Recall 21V189 covers 10,154 2021 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles for battery-cable short circuits. Park outside. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
A short circuit can increase the risk of a fire. If your Express or Savana shows a low battery voltage warning or has a dead battery, treat it as a warning sign and schedule the recall repair soon. Until the repair is complete, park outside and away from structures. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
Chevrolet is recalling 10,154 2021 Express and Savana vans because positive battery cable terminals can contact a fuse block attachment post and cause an electrical short circuit. A short circuit can raise the risk of fire, so owners should park outside and away from structures until a Chevrolet dealer completes the free repair.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The positive battery cable on the 2021 Chevrolet Express and Savana carries power from the battery into the vehicle's electrical system. On vans with the 6.6L gasoline engine, that cable connects near the engine compartment fuse block, the protected junction box that routes electrical power to different circuits. The cable terminal has an anti-rotation tab, a small locator that helps keep the terminal positioned correctly.
On included vans, the clearance between that tab and the fuse block attachment post is too tight. If the tab touches the post, it can create an electrical short circuit. That short can drain the battery and generate heat at the cable and fuse block area.
Drivers can see a low battery voltage warning or find the battery dead after the van sits for a short time. Those are the warning signs tied to this defect.
Who's affected?
Covers two full-size van nameplates using the same positive battery cable assembly.
| 2021 Chevrolet Express | battery |
|---|---|
| 2021 GMC Savana | battery |
| Units affected | 10,154 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific van is included.
What's the safety risk?
A short circuit can increase the risk of a fire. If your Express or Savana shows a low battery voltage warning or has a dead battery, treat it as a warning sign and schedule the recall repair soon. Until the repair is complete, park outside and away from structures. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2021 Chevrolet Express or GMC Savana is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet or GMC dealer to schedule the free battery-cable repair for the short-circuit fire risk.
- Park the vehicle outside and away from structures until the repair is complete.
- Bring the recall notice if Chevrolet has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 21V189 and GM recall N202325160 when you call.
- Ask the dealer to remove the anti-rotation tab material near the fuse block, or replace the battery cable if prior service removed too much of the tab.
What happens at the repair
Keep the vehicle parked outside and away from structures until the recall work is complete. At the dealer, a Chevrolet technician removes part of the anti-rotation tab on both positive battery cable terminals near the fuse block assembly attachments. If prior service removed too much of the tab, the technician replaces the battery cable instead. Parts and labor are covered under recall 21V189. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the existing warranty, not through a separate reimbursement program, because all covered vehicles are under warranty. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies to prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| March 18, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 18, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| March 18, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 16, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 3, 2021 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| May 3, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V189?
Recall 21V189 covers 10,154 2021 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans with 6.6L gasoline engines. The positive battery cable terminals can contact a fuse block attachment post and create an electrical short-circuit. Chevrolet dealers will modify the terminals or replace the battery cable for free.
What should I do if my 2021 Chevrolet Express or GMC Savana is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific van is included in recall 21V189. If it is, park outside and away from structures until the repair is complete, then schedule the free battery-cable terminal repair with a franchised Chevrolet dealer. Reference recall number 21V189 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair covered safety defects at no cost. For recall 21V189, the dealer will remove part of the anti-rotation tab on both positive battery cable terminals, or replace the battery cable if prior service removed too much material, free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire. If the positive battery cable terminals contact the fuse block assembly attachment post, the electrical short-circuit can increase fire risk. Until the repair is complete, keep the van parked outside and away from structures.
What if I bought my Chevrolet Express or GMC Savana used?
The free repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to see whether your specific 2021 Chevrolet Express or GMC Savana is included, then contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer and reference recall number 21V189.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V189000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-800-222-1020 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V189 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V189000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →