2016 Gmc SIERRA DENALI: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
30 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
48,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 30 complaints (30.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 33.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 13.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Power Train: 9; Service Brakes: 8; Steering: 6; Engine: 3; Electrical System: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Wheels: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2017: 2; 2018: 6; 2019: 11; 2020: 8; 2021: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10969732 · 2017-03-31 (March 31, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,300. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10969732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11023589 · 2017-09-15 (September 15, 2017)
THIS ISSUE STARTED A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE TRUCK TOOK IT TO TWO DEALERS THEY SAY ITS NORMAL. CALLED GMC & THEY HAVE NO RECALL. WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK & HAVE TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS & HAS A VERY NOTICABLE JERK. WILL ACTUALLY JERK THE HOLE TRUCK. PEOPLE WHO HAVE RODE WITH ME TELL ME I HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHAT CAN I DO
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11023589 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11063400 · 2018-01-17 (January 17, 2018)
THE REAR SEAT HEADRESTS ARE UNDERSIZED AND TOO SMALL TO PROPERLY PROTECT AND ACCOMMODATE TEENAGE AND ADULT PASSENGERS. ALSO, WHEN THEY ARE SET AT THEIR HIGHEST SETTING, THEY BECOME UNLOCKED WITH VERY LITTLE BACK OR SHOULDER PRESSURE AND FALL TO THE LOWEST SETTING. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 24,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11063400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11075339 · 2018-02-27 (February 27, 2018)
MY 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500 DIESEL DENALI HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AND OVER 50 DAYS SINCE NOVEMBER 4, 2017 FOR AN EMISSIONS ISSUE. ON NOVEMBER 4 WHILE DRIVING, I RECEIVED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT SAID TO SERVICE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND A COUNTDOWN STARTED, REDUCING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE BY 10 MPH AFTER EVERY 50-75 MILES . THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 38,700 MILES AT THE TIME. THE ERROR MESSAGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP RECEIVED WAS P205B REDUCTANT TANK TEMPERATURE SENSOR PERFORMANCE. THEY REPLACED THE EMISSION REDUCTION TANK RESERVOIR AND COMPLETED A …
Owner-reported narrative. 38,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11075339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11093803 · 2018-05-14 (May 14, 2018)
LOOSES BRAKE ASSISTANCE IN PARKING LOT AND SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH VARIOUS CODES THE MOST COMMON IS MISFIRE ON STARTUP IT HAPPEN IN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11093803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11114476 · 2018-07-30 (July 30, 2018)
TRUCK SHIFTS REALLY HARD AND IS UNPREDICTABLE. I ALMOST DROVE THROUGH MY GARAGE DOOR THE OTHER DAY SHIFTING TO DRIVE FROM REVERSE. TRUCK WILL LUNGE FORWARD OR DELAY IN SHIFTING. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES I'VE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES BEFORE I BACKED INTO SOMETHING. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN 3-4 TIMES FOR THE ISSUE AND GMC WON'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11114476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11118643 · 2018-08-08 (August 8, 2018)
8 SPEED TRANSMISSION BUCKS, HESITATES, LURCHES FORWARD, CLUNKS, WHILE STARTUNG ACCELERATION OR COMING TO A STOP. I TRY TO KEEP A BIG GAP BETWEEN MY TRUCK AND CARS IN FRONT OF ME AT STOP SIGNS BECAUSE IT RANDOMLY LURCHES FORWARD AND I ALMOST HAVE BUMPED CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALER SO MANU TIMES TO FIX THE VIBRATION ISSUES AS WELL, THEY SAID 3 TIRES THAT CAME IN THE BRAND NEW TRUCK WERE DEFECTIVE SO I HAD TO REPLACE THEM ALL AND THE SHAKE IS STILL THERE, THE BALANCED, REBALANCED, ROAD FORCE BALANCE AND NOTHING WORKS.…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11118643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11160788 · 2018-12-11 (December 11, 2018)
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE BRAKING SYSTEM BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I'VE HAD THE BRAKE PEDDLE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY AT SLOW SPEEDS, A GOOD EXAMPLE IS WHEN YOU ARE IN A TRAFFIC JAM AND ARE PRIMARILY USING THE BRAKES TO EDGE FORWARD AND STOP.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11160788 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.