembly that is compatible with the accessory wheels, free of charge. Dealers will also apply a new spare tire information…
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace…
🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module: Software
Rear wheel lock up increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and update the transmission control software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782…
💬
Most Common Problems — 2021 GMC Sierra
Based on 663 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
📊
GMC Sierra — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked GMC Sierra VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
→ Decode a GMC VIN — free GMC VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.
⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2015 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2016, 2025 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
❓
Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 GMC Sierra
Is the 2021 GMC Sierra reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 GMC Sierra has 10 recall campaigns and 663 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2021 GMC Sierra have?
The 2021 GMC Sierra has 10 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 GMC Sierra?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 GMC Sierra are: Engine, Power Train, Electrical System, Engine And Engine Cooling. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 GMC Sierra safe to buy?
The 2021 GMC Sierra has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 10 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year GMC Sierra should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the GMC Sierra are: 2016, 2025. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2015.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.