2016 Gmc SIERRA 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
59 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
29,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 59 complaints (23.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 17 | 28.8% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 22.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 18.6% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 10.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 5.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 14 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 |
Steering: 14; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Service Brakes: 10; Engine: 9; Electrical System: 8; Unknown Or Other: 7; Air Bags: 3; Tires:Tread/Belt: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 32 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 | 4 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2016: 4; 2017: 7; 2018: 3; 2019: 12; 2020: 4; 2021: 5; 2022: 8; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 5; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 11 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 10924403 · 2016-11-05 (November 5, 2016)
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 TOLD THIS ISSUE WAS REPORTED IN ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA AND TENNESSEE. THE DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT SHARDS OF METAL WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL INJECTOR AND THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY I WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,180 miles reported. Look up ODI 10924403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10950292 · 2017-02-08 (February 8, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING HAD EXCESSIVE SLACK WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE PITMAN SHAFT AND PERFORMED FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC DROVE THE VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A SOLUTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED FOUR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, BUT NO RECALL YET TO ADDRESS THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10950292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10993347 · 2017-06-06 (June 6, 2017)
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 HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE LIGHTS AND EVEN THE TRAILER BRAKES HAVE STOPPED OPERATING WHILE IN TRANSIT , AFTER I GAVE VERIFIED THAT THEY WORKED WHEN I STARTED OUT. I THEN AM A HAZARD TO MY FELLOW MOTORISTS AND MY FAMILY. …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10993347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10937972 · 2016-12-28 (December 28, 2016)
TL* 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 UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10937972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11185804 · 2019-03-11 (March 11, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 2500. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED. MASTRIA BUICK GMC (1525 NEW STATE HWY, RAYNHAM, MA 02767, [phone removed]) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE MATTER WOULD BE ESCALATED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11185804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10898140 · 2016-08-24 (August 24, 2016)
REPORTING A CONDITION OF POOR ENGINEERING / PROTECTION REGARDING THE LOCATION OF THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER BEHIND THE FRONT BUMPER. THERE IS AN OPENING FOR COOLING FROM RAM AIR THAT PROVIDES NO PROTECTION FROM DEBRIS, ROCKS, BIRDS, ETC FROM DAMAGING THE FINS AND/OR THE COOLER ITSELF. IF AN EVENT OCCURS FROM ANY OR OTHER SITUATIONS ABOVE, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE OIL LINES PUNCTURED RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO LOSS OF FLUID WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING TO THE DRIVER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10898140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11434790 · 2021-09-28 (September 28, 2021)
While driving down the road pulling a trailer The steering wheel started to get sloppy it got up to 3 to 4 inches of play in the steering wheel before the wheels return either way The adjustment screw locking nut and clip all came loose and backed out and caused a slap in the steering gearbox The truck became unsafe to drive I had to park the truck until the parts were ordered and the whole gearbox had to be replaced at a cost of over $1500. GM has service bulletins out there on this problem they all came from one assembly factory but they said…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11434790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11182586 · 2019-02-26 (February 26, 2019)
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 THE HIGHWAY. MOST OF THE TIME IT RESTARTS BUT NOW IT DON'T
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11182586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11436876 · 2021-10-15 (October 15, 2021)
I keep getting a warning message "service trailer brake system". The warning may come on for a second or it may stay on for 10 to 15 minutes. It may do it once a month or 10 times in a 2 minute period. Whenever this happens I lose the electrical braking system on what I am towing. There is no set pattern or circumstance for when or how long it will happen. I was told if the alert is not on there is not a way to diagnose the problem and since I never know when it will happen I cannot schedule any type of diagnostic service. It does seem to happ…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11436876 at NHTSA ↗