2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Spare Tire Recall (21V985)
General Motors, LLC · 626 vehicles · Reported December 16, 2021
General Motors, LLC is recalling 626 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500; 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The 17" spare tire provided with the vehicle is not compatible for use with the accessory wheels, which can cause the anti-lock brake system (ABS) to not function properly under certain conditions. An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V985 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V985000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | N212346510 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | December 16, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | General Motors, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500; 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 |
| Units affected | 626 |
| Component | Tires > Temporary / Emergency Spare Tire |
| Safety risk | An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 in recall 21V985?
The 17" spare tire provided with the vehicle is not compatible for use with the accessory wheels, which can cause the anti-lock brake system (ABS) to not function properly under certain conditions.
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 GMC Sierra 1500 and Silverado 1500 vehicles equipped with certain accessory road tires and a 17" spare tire. The 17" spare tire provided with the vehicle is not compatible for use with the accessory wheels, which can cause the anti-lock brake system (ABS) to not function properly under certain conditions.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Sierra 1500 with recall 21V985?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An ABS system that does not function properly can increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the temporary and emergency spare tire.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V985?
Recall 21V985 covers 626 vehicles: 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500; 2021 GMC Sierra 1500.
NHTSA lists 626 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Chevrolet | Silverado 1500 |
| 2021 | GMC | Sierra 1500 |
What is the fix for the Sierra 1500 spare tire recall?
Yes. Dealers will provide a new 17" spare tire and wheel assembly that is compatible with the accessory wheels, free of charge.
Dealers will provide a new 17" spare tire and wheel assembly that is compatible with the accessory wheels, free of charge. Dealers will also apply a new spare tire information label, and provide owners with an owner's manual insert clarifying which spare tire to use with the accessory road tires and with the 17" original tires. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212346510.
When was recall 21V985 announced?
General Motors, LLC reported recall 21V985 to NHTSA on December 16, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as February 7, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| December 16, 2021 | General Motors, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V985000. |
| February 7, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 58 months ago. If your Sierra 1500 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Sierra 1500 is part of recall 21V985?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V985 is open on your Sierra 1500, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V985000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Sierra 1500 owners do about recall 21V985?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V985000 applies to your Sierra 1500.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized GMC dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any temporary and emergency spare tire symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Sierra 1500 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,401 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 42 of them about the suspension, wheels and tires.
Since recall 21V985 was reported on December 16, 2021, owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the suspension, wheels and tires on these vehicles. 4 of them (11%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the suspension, wheels and tires and were received on or after December 16, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related suspension, wheels and tires issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,401 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 42 of them involve the suspension, wheels and tires. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 828 complaints in total, 25 about the suspension, wheels and tires
- 2021 GMC Sierra 1500: 573 complaints in total, 17 about the suspension, wheels and tires
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
1st incident cracked frame/suspension support for front suspension, 4 months to fix, 2nd incident oil pump, lifter failure, replaced under warranty. 3rd failure engine sieze while driving at 55-60 mph.
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owner, ND, NHTSA complaint 11666487, filed June 12, 2025
On 2-23-2026, while traveling at highway speeds on the freeway, the front upper and lower A-arms (control arms) suffered a complete structural failure. This caused an immediate loss of steering control, forcing the vehicle off the road.
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11720647, filed February 26, 2026
The antilock brake system (abs), brakes, and electronic stability control system (esc) might not illuminate. This could cause the driver to not know if any of these systems are inoperable.
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11390737, filed January 29, 2021
Can recall 21V985 make my Sierra 1500 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this temporary and emergency spare tire recall means their Sierra 1500 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
If a suspension or wheel problem on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 returns after the recall work, keep the repair orders. Repeat visits for the same defect are what California's lemon law looks at.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Sierra 1500 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Sierra 1500 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other GMC Sierra 1500 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V985
Did the recall 21V985 fix work?
Since recall 21V985 was reported on December 16, 2021, owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the suspension, wheels and tires on these vehicles. 4 of them (11%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed February 7, 2022.
Is the 21V985000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Sierra 1500 is part of recall 21V985000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V985000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Chevrolet, GMC. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.