Owners have reported 15 crashes, 12 fires and 11 injuries to NHTSA for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints206
ENGINE
Owners report frequent engine failures in the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, particularly involving the 6.2L V8 engine. Complaints often describe catastrophic failures such as lifter and camshaft issues, with symptoms including engine knocking, loss of power, and misfiring. These problems typically occur around 33,000 to 80,000 miles. Safety implications are noted, with some reports of engine seizure leading to loss of vehicle control, though no crashes are mentioned. Prospective buyers should be aware of potential engine replacement needs and the possibility of unresolved issues even after repairs.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 1 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints201
POWER TRAIN
Owners of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado frequently report issues with the powertrain, particularly involving transmission failures and lifter collapses in engines. Common symptoms include sudden loss of power, abnormal transmission behavior such as shuddering or rough shifting, and vehicles entering limp mode. These issues often emerge around 60,000 to 100,000 miles, with some reports of failures as early as 19,000 miles. Safety implications are noted, with some complaints involving crashes and injuries due to unexpected power loss or stalling. Prospective buyers should be aware of these patterns, as they may indicate potential high repair costs and safety risks associated with this model.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints77
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado frequently report issues with the electrical system, particularly involving the tailgate and ignition. Complaints commonly describe the tailgate unlocking and opening unexpectedly, sometimes leading to loss of cargo, and difficulties with the ignition switch, where keys become stuck or the vehicle fails to start. Additional reports highlight problems with the infotainment system, such as blank screens and loss of audio, and issues with the vehicle's power system, including battery drainage and sudden engine power loss. Some complaints involve serious safety implications, including two reports of crashes and four involving fires. These issues are reported at various mileage ranges, with some occurring as early as 500 miles, suggesting potential concerns for used car buyers regarding the reliability of this model's electrical components.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 4 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints42
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Owners report frequent engine failures in the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, often involving engine seizing and the presence of metal shavings in the oil, with several cases requiring engine replacement. Complaints frequently mention symptoms such as engine knocking, stalling, and loss of motive power, typically occurring around 40,000 to 169,800 miles. Some owners also describe issues with the check engine light illuminating and rough idling. Safety implications are noted, as one complaint involves a vehicle fire, and multiple reports describe sudden loss of power while driving, posing a risk on the road. Buyers should be aware of these potential issues, particularly if the vehicle has not undergone recall repairs due to parts unavailability.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 1 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints35
STEERING
Owners report that the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado frequently experiences power steering issues, with symptoms including the steering wheel becoming extremely hard to turn and warning messages such as "Service Power Steering" and "Service ESC" appearing on the dashboard. These issues often occur intermittently and can temporarily resolve after the vehicle is restarted. Complaints typically arise between 15,000 and 65,000 miles. Safety implications are significant, as one report involves a crash, and multiple owners express concerns about the potential for accidents due to sudden loss of steering control. Additionally, some owners mention problems with steering column lock errors, which can prevent the vehicle from starting. These patterns suggest potential reliability concerns for prospective buyers considering a used model.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints30
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado report several issues, with common complaints involving infotainment system failures and tailgate malfunctions. Infotainment problems often occur after over-the-air updates, leading to locked screens and loss of critical audible alerts, posing potential safety risks. Tailgate issues include unexpected opening or failure to latch properly, sometimes even after dealer inspection. Other reported problems include engine noises post-recall repairs, transmission shudders, and overheating in diesel models, which have been linked to fire hazards. These issues are reported at various mileages, with some occurring shortly after purchase, highlighting potential concerns for used car buyers.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 2 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints29
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado frequently report issues with the service brakes, highlighting problems such as brake pedal failure where it depresses to the floor without resistance, and electronic malfunctions in the brake control module. Typical symptoms include brake failure warnings, mushy brake pedals, and multiple dashboard alerts like "Service Brake Assist" and "Service ESC." These issues are noted at various mileage points, often as early as 5,000 miles and as late as 94,000 miles, with some reports involving significant safety implications such as loss of braking power at high speeds and near-accidents. Additionally, several complaints mention a persistent inability to resolve these issues despite repeated dealership visits, which may be of concern to potential buyers.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints25
STRUCTURE
Owners of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado frequently report issues with the tailgate and rear window structure. Many complaints describe the tailgate opening unexpectedly, whether the vehicle is parked or in motion, which poses a safety risk due to potential cargo loss and road hazards. Additionally, multiple owners mention water leaks through the rear window, often leading to interior damage and potential mold growth. These issues are noted across various mileages, with some reports as early as 3,000 miles. At least one injury has been reported due to hood strut failure, highlighting the importance of addressing these structural concerns.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints15
AIR BAGS
Owners of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado frequently report issues with airbag deployment failures during collisions, with six complaints involving crashes and five injuries. Common symptoms include airbags not deploying in head-on or side collisions, even when significant vehicle damage occurs. Additionally, multiple owners describe intermittent airbag warning lights and service restraint system alerts, which sometimes self-clear but indicate potential deactivation of the airbags. These issues are noted across various mileage ranges, with some occurring shortly after purchase. Safety implications are significant, as the failure to deploy airbags in crashes and unexpected deployment of roof rail airbags without impact pose serious risks to occupants.
Severity signals: 6 crash, 0 fire, 5 injury reports
Owner complaints3
FUEL SYSTEM
Owners of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado report issues related to the fuel system, including two incidents involving fires. Complaints frequently mention a rapid decrease in oil levels and subsequent black smoke or flames emanating from the vehicle, with one fire leading to a total loss at approximately 12,000 miles. Another owner describes a loud noise followed by a loss of motive power due to a fuel pump module failure at 83,000 miles. Safety implications include potential fire hazards and sudden vehicle deceleration. These reports suggest that prospective buyers should be aware of possible fuel system failures, particularly at moderate to high mileage.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 2 fire, 0 injury reports
