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Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
Chevrolet · Large Pickup truck

2021 Chevrolet Silverado

Gas Diesel
Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
36 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
41 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 4–5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls3 critical 9
Complaints20 crash · 12 fire · 17 injured reported 852
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 27 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel large pickup truck with 36 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Silverado 2WD, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 852 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Chevrolet Silverado — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Chevrolet Silverado · Photo: Bull-Doser · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Silverado 2WDGasRWD2.7L 4-cyl turbo202321$3,200
Silverado 2WDGasRWD2.7L 4-cyl turbo202321$3,200
Silverado 4WDGas4WD2.7L 4-cyl turbo192220$3,350
Silverado 4WDGas4WD2.7L 4-cyl turbo192220$3,350
Silverado 2WDGasRWD5.3L 8-cyl172319$3,550
Silverado 4WDGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl162219$3,550
Silverado 4WDGas4WD6.2L 8-cyl162118$4,550
Silverado 4WDGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl162218$3,700
Silverado 4WDGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl152118$3,700
Silverado 4WD TrailBossGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl162118$3,700
Silverado 2WDGasRWD5.3L 8-cyl152117$3,950
Silverado 2WDGasRWD4.3L 6-cyl162117$3,950
Silverado 2WDGasRWD5.3L 8-cyl152217$3,950
Silverado 4WDGas4WD4.3L 6-cyl152017$3,950
Silverado 4WDGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl152017$3,950
Silverado 4WDGas4WD6.2L 8-cyl152017$4,850
Silverado 4WD TrailBossGas4WD6.2L 8-cyl151917$4,850
Silverado 4WD TrailBossGas4WD6.2L 8-cyl151917$4,850
Silverado 4WD TrailBossGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl152117$3,950
Silverado Cab Chassis 2WDGasRWD4.3L 6-cyl151917$3,950
Silverado 2WDGasRWD5.3L 8-cyl151916$4,200
Silverado 2WDGasRWD5.3L 8-cyl142116$4,200
Silverado 4WDGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl141816$4,200
Silverado 4WDGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl142116$4,200
Silverado 4WDGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl142016$4,200
Silverado 4WD TrailBossGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl141816$4,200
Silverado 4WD TrailBossGas4WD4.3L 6-cyl141816$4,200
Silverado 4WD TrailBossGas4WD6.2L 8-cyl141916$5,150
Silverado 4WD TrailBossGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl131815$4,450
Silverado Cab Chassis 2WDGasRWD5.3L 8-cyl141815$4,450
Silverado Cab Chassis 4WDGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl141715$4,450
Silverado Cab Chassis 4WDGas4WD4.3L 6-cyl141615$4,450
Silverado Cab Chassis 2WDGasRWD5.3L 8-cyl131814$4,800
Silverado Cab Chassis 4WDGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl131714$4,800
Silverado 2WDDieselRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo233327$3,550
Silverado 4WDDiesel4WD3.0L 6-cyl turbo222624$4,000

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43186, 43187, 43192, 43194, 43090, 43101, 43096, 43099, 44027, 43102.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Silverado 2WD, Silverado 4WD, Silverado 4WD TrailBoss, Silverado Cab Chassis 2WD, Silverado Cab Chassis 4WD6 / 10California LEV-III ULEV50 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 50All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Silverado 2WD, Silverado 4WD, Silverado 4WD TrailBoss, Silverado Cab Chassis 2WD, Silverado Cab Chassis 4WD5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Silverado 2WD, Silverado 4WD, Silverado 4WD TrailBoss3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body stylePickup
Doors4
GVWR classClass 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2.7 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Automatic emergency braking, Blind-spot monitoring, Forward collision warning, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Custom, GM - Chevrolet Silverado Medium Duty, LT, Trail Boss - LT). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length229.5–241.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)81.1 in
Height75.6 in
Wheelbase139.4–156.7 in
Track, front68.1 in
Track, rear68.1 in
Curb weight4,378–4,868 lb

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 8 configurations: 1500 Crew Cab M/Box 2WD, 1500 Crew Cab M/Box 4WD, 1500 Crew Cab S/Box 2WD, 1500 Crew Cab S/Box 4WD, 1500 Double Cab M/Box 2WD, 1500 Double Cab M/Box 4WD …. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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Recalls (9)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Power Train

N252516560
1,055 vehicles 60% reported repaired built Sep 17, 2020 – Sep 20, 2021
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. Fix 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.
NHTSA campaign 26V083000 reported Feb 12, 2026 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

N242482680
Park outside 62,468 vehicles 53% reported repaired
Problem General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Chevrolet Silverado Medium Duty 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD vehicles. The brake pressure sensor assembly may leak brake fluid into the brake pressure switch and cause a short circuit. Risk An electrical short in the brake pressure switch can overheat the circuit and increase the risk of a fire while driving or parked. Fix Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the brake pressure switch wire harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 11, 2025. Owners may contact GM customer assistance number at 1-866-467-9700. GM's number for this recall is N242482680. Vehicles in this recall that were previously repaired under 23V266 will need to have the new remedy completed.
NHTSA campaign 25V390000 reported Jun 12, 2025 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

N252494000
597,571 vehicles 88% reported repaired
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. Fix 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
NHTSA campaign 25V274000 reported Apr 24, 2025 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Power Train

N242454440
463,295 vehicles 78% reported repaired
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. 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.
NHTSA campaign 24V797000 reported Oct 24, 2024 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Tires

N212346510
626 vehicles 64% reported repaired
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. Fix 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 num
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V985000 reported Dec 16, 2021 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

N212336560
12 vehicles 83% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vehicles. The front driver's side air bag module may be missing one or more metal tabs that secure the plastic air bag cover to the housing. Risk The missing tabs may prevent the air bag from deploying properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212336560.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V495000 reported Jul 1, 2021 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

N202322230
470 vehicles 94% reported repaired
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. 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V811000 reported Dec 23, 2020 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

N202314670
624,216 vehicles 90% reported repaired
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. 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V792000 reported Dec 17, 2020 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Tires

N202319030
7,516 vehicles 96% reported repaired
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. Fix 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.
NHTSA campaign 20V684000 reported Nov 5, 2020 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy open

On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001.  This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued Recall 25V-274 to address concerns of engine failure in the L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issue. GM’s recall remedy for Recall 25V-274 consisted of two different repairs, either an oil viscosity change or a

Opened Aug 20, 2026 · action EA26005 · the investigation’s page →

Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy closed

On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001.  This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued Recall 25V-274 to address concerns of engine failure in the L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issue. GM’s recall remedy for Recall 25V-274 consisted of two different repairs, either an oil viscosity change or a

Opened Jan 16, 2026 · closed Aug 20, 2026 · action RQ26001 · the investigation’s page →

Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25V-274. These engines are installed in Model Years (MY) 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024MY Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV vehicles. The subject engine failures were investigated as part of a Preliminary Evaluation (PE25001).  GM determined that these engine failures were due to multiple supplier manufacturing and quality issues. GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the supplie

Opened Oct 23, 2025 · action EA25007 · the investigation’s page →

Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure closed

On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GM’s full-size truck and SUV T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine. These complainants alleged engine bearing failures resulting in knocking and growling noises from the engine’s bottom end and in some cases more severe consequences such as broken connecting rods leading to engine damage, or engine failure. If the engine fails during vehicle operation, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. On April 24, 2025, GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the concern with L87 en

Opened Jan 16, 2025 · closed Oct 23, 2025 · action PE25001 · the investigation’s page →

Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light — Air Bag Malfunction closed

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

Opened Apr 9, 2021 · closed Aug 24, 2023 · action PE21010 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Silverado

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Chevrolet publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Silverado →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
852complaints filed

20 involved a crash · 12 a fire · 17 injuries · 0 deaths reported

20 per 10,000 built · Chevrolet reported 425,769 Silverado built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2020: 3 · 2021: 57 · 2022: 52 · 2023: 65 · 2024: 91 · 2025: 330 · 2026: 254

Most-cited components

Unspecified 74
Service Brakes 48
Steering 43

In depth: engine problems → · transmission and drivetrain problems → · electrical problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: (TBD); Manufacturer Recall Campaign Number: N222375270 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available.
Service Brakes May 30, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11524533
Driver side front marker light bulb not working after 700mi. Not a big problem but annoying enough for a 2 week old, $49,000 truck
Electrical System Jun 14, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11420790
Wife was headed to town when the truck started bucking and surging then leaving her stranded along side the road. NO MIL on until 5 mins after the bucking and surging started. called GM and basically said oh we will just fix it.
Power Train Jun 9, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11420312
The air bag light and service restraint message came up constantly, it seem like it would self clear, then come right back. Truck had only 250 miles on it when it started, it is still at the dealer waiting for parts. They told me it was because of corrosion (in a brand new truck)
Air Bags Jun 8, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11420118
Transmission slipped then went limp at 35-40 mph. Truck would not accelerate at all. Had towed back to dealership
Engine Jun 4, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11419716
Parked truck in my garage overnight. Came out this afternoon to start up and got the warning message 'power steering ESC' shut it down, restarted the truck five times same message. Silverado 1500 has approximately 3497 miles on it. Rst model
Steering at 3,497 miles Apr 3, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11406248

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Chevrolet itself: 102 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 4 killed, 126 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 24 per 100,000 built. Every Silverado model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 56k

miles, typically

Half the 175 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 26,000 and 92,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 26
10k–20k 12
20k–30k 12
30k–40k 11
40k–50k 17
50k–60k 13
60k–70k 16
70k–80k 12
80k–90k 7
90k–100k 11
100k–150k 33
150k + 5

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Engine10664,0001.28×
Power Train4464,0001.3×
Electrical System1344,5401.59×
Latches/Locks/Linkages1345,0001.07×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2021-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: electrical system (1.59×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2022 model years the Chevrolet Silverado ranks 54 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 1.44× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 35,000 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
PU/EC 2WD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆19%
PU/EC 4WD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆20%
PU/RC 2WD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆19%
PU/RC 4WD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆20%
PU/CC 2WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆19%
PU/CC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆20%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 7 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

1 more in this page’s JSON.

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every GM warranty extension (33) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 2,855
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-05
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 2820 service bulletins, 23 service campaigns, 4 over-the-air updates

Most often about: Engine, Equipment, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Power Train.

  • PIP6127B Service bulletin
    2026-10-05 · Unknown Or Other
  • This document assists GM dealer technicians with diagnosing torque converter concerns to ensure torque converter replacement is necessary. The torque converter part number will be placed on order restriction, and the technician will be asked to follow 25-NA-148 before requesting a part through PQC.
  • PIT6477D Service bulletin
    2026-10-05 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary PI was created to advise techniians in the field that they will not be able to perform a GDS automated bleed with the scan tool dues to a issue with the software in the scan tool
  • PIP6133 Service bulletin
    2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI was created to help address the correct repair regarding a low coolant message on the DIC
  • PIT5698F Service bulletin
    2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
  • PIP5700H Service bulletin
    2026-09-21 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI communicates the proper part numbers for transmission connectors and internal harness to prevent confusion when ordering
  • PIP4902W Service bulletin
    2026-09-04 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • PIP6127A Service bulletin
    2026-08-27 · Unknown Or Other
  • This document assists GM dealer technicians with diagnosing torque converter concerns to ensure torque converter replacement is necessary. The torque converter part number will be placed on order restriction, and the technician will be asked to follow 25-NA-148 before requesting a part through PQC.
  • PIC6551C Service bulletin
    2026-08-20 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0300
P0300 on Chevrolet →
Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Engine · Ignition coils →22 bulletins · 5 owner reports
P2463
P2463 on Chevrolet →
Soot has built up in the diesel particulate filter beyond the allowed limit.Engine15 bulletins
P0016
P0016 on Chevrolet →
The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.Engine5 bulletins · 9 owner reports
P12A6
P12A6 on Chevrolet →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine14 bulletins
P30BF
P30BF on Chevrolet →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other14 bulletins
P0442
P0442 on Chevrolet →
A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Engine · Gas cap →13 bulletins
P0455
P0455 on Chevrolet →
A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off.Engine · Gas cap →13 bulletins
P0106
P0106 on Chevrolet →
The manifold pressure sensor reading does not track what the engine is doing.Service Brakes · Brake pads →12 bulletins
P0308
P0308 on Chevrolet →
Cylinder 8 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →10 bulletins · 1 owner report
P1098
P1098 on Chevrolet →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine9 owner reports
P050D
P050D on Chevrolet →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine7 bulletins · 1 owner report
P0747
P0747 on Chevrolet →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train6 bulletins · 2 owner reports

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

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At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado failed the emissions check on 5.9% of first inspections — higher than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%).

New York inspections 5.9%

failed emissions

10,065 initial inspections of 9,827 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2021 SilveradoEvery 2021 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check5.9%1.9%10,042
Failed the safety inspection1.4%1.5%10,065
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.17%0.19%10,065
Miles driven a year12,03210,343odometer at inspection
Average odometer63,59954,681odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Common questions about the 2021 Silverado

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 9 recall campaigns for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, 3 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V083000, covering Power Train. There is an active park outside advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado?

NHTSA gave the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (41/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado?

Across the 36 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, the best EPA combined figure is 27 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado?

Transport Canada measured it at 229.5–241.3 in long, 81.1 in wide (body, without mirrors), 75.6 in tall, on a 139.4–156.7 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,378–4,868 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado?

Owners have filed 852 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, most often about engine, power train, electrical system. Of those, 20 involved a crash, 12 a fire, 17 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado runs 3 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV50, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado?

The manufacturer has filed 2855 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, most often covering engine, equipment, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-10-05. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado failed the emissions check on 5.9% of first inspections — higher than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado better than the 2021 Ford Ranger?

The Ford Ranger wins clearly, 85.7 to 58.8, on safety, fuel & range. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado against the 2021 Ford Ranger — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations36 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates36 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls9NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints852NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings6 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins2855NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations5NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA8 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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