2020 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2021 GMC Sierra 1500
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 | 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 441 | 528 |
| Recall campaigns | 12 | 7 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,533 | 1,446 |
| Investigations | 3 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 11 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | — |
| Median reported incident mileage | 44,000 mi | 50,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | GMC Sierra 1500 | GMC Sierra 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 213 | 275 |
| Power Train | 88 | 129 |
| Electrical System | 77 | 71 |
| Service Brakes | 48 | 22 |
| Steering | 37 | 32 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 18 | 46 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 24 | 33 |
| Suspension | 18 | 8 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 56 | 90 |
| Loss of power | 45 | 41 |
| Vibration / shaking | 42 | 34 |
| Stalling | 24 | 32 |
| Clunking / rattling | 23 | 25 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 20 | 20 |
| Brake problems | 14 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 12 | 12 |
2020 GMC Sierra 1500
2021 GMC Sierra 1500
Compare all GMC Sierra 1500 vs GMC Sierra 1500 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.