KnownCarProblemsHome › Chevrolet › Silverado 1500 › 2016
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 797 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, most often about the brakes (33% of complaints, typically around 50,000 miles). It is 9th of 27 Silverado 1500 model years by number of complaints and has 12 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems
Brakes
266 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: power assist.
I am having brake assist failure at all speeds. It is impossible to stop without applying full force. The ABS 'clicking' can be heard and felt while trying to apply brakes. This system failed going down a mountain pass with a camper behind US and children in the back seat. The 'service brake assist' light was…
While attempting to brake at low speeds the brake booster and pedal failed causing me to use excessive brake pressure to get the the vehicle to stop. Due to this I was almost involved in a crash the vehicle only has 50k miles.
Transmission
194 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, transfer case (4-wheel drive).
This truck shakes horribly over 70 MPH. After looking for solutions and seeing hundreds of complaints on the same issue I have nowhere to turn and no hope that a dealership will be able to diagnose or fix this issue.
Transmission is jerky, and dealership says it's not safe to drive. Faulty transmission wiring harness and heat sensor. Truck has been at dealership for 18 days and gm has no estimate as to when the wiring harness will be available. I'm paying for a 50k truck and paying for a rental with no end in sight. Should be a…
Electrical
119 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 42,500 miles. Parts named most often: software, instrument panel.
Started by vehicle with remote start. Rear window defrost was on. I did hear some crackling noise by the window, but after getting things around forgot about it. 20 minutes or so into my drive I started to smell something hot/electrical. Noticed the rear defrost was still on so I shut that off too see if that was…
The ebcm with bpmv according to the Chevrolet dealership is what caused my brakes to lock up and run all the roters and brake pads.they will not cover the cost of this unit, vehical was in motion on a city street
Steering
110 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 42,500 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion, steering control module.
Driving down a country road the power steering failed while going around a corner at 40mph and came back almost causing total loss of control.
I bought the truck brand new in march of 2016. At just over 2 years and 40,000 miles, the electric power steering system started failing intermittently while driving the vehicle, seizing control of the steering. It happened while stopped, then it happened when turning on a city street. Extremely dangerous and should…
Other or unspecified
81 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles.
Driving at 2 miles an hour or 65 miles an hour I have an issue with a bad vibration and a shaking coming unknown source. It feels like I'm hitting potholes that are a foot deep when traveling down the road it happens in various times I could be traveling on the highway and it scares me to the point where I have to…
There was a hissing sound and smoke in the area of the rear power sliding window, I had read about this concern online and was able to shut my rear defroster off before it blew out the back window but not everyone is that lucky. Gm has a bulletin about a small water leak in the same area but does not acknowledge that…
Engine
73 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 49,500 miles.
Car stalls and restarts when driving and turning. Car won't turn or go. Have almost wrecked multiple times. Says something about stabilitrak
I made a turn at an intersection going 0mph to 10mph (low speed) and the engine shut down. Luckily I had a enough momentum to clear the intersection and not get t-boned. I was able to put the vehicle into neutral and start it again to drive off. No dash lights came on and I still had power steering indicating the key…
Suspension
30 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 10,000 miles. Parts named most often: rear.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle shook and vibrated. When driving above 65 MPH, the vehicle shook violently and vibrated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions. The dealer replaced the tires and rotated the wheels, but the failures…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While driving 70 MPH or higher, the vehicle shook. The higher the speed, the more it vibrated. The vehicle was taken to boch Chevrolet (381 providence hwy, norwood, ma 02062, ([phone]) several times. The wheels were re-balanced, but the failure occurred when the dealer…
Fuel system
27 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 27,500 miles.
My truck has a bad gas smell when entering or exiting the truck. I looked underneath it and saw a small gas leak coming from the top inside of the tank. The truck only has 26000 miles on it, and is just out of warranty. Please inform me if you know of other reports of gas leaking on these chevy trucks
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the fuel tank. The contact was informed that there was a crack in the fuel tank near the fuel sending…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 recalls
Air bags: inflator
Risk: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace both rrab modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed november 9, 2026. Owners may contact gmc customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is n262569920. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on september 24, 2026.
Full defect summary
General motors, llc (gm) is recalling certain 2016 chevrolet silverado 2500/3500, gmc sierra 2500/3500 vehicles, and 2016-2017 chevrolet silverado 1500 and gmc sierra 1500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (rrab) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Air bags: inflator
Risk: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right side rrab modules, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on august 18, 2021. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy is available. Phase I owner notification letters were mailed on may 5, 2022. Phase II owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on may 31, 2022. Owners may contact gmc customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. This recall supersedes NHTSA recall number 20v-736. Gm's number for this recall is n202324251.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2015-2016 gmc sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, and chevrolet silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (rrab) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Seat belts: front
Risk: A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat belt lap pretensioner, free of charge. The recall began on may 5, 2021. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is n212330040.
Full defect summary
General motors, llc (gm) is recalling certain 2014-2016 chevrolet silverado 1500, 2015-2016 chevrolet tahoe, and 2014-2015 gmc sierra 1500 vehicles that may have received an incorrect replacement tensioner cable assembly as part of a previous recall remedy or a subsequent repair. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
Air bags: inflator
Risk: If the end cap separates from the inflator, the compressed gas will escape and the end cap can be propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rrab modules on the left and/or right side, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on december 22, 2020. Owners may contact gmc customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Note: gm filed a new recall, number 21v-504 that supersedes this recall. All vehicles previously recalled under 20v-736 will now be repaired under the new recall number 21v-504. Gm's numbers for this recall are n202309680, n202309681, and n202309682.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2015-2016 gmc sierra 1500 and chevrolet silverado 1500 and 2015 gmc sierra 2500 and 3500, and chevrolet silverado 2500 and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (rrab) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator.
Brakes: service brakes
Risk: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ebcm, free of charge. The recall began december 11, 2019. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is n192261050.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2015-2020 chevrolet suburban, tahoe, and gmc yukon, and 2014-2018 chevrolet silverado 1500 and gmc sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 MPH in four-wheel or automatic mode, the electronic-brake control module (ebcm) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Brakes: vacuum
Risk: As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the electronic brake control module, free of charge. The recall began october 8, 2019. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is n192268490.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2015-2017 cadillac escalade, 2014-2018 chevrolet silverado, gmc sierra, 2015-2018 chevrolet suburban, tahoe, gmc yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Brakes: pedals and linkages
Risk: If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the nut and reinstall the nut with increased tightness, free of charge. The recall began october 3, 2018. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is 18278. Note: the vehicles in this recall need this additional remedy despite being covered by recall 16v069 for brake pedal loosening.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2015-2016 chevrolet silverado 2500, 3500, 1500 crew cab special service, tahoe police pursuit/special service, gmc sierra 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
Seat belts: front
Risk: If the pretensioner cable becomes fatigued or breaks, the driver may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pretensioner cable and seat side-shield, free of charge. The recall began june 19, 2018. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is 18156.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2015-2016 chevrolet silverado 1500 and tahoe police pursuit and special-service vehicles. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
Seat belts: pretensioner
Risk: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the sdm software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the sdm replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on august 4, 2017. Owners may contact buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is 17287.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 buick lacrosse and chevrolet spark EV, caprice ppv and ss vehicles, 2014-2017 buick encore and chevrolet corvette, silverado 1500 and gmc sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 cadillac escalade and escalade esv, chevrolet tahoe, trax, suburban and silverado 2500 and 3500 and gmc yukon and yukon xl vehicles, and 2015-2017 gmc sierra hd 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16v-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (sdm) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Seat belts: pretensioner
Risk: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the sdm software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the sdm replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on october 13, 2016. Owners may contact buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is 16007.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 chevrolet silverado 2500 hd, 3500 hd, tahoe, suburban, gmc sierra 2500 hd and 3500 hd, gmc yukon, gmc yukon xl, cadillac escalade and cadillac escalade esv vehicles and 2014-2017 chevrolet corvette, silverado 1500, trax, caprice police pursuit vehicle, gmc sierra 1500, buick encore, and 2014-2016 buick lacrosse, chevrolet spark EV and ss vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (sdm) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Suspension: control arm
Risk: Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on may 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been made, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is 42190.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 chevrolet silverado 1500 and 2016 cadillac escalade, cadillac escalade esv, chevrolet suburban, chevrolet tahoe, gmc sierra, gmc yukon and gmc yukon xl vehicles. The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.
Brakes: pedals and linkages
Risk: If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the brake pedal pivot nut and reinstall with an increased torque, free of charge. The recall began on march 14, 2016. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. Gm's number for this recall is 20760.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 chevrolet silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured october 1, 2013, to february 1, 2016, 2015-2016 chevrolet tahoe police pursuit vehicles (ppv) manufactured march 1, 2014, to february 1, 2016, and 2015-2016 gmc sierra 2500 and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured october 29, 2013, to february 1, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Brake vacuum pump failure
Summary
On november 20, 2018, the office of defects investigations (odi) opened pe18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (my) 2014 through 2016 gmc sierra 1500 and chevrolet silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and my 2015 through 2016 cadillac escalade, chevrolet suburban, chevrolet tahoe, and gmc yukon suvs.if the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extending the subject vehicle stopping distance. Gm stated that the root cause of pump failures was due to
Questions about the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (266 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles); transmission (194 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles); electrical (119 complaints, typically around 42,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?
- 12 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 24, 2026 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
- It is 9th of 27 Silverado 1500 model years by number of complaints, with 797 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.