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2021 GMC Sierra 2500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500, most often about the transmission (25% of complaints, typically around 50,000 miles). It is 14th of 27 Sierra 2500 model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 problems
Transmission
13 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the message âvehicle will not exceed 50 MPH" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and remained for over four months after being diagnosed that the…
The owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the RPM revved up to 6,000 RPM. Additionally, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made…
Lights
9 complaints · 17%Engine
8 complaints · 15%The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle was equipped with an engine block heater that he plugged into the vehicle when the weather was below 32 degrees to start the vehicle. The contact stated that he noticed that the engine block heater was causing the gfci outlet in his…
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving 40-55 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated while pulling into a nearby independent mechanic shop, the vehicle started jerking significantly and stalled midway. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The…
Brakes
7 complaints · 14%Parts named most often: driveline.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that on several occasions while in park(p) with the parking brake engaged, the parking brake warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that the parking brake would not disengage until the vehicle was shifted into reverse(r). The contact stated…
Electrical
6 complaints · 12%Body and structure
5 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that on several occasions, the automatic power side-out step failed to extend as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,726.
Driver assistance
4 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: warnings, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, warning.
Doors and locks
4 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: tailgate.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 25â35 MPH, the tailgate unlatched and opened unexpectedly. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the tailgate opened independently. The contact stated that the tailgate down message was displayed after the…
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that no visible tailgate was attached, and the contact was unaware if the vehicle had been repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 24v060000 (latches/locks/linkages); however, the recall had been marked as completed under the VIN. The vehicle was taken to a…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2021 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls
Transmission: valves/valve body
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 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Doors and locks: latch
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: control module
Risk: Water in the bpmv may cause an electrical short circuit and increase the risk of fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Wheels and tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
Risk: An ABS system that cannot control the rear wheels independently increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is n212329780.
Full defect summary
General motors, llc. (gm) is recalling certain 2020-2021 chevrolet silverado 2500 and gmc sierra 2500 vehicles equipped with a 17" spare tire (rpo zhq or zxt) and either the 20" accessory road tire (rpo rem) or the 18" accessory road tire (rpo q2v). Operating the spare tire with other 20" or 18" tires can prevent the anti-lock braking system (ABS) from engaging.
Seat belts: critical fasteners
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 service at 1-800-458-8006, or chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is n202322230.
Full defect summary
General motors, llc (gm) is recalling certain 2020 chevrolet bolt EV and 2021 gmc canyon and sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, yukon, yukon xl, cadillac escalade and escalade esv and chevrolet blazer, camaro, colorado, equinox, silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, suburban and tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
Seat belts: critical fasteners
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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, 2021. Owners may contact gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782, chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is n202314670.
Full defect summary
General motors, llc (gm) is recalling certain 2019-2021 chevrolet silverado 1500 and gmc sierra 1500, 2021 chevrolet suburban and tahoe and gmc yukon xl and 2020-2021 chevrolet silverado 2500 and 3500 and gmc sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Air bag malfunction
Summary
On april 9, 2021, the office of defects investigations (odi) opened pe21-010 to investigate instances of air bag malfunction indicator light (mil) illumination and potential for frontal air bag non-deployment in several vehicles manufactured by general motors (gm). The vehicles included model year (my) 2020 through 2021 ct4 and ct5 passenger cars, sierra and silverado trucks (1500/2500/3500 models), xt4 and my 2021 escalade, suburban, tahoe, yukon suvs.technical service bulletin (tsb) 21-na-005, issued in march 2021, addresses air bag mil illumination with diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) b0001-1b or b0012-0d. It cites rust particles in the connection terminal interface of the driver air bag
Questions about the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (13 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles); lights (9 complaints); engine (8 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 24, 2024 (transmission). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2021 a bad year for the GMC Sierra 2500?
- It is 14th of 27 Sierra 2500 model years by number of complaints, with 52 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.