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2016 Gmc SIERRA 3500: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

19 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

27,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 19 complaints (31.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior736.8%
Steering behavior631.6%
Fuel system concerns421.1%
Transmission and shifting15.3%
Engine operation15.3%

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.

Service Brakes
6
Steering
6
Engine
5
Fuel/Propulsion System
3
Electrical System
2
Power Train
2
Air Bags
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes6
Steering6
Engine5
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Electrical System2
Power Train2
Air Bags1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor1

Service Brakes: 6; Steering: 6; Engine: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Electrical System: 2; Power Train: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 12 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.

2016
1
2017
1
2018
1
2019
1
2020
2
2021
3
2022
1
2023
3
2024
3
2025
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20161
20171
20181
20191
20202
20213
20221
20233
20243
20253

2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 3; 2025: 3

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10917189 · 2016-10-18 (October 18, 2016)

SIDE THORAX AND HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAGS ARE LISTED AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE 2016 GMC SIERRA TRUCK LINE. I DISCOVERED AFTER MY PURCHASE THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE SIDE AIRBAGS. AFTER RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT WHEN YOU SELECT THE DURAMAX ENGINE OPTION, GMC DELETES ALL SIDE AIRBAGS AND DOES NOT NOTIFY THE CUSTOMER. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS SIDE AIRBAGS OR NOT. SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SIDE AIRBAGS (LIKE MYSELF) BUT IF THEY SELECTED THE VERY POPULAR (AND QUITE EXPENSIVE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10917189 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10948966 · 2017-02-01 (February 1, 2017)

-ALL STARTED WITH LOUD POP, METAL FAILURE SOUND. -AT A STOP, WITH BRAKES APPLIED, THE POWER STEERING TURNS THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE TO PULL TO THE LEFT TO KEEP THE WHEEL CENTERED. (NOT MOVING) THIS PRESSURE ISSUE WILL FINALLY STOP AND THE WHEEL WILL CENTER ON IT'S OWN. -STEERING HAS SLOP, FEELS LOOSE, DEAD CENTER -WHILE AT SPEED APPLYING THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TORN FROM MY HAND 3 TIMES. THE POWER STEERING CAUSES TRUCK TO CHANGE DIRECTIONS WHEN BRAKING. 99% OF THE TIME THE TRUCK TURNS RIGHT. THE HYROBOOST SYSTEM IS TURNI…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10948966 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11113566 · 2018-07-25 (July 25, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE PASSING A BOAT RAMP HAULING A BOAT TRAILER, THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT BECAME DETACHED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT THE SERPENTINE BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEGACY BUICK GMC (293 E HOWZE BEACH RD, SLIDELL, LA 70461, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11113566 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11191309 · 2019-03-25 (March 25, 2019)

STEERING WHEEL HAS SLOP/PLAY IN IT. WHEEL HAS 3-4 INCHES OF PLAY BEFORE IT CATCHES. CAN DRIVE DOWN ROAD AND 1 MIN WHEEL IS TO THE LEFT NEXT ITS TO RIGHT TO KEEP TRUCK GOING STRAIGHT.

Owner-reported narrative. 20,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11191309 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11299215 · 2020-01-14 (January 14, 2020)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH OR MORE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH A MESSAGE STATING THAT IN APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (BURTENESS CHEVROLET BUICK GMC OF WHITEWATER LOCATED AT 1389 W MAIN ST, WHITEWATER, WI 53190 PHONE NUMBER [phone removed]) TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT I…

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11299215 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11360079 · 2020-09-20 (September 20, 2020)

THE BRAKE BOOSTER CILYNDER HAVE A BAD LEAKING IT WAS PARKED WHEN I SAW THIS HAPPEN

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11360079 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11387014 · 2021-01-07 (January 7, 2021)

EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL 2 TO 3" VERY UNSAFE, AT ALL TIMES WHEN DRIVING. GM IS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SERVICE BULLETIN PIT5501D. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11387014 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11416308 · 2021-05-12 (May 12, 2021)

BACKED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE TO GO SOMEWHERE, GOT ON THE MAIN ROAD AND IT WAS WONDERING WITH A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, NEXT HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE FRONT WHEELS STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL I SLOWED TO UNDER 40 MPH, HIT ANOTHER ROAD SEAM AND IT DID THE SAME THING.TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, HE DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILED STEERING BOX. TRUCK ONLY HAS 27,500 MILES ON IT. NEVER SEEN A DIRT ROAD, NOT DRIVEN IN THE WINTER.$1700.00 LATER ITS FIXED. MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET AND GMC HAS NOT RECALLED THESE TRUCKS FOR…

Owner-reported narrative. 27,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11416308 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

16V069000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Reported: 2016-02-05 (February 5, 2016)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V651000 · Seat Belts:Pretensioner | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2016-09-08 (September 8, 2016)

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V437000 · Seat Belts:Pretensioner | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2017-07-10 (July 10, 2017)

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V578000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Reported: 2018-08-30 (August 30, 2018)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V088000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Reported: 2019-02-07 (February 7, 2019)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 GMC Sierra 3500 and Chevrolet Silverado 3500 trucks equipped with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks. The fuel-level sensor in the front tank may stick in a low-level position, allowing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.

Consequence: If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure may cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank. The hole will leak fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear-tank fuel-pump module, inspect the front tank and, if necessary, replace the front tank, free of charge. The recall began July 30, 2019. GM's number for this recall is N182204190.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V504000 · Air Bags:Side/Window:Curtain:Inflator

Reported: 2021-07-01 (July 1, 2021)

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗