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Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra block heater fire risk

NHTSA campaign 21V496000 · Reported 2021-07-01 · General Motors, LLC

critical How serious is it? About this label

Serious — an electrical short in the block heater can cause a fire; the notice does not tell you to stop driving, but do not plug the block heater in until the repair is done.

What's wrong, in plain English

These Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty trucks have a Duramax 6.6-liter diesel engine and an optional engine block heater, the plug-in warmer used in cold weather. The heater cord or the terminals that connect it to the heater can short out electrically, and that can start a fire. Dealers will replace the block heater and the cord for free. Trucks whose heater was already disabled will be offered free replacement parts.

What you should do

1. Look up your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V496000 (GM's number 212329840) applies to your truck.
2. Contact your Chevrolet or GMC dealer, or GM customer service at 1-800-462-8782, to schedule the free block heater and cord replacement.
3. If your truck was previously covered by recall 19V-328 or had the heater disabled, mention it — the cord will be replaced and rerouted, or replacement parts offered, at no charge.

Affected vehicles (8)

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
2018 GMC Sierra 2500
2018 GMC Sierra 3500
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
2019 GMC Sierra 2500
2019 GMC Sierra 3500

Who to contact

Chevrolet — official Chevrolet recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-222-1020

GMC — official GMC recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-462-8782

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Why do Chevrolet equipment recalls cover jacks, block heaters and manuals? · all 6 Chevrolet recalls in this area
GMC equipment recalls: block heater fires and wrong vehicle labels · all 4 GMC recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or in the terminals that connect the heater cable to the block heater.
Safety risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace engine block heaters and heater cords. Vehicles that have this feature disabled as a remedy to the safety condition will be contacted and offered replacement block heaters and heater cords under a separate customer satisfaction program, free of charge. GM will provide free replacement block heaters and cords under a separate customer satisfaction campaign. For vehicles previously included in recall 19V-328, the heater cord will be replaced and rerouted, free of charge. Interim owner notifications were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 4, 2022. Customers may call GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 212329840.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.