2021 GMC Sierra 2500: Problems & Reliability
CAUTION2021 GMC Sierra 2500: CAUTION — 49 owner complaints, rated on its recalls: 6 campaigns, 1 for fire or crash risk.
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2021 is 1.59, where 1.00 is a typical Sierra 2500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60. 53% of its complaints are severe — a crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
49
NHTSA complaints
1.59
Verdict score (1.00 = typical Sierra 2500 year)
1,047
Service bulletins
6
Recall campaigns
2021 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls
6 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2021; the campaign list is on NHTSA's record for the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500.
2021 GMC Sierra 2500 service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 1,047 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2021 — close to the 945 of the median Sierra 2500 year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (248), engine & cooling (209), powertrain / transmission (149). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2021 vs. the year before and after
From the 2020 to the 2021, owner complaints fell 33% (73 → 49) — an improvement. The 2022 that followed fell 14% (49 → 42), so the 2022 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Sierra 2500 | AVOID | 73 | 1,381 | 9 | — |
| 2021 (this page) | CAUTION | 49 | 1,047 | 6 | — |
| 2022 Sierra 2500 | CAUTION | 42 | 952 | 3 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: GMC Sierra 2500 years to avoid.
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FAQ
Is the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 reliable?
2021 GMC Sierra 2500: CAUTION — 49 owner complaints, rated on its recalls: 6 campaigns, 1 for fire or crash risk. CarWhere's verdict score for the 2021 is 1.59, where 1.00 is a typical Sierra 2500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60.
What are the most common 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 problems?
The 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 has 49 NHTSA owner complaints and 1,047 manufacturer service bulletins on file; the component breakdown is on NHTSA's record for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 have?
6 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500. Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. The live complaint feed was unavailable at render, so the complaint count is the verdict engine’s stored count. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.