2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 132 electrical system complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 17% of all complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 39,600. Seven fires and 3 crashes were reported, and a related recall (16V084000) addresses a radio audio-warning defect.
- Electrical System complaints
- 132
- 17% of 799
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 7
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 39,600 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners report the rear window defroster overheating, smoking, or glowing red at the point where the power sliding window meets the glass, sometimes followed by the window shattering.
- Some describe an internal electrical failure that dealers could not diagnose, with the problem worsening over time.
- Several report fires starting near the center console, reportedly linked to wiring or a wireless charger, with smoke inhaled while escaping the vehicle.
- Owners describe dim factory HID headlights that make nighttime driving difficult, including near-misses with pedestrians.
- One owner reported headlights failing without warning while driving at low speed.
- One owner reported the instrument cluster going dark while driving, losing speed and other readouts, with a dealer needing to reflash all vehicle modules.
When 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Apr 21, 2016, latest Jul 25, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- NHTSA 16V084000Feb 11, 2016Electrical System139 vehicles
Electrical system:software
Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the door is opened or when the driver does not fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection", and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, 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 15808.
Electrical System complaints by Silverado 1500 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical complaints does the 2016 Silverado 1500 have?
- NHTSA lists 132 electrical system complaints for the 2016 Silverado 1500, which is 17% of the 799 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for electrical problems on the 2016 Silverado 1500?
- Yes. Recall 16V084000 covers a radio software issue where the vehicle may fail to sound an audio warning when the key is left in the ignition. GM updated the radio software free of charge.
- At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints on the 2016 Silverado 1500 is 39,600 miles.
- Did the electrical issues cause any fires?
- NHTSA data shows 7 fires and 3 crashes reported among electrical system complaints for the 2016 Silverado 1500, with several linked to the rear window defroster or center console wiring.
- How does 2016 compare to other Silverado 1500 years for electrical complaints?
- The 2016 model's 17% share of complaints tied to electrical issues is lower than 2014's 25% and 2018's 21%, but higher than 2011's 5% and 2013's 5%.