2021 GMC Sierra 1500 engine problems

Related recalls

• Recall 25V274000Apr 24, 2025597,571 vehicles
  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. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.

  Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

  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 owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.

What owners say

1. Filed Oct 7, 2026110,000 miMNEngine

   The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving and towing a 5,000-pound load, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sputtering sound at 3,000 RPM. The contact stated that the failure was more noticeable while towing a load. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where an audible diagnostic test was performed and the contact was informed that the sound was related to the engine bearings. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where…

   NHTSA complaint #11769653 · source
2. Filed Oct 7, 2026TXEngine

   Truck was in motion and the engine light started blinking then stopped. A couple miles down the road the truck jilted and the engine light came on again. The Service ESC and emergency parking brake light came on. The truck started shaking. We pulled over and parked. Turn off the truck and when we turned it back on it started shaking. When we drove we started hearing popping, knocking, loss in power of the vehicle. This could’ve caused serious damage to ourselves or other…

   NHTSA complaint #11769533 · source
3. Filed Oct 1, 2026INElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   Received Re-Call for Engine Failure! Dealer replaced Engine Oil and Oil Cap @ 85,544 Miles. I read of the Re-call prior to the notice and I waited for it to come. After I received it and the Dealer made the changes, it made me afraid to leave town using my truck for fear of a breakdown on the Freeway. I use a Walker, so if I broke down and I was in the left lane and lost all power it would be very dangerous for me to get to the right side of the road! The truck started using…

   NHTSA complaint #11768259 · source
4. Filed Oct 1, 2026CAEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   1. I am being told that the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) catastrophically seized and locked up internally while driving. Because the HPFP on the 3.0L Duramax (LM2) engine is directly driven by the engine's timing system, this sudden mechanical seizure instantly destroyed the engine timing gears and snapped/skipped the timing chain. The failed components are currently intact inside the vehicle and are fully available for inspection upon request at Ron's Smith GMC in Merced,…

   NHTSA complaint #11768206 · source
5. Filed Sep 30, 2026CAEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   1. I am being told that the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) catastrophically seized and locked up internally while driving. Because the HPFP on the 3.0L Duramax (LM2) engine is directly driven by the engine's timing system, this sudden mechanical seizure instantly destroyed the engine timing gears and snapped/skipped the timing chain. The failed components are currently intact inside the vehicle and are fully available for inspection upon request at Ron’s Smith GMC in Merced,…

   NHTSA complaint #11768204 · source
6. Filed Sep 30, 2026IAEngine

   There is an known issue with the coolant control valve that causes the truck to enter "limp mode" that dangerously reduces the engine power. The part is not recalled but there is a special extended warranty, N252508341, up to 15yrs or 150,000 miles for 2021-2022 GMC 1500 trucks but my VIN is excluded from this for some reason. I would like this investigated.

   NHTSA complaint #11768124 · source
7. Filed Sep 28, 202698,000 miOK1 injuredElectrical SystemEngine

   The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the battery charge indicator to zero. The vehicle lost motive power, and the vehicle was unable to exceed 30 MPH while driving. The vehicle was driven in LIMP Mode. The battery saver mode message was displayed before and during the failure. The vehicle then failed to restart. The vehicle had been repaired a year prior to the failure. The contact's blood pressure became elevated due…

   NHTSA complaint #11767454 · source
8. Filed Sep 22, 2026NCEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   On [XXX], my vehicle suffered a complete loss of propulsion on the highway, displaying fault codes P0324 and P0016. The vehicle was taken to Boyd's Tar Heel Chevrolet in Roxboro, NC, where the engine block was replaced under the official GM 6.2L engine safety recall.The truck was delivered back to me, and on the very first day I drove it—only 28 miles from my house—it suffered a secondary catastrophic loss of propulsion on the highway on [XXX]. The check engine light began…

   NHTSA complaint #11766062 · source
9. Filed Sep 18, 2026ALEngine

   While driving 40 MPH my entire dash lite up with every known light and the vehicle lost all power. The dealer stated I need an entire engine replacement, as with Many 6.2. My vehicle is 1 months out side of the recall, it has the exact symptoms and the exact damage as the recall.

   NHTSA complaint #11765344 · source
10. Filed Sep 18, 2026UTEngineSuspension

    Both of my upper ball joints wore out and one broke as I was driving down the road at 65 miles an hour pulling me into the on coming lane of traffic, there was no warning of this. I had both upper and lower ball joint replace. If there had been another vehicle coming in the on coming lane we would have had a head on collision. At an earlier date the motor in this same truck had a fallen lifter which cause my motor to loss power, I was able to take it to the local GM dealer…

    NHTSA complaint #11765281 · source
11. Filed Sep 14, 202694,328 miNCEngine

    The contact owns at 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the engine was overheating. The message "Reduce Engine Power" was displayed. The contact shifted to neutral to reach the dealer. The contact associated the failure with Special Coverage: N252508341; however, the VIN was not included. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with coolant control valve failure, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated…

    NHTSA complaint #11764209 · source
12. Filed Sep 11, 2026ILEngine

    Check engine light came on my vehicle (104,000/mi) and fans came on while truck was off. Took to dealership and techs diagnosed vehicle as having bad "coolant flow control valve". Dealership ran VIN check as there is a GM "extended special coverage program" N252508341 for the LM2 motor, which my vehicle has. However, N252508341 only applies to vehicles in CA. The dealership did not cover my repair. I filed a complaint with GM who denied it due to the program being only…

    NHTSA complaint #11763611 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology