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2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 343 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500, most often about the brakes (31% of complaints, typically around 45,000 miles). It is 11th of 27 Sierra 1500 model years by number of complaints and has 8 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 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Brakes
106 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: power assist.
Brakes failed completely at low to moderate speeds both going forward and in reverse. Brake pedal went flat to the floor and the vehicle failed to stop. Initially occurred november 7, 2018 and has periodically recurred since then. As of march and april 2019 it has begun to recur more frequently. After the initial…
This issue began last year in nov. 2018. We were in traffic and stopping and going until we couldn't stop and the brake pedal was to the floor and the car was still moving. We brought the truck to the dealer and they said it was the brake pads. We payed $1700 to replace all the pads. The other day (3 months with the…
Transmission
84 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Transmission shifts hard going from 1st to 2nd gear with no fix from gm. Complained to dealer they said it's normal and there's no fix for the issue. Issue also persist when going from drive to reverse, a hard shift that I've never experienced before in several previous gm products I owned or currently own. Happens…
When traveling low speeds like in a parking lot first gear jerks so bad it feels like someone rear ended you. Going highway speeds between 45 to 75 you feel vibrations coming from the transmission it feels like you're going over rumble strips. I had my transmission flushed and changed it fix the vibrations but 3000…
Electrical
54 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles. Parts named most often: alternator/generator/regulator, integrated trailer brake control, 12v/24v/48v battery.
While making turns the vehicle intermittently stalls, losing all control of steering and electrical components. When it stalls there is no steering control whatsoever and the vehicle does have brakes, but slow to react.. Restart the vehicle and the computer system slowly resets. This has happened 5 times in the last2…
Started truck. No radio, backup camera, nothing on screen. Also no blinker sound. All came back on after disconnecting and reconnecting negative battery cable. Before this happened, the radio had reset itself 4 other times and I had to reset clock and radio stations. GMC has had this problem with other vehicles.
Engine
41 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine, cooling system.
While driving the vehicle home from work, the vehicle shut down in the middle of traffic on a street while stopped at a traffic light and would not move after attempting to put the truck in "drive". I had to call for an emergency roadside service (tow truck) which towed the vehicle to a GMC dealership service dept. I…
Steering wheel jolts aggressively from the drivers hands. All electronics shutdown, engine shuts down, stabilitrak error & trailer brake on display. These conditions occur at any speed, going straight or turning. 25mph in city, driving 45 MPH country roads or when stationary. Very dangerous!
Steering
38 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that the steering and suspension either locked up or was very loose while driving approximately 30 MPH. Additionally, the steering either ceased or became loose. The contact contacted ed bozarth chevrolet company, inc. (2001 s havana st, aurora, co 80247…
I was waiting on the oncoming traffic so I could make a left turn. I had plenty of time to make my left turn in front of oncoming traffic, as I proceeded to make my turn all if a sudden my steering wheel locked up, stability trac light came on, my power locks locked and unlocked intermittently and truck engine died. I…
Other or unspecified
35 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 28,500 miles.
My truck was parked at a business. I started the truck after being inside for about 10 minutes and started to smell an electrical burn/shortening. I turned the truck off, told my wife to get out and I popped the hood. By the time she walked to the back and me to the front, the rear window behind the driver shattered…
Here is what happened regarding the rear sliding-window shattering (and nearly a fire) in my 2016 sierra: on january 1st, 2020, I was driving straight at approximately 30 MPH on a smooth, level city street (no potholes or road defects, etc.) in 25-degree weather with my rear-window defroster on when I smelled…
Suspension
15 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 33,000 miles.
Recall# 42190 upper control arm broke on my GMC Sierra 1500. I was driving out of a church parking lot and made a left turn on to a city street and my right front passenger tire fell off. I contacted gm warranty department and got it towed to dalton motors in marianna, ar. The technician stated that I had been in an…
Suspension issue, random vibration at speeds over 65 MPH that come and go. Same situation as what occurs in this youtube video. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[VIN]
Visibility and wipers
14 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 82,500 miles. Parts named most often: defroster/defogger/hvac system.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated he started vehicle using the remote start function. While driving approximately 40 MPH, there was an abnormal odor of smoke detected inside the cabin of the vehicle. The rear driver's side window shattered without warning or impact. The vehicle was taken to…
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that her husband remote started the vehicle. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the defrosters automatically activated. The vehicle warmed up for approximately 2 to 3 minutes. The contact stated that while leaving the driveway, her husband…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 GMC Sierra 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.
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.
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.
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 GMC Sierra 1500
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (106 complaints, typically around 45,000 miles); transmission (84 complaints, typically around 45,000 miles); electrical (54 complaints, typically around 66,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
- 8 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 GMC Sierra 1500?
- It is 11th of 27 Sierra 1500 model years by number of complaints, with 343 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.