2021 GMC Sierra 1500 · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 26owner reports
- 21,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
120 of the 573 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 26 of those describe infotainment.
Tick what matches of 26 reports
Infotainment on other Sierra 1500 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Screen complaints read like a list of small betrayals. The display goes black or freezes, the backup camera shows nothing when you shift into reverse, CarPlay or Android Auto keeps dropping, or the radio changes volume on its own. Many owners had a software update that didn't fix it. A narrower sheet covers backup camera failures on their own, and another covers screens that freeze.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head unit or screen (13 reports), the software (6 reports) and the camera (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the electrical system covers the 2021 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Sierra 1500
Pedestrian alert sounds. Closed aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V-063.
Non-crash engine compartment fires. Closed sep 8, 2008, led to recall 08V-441.
Non-crash engine compartment fires. Closed jun 12, 2008.
None of these investigations covers the 2021 model year.
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 35 service bulletins or notices for the 2021 GMC Sierra 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 communication provides information to the technician how to repair vehicles that Instrument Panel Cluster, Radio, and Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning display blanks out, Bluetooth phone or Pandora connection dropped, the radio ...
This service bulletin provides a procedure to correct radio software concerns.
Certain vehicles may have a condition in which a transmission control body screen detaches from the spacer plate when the vehicle is operated in extremely cold weather conditions. Dealers are to reprogram the Transmission Control Module.
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concerns of Radio Software issues.
31 more on the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 page.
What owners wrote
“Dashboard keeps returning to aljarir type writing. We bought it with American English but won't stay in English. Monday will be 30 day and I believe the dealer is ghosting me. Y'all have any ideas how to reset the dashboard without replacing the radio??? Closest answer I was given.”
Filed Sep 15, 2026
“Vehicle will not consistently shut off. Shift to park error received upon trying to shut vehicle off. Concerns on if the vehicle is actually in park and if it is safe to exit vehicle. Concern that vehicle is not in park and electrical units arenât being properly shut down (i.e. radio).”
Filed Jun 3, 2026
“Radio screen will go blank randomly after turning the truck off the I can here the radio but can not see any screen. After turning the radio of an exiting the truck radio still plays all of the sudden the radio will go off and restarting the truck radio is working again .At any random time the radio will go blank again”
Filed Jul 30, 2024
“My son got into the car to drive it and saw a black screen with a message that states âupdate failed, see dealerâ and had multiple languages. Since that date, he has no GPS or backup cam, which he relies on as a new driver. Nothing at all in the info system works.”
Filed Jun 19, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 26 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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 126 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 104 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 88 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 53 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 43 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 26 reports