NHTSA // SAFETY RECORD
2021 GMC Sierra 3500 Safety Record
The 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. Its federal safety record shows 5 recalls and 20 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
CRASH
DATANot crash-tested
The 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 has not been evaluated by NHTSA for crashworthiness, leaving it without a federal Safety Index or star ratings. Owners have filed 20 complaints regarding the vehicle, and its recall history is substantial: five campaigns have been issued, one of which advised owners to park the vehicle outdoors and avoid driving it. This record places the Sierra 3500 in a Heavy recall and complaint burden band. While this pattern warrants scrutiny, the absence of crash-test data precludes any definitive safety assessment.
The 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 was not crash-tested by NHTSA, carries a Heavy recall and complaint burden band, and is named in five NHTSA recall campaigns, according to federal data published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at nhtsa.gov.
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 | 20 (unverified allegations) |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500?
The 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 carries a Heavy recall and complaint burden, a classification driven by five distinct recall campaigns and twenty owner complaints. Of particular concern is the brake power assist recall, which prompted GM to issue a park-outside, do-not-drive directive. This extraordinary measure indicates that both GM and NHTSA assessed the underlying risk as severe enough to warrant restricting vehicle use until a resolution was found. Adding to occupant protection issues are two separate seat belt recalls, both initiated in late 2020. Further campaigns address the tailgate latch and transmission software. With no crash-test results or data from related model years to provide context, the federal recall and complaint record serves as the sole official safety indication for the 2021 Sierra 3500.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 have any recalls?
The 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 is named in five recall campaigns covering: automatic transmission control module software, tailgate latch on power-tailgate-equipped trucks, electric brake-power-assist control module (this campaign carried a park-outside and do-not-drive directive), and two separate seat-belt campaigns. The brake-assist recall is the most operationally urgent given its park-outside status.
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 GMC Sierra 3500?
Twenty unverified owner complaints have been reported to NHTSA for this model year. The most frequently alleged problem areas are Power Train (7 reports), Service Brakes (5 reports), Electrical System (4 reports), Engine (3 reports), and Unknown or Other (3 reports). These are unverified consumer allegations, not established findings.
20 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500?
The 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 carries a significant safety advisory: any unit under consideration for purchase should have its VIN checked against NHTSA's database to confirm all five recall campaigns have been completed. This includes a critical "park-outside" recall related to the brake-assist system, indicating a potential fire risk even when the vehicle is off. An unresolved recall transfers with the vehicle to its new owner.
- NHTSA has not crash-tested the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500, meaning no federal star ratings or Safety Index score exists for this model year.
- One of the five recalls for this model year, covering the electric brake-power-assist control module, carried a park-outside and do-not-drive directive, indicating a heightened risk level as assessed by GM and NHTSA.
- Two separate seat-belt recall campaigns were issued for this model year, both originating in late 2020, making seat-belt system remedy verification a specific priority for any VIN check.
- Twenty unverified complaints have been reported to NHTSA for this model year, with Power Train and Service Brakes together accounting for twelve of those alleged reports, a concentration worth noting when reviewing a specific vehicle's service history.
RANKINGSWhere the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 places
The 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2021 GMC Sierra 3500 safety questions
Was the 2021 GMC Sierra 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 20 owner complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 5 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2021 GMC Sierra 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 GMC Sierra 3500?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 20 owner complaints are on file for the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
Other Sierra 3500 years
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the GMC Sierra 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.