"How reliable is the 2021 Gmc Sierra 1500?"

"Based on 617 NHTSA complaints, the 2021 Gmc Sierra 1500 has a median complaint mileage of 43500 miles. The most common issue is Engine."

"What are common problems with the 2021 Gmc Sierra 1500?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Gmc Sierra 1500 is Engine, accounting for a significant portion of the 617 total complaints filed."

2021 Gmc Sierra 1500: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 617 complaints

617

Total Complaints

43,500mi

Median Mileage

Engine

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

10,450 25th Percentile

43,500 Median Mileage

75,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Engine

230

Power Train

108

Electrical System

Engine And Engine Cooling

Unknown Or Other

Steering

Fuel/Propulsion System

Service Brakes

Suspension

Visibility/Wiper

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"REACHED FOR A FALLEN OBJECT BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND MIDDLE FRONT SEAT AND THERE IS A RAZOR SHARP PIECE THAT TOOK A LARGE CHUNK OUT OF THE HAND WHICH CAUSED HEAVY BLEEDING AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND JUST TRIED TO RETRIEVE FALLEN OBJECT BETWEEN THE SEATS. THE INCREDIBLY..."

"STARTED VEHICLE EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO DRIVE PROCEEDED FORWARD. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLES STEERING SEIZED I WAS UNABLE TWO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS ALSO VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. MESSAGES CAME UP ON TO DISPLAY READING SERVICE POWER S..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Engine 230 complaints

25th: 8,000 mi Median: 48,000 mi 75th: 82,500 mi

Power Train 108 complaints

25th: 29,507 mi Median: 65,657 mi 75th: 107,750 mi

Electrical System 56 complaints

25th: 923 mi Median: 10,450 mi 75th: 58,564 mi

Engine And Engine Cooling 38 complaints

25th: 38,500 mi Median: 48,000 mi 75th: 75,500 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

TX: 64 FL: 58 CA: 46 MI: 45 PA: 31 GA: 22 NY: 21 LA: 18 OH: 17 AZ: 16

Who Files Complaints?

0.3%

Original Owners

99.7%

Second+ Owners

Gmc Sierra 1500 — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1997	100	80,000	Steering	0
1998	68	80,500	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	6
1999	182	108,894	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	10
2000	215	93,000	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	15
2001	171	98,000	Service Brakes	14
2002	192	76,741	Service Brakes	20
2003	210	72,075	Service Brakes	15
2004	253	57,192	Instrument Cluster/Panel	12
2005	218	73,150	Electrical System	6
2006	182	54,400	Service Brakes	12
2007	310	67,500	Air Bags	11
2008	438	75,000	Air Bags	13
2009	278	65,114	Air Bags	5
2010	215	60,000	Air Bags	1
2011	362	56,000	Air Bags	9
2012	143	60,000	Air Bags	7
2013	147	72,000	Unknown Or Other	2
2014	1020	58,500	Steering	39
2015	914	46,000	Service Brakes	29
2016	436	47,417	Service Brakes	14
2017	465	38,900	Power Train	22
2018	405	33,000	Power Train	16
2019	783	10,000	Engine	19
2020	604	15,700	Engine	15
2022	617	39,000	Engine	8
2023	470	20,000	Engine	9
2024	365	15,400	Engine	5
2025	109	16,500	Engine	7
2026	50	-	Engine	0

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28