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2016 GMC Sierra 2500 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Sierra 2500, most often about the steering (24% of complaints, typically around 25,000 miles). It is 13th of 27 Sierra 2500 model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 problems
Steering
14 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles.
On 5 different occasions the power to the truck cuts off and the steering wheel locks up while driving. On the dash the stabililock light flashes. This has happened to me while turning to get on a major highway, while driving down main roads trying to change lanes, and the last time I was turning into my banks drive…
Truck steering is very dangerous. 4-8 inch play in the wheel left and right. You have to turn the wheel 4' either way for it to respond. The dealerships don't have a fix for this and there are 1000 of thread posts on this issue. This exact issue. People are going to die if this is not fixed properly and recalled by…
Fuel system
12 complaints · 20%Parts named most often: delivery.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel injector pump failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The VIN was…
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled inadvertently, almost causing a crash. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she was able to veer to the side of the road by dodging traffic. The vehicle failed to…
Brakes
10 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 21,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500. When the brake pedal was depressed, a very loud squealing noise was heard. The noise was so loud that other drivers informed the contact that there was an issue with her brakes. The noise began ever since the vehicle was purchased in 2016. The vehicle was taken to nick abraham…
While driving at 45mph in the left lane of a major city thoroughfare the engine quit running, power steering and brakes did not work. The check engine light came on when the engine quit running. I was able to get the vehicle stopped but the engine would not start. The vehicle was towed to the dealership where I was…
Engine
9 complaints · 15%While driving at 45mph in the left lane of a major city thoroughfare the engine quit running, power steering and brakes did not work. The check engine light came on when the engine quit running. I was able to get the vehicle stopped but the engine would not start. The vehicle was towed to the dealership where I was…
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that there was an oil leak after seeing a puddle of oil under the vehicle. The failure occurred without warning. The dealer diagnosed that the turbo was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle…
Electrical
9 complaints · 15%Parts named most often: horn.
The 7 way trailer plug on this vehicle will not hold the trailer plug firmly, resulting in the plug coming loose during normal driving conditions. One obvious issue is that the flap holding the plug in is upside down from any other configuration I've seen, allowing the plug to sag. This is a serious safety risk as I…
On 5 different occasions the power to the truck cuts off and the steering wheel locks up while driving. On the dash the stabililock light flashes. This has happened to me while turning to get on a major highway, while driving down main roads trying to change lanes, and the last time I was turning into my banks drive…
Other or unspecified
7 complaints · 12%I was driving down the highway, not under an overpass or near other cars when I heard a loud bang. This noise sounded like a bomb going off. I pulled over and looked on the top of the truck and my sunroof had exploded. There wasn't anything around to even hit it. From the looks of the break there had been an internal…
My vehicle shut down and I had the ABS light stability control light and the airbag light as well as more that came on. The truck was picked up from the dealer after they said it was a wiring issue and was. It covered under warranty. This has happend 4 times already and been at the dealer 3 times I had it happen on…
Wheels and tires
4 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: tread/belt, lugs/nuts/bolts/studs.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while refueling, he became aware that the front passenger's side wheel bearing was missing the nut and washers. Additionally, the vehicle made an abnormal jingling sound while driving at approximately 20-30 MPH. The contact, an independent mechanic…
Air bags
3 complaints · 5%The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while her husband was driving approximately 50 MPH, a deer ran in front of the vehicle causing extreme front end damage. The contact stated that the deer ended up under the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy however, smoke or powder was seen coming from the…
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 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 GMC Sierra 2500
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 GMC Sierra 2500?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (14 complaints, typically around 25,000 miles); fuel system (12 complaints); brakes (10 complaints, typically around 21,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 GMC Sierra 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 GMC Sierra 2500?
- It is 13th of 27 Sierra 2500 model years by number of complaints, with 59 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.