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2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 123 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, most often about the steering (37% of complaints, typically around 27,500 miles). It is 12th of 27 Silverado 2500 model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems
Steering
46 complaints · 37%Half of these problems showed up before 27,500 miles. Parts named most often: linkages, gear box (other than rack and pinion).
While driving on the highway at ~65 MPH, the steering suddenly became very loose. Had about 4 inches of play in the steering wheel before the tires would turn. Very hard to control vehicle in lane.
There is 2-4 inches of play/slack in the steering wheel. All ball joints and steering components are fine. Very dangerous and difficult to drive. 26,000 miles on the truck. Thanks
Transmission
18 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles.
Transmission coolant line from the transmission to trans cooler leaking at crimp on hose leaks and then brake completely causing trans fluid to be lost and lost of vehicle use
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the contact attempted to accelerate but the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over and turn off the vehicle. The contact stated that once the vehicle had cooled down…
Electrical
18 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 62,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, wiring.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. While driving, the driver's side visor started leaking water inside the vehicle. The contact was concerned that the leak could short out the electrical components on the driver's side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to haselwood Chevrolet buick gmc (501 w hills…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH and towing a 2005 dump trailer, the message "service trailer brake system" was displayed, and the trailer brake failed. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon inspecting the trailer wires and…
Brakes
14 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles.
Duramax 2500hd silverado lt steering/brake issue when rear tires go below TPMS threshold of 56 psi per tire and illuminate a warning light. The symptoms were while driving in forward direction a feeling of bad brakes/warped rotor/missing lug nuts with a continual increase of shaking past 25mph up to 65mph at which…
For three years I have towed several 10,000# toy hauler trailers around the country with sub standard brake systems. Each time I took the truck to the dealer to have the brakes checked, I was told that they were fine and no problems existed.with the trucks trailer brake system. After checking the trucks system…
Fuel system
13 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 34,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, storage.
I am on a cross country trip and the vehicles engine light came on, I pulled into a chevy dealer for service. Chevy dealer claims the part needed for repair called an ECM module, (I.e. Computer) is not available and it is not being produced because of a defect in design. The vehicle has been with a chevy dealer for 10…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact used a diagnostic scanner and retrieved dtc: p21dd. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the redundant tank reservoir and module kits were replaced…
Engine
8 complaints · 7%I am on a cross country trip and the vehicles engine light came on, I pulled into a chevy dealer for service. Chevy dealer claims the part needed for repair called an ECM module, (I.e. Computer) is not available and it is not being produced because of a defect in design. The vehicle has been with a chevy dealer for 10…
Check engine light came on throwing p203b code, which is the reductant level sensor code. This seems to have been an issue already in these vehicles dating back to 2011 when it started. I found a service bulletin #14652a regarding the replacement of such sensor but the dates on the vehicles only state 2011-2012. I…
Other or unspecified
7 complaints · 6%My vehicle vibrates and shakes at varying speed but mostly between 60 and 75mph. I have been to dealership three times for diagnosis and tires replaced twice. The dealership tested the vehicle with sensors and can not isolate the vibration. I have only had vehicle a few months and question the safety of the vehicle. I…
Lock system failure- child's finger caught in door. Vehicle was parked in my garage. We were preparing to go to school. Both front doors were open, my daughter was placing her backpack in front floorboard for school. While doing so, I reached in and started the truck. The locks automatically engaged. She pushed the…
Body and structure
5 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 37,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the passengerâs side door opened unintendedly. The vehicle was modified for accessibility and the contact stated that the platform with her son was out of the vehicle. The contact believed that the failure was due to the…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. While driving, the driver's side visor started leaking water inside the vehicle. The contact was concerned that the leak could short out the electrical components on the driver's side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to haselwood Chevrolet buick gmc (501 w hills…
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 2500 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.
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: 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.
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.
Questions about the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (46 complaints, typically around 27,500 miles); transmission (18 complaints, typically around 66,000 miles); electrical (18 complaints, typically around 62,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 have?
- 6 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 2500?
- It is 12th of 27 Silverado 2500 model years by number of complaints, with 123 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.