Model year 2021 · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD, Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD, Special Purpose Vehicle 4WD

2021 GMC Sierra: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2021 GMC Sierra at 14–26 mpg combined across 36 versions. NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls and 596 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

14–26

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

NHTSA lists this vehicle as SIERRA 1500.

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a GMC dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2021 GMC Sierra recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 7 safety recalls for the 2021 GMC Sierra, newest first.

Power train: Automatic transmission: Control module: Software and 1 more component

NHTSA 26V083000 Reported Feb 12, 2026

Filed by: General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. N252516560)
Components: Power train: Automatic transmission: Control module: Software; Power train: Automatic transmission: Fluid/lubricant: Valves/valve body
Units affected: 1,055 (estimate)
Problem: General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, 3500, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have been repaired incorrectly under recall 24V797. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up.
Risk: 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 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252516560. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 12, 2026.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Engine and engine cooling: Engine: Hard parts internal/mechanical

NHTSA 25V274000 Reported Apr 24, 2025

Filed by: General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. N252494000)
Units affected: 597,571 (estimate)
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Risk: 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 the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Power train: Automatic transmission: Fluid/lubricant: Valves/valve body and 1 more component

NHTSA 24V797000 Reported Oct 24, 2024

Filed by: General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. N242454440)
Components: Power train: Automatic transmission: Fluid/lubricant: Valves/valve body; Power train: Automatic transmission: Control module: Software
Units affected: 463,295 (estimate)
Problem: 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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Tires: Temporary/emergency spare tire

NHTSA 21V985000 Reported Dec 16, 2021

Filed by: General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. N212346510)
Units affected: 626 (estimate)
Problem: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 GMC Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500 vehicles equipped with certain accessory road tires and a 17" spare tire. The 17" spare tire provided with the vehicle is not compatible for use with the accessory wheels, which can cause the anti-lock brake system (ABS) to not function properly under certain conditions.
Risk: 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 label, and provide owners with an owner's manual insert clarifying which spare tire to use with the accessory road tires and with the 17" original tires. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212346510.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Seat belts: Critical fasteners and 1 more component

NHTSA 20V811000 Reported Dec 23, 2020

Filed by: General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. N202322230)
Components: Seat belts: Critical fasteners; Seat belts
Units affected: 470 (estimate)
Problem: 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.
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.
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 service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Seat belts: Critical fasteners and 1 more component

NHTSA 20V792000 Reported Dec 17, 2020

Filed by: General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. N202314670)
Components: Seat belts: Critical fasteners; Seat belts
Units affected: 624,216 (estimate)
Problem: 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.
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.
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, 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 recall record on nhtsa.gov

Tires

NHTSA 20V684000 Reported Nov 5, 2020

Filed by: General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. N202319030)
Units affected: 7,516 (estimate)
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse vehicles and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The vehicles may have been manufactured with Continental tires that were overcured.
Risk: 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 December 17, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202319030.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2021 GMC Sierra fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2021 GMC Sierra EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
Sierra 2WD	2.7L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 8-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	20/23/21 mpg	$3,200	421
Sierra 2WD	2.7L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 8-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	20/23/21 mpg	$3,200	422
Sierra 2WD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel	Automatic 10-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Diesel	23/30/26 mpg	$3,700	392
Sierra 2WD	4.3L 6-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	16/21/17 mpg	$3,950	523
Sierra 2WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	15/21/17 mpg	$3,950	523
Sierra 2WD	5.3L 8-cyl ffv	Automatic 6-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Gasoline or E85 / E85	15/19/16 mpg	$4,200	547
Sierra 2WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 8-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	17/23/19 mpg	$3,550	466
Sierra 2WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	14/21/16 mpg	$4,200	541
Sierra 2WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 8-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	15/22/17 mpg	$3,950	515
Sierra 4WD	2.7L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 8-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	18/21/19 mpg	$3,550	464
Sierra 4WD	2.7L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 8-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	18/20/19 mpg	$3,550	475
Sierra 4WD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel	Automatic 10-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Diesel	22/26/24 mpg	$4,000	430
Sierra 4WD	4.3L 6-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	15/20/17 mpg	$3,950	530
Sierra 4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	15/20/17 mpg	$3,950	526
Sierra 4WD	5.3L 8-cyl ffv	Automatic 6-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Gasoline or E85 / E85	14/18/16 mpg	$4,200	561
Sierra 4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 10-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	16/22/19 mpg	$3,550	479
Sierra 4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 8-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	16/21/18 mpg	$3,700	504
Sierra 4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	14/20/16 mpg	$4,200	560
Sierra 4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 8-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	14/20/16 mpg	$4,200	561
Sierra 4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 10-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	15/21/18 mpg	$3,700	504
Sierra 4WD	6.2L 8-cyl	Automatic 10-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Premium	16/20/17 mpg	$4,850	510
Sierra 4WD	6.2L 8-cyl	Automatic 10-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Premium	15/20/16 mpg	$5,150	539
Sierra 4WD AT4	3.0L 6-cyl turbo diesel	Automatic 10-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Diesel	22/26/24 mpg	$4,000	430
Sierra 4WD AT4	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 10-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	16/21/18 mpg	$3,700	494
Sierra 4WD AT4	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 8-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	16/21/18 mpg	$3,700	484
Sierra 4WD AT4	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	14/18/16 mpg	$4,200	543
Sierra 4WD AT4	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 8-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	14/20/16 mpg	$4,200	551
Sierra 4WD AT4	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 10-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	15/21/17 mpg	$3,950	523
Sierra 4WD AT4	6.2L 8-cyl	Automatic 10-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Premium	15/19/17 mpg	$4,850	522
Sierra 4WD AT4	6.2L 8-cyl	Automatic 10-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Premium	14/19/16 mpg	$5,150	555
Sierra Cab Chassis 2WD	4.3L 6-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	15/19/17 mpg	$3,950	523
Sierra Cab Chassis 2WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	14/18/15 mpg	$4,450	590
Sierra Cab Chassis 2WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular	13/18/14 mpg	$4,800	634
Sierra Cab Chassis 4WD	4.3L 6-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	14/16/15 mpg	$4,450	592
Sierra Cab Chassis 4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	14/17/15 mpg	$4,450	593
Sierra Cab Chassis 4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	Automatic 6-spd	4-Wheel Drive	Regular	13/17/14 mpg	$4,800	635

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2021 GMC Sierra crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2021 GMC Sierra NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2021 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC 2WD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	19.1%	Optional
2021 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC 4WD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	19.8%	Optional
2021 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/EC 2WD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	19.1%	Optional
2021 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/EC 4WD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	19.8%	Optional
2021 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/RC 2WD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	19.1%	Optional
2021 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/RC 4WD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	19.8%	Optional

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2021 GMC Sierra owner complaints

Owners have filed 596 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 GMC Sierra, most recently on Oct 21, 2026. 6 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 3 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2021 GMC Sierra complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Engine	322
Power train	144
Electrical system	72
Engine and engine cooling	47
Unknown or other	44
Fuel/propulsion system	41
Steering	34
Service brakes	24
Suspension	10
Structure: Body	8

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other GMC Sierra model years

GMC Sierra by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2026 Sierra	15–25 mpg · 64–68 MPGe	5	152	5/5
2025 Sierra	15–26 mpg · 64 MPGe	2	132	5/5
2024 Sierra	15–25 mpg	4	380	5/5
2023 Sierra	15–26 mpg	3	497	5/5
2022 Sierra	14–26 mpg	6	598	5/5
2020 Sierra	15–26 mpg	12	494	5/5
2019 Sierra	15–21 mpg	10	684	5/5
2018 Sierra	17–20 mpg	7	322	5/5
2017 Sierra	17–20 mpg	6	431	5/5
2016 Sierra	17–20 mpg	10	379	5/5
2015 Sierra	17–20 mpg	15	792	5/5

All GMC Sierra years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2021 GMC models

2021 GMC Acadia 2021 GMC Canyon 2021 GMC Terrain 2021 GMC Yukon

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with GMC.