NHTSA // SAFETY RECORD
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Safety Record
The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. Its federal safety record shows 5 recalls and 38 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
CRASH
DATANot crash-tested
The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 enters the market without the benefit of a full NHTSA crash-test review; no star ratings are available, nor is a Safety Index score. The agency has not yet subjected this heavy-duty truck to its full battery of evaluations. However, the record does indicate a Heavy burden band for recalls and owner complaints. Five distinct recall campaigns have been issued for the 2021 Silverado 3500, with one particularly notable directive for owners to park their vehicles outside due to potential safety hazards. Furthermore, NHTSA has logged 38 owner-reported complaints, which describe issues across several critical categories including electrical systems, powertrain components, structural integrity, and braking performance. These reported concerns, combined with the significant recall activity, present a substantial data set for prospective buyers to consider.
The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 was not crash-tested by NHTSA, carries a Heavy recall and complaint burden band, and is subject to five recall campaigns according to NHTSA data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
- shoppers who want the full federal safety picture in one place
| NHTSA crash test | Not crash-tested |
|---|---|
| Recall and complaint burden | Heavy |
| Recalls on file | 5 (includes park-outside) |
| Owner complaints | 38 (unverified allegations) |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?
The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 carries a heavy recall and complaint burden. Five recall campaigns in a single model year is a notable concentration. The electric brake-assist recall stands out, with NHTSA's park-outside directive signaling an assessed fire risk serious enough to restrict where owners could store the vehicle. Two separate seat-belt recalls, issued close together, add a restraint-system dimension to the record. On the complaint side, 38 reports spread across electrical, powertrain, structural, and braking categories suggest issues are not isolated to one system. No tested sibling years exist in our covered data to provide a crash-safety reference point for this generation.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have any recalls?
The 2021 Silverado 3500 is covered by five recall campaigns. Components involved are the automatic transmission control module software, the powered tailgate latch, the electric brake-assist control module, and seat belts across two separate campaigns. The electric brake-assist recall carried a park-outside directive, meaning owners were instructed not to store the vehicle in an enclosed space due to fire risk.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE24V797000
Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-80
Reported 2024-10-24
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH24V060000
Risk: An unlatched tailgate may open while driving and result in a loss of unsecured cargo, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to check that the tailgate is closed and latched before driving. Dealers will replace the exterior touchpad switch assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232426400.
Reported 2024-02-01
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:ELECTRIC:CONTROL MODULE21V758000
Risk: Water in the BPMV may cause an electrical short circuit and increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will replace the BPMV assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 20, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212349181.
Reported 2021-09-29
SEAT BELTS20V811000
Risk: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.
Reported 2020-12-23
SEAT BELTS20V792000
Risk: If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202314670.
Reported 2020-12-17
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?
Owners have filed 38 unverified complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently alleged problem areas are the electrical system with 11 reports, the powertrain with 7, structure with 6, and both latches and locks and service brakes each drawing 5 reports. One complaint alleges a crash and one alleges a fire. These are unverified consumer allegations, not established findings.
38 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?
The 2021 Silverado 3500 is subject to five recall campaigns. Shoppers considering this model year should verify the repair status of any specific vehicle by checking its VIN on nhtsa.gov. One recall in particular, a "park outside" safety advisory, requires immediate attention if unrepaired.
- The electric brake-assist control module recall issued for this model year included a park-outside directive, signaling NHTSA assessed a fire risk serious enough to restrict enclosed storage of the vehicle.
- Two distinct seat-belt recalls were issued for this model year, meaning the restraint system was flagged by GM across separate campaigns covering different vehicle populations.
- The 38 unverified owner complaints on file with NHTSA span at least six component categories, with the electrical system alone accounting for 11 of those reported concerns.
- NHTSA did not crash-test the 2021 Silverado 3500, so no star ratings or Safety Index score exists for this model year. Shoppers should use nhtsa.gov to check open recalls by VIN before purchase.
RANKINGSWhere the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 places
The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 safety questions
Was the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 crash-tested by NHTSA?
No. NHTSA has not run a New Car Assessment Program crash test on this configuration, so it carries no Safety Index. Its safety record here is built from 5 recalls and 38 owner complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 5 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, including a park-outside or do-not-drive campaign, which is the most serious class of recall. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 38 owner complaints are on file for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects, and include reports involving a crash or a fire.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
Other Silverado 3500 years
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 2021.
- SCORE This configuration was not crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. We report its recall and complaint record only.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.