NHTSA // SAFETY RECORD
2021 GMC Sierra 2500 Safety Record
The 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. Its federal safety record shows 6 recalls and 49 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
CRASH
DATANot crash-tested
The 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, leaving a significant gap in its safety profile. There are no star ratings or a computed Safety Index for this model year. However, the available data does show a heavy burden of recalls and owner complaints. Six recall campaigns have been issued, notably including a "park outside" directive related to an electric brake-assist control module failure. Owner complaints number 49, with concerns reported across powertrain, lighting, engine, and braking systems. The absence of crash-test data precludes any definitive assessment of this vehicle's crashworthiness.
The 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 was not crash-tested by NHTSA and carries a Heavy recall and complaint burden band, with six recall campaigns on record, 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 | 6 (includes park-outside) |
| Owner complaints | 49 (unverified allegations) |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500?
For the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500, a park-outside advisory issued by the manufacturer stands as the most critical safety action. This guidance, prompted by a brake-assist recall, indicated a fire risk severe enough to warrant federal regulators' caution against parking the vehicle in enclosed structures. This specific recall forms part of a broader safety profile for the 2021 Sierra 2500, which includes six recall campaigns in total. Further recalls addressed concerns with the tailgate latch and the spare tire. Owner feedback aligns with these formal safety actions, with 49 complaints lodged with NHTSA. Of these, 20 reports detail issues with the powertrain and engine. The vehicle's safety record is further underscored by 4 crash-related and 1 fire-related owner allegations, reinforcing the significance of the brake system recall. No federal crash-test data is available for the 2021 model year. Sibling model years, including the 2019 Sierra 2500, which scored a Safety Index of 65, and the 2024, 2025, and 2026 models, with scores of 95, 99, and 99 respectively, offer comparative context for other model years but do not apply to the 2021 Sierra 2500.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 have any recalls?
The 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 is linked to six recall campaigns covering: automatic transmission control module software, powered tailgate latch failures, electric brake-assist control module software (this campaign carries a park-outside directive, meaning owners were advised not to store the vehicle in an enclosed space due to fire risk), an undersized 17-inch emergency spare tire, and seat belt components. The park-outside campaign is the most operationally urgent of the group.
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
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE21V578000
Risk: An ABS system that cannot control the rear wheels independently increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will provide the appropriate spare tire and apply a new spare tire information label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 18, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212329780.
Reported 2021-07-29
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 GMC Sierra 2500?
Owners have filed 49 unverified complaints with NHTSA for the 2021 model year. The most frequently alleged problem areas are the powertrain (12 reports), exterior lighting (9), engine (8), electrical system (6), structure (5), and service brakes (5). These are unverified consumer allegations, not confirmed defects.
49 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500?
Six recall campaigns have been issued for the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500. It is therefore crucial that anyone considering a used model verify its recall-repair status by running the full VIN through the NHTSA database prior to purchase.
- The 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 was not crash-tested by NHTSA, meaning no Safety Index or star ratings exist for this model year; that absence is neither a positive nor a negative safety finding.
- One of the six 2021-specific recall campaigns carries a park-outside directive tied to an electric brake-assist control module software defect, the most operationally urgent action in this model year's recall record.
- Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year include 4 crash-related and 1 fire-related allegation among 49 total unverified reports, with powertrain and engine components drawing the most filings.
- Tested sibling years of the Sierra 2500 show a wide Safety Index range, from 65 for the 2019 model year to 99 for the 2025 and 2026 model years; those scores belong to those specific tested years and do not apply to the untested 2021.
RANKINGSWhere the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 places
The 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2021 GMC Sierra 2500 safety questions
Was the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 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 6 recalls and 49 owner complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 6 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500, 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 GMC Sierra 2500?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 49 owner complaints are on file for the 2021 GMC Sierra 2500. 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 Sierra 2500 years
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the GMC Sierra 2500 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.