Problems · by component

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 power train problems

30 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 cite power train, 34% of all 89 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
30
34% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Vehicle braking does not work- since new- dealer said it was funcitioning- sometimes you will get the warning and other times it does not and it never brakes. Transmission- i received a letter to bring truck in to have a software update for modulator valve wear....which was performed...since that time the stator and the torque converter were replaced in September/October of 2025. it was in dealership approx. 6 weeks for the repairs. Since that time i have had the vehicle roll forward when in reverse and pedal depressed, I have had hard shifts when shifting into gear at a stop, severe enough to lurch the truck forward and break traction....i have started having three to four downshifts very abrupt and very hard when decreasing speed. Dealership does not act like they want to do anything about it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2026Power train, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11769229
“Pulling out from a stop sign, a loud bang came from the transmission, and rear wheels momentarily locked up then truck acted like it was in neutral. Truck was able to drift to side of road. We called our GM dealer, and they told us that our warranty had expired. We had the truck towed to our certified repair shop. After review of truck, the mechanic called and said the output shaft of the transmission broke. The mechanic called GM and asked if there was any financial assistance for this problem and they said no. He ordered a transmission through GM, and we had to pay for transmission upfront. The amount was 6627.05. Since then as we researched, we found out that GM has a Goodwill assistance program that would have helped us had we known to take it to a GM dealer. With two phone calls, no one guided us on doing that. Our truck has only 38,000 miles on it and when I called GM, they said they would have been able to assist us if we had sent it to a GM dealer. We tried to explain that no one gave us that direction and now it is currently being repaired at our local garage. Can we get any assistance at all with this claim? We would appreciate any assistance you…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2026Power trainODI 11766354
“My 10L1000 transmission had a catastrophic failure internally which caused it to rough shift, sudden down shifting, not want to shift into gear at all, and high engine rpm prior to roughly shifting. I took it to the Chevy dealers mechanic the very next business day, only to find out that from the mechanic that this is a common occurrence with Chevy transmissions in my truck and google also verified this to be a common problem. The mechanic from the Chevy dealership also stated that there was larger metal chunks than normal. My truck is available for inspection asap. The manufacturer and vin lookup contradicts the mechanic and google stating no issues or recalls for my transmission. After speaking with the manufacturer, I became highly concerned due to their unwillingness to address the obvious issues known by so many. If I wasn’t such a safe driver and immediately brought it to the mechanic, this could have caused a terrible accident leading to extreme bodily harm or death even. According to a quick google search of the 2021 Chevy 2500 transmission problems and my mechanic this is a well known problem even though Chevy manufacturers refuse to acknowledge the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2026Power trainODI 11752243
“Operator of this vehicle was commuting and truck started to slow down and chug. Vehicle hesitated when operator applied gas pedal. -Transmission cooler inlet/outlet pipe as per Chevrolet known issues. -Safety of driver at risk as failure happened in heavy traffic, unable to pull to safety -Yes confirmed by authorized repair facility -Part inspected by authorized mechanic. -No warnings, symptoms, prior to failure.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 19, 2026Power trainODI 11725594
“While traveling at highway speed on the interstate in my 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD (approx. 120,000 miles), the vehicle experienced a sudden hard jolt followed by a momentary rear wheel lockup. This occurred without warning. Immediately after, the transmission defaulted into a fail-safe condition and became locked in 4th gear. The vehicle would move but could not shift properly, resulting in abnormally high RPM and engine load at highway speeds. I was forced to continue driving several miles in this condition to reach a safe exit. The unexpected drivetrain behavior and temporary wheel lockup created a serious safety risk, including potential loss of control and risk of collision. The dealership identified transmission diagnostic trouble codes P2715 and P2733 (pressure control solenoid performance). Transmission fluid was found to be burnt and contaminated with metal debris. The vehicle is subject to GM Special Coverage N242454441 for a known control valve body defect that can cause harsh shifting and reduced engine power. Although code P0747 (referenced in the bulletin) was not present, the failure involved transmission hydraulic pressure control. The…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2026Power trainODI 11720857
“The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete transmission failure at approximately 77,800 miles. There was no prior abuse or modification. The failure resulted in loss of normal drivability and required full transmission replacement. The transmission was replaced with a remanufactured unit due to catastrophic internal failure. Repair costs were approximately $7,000. I am aware of similar GM transmission issues and recalls affecting comparable model years and components. Although my VIN is not currently listed under a recall, the failure appears consistent with known GM transmission defect patterns. The failure occurred while the vehicle was in the middle of an intersection in heavy traffic, resulting in sudden loss of vehicle functionality. A child passenger was onboard at the time. The incident created a significant safety hazard due to loss of drivability in an active traffic environment.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 11, 2026Power trainODI 11717291

Showing 6 of 30 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: software

Free remedy

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.

Power trainReported Oct 24, 2024NHTSA 24V797000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.