My 2021 GMC 1500 Sierra has the 6.2L motor that has significant known issues with catastrophic engine failure involving the camshaft and lifters. The engine in my truck has suffered the same failure but for some reason my VIN is not included in the recall of nearly 600,000 GMC trucks. I called GMC Customer Service and was told bluntly the recall was VIN specific and I would have to bear the 14,000 dollar repair. This is unacceptable since GMC is under federal investigation for knowingly and negligently manufacturing a flawed motor.
2021 GMC Sierra 1500 fuel system problems
42 complaints (7% of all complaints for this car).
- owner complaints
- 42
- of this car's complaints
- 7%
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
GMC Sierra 1500 fuel system problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 fuel system
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The vehicle failed to start. It started after 30 minutes and I was able to drive it home. Then it starts and stalls after multiple attempts. Receiving codes P1177 and UI8A2. Was told that a bulletin exists for this issue on GM vehicles, GM Bulletin 24-NA-139, but I found out that it don't cover my VIN number. This can cause the vehicle to stall or shut off while driving. GM should make this bulletin for all vehicles of certain years who carry this modules.
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The failure involves the NOx emissions control system, specifically NOx Sensor #2 and the associated NOx catalyst/DPF assembly. Diagnostic trouble codes P11D5, P14D4, P22A1, P2832, P2833, and P28AF confirm abnormal NOx readings caused by sensor breakdown and catalyst performance degradation. Yes, the components are available for inspection at the servicing GM dealership. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A malfunctioning NOx sensor and catalyst can cause the vehicle to enter reduced‑power or limp‑mode operation, which may limit acceleration or speed unexpectedly. This can create hazardous situations during highway merging, passing, towing, or maintaining speed in traffic. Additionally, improper emissions control can lead to engine performance irregularities that may affect vehicle responsiveness. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The issue has been confirmed by a GM dealership through diagnostic testing. The dealer verified all fault codes and confirmed the NOx sensor failure and abnormal catalyst readings. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected by GM‑certified dealership technicians. No inspections have been performed by police, insurance representatives, or other third parties. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes. The check engine light and emissions‑related warnings appeared around 80,000 miles, coinciding with the emissions warranty limit. Diagnostic trouble codes related to the NOx system were present, and the vehicle exhibited abnormal emissions readings consistent with sensor and catalyst malfunction.
2021 GMC with 6.2L motor. The engine begin to produce a clattering noise in the upper part of the engine. When the clattering happens the vehicle will shudder. I took the vehicle into a certified independent service center who diagnosed a catastrophic engine failure as a result of lifter and camshaft bearing failure. They further advised that this year of vehicle (2021) and engine (6.2L) was known to have this defect and might be subject to a safety recall. I contacted GM customer service who stated that my VIN was not included in the recall even though the year and engine matched the recall. I found that to be odd especially when I noted that nearly 600K vehicles matching my failed engine was recalled. She stated that I (owner) had to bear the cost of replacing the defective engine and labor. I had to have my vehicle transported from [XXX] to [XXX] at the cost of 1400 dollars. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
1. I am being told that the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) catastrophically seized and locked up internally while driving. Because the HPFP on the 3.0L Duramax (LM2) engine is directly driven by the engine's timing system, this sudden mechanical seizure instantly destroyed the engine timing gears and snapped/skipped the timing chain. The failed components are currently intact inside the vehicle and are fully available for inspection upon request at Ron's Smith GMC in Merced, CA. 2. The failure occurred on busy Labor Day (XXX) while our family of [XXX] was traveling back home at 70 mph on a major highway. The truck violently shook, instantly lost all engine power, and forced the vehicle into a dangerous limp-mode state before completely stalling in live highway traffic at night around 10:45 pm. This sudden loss of propulsion at high speed severely compromised our ability to safely navigate out of the way of fast-moving highway traffic, creating an immediate & extreme risk of a high-speed rear-end collision. At times hazard lights didn't work causing family panic & screaming as truck shook with passing traffic. 3. The problem has been officially confirmed by Ron Smith GMC in Merced, CA. Their service department diagnosed the issue, confirming that the high-pressure fuel pump had locked up and subsequently destroyed the timing belt/chain & engine gears. 4. The vehicle and its failed components have only been inspected by technicians at the Ron Smith GMC dealership service department. No police, insurance representatives, or outside third parties have inspected the vehicle yet. 5. I had been extremely happy with my truck and there were absolutely no warning lamps, dashboard messages, or driving symptoms prior to the failure. The truck was operating perfectly normally under cruise until the exact moment of the failure, at which point a "Reduced Engine Power" warning flashed on the dashboard simultaneously with the mechanical lock-up, shaking, and immediate stall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF
1. I am being told that the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) catastrophically seized and locked up internally while driving. Because the HPFP on the 3.0L Duramax (LM2) engine is directly driven by the engine's timing system, this sudden mechanical seizure instantly destroyed the engine timing gears and snapped/skipped the timing chain. The failed components are currently intact inside the vehicle and are fully available for inspection upon request at Ron’s Smith GMC in Merced, CA. 2. The failure occurred on busy Labor Day (XXX) while our family of [XXX] was traveling back home at 70 mph on a major highway. The truck violently shook, instantly lost all engine power, and forced the vehicle into a dangerous limp-mode state before completely stalling in live highway traffic at night around 10:45 pm. This sudden loss of propulsion at high speed severely compromised our ability to safely navigate out of the way of fast-moving highway traffic, creating an immediate & extreme risk of a high-speed rear-end collision. At times hazard lights didn’t work causing family panic & screaming as truck shook with passing traffic. 3. The problem has been officially confirmed by Ron Smith GMC in Merced, CA. Their service department diagnosed the issue, confirming that the high-pressure fuel pump had locked up and subsequently destroyed the timing belt/chain and engine gears. 4. The vehicle and its failed components have only been inspected by technicians at the Ron Smith GMC dealership service department. No police, insurance representatives, or outside third parties have inspected the vehicle yet. 5. I had been extremely happy with my truck and there were absolutely no warning lamps, dashboard messages, or driving symptoms prior to the failure. The truck was operating perfectly normally under cruise until the exact moment of the failure, at which point a "Reduced Engine Power" warning flashed on the dashboard simultaneously with the mechanical lock-up, shaking, and immediate stall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF
On [XXX], my vehicle suffered a complete loss of propulsion on the highway, displaying fault codes P0324 and P0016. The vehicle was taken to Boyd's Tar Heel Chevrolet in Roxboro, NC, where the engine block was replaced under the official GM 6.2L engine safety recall.The truck was delivered back to me, and on the very first day I drove it—only 28 miles from my house—it suffered a secondary catastrophic loss of propulsion on the highway on [XXX]. The check engine light began flashing violently, indicating an immediate catalyst-damaging safety hazard, and the vehicle displayed fault code P0307 (Cylinder 7 Misfire).The dealership explicitly instructed me to stop driving the vehicle immediately, authorized the recovery, and told me to bill the tow directly to them. After towing the vehicle back to their facility, Boyd's Tar Heel Chevrolet reversed their position. They are now attempting to hold me financially responsible for the towing fees, along with spark plugs, wiring, and fuel injector services, claiming the failure is due to routine maintenance.This represents a severe highway safety hazard, a direct failure of the manufacturer's official recall remedy, and potential dealer misconduct to avoid liability under the active the federal safety agency Engineering Analysis EA26005 for post-recall 6.2L engine failures. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Transmission stopped at 29,000 miles, engine died and was replaced at 32,000 miles
Corroded grounding strap failed cylinder 5 glow plug circuit cracked and separated exhaust backpressure valve
P1098 code indicating stuck/ unresponsive engine coolant control valve. N252508341 exists for this part; however claim is my VIN is not covered under the bulletin or included on any standard warranty coverage. Part should last more than 150k miles, vehicle less than 90k. Less than 2 weeks ago suffered a complete EBPV failure that destroyed coolant and DEF lines, also not covered. No explanation for why my specific VIN (a 3.0L diesel in the supposedly covered MY) is excluded. Have been unable to find evidence of any applicable vehicles that were 'covered' under this bulletin. Fault forces an unexpected derate which can engage while accelerating, including while merging into freeway traffic. This is an obvious safety hazard. Engine check light illuminates approximately 30 to 60 seconds before derate limits top speed and throttle response. No messages to operator. Dealer has confirmed issue.
Questions about the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 fuel system
Does the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 have fuel system problems?
Owners have filed 42 complaints about the fuel system of the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500, 7% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 fuel system problems start?
Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.
Was there a recall on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 fuel system?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the GMC Sierra 1500 have the most fuel system problems?
The GMC Sierra 1500 model years with the most fuel system complaints are 2021 (42 complaints), 2023 (39 complaints) and 2022 (32 complaints).
Other 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Engine 372Transmission 147Electrical 76Steering 35Brakes 25Driver assistance 15Body 13Locks 10Suspension 10Acceleration 7Visibility 7Airbags 6Wheels 5Tires 4Seat belts 3Lights 2Seats 1
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