2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 32%of 41 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 1,457miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the electrical system of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, 32% of the 41 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 1,457 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“My 2021 chevy 3500hd diesel had the engine light come on and the service emissions system popped up in the info screen. It said in so many miles speed would be limited. I took it to the dealer and they said the def tank would need replaced because the tank wiring connector overheated and would cost me over $2k.”
NHTSA complaint #11716547, filed 2026-02“Automatic tailgate open by itself while vehicle was traveling at 65mph on I64 in Virginia between Charlottesville and Waynesboro. And when we stopped the tailgate reclosed by itself. But we lost our load in bed of truck. State police was called but no report was made because load did not cause accident. The driver heard a warning sound and display said tailgate open while vehicle was moving at 65 mph.”
NHTSA complaint #11529880, filed 2023-07“Without warning tailgate will drop without being actuated, even while driving. Things could fall out of the truck box into traffic following me. The tailgate came down while in my garage overnight and the garage door was opened in the morning with electronic opener causing the tailgate to be scratched up as well! Dealer has said this has become a reoccurring problem with my vehicle model. GM apparently has no service bulletin or recall notice for this problem. I called Chevrolet and they have annotated my issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11581936, filed 2024-04“Driving home from work 7/1/2024 approx 5:15PM Smelled burning smell, no noise or dash lights, thought it was another car. 1 minute later, heard a thump from under hood and Charging System Failure came on dash. Decided to take to Chevy dealer, which was 5 minutes away. Within next 2 minutes steering failed. As I came to next intersection, brakes failed, went thorough red light, luckily not hit by another vehicle. Coasted to stop and called tow service.Engine was still running until I turned it off. Had towed to local Chevy dealer. AC compressor had locked up, broken belt. …”
NHTSA complaint #11631152, filed 2024-12Related service bulletins
- 11024486May 16, 2025This bulletin advises the tech to inspect deeper into what may be to main cause of an engine failure.
- 11019017Apr 10, 2025This bulletin provides a procedure on how to check for a battery drain utilizing the Picoscope and how to measure the load on the system that may be causing a drain.
- 11017595Apr 3, 2025This service bulletin provides information on the proper Reflective High Temperature Heat and/or Insulating Tape to use for certain repairs, such as Wiring Harness Repairs.
- 11017244Mar 31, 2025The intent of this service bulletin is to identify aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices as potential sources for causing multiple customer concerns that do not have other…
- 11017255Mar 25, 2025This service bulletin helps diagnose/reduce possible CCND issues on Transfer Cases - Service 4WD on DIC, Intermittent Failures, Noise Concerns, Driveline/Steering…
- 11017207Mar 21, 2025This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414…
- 11017031Mar 12, 2025This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
- 11014579Feb 19, 2025This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Diagnostic Tips For Park Assist Off Message / Unwanted Or False Park Assist Alerts / No DTCs.
- 11014230Jan 31, 2025This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
- 11014239Jan 29, 2025This service bulletin provides information on the Transport Mode Feature, also known as Logistics mode, which is used to increase the 12V Battery stand time of the vehicle during…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 33% |
| 2024 | 19 | 37% |
| 2023 | 1 | 6% |
| 2022 | 5 | 19% |
| 2021 | 13 | 32% |
| 2020 | 5 | 12% |
| 2019 | 5 | 23% |
| 2018 | 3 | 16% |
| 2017 | 1 | 8% |
| 2016 | 6 | 12% |
| 2015 | 16 | 31% |
| 2014 | 1 | 10% |
| 2013 | 4 | 15% |
| 2012 | 2 | 9% |
| 2011 | 2 | 7% |
| 2009 | 1 | 10% |
| 2008 | 6 | 19% |
| 2007 | 2 | 5% |
| 2006 | 3 | 6% |
| 2005 | 9 | 20% |
| 2004 | 4 | 10% |
| 2003 | 6 | 14% |
| 2002 | 1 | 2% |
| 2001 | 4 | 6% |
| 2000 | 5 | 6% |
| 1999 | 2 | 4% |
| 1998 | 3 | 4% |
| 1997 | 3 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
7 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
6 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsBrakes
5 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsEngine
3 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsForward collision avoidance
1 complaintsLane departure
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology