2021 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500 has 54 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: i got my truck in may and after two months the battery went completely dead without warning so had dealership tow it to service kept two weeks said it was battery. now same thing happened again. called roadside assistance from phone because on star wouldn't even work. they come out and jumped it. th. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 1 crash report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

11 complaints

20%

• I GOT MY TRUCK IN MAY AND AFTER TWO MONTHS THE BATTERY WENT COMPLETELY DEAD WITHOUT WARNING SO HAD DEALERSHIP TOW IT TO SERVICE KEPT TWO WEEKS SAID IT WAS BATTERY. NOW SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FROM PHONE BECAUSE ON STAR WOULDN'T EVEN WORK. THEY COME OUT AND JUMPED IT. TH
• THE NEW GM 2021 TRAILER LIGHTING MODULE AND/OR SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. IT FAILS A PRE-CONNECTION TEST WITH TESTER, GIVES "CHECK TRAILER WIRING" WARNING ON DASH WITHOUT A TRAILER CONNECTED AND TURNS OFF ANY TRAILER LIGHTING CONNECTED WITHOUT WARNING ON THE ROAD, WITHOUT BLOWING A FUSE. THIS PROBLEM IS M
• Was driving my 3500 (an 8000# truck capable of towing 20k#) and suddenly the vehicle lost power and steering, forcing me to the shoulder of a curvy mountain road, going downhill. Truck then started blinking lights and telling me to restart. upon restart, the truck would not engage the transmission.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I GOT MY TRUCK IN MAY AND AFTER TWO MONTHS THE BATTERY WENT COMPLETELY DEAD WITHOUT WARNING SO HAD DEALERSHIP TOW IT TO SERVICE KEPT TWO WEEKS SAID IT WAS BATTERY. NOW SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FROM PHONE BECAUSE ON STAR WOULDN'T EVEN WORK. THEY COME OUT AND JUMPED IT. TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

7 complaints

13%

• Was driving my 3500 (an 8000# truck capable of towing 20k#) and suddenly the vehicle lost power and steering, forcing me to the shoulder of a curvy mountain road, going downhill. Truck then started blinking lights and telling me to restart. upon restart, the truck would not engage the transmission.
• When I shift the vehicle to park and turn it off, about 90% of the time the instrument panel will display a message that says “Shift to park”, and the electrical components will not shut down. The vehicle is in park, but the computer won’t detect it. I took it to dealer while under warranty, and dea
• July 20, we were driving the 2021 3500HD to church w/our single axle trailer w/mower on it when we were stopped at a yield sign and proceeded to pull forward, our truck made a loud boom noise and immediately stopped. Warning lights on the dash began coming on, when the gas pedal was pressed it made

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“Was driving my 3500 (an 8000# truck capable of towing 20k#) and suddenly the vehicle lost power and steering, forcing me to the shoulder of a curvy mountain road, going downhill. Truck then started blinking lights and telling me to restart. upon restart, the truck would not engage the transmission. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

6 complaints

11%

• The tailgate opened and closes on its own while trailering causing sever binds and damage to the trailer and allowing loads to become unsecured. There is a recall already from GM on this issue, but for some reason our VIN is not included. This is a well documented issue. We have video of this occurr
• #N232426400-04: Safety Recall - Tailgate May Open Unexpectedly lists RPO code QT5 as the only applicable RPO code for the issue of tailgate opening unexpectedly. QT5 is for manual gate function with EZ lift, power lock release. The recall blames water intrusion into these vehicles’ tailgates that ca
• Electrical components are failing in the tailgate lock/unlock mechanism. The tailgate goes up and down on its own while in park. It will also go up and down on its own after the truck is off and unattended This started happening about a week ago. It is available for inspection upon request and h

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“The tailgate opened and closes on its own while trailering causing sever binds and damage to the trailer and allowing loads to become unsecured. There is a recall already from GM on this issue, but for some reason our VIN is not included. This is a well documented issue. We have video of this occurr”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

5 complaints

• I GOT MY TRUCK IN MAY AND AFTER TWO MONTHS THE BATTERY WENT COMPLETELY DEAD WITHOUT WARNING SO HAD DEALERSHIP TOW IT TO SERVICE KEPT TWO WEEKS SAID IT WAS BATTERY. NOW SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FROM PHONE BECAUSE ON STAR WOULDN'T EVEN WORK. THEY COME OUT AND JUMPED IT. TH
• The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and attempting to depress the brake pedal, there was an abnormal sound coming from the brakes. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the brakes
• The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and extended to the floorboard, and the vehicle almost crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact later discovered that the rear driver’s side brake pa

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

5 complaints

• Check engine light came on followed almost immediately with an Onstar warning to service the engine and transmission within 7 days. Took truck to dealer. They diagnosed problem was fuel system contamination. Hole was found on the inner mesh liner of the fuel filter which allowed water and a sludge
• The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, he noticed smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the smoke would become more aggressive as the accelerator or brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle caught
• Injector #4 connector harness issue- Known issue on the 6.6L duramax. Driving with my children for Christmas pickup and power reduction occurred while passing another car on the road. Causing us to hit the breaks as the truck wouldn’t allow us to pass timely. Known harness issue by GM and instea

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“Check engine light came on followed almost immediately with an Onstar warning to service the engine and transmission within 7 days. Took truck to dealer. They diagnosed problem was fuel system contamination. Hole was found on the inner mesh liner of the fuel filter which allowed water and a sludge ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 54 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: I GOT MY TRUCK IN MAY AND AFTER TWO MONTHS THE BATTERY WENT COMPLETELY DEAD WITHOUT WARNING SO HAD DEALERSHIP TOW IT TO SERVICE KEPT TWO WEEKS SAID IT WAS BATTERY. NOW SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FROM PHONE BECAUSE ON STAR WOULDN'T EVEN WORK. THEY COME OUT AND JUMPED IT. TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: Was driving my 3500 (an 8000# truck capable of towing 20k#) and suddenly the vehicle lost power and steering, forcing me to the shoulder of a curvy mountain road, going downhill. Truck then started blinking lights and telling me to restart. upon restart, the truck would not engage the transmission.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: The tailgate opened and closes on its own while trailering causing sever binds and damage to the trailer and allowing loads to become unsecured. There is a recall already from GM on this issue, but for some reason our VIN is not included. This is a well documented issue. We have video of this occurr
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: I GOT MY TRUCK IN MAY AND AFTER TWO MONTHS THE BATTERY WENT COMPLETELY DEAD WITHOUT WARNING SO HAD DEALERSHIP TOW IT TO SERVICE KEPT TWO WEEKS SAID IT WAS BATTERY. NOW SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FROM PHONE BECAUSE ON STAR WOULDN'T EVEN WORK. THEY COME OUT AND JUMPED IT. TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)