2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · symptom sheet
Tailgate or liftgate will not open or close
- 26owner reports
- 45,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 1, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
41 of the 828 complaints on this car are about the structure. 26 of those describe tailgate or liftgate failure.
Tick what matches of 26 reports
Tailgate or liftgate failure on other Silverado 1500 years
No other Silverado 1500 model year has enough reports of tailgate or liftgate failure for a sheet of its own. See every Silverado 1500 year.
What this problem usually is
Two different problems share this sheet. Pickup owners report tailgates that drop open on their own, sometimes at speed with cargo in the bed. SUV and minivan owners report liftgates that won't latch, won't stay up, or come down on someone.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the latch (8 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the structure covers the 2021 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the structure on the Silverado 1500
Tailgate support cables. Closed apr 11, 2006, led to recall 06V-066.
Tailgate support cable breakage. Closed apr 14, 2005.
Tailgate cable breakage. Closed sep 28, 2004, led to recall 04E-067.
Tailgate cable breakage. Closed feb 19, 2004.
None of these investigations covers the 2021 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 29,500 and 56,000 miles, from the 13 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Preliminary information communicates an issue where the minor tailgate will not open due to an aftermarket device installed on the vehicle.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern.
What owners wrote
“Rear tailgate does not open and sometimes will show a warning on the dash that the tailgate is open when it is not. The tailgate for the heavy duty 2500/3500 trucks were recalled for the same reason but not the 1500 trucks. This is a common issue on the truck forums and is an unsafe condition.”
Filed Sep 1, 2026
“I washed my truck and now suddenly the tailgate opens and closes whenever it decides and I have paint that is bubbling and it looks as if itâs gonna all chip right off the hood”
Filed Jan 14, 2025
“Unwanted inadvertent tail gate opening. The tailgate is opening without human interaction causing a safety issue and potential loss of cargo. Damage to tailgate from striking objects due to inadvertent opening”
Filed Nov 11, 2024
“The tailgate on my 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 opens randomly. Initially, it was not often, but progressively happening. I had to pull over in rush hour traffic this morning to shut the tailgate after it opened randomly. The only reason I knew, was checking the rear camera.”
Filed Sep 25, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 26 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 176 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 168 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 121 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 95 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 44 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 30 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 30 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 28 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 26 reports