The power steering on the truck would quit working at times. I made an appointment with a local dealership to have it checked out. I was told the steering rack was binding and would need to be replaced. I was also told there was a two to four week backorder on the parts. As I am trying to back out of my garage to take it to the dealer the steering totally locked up. I called a wrecker to take the…
2021 GMC Sierra steering problems
moderate 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 31 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Twenty-seven complaints center on steering system failures. The most common issue is total loss of power steering, with owners describing locked steering wheels and concurrent dashboard warnings like "Service Power Steering" and ESC faults. These failures happen across the vehicle's lifespan—from 13,000 to 103,000 miles—and often occur without warning while driving at highway speeds. One owner lost all steering and braking simultaneously at 80 mph; another experienced complete separation of the right front wheel and control arm at just 25 mph due to ball joint failure.
Several owners report intermittent steering lockup that resolves after restart or battery disconnect, suggesting electrical faults. A dealer confirmed one case involved a failed main grounding strap. Others cite a missing steering shaft bolt and sheared alignment cam guide pins that caused the steering wheel to spin independently while driving.
Notably, owners point out that identical failures are covered by recalls on 2021 Yukon and Tahoe models but not the Sierra, despite using the same systems. One dealer stated it had many trucks with these issues but no solution available. Parts like the steering rack are on extended backorder, suggesting the problem is not isolated. Repair costs when available range into thousands of dollars, and some claims have been denied by the manufacturer despite acknowledged defects.
Same GMC Sierra steering reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering loss / failure
Complete loss of power steering assistance, rendering the steering wheel locked or extremely difficult to turn. Owners report sudden loss while driving and at low speeds, sometimes with temporary recovery after restart or wait. Multiple complaints note this issue exists on other 2021 GM models (Yukon, Tahoe) that have recalls, but the Sierra is reportedly not included.
When: Occurs across mileage range from 13k to 103k miles; sometimes at startup, sometimes mid-drive without warning
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks or becomes immovable; Steering wheel spins freely without control input registering; Intermittent loss and recovery of steering control; 'Service Power Steering' dashboard message; 'Service Power Steering Drive with Care' message; Steering assist reduced warning; ESC / traction control warnings concurrent with steering loss
Codes mentioned: P0604 (BCM related codes), ESC warning light, Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack replacement with 2–4 week backorder on parts; dealer reports backorder indicates widespread issue; one owner cited $5,000 full repair estimate; grounding strap replacement mentioned in one case; some dealers report no fix available at time of complaint
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reports manufacturer agreed the part should never fail but then stated owner was responsible for repair; another states there is no recall currently on 2021 Sierra despite same issue appearing on other 2021 model recalls (Yukon, Tahoe)
Steering column / shaft failure
Mechanical failure of steering column components including missing or sheared fasteners. Owner reported missing bolt on steering shaft; another noted alignment cam guide pins sheared off, causing loss of control and steering wheel spinning independent of input.
When: At approximately 80,000 miles for missing bolt; during highway driving for sheared cam guide pins at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel became loose and spun in circle; Steering wheel spun a quarter turn without driver input while driving at highway speed; Alignment drifted side to side; Vehicle drifted and nearly caused crash
Repairs/costs cited: Bolt replacement required; GMC initially refused warranty claim on alignment cam guide pin failure; owner had to repair at non-GM shop
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall on vehicle; no warranty coverage offered initially; manufacturer did not acknowledge the alignment issue
Steering wheel seizure at standstill
Steering wheel suddenly locks or seizes when vehicle is parked or at standstill, preventing movement. Can sometimes be resolved by battery disconnect / reboot or ignition cycle.
When: At standstill in garage or parking lot; one case at 15,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel seized with no warning light in some cases; Steering wheel locked and immovable at startup; 'Service Power Steering' message appeared
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer instructed battery ground cable removal and reinstall to reboot system; problem resolved after restart in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in one case
Concurrent loss of steering and braking
Simultaneous failure of power steering and brake function, sometimes triggered by engine shutdown or electrical fault. Owners report inability to steer or brake effectively at highway speed, creating imminent collision risk.
When: During highway driving at 65–80 mph; at startup; mid-drive at 40 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Total loss of power steering simultaneous with brake failure; Brakes not working properly / reduced brake function; Steering seized and brakes seized together; 'Service Power Steering' message; 'Brake' warning message; Engine turned off completely while driving; Engine oil pressure warning after loss of propulsion
Codes mentioned: Low fuel code (false; tank full), Trailer brake system code, Side detection code, ESC traction control code
Repairs/costs cited: One case involved main grounding strap replacement; another involved failed recall-related engine issue per service writer suggestion
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership service writer indicated failure may be related to unaddressed recall; manufacturer had no solution available at time of contact
Front-end structural failure / control arm collapse
Complete separation of right front wheel and tire from vehicle due to failure of upper and lower control arms and ball joint. Represents catastrophic mechanical failure at low speed; owner notes would have been fatal at highway speed.
When: At approximately 25–30 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Right front end failed catastrophically; Steering and brakes locked up for approximately 50 feet; Right front wheel and tire completely broken away from upper and lower control arms; Ball joint broke and failed; Brake line damaged in the failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealership; extended warranty inspector called to assess claim
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty coverage status unclear as of complaint filing
Steering noise and suspension clunking
Multiple noise complaints from steering and suspension components under turning and bumpy road conditions. Includes popping, creaking, clicking, and loud spring noises with whole-truck bouncing sensation.
When: During normal driving, hard turns, speed bumps; on vehicle with 57,000 miles in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Popping noise on hard turns and speed bumps; Creaking noise while turning wheel left or right; Clicking noise on slow sharp turns; Loud spring noise over bumps causing whole truck to bounce; Hard shifter (ancillary complaint)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated they had many trucks with same issues but no fix available at time of complaint
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledged multiple vehicles with issue but reported no solution
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2021 GMC Sierra?
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 steering problem on the 2021 GMC Sierra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 31 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 31 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 66,000 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/GMC/Sierra.
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.