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2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, most often about the steering (29% of complaints, typically around 33,500 miles). It is 5th of 27 Silverado 3500 model years by number of complaints and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems
Steering
15 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 33,500 miles.
Sloppy loose steering, slack adjuster stud loosened 3/8 inch, 3 to 4 inch steering play. Unsafe. Loctite fix does not last. New re-engineered gear box recall needed.
Excess play and sloppy steering. Loose and worn pitman arm and idler arm needed replacement at 37,844 miles. Vehicle is lightly used and not abused off road.
Fuel system
11 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles.
P2636 transfer pump - driver indicated fuel gauge was fluctuating from full to empty. Check engine light came on and gauge dropped to empty. Driver saw smoke coming from left side of engine. Upon inspection strong fuel odor. Dealership found cleared code and found gauges reading normal, then pump "got loud and hot and…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. While driving 40-45 MPH, the reduced engine speed warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to herb easley motors (1125 central e fwy, wichita falls, tx 76306, ([phone]) where it was…
Brakes
10 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 10,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. While driving approximately 70 MPH hauling a goose neck flatbed duel tandem trailer, the power bus bar shorted. In addition, there was a failure with a loose wire associated with the starter. The radio would not turn off and the contact was locked in the vehicle. The…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. While driving various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed, felt soft, and traveled to the floorboard. The contact stated that the vehicle would eventually slow down and stop while the brakes were still being applied. There were no warning indicators illuminated on…
Body and structure
6 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 4,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. While driving approximately 70 MPH hauling a goose neck flatbed duel tandem trailer, the power bus bar shorted. In addition, there was a failure with a loose wire associated with the starter. The radio would not turn off and the contact was locked in the vehicle. The…
There is no grille billet covering the radiator in the front of the vehicle and debris fills the coils on the radiator causing the transmission to run hot
Electrical
6 complaints · 12%The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. While driving approximately 70 MPH hauling a goose neck flatbed duel tandem trailer, the power bus bar shorted. In addition, there was a failure with a loose wire associated with the starter. The radio would not turn off and the contact was locked in the vehicle. The…
Driving vehicle ABS and skid warning lights appears, brake system warning appears always lit while in towing mode. None stop beeping. No reason why this is happening. Had vehicle checked by multiple Chevrolet dealerships and they have changed sensors, towing plug twice, electrical rewiring. Began towing 1 hour after…
Engine
6 complaints · 12%While driving with the windows closed, the air conditioner on, with the recirculate button lit and dash level vents selected, I was overcome by truck exhaust fumes (a truck pulled in my lane ahead of me on the roadway) and briefly lost control of my vehicle from choking and coughing on it's fumes from the truck…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. While driving 40-45 MPH, the reduced engine speed warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to herb easley motors (1125 central e fwy, wichita falls, tx 76306, ([phone]) where it was…
Other or unspecified
4 complaints · 8%Driving vehicle ABS and skid warning lights appears, brake system warning appears always lit while in towing mode. None stop beeping. No reason why this is happening. Had vehicle checked by multiple Chevrolet dealerships and they have changed sensors, towing plug twice, electrical rewiring. Began towing 1 hour after…
Transmission
3 complaints · 6%The truck is a 2016 Chevrolet 3500 hd diesel, when the truck goes into regeneration mode the truck accelerates without notice. It doesn't matter if it's in park, reverse, neutral or drive, the RPM of the engine speeds up to about 900 RPM. In a forward motion it will speed up from 6 MPH to 10 MPH in drive without…
4 wheel drive did not engage before. Stuck on an snowy parking structure and could not get up the ramp, due to 4WD not engaging.drive shaft parts broke while engaging 4WD. It was cracked prior to the break, but the torque caused it to snap impacting the transmission,ripping out the filter from the transmission causing…
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 3500 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.
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure may cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank. The hole will leak fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Gm has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear-tank fuel-pump module, inspect the front tank and, if necessary, replace the front tank, free of charge. The recall began july 30, 2019. Gm's number for this recall is n182204190.
Full defect summary
General motors, llc (gm) is recalling certain 2016-2018 gmc sierra 3500 and chevrolet silverado 3500 trucks equipped with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks. The fuel-level sensor in the front tank may stick in a low-level position, allowing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.
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 3500
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (15 complaints, typically around 33,500 miles); fuel system (11 complaints, typically around 39,000 miles); brakes (10 complaints, typically around 10,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have?
- 7 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 3500?
- It is 5th of 27 Silverado 3500 model years by number of complaints, with 51 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.