YearToAvoid

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Brakes Problems

Brakes account for 280 complaints on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 35% of all 799 complaints filed for the year, with median failure mileage of 50,000. Four related brake recalls exist, though none exactly match the low-speed stiff-pedal pattern most owners describe.

Brakes complaints
280
35% of 799
Crashes reported
29
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
50,000 mi
Related recalls
4

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Brake pedal becomes stiff and hard to depress at low speeds, such as in parking lots or stop-and-go traffic, reducing stopping power.
  • Owners report the truck continuing to roll forward despite pushing the pedal to the floor, leading to low-speed collisions with vehicles or objects ahead.
  • Several drivers describe the issue as worse in wet weather, with the pedal feeling like there is air in the lines and reduced pad-to-rotor contact.
  • Some owners report losing braking power on a second brake application shortly after the first, causing accidents at intersections.
  • A dashboard message reading 'service brake assist' appeared for at least one owner alongside a hard, unresponsive pedal during a crash.
  • Dealers and GM reportedly told several owners they could not duplicate the stiff-pedal issue despite repeated visits.

When 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 brake complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 21, 2016, latest Jul 13, 2026.

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 brakes complaints: complaints filed per quarter422016 Q22018 Q12019 Q32021 Q12022 Q32024 Q12025 Q3
280 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q1 (42).

Brakes recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

  1. NHTSA 19V761000Oct 24, 2019Brakes652,967 vehicles

    Service brakes

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 19V645000Sep 6, 2019Brakes3,456,719 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  3. NHTSA 18V578000Aug 30, 2018Brakes42,280 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  4. NHTSA 16V069000Feb 5, 2016Brakes430,771 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages

    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.

    Risk: 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.

Brakes complaints by Silverado 1500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201034 (8%)
  2. 201147 (7%)
  3. 201227 (10%)
  4. 20139 (2%)
  5. 2014447 (29%)
  6. 2015400 (34%)
  7. 2016280 (35%)
  8. 2017226 (27%)
  9. 2018111 (21%)
  10. 2019210 (19%)
  11. 2020119 (16%)
  12. 202146 (6%)
  13. 202259 (9%)
  14. 202325 (7%)
  15. 202411 (4%)
  16. 20255 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 280 brake complaints for the 2016 Silverado 1500, which is 35% of the 799 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
Yes. Four brake-related recalls touch this truck: 19V761000 (EBCM reprogramming), 19V645000 (vacuum pump issue), 18V578000 (brake pedal pivot nut), and 16V069000 (brake pedal pivot nut adhesive).
At what mileage do brake problems typically show up on the 2016 Silverado 1500?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 50,000 miles for brake complaints on this model year.
What do owners describe when the brakes fail on the 2016 Silverado 1500?
Owners commonly describe a stiff, hard-to-press brake pedal at low speeds that fails to stop the truck, often resulting in low-speed collisions.
Have the brake complaints led to crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records 29 crashes and 4 injuries tied to brake complaints for the 2016 Silverado 1500, with no fires reported.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.