VehicleVerdict

2016 GMC Sierra 1500 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 440 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.0 times the median Sierra 1500 year — the 2016 model ranks #9 of 33 Sierra 1500 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 16 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across brakes (105), transmission (83), and electrical system (60), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

440

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

1

Investigations

14

Crash-involved

18

Fires reported

16

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2016 compare to other Sierra 1500 years?

See all Sierra 1500 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes10524%
Transmission8319%
Electrical System6014%
Engine399%
Steering378%
Other358%
Visibility & Wipers153%
Suspension153%
Airbags113%
Fuel System82%
Seats72%
Tires & Wheels61%
Body & Structure61%
Speed Control41%
Lighting41%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)20%
Seat Belts20%
Driver Assistance10%

Does the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

21V504000AirbagsJuly 1, 2021 · 410,019 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

20V736000AirbagsNovember 25, 2020 · 9,279 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

19V761000BrakesOctober 24, 2019 · 652,967 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

19V645000BrakesSeptember 6, 2019 · 3,456,719 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

17V437000Seat BeltsJuly 10, 2017 · 40,683 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

16V651000Seat BeltsSeptember 8, 2016 · 3,640,162 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

16V256000SuspensionApril 28, 2016 · 3,738 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

WHEN THE PEDDLES ARE RAISED AND YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE YOU COULD BE PUSHING THE GAS AND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THE PEDDLES ARE LOWERED THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. A LOT OF PEOPLE STEP ON THE SIDE OF THE BRAKE AND IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN RAISED.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · January 19, 2017 · crash

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · April 25, 2019

VEHICLE WAS REMOTE STARTED- REAR DEFROST TURNED ON AUTOMATICALLY DUE TO OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. REAR DEFROST OVERHEATED AND SHATTERED REAR POWER SLIDING WINDOW (RPO A48) WHILE STATIONARY. BURNING SMELL WAS NOTED. GM CLAIMS MY VIN IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM N192265660.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · April 10, 2020 · fire

BRAKES FAIL. WILL NOT ALLOW VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN GOING FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHAKES. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 20MPH.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · July 1, 2020 · crash

I RECEIVED A WARNING MESSAGE ON MY DIGITAL DASH DISPLAY WHICH INDICATED "SERVICE POWER STEERING" AND MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED FOR SERVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME THE WARNING CAME ON. THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · January 2, 2020

2016 GMC Sierra 1500 — common questions

Is the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 440 complaints put the 2016 model at #9 of 33 Sierra 1500 years. It is one of the Sierra 1500 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2016 Sierra 1500 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (105 complaints), transmission (83 complaints), electrical system (60 complaints).

Does the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which GMC Sierra 1500 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Sierra 1500 years to avoid are 2014, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2020, 2023, 2017, 2016, 2008, 2024, 2018, 2011, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2012. The cleanest record among Sierra 1500 years belongs to 1995.

How safe is the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.