2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Body & Structure Problems
23 owner-reported body & structure complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (23)
APPARATUS USED TO HOLD HOOD UPRIGHT, (2 STRUTS), FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR (4) TIMES IN PAST TWO (2) MONTHS WITH TWO ( 2) OEM PARTS AND ONE (1) AFTER MARKET PART. LAST OCCURANCE, 12/26/2025, CAUSED A MINOR HAND INJURY. IF NOT PREPARED FOR SUDDEN CLOSING OF HOOD, POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY COULD RESULT. THE VEHICLE AT PRESENT HAS 19,775 MILES AND HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY THREE (3) SERVICE TECHNICIANS FROM DEALERSHIPS AND CAN NOT EXPLAIN WHY IT IS OCCURING OR HOW TO REPAIR IT.
Rear power window has been replaced multiple times, each time it develops cracks and leaks water causing possible mold in the truck cabin.
Tailgate operation failure. The tailgate switch appears to be operating when no button is pressed. When vehicle is unlocked or key fob near vehicle tailgate automatically goes down on own. Component is available upon request. Appears to be tailgate release switch 85734717. Safety at risk as although it does not open in driving it does when stopped and in park. Tailgate went down and driver failed to realize this as component had failed and it had been put up and driver drove forward so unable to witness it down as truck was not in reverse. Upon driving forward materials in bed of truck were dispersed in roadway until driver realized tailgate had come down just prior to pulling away. Causes a safety hazard to drivers and others on road. Problem has happened in park and has not been taken into dealer yet as it is out of dealer warranty. Vehicle not inspected by anyone else. No lamps displayed prior to or following failure. No lift gate down warning. Safety failure
When it rains. Tailgate opens on it own. Either have to lock truck or quickly put into drive to prevent tailgate from opening on its own. Only in wet weather. Tailgate opened on its own in rainy weather when parked at hardware store. I began to drive away not knowing tailgate opened and lost tool box and material out the back while making a turn. Speaking with GM I was explained it’s a known issue on 2500 models but not for 1500 models.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while washing the vehicle, he noticed that water was entering the vehicle through a crack in the rear window seal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
There is a water leak from the rear roof leaking causing water to come inside by the rear window down the rear pillar by the airbag. May cause problems with the rear side airbag and mold. Dealer charged me a $273 diagnostics charge and will not repair under warranty or extended warranty even though there is a TSB on this affecting numerous other trucks
Unwanted inadvertent tail gate opening. The tailgate is opening without human interaction causing a safety issue and potential loss of cargo. Damage to tailgate from striking objects due to inadvertent opening
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact became aware of a stain on the rear driver’s side interior of the roof of her vehicle and became aware that the source of the leak was the edge of the window. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be inspected, and the contact was informed that there would be no assistance with repairing the vehicle since the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 25,900.
The way I can best describe it is my vehicle falling apart, either due to cheap parts. Or poorly being put together. I was driving down the highway at about 65 miles an hour, when suddenly I hear something smack what seemed to be my headlight, then again snack into my drivers side mirror. I had not seen anything on the road previous to this or anything in the air so it seemed strange to have “hit” something. I was about an hour from my destination still so when I arrived I checked out my headlight. I then discovered I hadn’t hit anything, a piece of the fascia of my truck had blown off in the wind, which was the first sound I heard, then proceeded to impact my drivers side mirror. I’m not sure how long it was in the air or if it had impacted any vehicles on the highway behind me.
The tailgate on my 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 opens randomly. Initially, it was not often, but progressively happening. I had to pull over in rush hour traffic this morning to shut the tailgate after it opened randomly. The only reason I knew, was checking the rear camera.
While pulling a trailer down the highway the tailgate of my truck dropped all by itself causing considerable damage to the tailgate. If I had been carrying material in the bed of the truck it could have blown out and became a safety hazard for other motorists.
Tailgate will come open by its self
When my truck is outside and gets rained on. The Tailgate automatically drops and keeps dropping over and over again. It’s been doing this for months. I have many safety concerns. I’ve had my tailgate open while driving. I had a young child standing behind my truck and it automatically opened. Recently over the period of the night it kept sending signals to drop annd lights would alol turn on until my truck battery was drained. I’ve looked up and saw other Silverados in my time frame with same problem with tailgate switch and have been recalled. This is 100 percent same thing going on with my truck. I have video but couldn’t upload below
Tailgate will open in it’s own while driving or when parked.
My 2021 Silverado (~29500 miles) pickup has a multifunction tailgate. I noticed about two weeks ago that the tailgate would unlatch and come down at random. I might unlock and open the door or I might start the vehicle or I might turn off the vehicle and the tailgate would come down. It is very random and has no pattern to why it is happening. The gate is electrically controlled inside the vehicle as well as the controls on the gate itself. I find this such a serious safety concern because you can not tell when it might come down and if you are pulling a trailer it could be disastrous. My main concern is that I might be backing into a parking spot, which I frequently do, and the tailgate is either down or comes down at the wrong time and at best I might back into something or at worst back into or pinch a person between the tailgate and another object. I have seen this problem reported online but I can not verify independently nor first person that it has happened to others. I am having the vehicle serviced next week under the existing warranty. There never were nor are there now any warning lamps to indicate a problem. Until the repair is completed I have put two bungee cords in place to hold the tailgate up.
The tailgate electronic release will randomly open allowing the tailgate to open while driving or parked. This causes your secured load in the bed of truck to now become unsecured. This also forces the driver to make an emergency stop to secure the tailgate. The switch can release the tailgate multiple times causing the operator to spend an excessive amount of time getting the tailgate closed and secured.
The tailgate will randomly open while driving allowing contents to fall from the bed of the truck
I have major rust on the frame I just purchased the truck. Is their a recall on 2021 Silverado frames1500 custom.
Unknown
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that he noticed that the front driver’s side bumper filler was slightly detached and was wearing down the panel. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and was referred to an auto body shop. The contact took the vehicle to the body shop and had the front driver’s side bumper filler and bracket replaced. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.
Vehicle door locks. The key from my 2016 Chevy will open my 2021 Chevy. It does not seem safe when you assume locking your doors would prevent someone from gaining access to your vehicle. How often do you go shopping, put your purchases in the vehicle and shop some more not knowing that someone can just unlock the doors and steal your valuables or wait in the backseat for you to return and harm you. What are the odds that I have a key from an older vehicle that unlocks my new truck doors and also how many other keys are out there that will do the same thing. At the very least GM should at least warn a buyer that just because you lock your doors that doesn't really mean anything. I am sure alot of people are not aware of this lack of safety. We have safety labels on cigarettes, liquor, guns drugs and so many other things but nothing about locking your car doors doesn't mean they are actually locked. I contacted the dealership where I bought it and they claimed they were not even aware of that until they checked further. Changing the locks will not help so it seems like there should be some option. Insurance companies won't want to pay for any theft.
I discovered that the key to my 2016 chevy van unlocks the doors to my 2021 chevy silverado. I feel totally unsafe now when I leave anything of value locked in my pick-up. With auto thefts and break-ins at an all time high how can anyone ever feel safe locking valuables up in their vehicle.The Chevy dealership where I bought it first didn't believe me but later checked with Chevy and found out that Gm ran out of key codes so they started to reuse them. People in the business of stealing cars or stealing the contents probably can wander thru shopping malls or parking lots get in and out of cars without the owner aware of it. What are the odds that I would have a key that opens two different vehicles and how many other keys like that are out there?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT HAD DROPPED HIS BANK CARD IN BETWEEN THEIR SEAT AND CENTER CONSOLE. WHEN THEY REACH FOR THE CARD THEY FELT A SHARP OBJECT IN BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE CENTER CONSOLE WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CUT THEIR RIGHT HAND WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO RECEIVE 7 STICHES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED TO FOR THE INJURY. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER KELLER MOTORS ( 700 CADILLAC LN, HANFORD, CALIFORNIA 93230) WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 934.