Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that approximately 35 minutes after parking and turning the vehicle off he was notified that the vehicle had caught on fire. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. Upon inspection, it was determined that the fire originated in the engine compartment. A police and fire report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 12,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to crank. The contact originally suspected a battery failure, as the vehicle had recently been involved in an accident that left the passenger-side mirror damaged with exposed wires. While driving at 70 MPH, a semi-truck sideswiped the passenger-side of the vehicle, causing a dent on the front door and a fractured side-view mirror. The semi-truck driver did not stop, and the contact's son drove the vehicle to the nearest exit. No air bags deployed, no warning lights illuminated, and no injuries were reported. A police report was filed. The vehicle was initially towed to a collision center, where it was determined that the battery was not the cause of the starting failure. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated upon shifting into reverse(R), the vehicle shut off. The contact stated upon shifting to park(P) to restart the vehicle, the vehicle was able to restart after pressing the Push to Start button several times, and the vehicle made abnormally loud cranking, banging, and rattling sounds. The contact stated that he was an independent mechanic and had determined that the engine was blown, despite the outstanding maintenance record on the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed due to lifters failure. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the engine might be replaced because the parts needed for the rebuilding of the engine were on backorder. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal tapping sound coming from the engine, with the check engine warning light displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and a dealer, where diagnostic tests were performed. The contact was informed that the engine lifters were defective; therefore, the engine needed to be replaced. Recently, the contact stated that while at a stoplight, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, several unknown messages were displayed before the vehicle shifted to SAFE Mode. Additionally, the contact disconnected and reconnected the battery and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a particulate filter failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Prince Chevrolet Service (4550 N Valdosta Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602); where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the exhaust pressure sensor pipe and exhaust gas recirculation cooler needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving off an off-ramp at approximately 40-60 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly lost power and turned off. The contact restarted the vehicle to continue driving. The failure had occurred twice. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the brakes grabbed, causing the vehicle to lunge forward, decelerate, and then lunge forward again, before coming to a complete stop. The contact shifted to park(P) and then to drive(D) and continued driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer four times before receiving notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V797000 (Power Train). The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle started shaking and lost motive power. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to drive the vehicle back to the residence at a reduced speed. The vehicle was then driven to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine control module and sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was retrieved; however, while driving off the lot, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started shaking violently. The vehicle was with the dealer. The dealer then diagnosed the vehicle and determined that two of the lifters in the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a ticking sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with crankshaft failure. The dealer discovered metal shavings in the engine oil and oil filter, and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The replacement engine was ordered, and the vehicle was repaired. After the engine replacement, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle felt difficult to operate. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a flashing check engine warning light appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the received fault code PO300 which was a general code for a misfire in the engine. The contact brought the vehicle back to the dealer multiple times due to various fault codes; however, the contact was given the same information. The contact then received a "Low Oil, Check Oil", the contact checked the oil and discovered no oil on the engine's dipstick. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed back to the dealer where they began an oil consumption test. The valves collapsed and the dealer replaced the valve in cylinders 1,3,5, and 7 as well as the spark plugs. Despite the repair, the contact stated that the failure returned almost two months later. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed, and the vehicle lost motive power and came to a stop in the middle of a four-lane highway. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to pull over to the side of the road, and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it could not be serviced. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where metal shavings were found in the oil pan, and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle remained at the dealer for a month, and the dealer was in the process of ordering the part. The vehicle was not yet repaired. …
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical
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.
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…
NHTSA investigations
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
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.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
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.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
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.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
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.
Engine complaints in other Silverado 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
NHTSA has 442 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 52% of the model year's 847 complaints. The component named most often is engine › hard parts internal/mechanical (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 25V-274 (hard parts internal/mechanical, Apr 24, 2025). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 4 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.