NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission control valve may not have been repaired correctly under a previous recall, causing it to fail and lock up the rear wheels.
This page covers 8 recalls, 719 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Engine and powertrain complaints dominate the 2021 Silverado 1500 owner reports, together accounting for well over half of all filings. On the engine side, owners frequently describe a "Reduced Engine Power" warning appearing while driving, accompanied by sudden loss of acceleration, the truck bogs down or fails to respond to the throttle, sometimes at highway speeds. Check engine lights are a consistent companion to these episodes, though dealers in multiple accounts struggled to reproduce or diagnose the condition. Powertrain reports center on transmission behavior, with some owners describing shuddering during acceleration and others flagging coolant line weeping at relatively low mileage. Electrical complaints are a distant third, with wiring harness chafing appearing across several reports, typically surfacing around 50,000–65,000 miles and triggering check engine lights.
719
Total Complaints
15
Crash-Related
11
Fire-Related
9
With Injuries
By System
The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 8 recalls, with the most serious including tires that can suffer a sudden sidewall blowout or shed tread, a transmission valve that can lock the rear wheels without warning, and a 6.2L V8 engine that can fail while driving.
The transmission valve issue has an additional wrinkle: some vehicles that received an earlier repair may not have had the problem fully resolved, leaving the rear wheel lockup risk in place. On the tire side, there is a separate concern for trucks equipped with certain accessory road wheels and a 17-inch spare: the spare is not compatible with those wheels and can cause the anti-lock brakes to stop working properly in a stop. Two seatbelt recalls affect the front-row center seat position: in one, the seatbelt bracket may not be secured to the seat frame, and in another, incorrect bolts may have been used to attach the seatbelt assembly to the vehicle. In either case, the belt may not hold an occupant in a crash. The driver's side front airbag may also be missing metal tabs that hold the cover in place, which can interfere with proper deployment.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission control valve may not have been repaired correctly under a previous recall, causing it to fail and lock up the rear wheels.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 6 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your vehicle and update the transmission control software at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The connecting rod and crankshaft in the 6.2L V8 engine may have manufacturing defects that cause engine damage and failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your engine and repair or replace it if needed. Passing engines receive higher viscosity oil, new oil filter, and manual updates.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission control valve may fail, causing the rear wheels to lock up unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Dealers will install updated transmission control module software and repair or replace defective control valves as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 17-inch spare tire supplied with the vehicle is incompatible with certain accessory wheels, which can cause the anti-lock brake system to malfunction under certain conditions.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a new compatible 17-inch spare tire and wheel assembly, apply updated labeling, and provide documentation clarifying which spare tire to use with each wheel set.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front driver's side air bag module may be missing metal tabs that hold the plastic air bag cover securely to the housing.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the driver's front air bag and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Seat belt fastening bolts may be incorrect, causing seat belts to not attach properly to the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the suspect bolts with correct ones at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt brackets in the front-row center seating position may not be properly secured to the seat frame, reducing their ability to restrain occupants.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the seat belt bracket attachments on both sides and reassemble them correctly if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some Continental tires may have been overheated during manufacturing, potentially affecting their durability and performance.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your vehicle and replace any affected tires at no cost based on tire identification numbers.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.