2021 GMC Sierra 1500: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Nov 10, 2025 · Fuel system, Transmission · FL

I was driving on the freeway and my gmc Sierra at4 received a notification that I could could no longer accelerate. I pulled off to the side as safely as I could in a slanted hill in a major freeway with no shoulder. I sat on the side of the road for 45 min and then ran out of diesel gas waiting for the tow truck. We took into gmc and they said nothing was wrong, we were out of gas. But I ran out of gas waiting for the tow truck. The truck never shut off and ac still going, I just couldn’t accelerate. We’ve had the truck in the shop every single month for the past year for sensor issues and replacements and have all the documentation of the last few years of similar issues. No extensions of warranty’s nothing. Well we started to smell something burning this week and now we were told today we have a faulty fuel pump that will cost us $1,000 to fix and is not covered under our warranty. The truck is still under warranty, so why is something in relation to the power train not covered? There is a current t recall on other gmc models of this year for this fuel pump issue and the safety recall is EXACTLY what happened to us on the freeway and the issue we have now. Why has this not been extended to other GMCs????? My entire family could have died on the side of the freeway!!

Filed Jul 28, 2025 · Engine · MS

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light started flashing and the vehicle was shaking with a misfire coming from the engine. Additionally, there was black and greyish smoke coming from the tailpipe. The Roadside Assistance request message was displayed on the instrument cluster. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with a misfire. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the residence, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the lifter had dropped, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Jul 24, 2025 · Engine · 48,000 miles · AZ

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, lost motive power, with smoke came from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact attempted to start the vehicle and noticed a knocking sound coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that parts were not yet available. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle had a Salvage Title and would not be repaired under the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Apr 29, 2025 · Engine · LA · fire

First engine blown 31,904 miles, Lifter failure. Replaced with re-manufactured engine. Second engine failure at 68,000 miles, Piston rod failure. Piston blew thru engine block and engine bay caught on fire.

Filed Mar 18, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · FL

After 2 years of owning the vehicle, after every oil change, it would indicate low oil just before an oil change causing for us to add an additional a quart of oil to keep it running smoothly. We informed the service technician of the situation on multiple occasions and no further inspection was completed, and just an oil change was serviced. After a few months we noticed the engine was running rough and a white smoke coming out of the exhaust on acceleration then the check engine light came on. We brought the car to get tires replaced and to service the check engine light, the technician stated that the check engine light a failure in the catalytic converter. We brought the vehicle to the local GMC service center, where they indicated that the we required a replacement engine because of catastrophic engine failure. We reported that the check engine light was due to catalytic converter failure. The service technician ensured that the priority was the replacement of the full engine not indicating what was the main cause of engine failure stating that the catalytic converter could have led to the failure of the engine as well. We replaced the engine, and after 3 months of vehicle being in the shop the engine was replaced. Three days after receiving the vehicle, a check engine light came on. We did not drive the vehicle until we had to return it back to the service center. The service technician stated that it is due to a lack of communication from the engine to the ECU. The technician called the following Monday stating that the check engine light was due the catalytic converter. We told the technician that was the primary reason that the customer the vehicle in the first place. We asked if there was an alternative to replacing the catalytic converter since we already paid 12k for the engine replacement. We asked if they had taken apart the catalytic converter to confirm its not a sensor issue. They replied that the codes indicates its the whole converter.

Filed Jun 17, 2024 · Engine · AZ · fire

On [XXX] at approximately 3 pm I left my house and was traveling on [XXX] in Fort Mohave Arizona I was only traveling 7 miles. When I looked at the temperature in the cab was 121 degrees a few moments after the display system went black and never turned back on. I arrived at the store 4 minutes after the display shut off with no warning lights or any type of notification on my phone, I had rolled down the windows to get air in the cab to see if that would help cool down if needed. I was in the store 20 minutes. I returned to the truck turned it on and everything was normal, from there I drove back home nothing happened on my drive back the display was working. At 8 30pm I was traveling on [XXX] Driving towards a casino called Avi. I had the driver's side window halfway down when I smelled a faint plastic burn thinking it was coming from the outside because I had the window halfway down. That is when the cab of the GMC filled up with smoke that came in thru the air vents and flames started to show coming from the defrost vents and under the hood while I was driving. I had to stick my head out of the window to see where I could pull over without starting a huge brush fire. As I pulled over and the truck within seconds fully ignited into flames. Enough time to grab my belongings that I was able to save. My life was at risk by this vehicle igniting while I was driving. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 12, 2024 · Brakes, Electrical · OK · fire

My truck had smoke rolling out at work when I noticed it. Tried to put it out it Burnt my hands ! destroyed the inside I had it towed and insurance investigator said it was do to a brake controller for the trailer. And I took it to get estimate and the service dept said it was do To brake controller my truck was totaled my wallet toast my coat was toast my I phone my deposit my truck i drove daily to work out of and personal. General Motors would not help I called the. First. Then I was frustrated called my insurance they started a claim and low balled me now I lost 2 months of work bills stacked and low ball price on what the offer was) and haven’t gotten one yet. Called gm back they said I had an active claim they woundenr help it’s there defect I lost my job my mind etc on this. Two investigators state the same thing even there service dept. A gm service dept said the same thing. No warning indicators at al I will never buy another truck. The safety issue is people driving around not knowing. The 2500 and 3500 have them. Looked it up the plant that made my truck left the parts for manufacturing outdoors they got wet. It’s on the internet people r gionbg to get hurt. Lucky I was outside when my was on fire. Please help on the matter. Thank u

Filed Feb 23, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · MO · fire

Less than 5 minutes after my husband and 2 children parked the car and came inside, a neighbor walking rang our doorbell to let us know there was something on fire in our driveway. We ran to the back to find his truck engulfed in flames coming from the engine. We quickly called 911 and exited the house/property. The truck continued to burn with 20-25 foot flames and very black smoke for about 40 minutes until the fire department was able to control the fire. The fire was hot enough that the entire engine was significantly burnt, the seats and steering wheel were gone, the glass shattered and melted, and the tires exploded and melted. Thankfully, everyone was out of harms way and safe through this incident. However, it has been extremely traumatic on my family and neighbors and has taken a lot of time and energy to try to deal with this. The car sat in our driveway for over 2 weeks with a very potent smell causing headaches until GM and our insurance finally investigated. There is damage to our siding, driveway, landscaping, basketball hoop, trampoline, and neighbors fence. The car was only 2 years old and scares me how quickly it went up in flames and how much worse this could have been either 3 minutes earlier or if it was parked in our garage.

Filed Apr 18, 2021 · Airbags, Electrical · 3,400 miles · NY · fire

Returned home after some shopping. Parked truck in drive way. Approximately 5 minutes after returning home my wife saw truck smoking from under the hood. Within another minute or two there were visible flames coming from the back edge of the hood. We called 911. Within 5 minutes the entire front end of the truck was engulfed in flames. The fire department arrived and put out the fire but the entire front and cab of the truck was destroyed. Fire investigators determined fire started at back of engine compartment near battery. Vehicle was stopped parked in off condition. In my driveway. No mechanical problems were noticed on ride home and there were no panel alerts for problems.

Filed Feb 19, 2021 · Engine · 2,800 miles · SC · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2021 gmc sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, an abnormal noise appeared under the hood. Without warning an explosion occurred. The contact managed to veer to shoulder of the road get out the vehicle to check and see what the noise was. The contact noticed flames appeared by the rear wheel on the driver side. The contact grabbed the fire extinguisher and extinguished the flames. The fire department was contacted however no report was filed. The police were contacted but no report was filed. The vehicle was towed to quality buick gmc, inc (7901 lomas blvd ne, albuquerque, nm 87110 (505) 765 1300) where it was diagnosed and determine the engine was faulty that would be covered under warranties to repair. The vehicle was repaired. However, the contact feels unsafe driving the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure started and started an investigation. The failure mileage was approximately 2,800.