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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2021 GMC Sierra 1500 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Owner Comments

problem #10

Feb 092024

Sierra 1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission/torque converter is causing (bucking, kicking, jerking, slipping, difficulty when taking off, shuddering during driving, fishbite, and chuggle). Its becoming a safety hazard now because its putting me and others at risk for an accident. The vehicle will hesitate to go in which if traffic may be rear ended by another vehicle. During weather/rain the vehicle will lose traction and the rear wheels will spin causing an accident. Problem has been reported to dealership multiple times and the only solution they can provide is keep driving the vehicle. Vehicle has no warning lights at all or any other symptoms of problems prior to when the components started to fail. The issue first happened around February 2024 and remains to be an issue to this present day. I've been the dealership more than 6 times with no solution/fix. I'm concerned for my safety now and need this issue addressed ASAP.

- Gulfport, MS, USA

problem #9

Jun 142024

Sierra 1500

  • miles
On [XXX] at approximately 3 pm I left my house and was traveling on [XXX] in Fort Mohave Arizona I was only traveling 7 miles. When I looked at the temperature in the cab was 121 degrees a few moments after the display system went black and never turned back on. I arrived at the store 4 minutes after the display shut off with no warning lights or any type of notification on my phone, I had rolled down the windows to get air in the cab to see if that would help cool down if needed. I was in the store 20 minutes. I returned to the truck turned it on and everything was normal, from there I drove back home nothing happened on my drive back the display was working. At 8 30pm I was traveling on [XXX] Driving towards a casino called Avi. I had the driver's side window halfway down when I smelled a faint plastic burn thinking it was coming from the outside because I had the window halfway down. That is when the cab of the GMC filled up with smoke that came in thru the air vents and flames started to show coming from the defrost vents and under the hood while I was driving. I had to stick my head out of the window to see where I could pull over without starting a huge brush fire. As I pulled over and the truck within seconds fully ignited into flames. Enough time to grab my belongings that I was able to save. My life was at risk by this vehicle igniting while I was driving. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Fort Mohave, AZ, USA

problem #8

Jan 132024

Sierra 1500

  • miles
The Flex Tailgate has on multiple occasions has malfunctioned in cold temperatures. I have had instances where I can get it open when I have vital supplies in the bed of my truck because of the Tonneau Cover being on (I have a hard cover made for this truck) and the tailgate malfunctioning. I have also had an instance where my tailgate opened (after clicking shut) while driving without the notification coming up on my dash. I could've been held liable if my equipment fell out and caused an accident. Moral of the story this truck as a lot of issues when temps are below freezing even after being warmed up for 15 minutes or longer. I wouldn't recommend this truck based on the function of the Flex Tailgate. I would prefer a classic a handle and less tech now that I have seen it fail so many times.

- Bend, OR, USA

problem #7

Nov 232023

Sierra 1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

5 days after purchasing and While driving down the interstate at 80 mph, there was a loud clunk at the same time the back wheels locked up for a split second, long enough to burn the tires and throw everyone in the vehicle forward then the vehicle continued on. It happened three more times, we trailered it and brought it to the dealer. They said nothing is wrong with it. However, I was able to locate the previous owners who stated they'd been bringing it to several dealerships to have it taken care of for the past six months and every dealer said that nothing is wrong with it. But the same thing happened to them for six months. One mechanic in Idaho even replaced the motor trying to fix it and it still continued. The dealer I purchased from never mentioned it having a new motor, and I pulled the Carfax report and it shows several times it was in the shop including the motor replacement, but the shop visits aren't detailed it just says maintenance. Several mechanics we've spoken with say it's in the transmission, drivetrain. But the dealer refuses to do anything unless it'll replicate when they test drive it. But they don't test drive it on the highway or for a long enough time. Multiple owners now in multiple states the same problem and no one will help. This could be a catastrophic incident if the roads had been a little wet or someone was close enough behind us when it happened it would have been a serious car accident, if not worse. I am not sure you can help but Im reaching out to everything that I can find.

- Fountain, CO, USA

problem #6

May 242023

Sierra 1500

  • miles
I have HD surround vision cameras. I was parallel parking very slowly. The back end of my truck was in so I was watching the camera to see the front right of my truck and the back left of the other vehicle. I could see both vehicles including the road between them. There was space between the vehicles on the camera when I hit the other car. I called Sewell Buick Gmc and explained the camera might need calibrating. They sent a loaner car and picked mine up, When the driver arrived I explained the situation. It surprised his so I said get in my truck and put in reverse to activated the camera and watch me as I walk toward the right front tire. He saw mw as I approached, however, when I got right next to the tire I disappeared from she screen. GM said the vehicle was operating as designed. Operating as designed? They designed a SURROUND camera to show objects until they get next to the vehicle. Imagine if it was a toddler.

- Waxahachie, TX, USA

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problem #5

May 082023

Sierra 1500

  • miles
I have a GMC Sierra 2021 Denali. The vehicle currently has less than 16,000 mile and is at the dealership service department for lifter replacement. This is an extensive repair considering how new the vehicle with low miles. From extensive online research and collaborating with others, this is a common concern with multiple GMC vehicle that's been on GMC radar starting in 2017. GMC haven't yet issued a recall for these products and the consumers are footing the bills. Please put pressure on GMC to rectify their wrong.

- Hephzibah, GA, USA

problem #4

Oct 202022

Sierra 1500 8-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2021 GC Sierra 1500, The guidance lines in the display when in reverse go from non-existent to barely visible and are not usable especially in sunlight. The service man at Miller Chevrolet in Marianna Fla says GMC is aware of the problem, that it was caused by the last update download and will be fixed by another download to correct the problem. He also says the same issue is nationwide and all trucks have the issue which I find hard to believe. 1.If that were true it would be a simple matter of a few lines of code to correct the problem. 2. I have been chasing this problem since October and have now made four trips to the dealership. 3. I cannot believe all trucks have this issue and also I suspect the same backup system is in all GMC vehicles regardless of type. 4. I cannot believe GMC would allow such a problem to exist since the last update download which was months ago. 5. I contacted GMC Customer Care in October after the dealership told me they had no idea what was causing the issue. I have had a case number [XXX] since that time. I was told on the first call that if necessary a Tech would be sent to fix the problem. Today I called asking for a tech to be sent only to be told I had to take it to another dealership and try them before a Tech could be sent! I have two questions, can you help with this and does this qualify as a "lemon law" case? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Chipley, FL, USA

problem #3

Jun 302021

Sierra 1500

  • miles
The driver-side mirror on my 2021 GMC sierra is unusable at freeway speed. When traveling at freeway speed the glass moves due to wind and causes the reflection in the mirror to be blurry. The reflection from the mirror is blurry to the point that I'm unable to identify objects in the mirror and it is difficult to gauge size and closing speed of any objects in the mirror. The issue has been with the vehicle since I purchased it new in June of 2021. The issue has been reproduced by two different dealership service centers and the entire driver-side mirror assembly has be replaced twice with the issue persisting. I have videos showing the issue but they are too large of files to upload on this form.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #2

Feb 282022

Sierra 1500

  • miles
My truck shakes/shutters at random times. while steadily driving at constant speed and/ or shakes/shutters even more when I try to accelerate.

- Angelton , TX, USA

problem #1

Dec 132021

Sierra 1500

  • miles
The only way to get the heater to work on your feet is to turn off defrost, turn on only feet, turn on AC and sync both sides. I live in North Idaho and when you do this your windshield fogs up and freezes. I have taken this to the dealership and was state "Works as designed by GMC". To me this is unacceptable. I drive 90 miles each way to the airport and have to decide what condition i can live with. Completely frozen feet and a clear window or the reverse.

- Sandpoint, ID, USA

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