2016 Gmc SIERRA 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
340 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
47,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 187 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 100 of 340 complaints (29.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 121 | 35.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 80 | 23.5% |
| Steering behavior | 46 | 13.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 32 | 9.4% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 100 |
| Power Train | 82 |
| Electrical System | 51 |
| Engine | 38 |
| Steering | 37 |
| Unknown Or Other | 35 |
| Suspension | 15 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
Service Brakes: 100; Power Train: 82; Electrical System: 51; Engine: 38; Steering: 37; Unknown Or Other: 35; Suspension: 15; Air Bags: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 34 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 70 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 42 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 34; 25,000 to 49,999: 70; 50,000 to 74,999: 42; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (70). 153 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 40 |
| 2019 | 57 |
| 2020 | 47 |
| 2021 | 35 |
| 2022 | 33 |
| 2023 | 41 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 25 |
| 2026 | 11 |
2016: 10; 2017: 15; 2018: 40; 2019: 57; 2020: 47; 2021: 35; 2022: 33; 2023: 41; 2024: 26; 2025: 25; 2026: 11
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 121 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 80 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 46 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10957402 · 2017-02-27 (February 27, 2017)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10957402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11054734 · 2017-12-14 (December 14, 2017)
VACUUM PUMP FAILURE. THE TRUCK HAD THE VACUUM PUMP FAIL AFTER ONLY 56,XXX MILES. THE PUMP FAILED AND CAUSE ME A HARD BRAKE PEDAL WHILE COMING TO A STOP. THE PART INTERNALLY FAILED AND WAS NOT PRODUCING ENOUGH VACUUM TO SUPPLY THE BRAKE BOOSTER. AFTER DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE DEALER IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11054734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10904643 · 2016-09-08 (September 8, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT GEAR AND FAILED TO MOVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE DID RECOGNIZE THE CORRECT GEAR, IT ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10904643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10956881 · 2017-02-25 (February 25, 2017)
PERIODICALLY 3 TIMES A WEEK, WHILE DRIVING, THE STABILIZTRAK ILLUMINATES AND DRIVABILITY DECLINES, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMS, THE GEAR REMAINS IN A LOW GEAR WITHOUT SHIFTING. TURN THE IGNITION OFF FOR A COUPLE SECONDS AND IT CLEARS AND THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES OUT AFTER 25-35 MILES. SOMETIME IT DOESN'T RESET AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS OF TURNING OFF AND ON THE IGNITION. THE CODES ARE P0700 A U0100 WITH OTHERS WHEN DEALERSHIP ANALYZED. THREE TIMES IT WAS IN THE GMC SHOP AND THREE TIMES GIVING BACK AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. I RECORDED ON VIDEO AND GAVE IT TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10896801 · 2016-08-18 (August 18, 2016)
THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM THE NOTORIOUS CHEVY SHAKES THAT IS AFLICTING 2014/2015/2016 GM 1500S. I RETURNED TRUCK ONE BUSINESS DAY AFTER BUYING IT FOR SHAKING PROBLEMS. THE SHAKING/VIBRATING WAS FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, GAS PEDAL, AND SEAT OF YOUR PANTS. THEY SAID TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE. PICKED UP TRUCK TO FIND IT STILL DID IT THE NEXT TIME OUT AT HIGH WAY SPEEDS 55-70 MPH. 2ND TRIP TO THE DEALER FOR SHAKING THEY SAID TIRES NEEDED BALANCED AND I HAD 1 BAD TIRE THEY REPLACED. TOOK TRUCK ON ANOTHER HIGHWAY TRIP AND PROBLEM WAS STILL THER…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10896801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10897955 · 2016-08-23 (August 23, 2016)
ONE DAY THE POWER STEERING WOULDN'T WORK AT ALL FOR SEVERAL TRIPS. I WOULD TURN THE TRUCK ON AND A SERVICE WARNING MESSAGE WOULD DISPLAY STATING "HAVE YOUR POWER STEERING SERVICED" THE NEXT DAY THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. RECEIVED THE SAME WARNING AS I RECEIVED SEVERAL TIMES THE DAY BEFORE.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10897955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10945041 · 2017-01-13 (January 13, 2017)
ELECTRICAL ISSUE CAUSING SOUND SYSTEM, REAR CAMERA AND RADIO TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. ISSUE STARTED 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES BUT ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVE.
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10945041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11130347 · 2018-09-20 (September 20, 2018)
(1) THE TRUCK HESITATES AND THE ENGINE ALMOST SHUTS OFF LIKE IT'S NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS, IT DOES THIS FOR ABOUT THE FIRST 45 MINS. OF STARTUP. (2) THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND EVEN WITH A NEW BATTERY IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BARELY GOT ENOUGH POWER TO START THE ENGINE
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11130347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10924410 · 2016-11-05 (November 5, 2016)
THE QUALITY/PRECISION ISSUES I AM HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE ARE ISSUES THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A $50,000 VEHICLE. THE ENGINE HAS A ROUGH IDLE WHEN IT IS FIRST STARTED UP. AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMS UP THE ROUGH IDLE GETS WORSE. IT GETS EVEN WORSE WHILE I AM DRIVING IT AND I COME TO A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT. THE ROUGH IDLE VIBRATES THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE ROUGH IDLE IS AT ITS WORSE WHEN I STOP AFTER HAVING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS. I BOUGHT THIS NEW VEHICLE BECAUSE MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE WAS TOTALED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHEN S…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10924410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11118084 · 2018-08-06 (August 6, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11118084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11270877 · 2019-10-24 (October 24, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED AUTONATION BUICK GMC HENDERSON AT [phone removed] (LOCATED AT 330 NORTH GIBSON ROAD, HENDERSON, NV 89014) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE SEAL. THE MANUFACTURER W…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11270877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11506733 · 2023-02-11 (February 11, 2023)
My 2016 gmc Sierra transmission going out again first time locked up and researched everyone I know that owns gmc says they have same issue replaced front drive train busted also and noticed the weld on the frame around steering box and frame has one weld pass very thin rusting away already I've done replaced engine front diff fuel pump now airbag warning keeps going off and my radio has security build in it keeps locking up so I think my entire gmc sjo I ld be recalled replaced with a better used one at least gmc make it right allow me a saf…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11506733 at NHTSA ↗