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…
2021 Chevrolet Silverado body problems
severe 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
2injuries
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a pattern of serious tailgate failures starting from very low mileage. The power tailgate opens spontaneously without any input, triggered variously by locking/unlocking doors, starting the truck, or shutting it off—no consistent trigger. Wet weather seems to intensify the problem, with one owner reporting the tailgate cycling open repeatedly during rain until the battery drained. No warning lights appear before or after these failures. The truck bed contents scatter onto roadways when the gate drops unnoticed while driving; one owner barely caught it before pulling away from a highway stop. Owners worry most about the tailgate dropping while they're backing up, potentially pinching a person between the gate and another vehicle.
Security concerns also surface: keys from older Chevy vehicles (2016 models) unlock the 2021 truck doors. GM apparently exhausted key codes and started reusing them, according to dealership acknowledgment. Lock replacement won't fix it.
Multiple owners report water leaking through rear window seals, staining interiors and pooling near the rear pillar. Hood struts collapse repeatedly—one owner had four replacements in two months with no solution. A fascia panel separated and struck the driver's side mirror at highway speed. At very low mileage, one owner found a sharp object wedged between the seat and console, requiring seven stitches when reached for.
Same Chevrolet Silverado body reports on nearby years: 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Multifunction tailgate random opening
Power tailgate unlatches and drops spontaneously with no discernible pattern. Occurs when unlocking doors, starting vehicle, or shutting it off. Rain exposure appears to trigger repeated opening cycles. No warning indicators present before or after failures.
When: Reported from approximately 934 miles to 57,000 miles; incidents occur in park and while stopped
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate drops without user input; Random unlatching pattern; Multiple opening cycles in wet weather; No warning lamps; Battery drain from repeated electrical signals in rain; Tailgate remains down unnoticed while driver is moving forward
Codes mentioned: 85734717 (tailgate release switch)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report bungee cord temporary fixes; one owner reports tailgate replacement; dealership service performed under warranty; one owner reports multiple failed repair attempts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM acknowledged to one owner this is a 'known issue on 2500 models but not for 1500 models'; some owners mention seeing online reports of recalls on other Silverados with same tailgate switch problem
Door lock compatibility with older vehicle keys
Keys from older Chevrolet vehicles (2016 models) unlock doors on 2021 Silverado. Appears related to GM reusing key codes after exhausting available codes. Creates security vulnerability as older keys from different owners can access newer trucks.
When: Issue exists across model production; discovered by owners with older vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Older key fob opens 2021 truck doors; No warning or indication of unauthorized access; Security vulnerability for theft and personal safety
Repairs/costs cited: No repair exists; lock changing will not solve problem per owner report
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships were unaware of issue until customers reported it; GM confirmed to owners they reused key codes
Hood strut failure
Hood support struts fail repeatedly and collapse without warning, causing hood to drop suddenly. Owner reports replacement four times within two months using OEM and aftermarket parts; failure persists despite multiple dealer service attempts.
When: At 19,775 miles; failures occurred over two-month period with replacements on unknown dates prior to 12/26/2025
Symptoms owners cite: Strut collapse without warning; Sudden hood dropping; Minor hand injury from sudden collapse; Risk of serious injury if person not prepared; Problem recurs immediately after replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Replaced four times: two OEM parts and one aftermarket part in two months; three different dealership technicians unable to diagnose root cause or prevent recurrence
Rear window seal leak
Water enters vehicle through cracks in rear window seal, particularly near rear pillar and roof edge. Multiple owners report water intrusion; one owner mentions TSB exists for this issue.
When: Reported at 25,900 miles and 57,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Water staining on interior roof; Water entering at window edge; Water running down rear pillar near airbag; Potential mold development; Rear power window cracks and leaks with repeated replacements
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnostics charged $273; rear power window replaced multiple times; dealer refused warranty repair despite TSB coverage claim
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB exists for this issue affecting numerous other trucks per owner report; manufacturer directed one owner to report to NHTSA
Fascia panel detachment
Exterior fascia panel detaches and falls off vehicle during highway driving at 65 mph. Panel subsequently strikes driver's side mirror. No impact or road debris preceding the failure.
When: Highway driving at 65 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Fascia panel separates from vehicle; Panel impacts driver's side mirror; Potential hazard to following traffic if panel lands in roadway
Repairs/costs cited: Owner description suggests potential assembly or fastening defect
Interior sharp object hazard
Sharp object present between seat and center console causing laceration when owner reached to retrieve dropped bank card. Required emergency medical attention with seven stitches.
When: At 934 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sharp object lodged in seat-console gap; Laceration to right hand; Required 7 stitches and medical attention
Repairs/costs cited: Local dealer unable to diagnose source of sharp object; vehicle not repaired
Front bumper filler detachment and wear
Front driver's side bumper filler partially detaches and wears down adjacent panel. Requires replacement of both filler and bracket.
When: At approximately 3,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Bumper filler slightly detached; Filler wearing down adjacent panel
Repairs/costs cited: Front driver's side bumper filler and bracket replaced at auto body shop
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
Frame rust
Owner reports major rust on frame of newly purchased 2021 Silverado. Concern whether recall exists for this condition.
When: Immediately upon purchase, specific mileage not provided
Symptoms owners cite: Visible rust on frame
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 23 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 28,633 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/Chevrolet/Silverado.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.