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Chevrolet Silverado 3500Model year report

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Problems

Compared with other Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years

Typical for this model

64/100 1.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2020, 2022

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
41filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
34,500miles, 12 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 41 consumer complaints for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The part named most often is electrical system, with 13 complaints (32% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (7) and latches, locks and linkages (6). 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 75% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 34,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 881 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 206 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the valves/valve body and 118 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 7 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 64 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (1), Forward collision avoidance (1), Lane departure (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “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. The jump started truck but now parking break won't release and I have a service light issue,, still waiting for chevy to open to have it towed again. Is anyone else dealing with problems? I was told by the dealer last time that the rocky ridge additions are.”

NHTSA complaint #11363792, filed 2020-10, 1,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “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 a loud RPM sound of engine revving, following by barely coasting action. We were able to drift into the turn lane & get out of danger. We had to be towed to Capital Chevrolet bc something isn't functioning properly. …”

NHTSA complaint #11605693, filed 2024-07

Latches, locks and linkages: “The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while the doors were unlocked, and the vehicle was idling or in motion; the rear tailgate independently opened and closed with an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact manually closed the tailgate and locked the doors to prevent the failure from reoccurring. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V060000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). …”

NHTSA complaint #11637603, filed 2025-01, 50,000 miles

Body and 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 occurrence if necessary. The dealer said it’s water in the tailgate switch.”

NHTSA complaint #11593598, filed 2024-06

Mileage when problems were reported

75% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 8,611 and 49,000 miles.

33%0–108%10–2533%25–5017%50–750%75–1008%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (12 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 34,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

202020212022202320241320252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 881 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 881 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 3500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2025121,5001———Too new
2024512,8003——Too new to compareToo new
20231618,0001———Too new
20222753,5003——43 · TypicalRising
20214134,5005——64 · TypicalRising
20204240,0008——56 · TypicalRising
2019227,3907———Rising
20181923,0006———Stable
20171322,0006———Not enough data
20165124,4867——91 · MoreRising
20155234,4617——79 · MoreStable
20141037,9003———Not enough data
20132656,0004——28 · FewerRising
20122346,9624———Rising
20112954,5885——28 · FewerFalling
20091047,6556———Not enough data
20083174,6294——24 · FewerRising
20073934,5005——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20065252,0360——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20054656,6330——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20044150,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20034284,7280——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20025044,8441——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20017268,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20008047,9741——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19994752,0000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19986771,2000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19976161,5170——Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Chevrolet Silverado 3500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have?

NHTSA recorded 41 consumer complaints for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 13 complaints (32% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 7.

Has the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 reported?

Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 34,500 miles and the middle half falls between 8,611 and 49,000 miles; 75% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.