2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD problems and recalls
Owners filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, and the agency lists 6 recall campaigns. Everything below comes straight from the federal database — no editorial ranking.
1 campaign carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before driving or parking indoors.
What owners complained about
A single complaint can name more than one system, so shares add up to more than 100%. Complaint counts reflect how many of these trucks are on the road as much as how reliable they are. A best-selling truck collects more complaints than a rare one at the same defect rate, so these figures compare a model against its own other years far better than against a different model.
Recall campaigns
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module:software24V797000 · 2024-10-24
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.
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.
Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch24V060000 · 2024-02-01
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.
Remedy: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:electric:control Module21V758000 · 2021-09-29park outside
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.
Remedy: 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.
Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire21V578000 · 2021-07-29
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.
Remedy: 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.
Seat Belts20V811000 · 2020-12-23
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.
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.
Seat Belts20V792000 · 2020-12-17
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.
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.
Common questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD?
Of 84 complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most reported category is power train at 28 complaints (33.3% of the total), followed by electrical system at 17. These are owner-submitted reports, not confirmed defect rates.
How many recalls does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD have?
6 recall campaigns. Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the vehicle's age or how many owners it has had. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a campaign listed here may not apply to your specific truck.
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD reliable?
Complaint totals alone cannot answer that. Complaint counts reflect how many of these trucks are on the road as much as how reliable they are. A best-selling truck collects more complaints than a rare one at the same defect rate, so these figures compare a model against its own other years far better than against a different model. The useful comparison is against the same truck's other model years, which is what the year-over-year table on this page shows.
Related
Last updated 2026-08-10. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (api.nhtsa.gov), public domain. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by vehicle owners; NHTSA does not confirm them and a complaint is not a finding of defect. Recall applicability depends on your VIN — check nhtsa.gov/recalls.