2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 has 377 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 60, and 9 recalls, ranking 9th worst of 21 model years. It earns a Caution verdict, driven mainly by brake problems (31% of complaints) and airbag recalls.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 60/100
- #9 of 21 Sierra 1500 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 377
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 9
- 1 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 15
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 14
- Injuries
- 17
- Top issue
- Brakes
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- —
- Injuries / deaths
- 17 / 0
Top 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes118 (31%)
- Transmission & Powertrain92 (24%)
- Electrical System63 (17%)
- Engine47 (12%)
- Steering44 (12%)
- Other39 (10%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires21 (6%)
- Structure & Body16 (4%)
- Airbags14 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers14 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the brake pedal sometimes fails to respond at all, leading to low-speed collisions into vehicles or objects.
- Some describe the front airbag deploying on its own during normal driving around 25 mph, causing a crash.
- Others say the rear window defroster sparked or smoked, in some cases igniting a small fire near the rear windshield.
- Several owners noticed the battery gauge dropping to zero along with warning messages before the truck stalled on the highway.
- A few mention the rear sliding window glass shattering while the defroster was running in cold weather.
2016 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V504000Jul 1, 2021Airbags410,019 vehicles
Air bags:side/window:curtain:inflator
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.
Risk: 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 20V736000Nov 25, 2020Airbags9,279 vehicles
Air bags:side/window:curtain:inflator
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator.
Risk: If the end cap separates from the inflator, the compressed gas will escape and the end cap can be propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RRAB modules on the left and/or right side, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on December 22, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Note: GM filed a new recall, number 21V-504 that supersedes this recall. All vehicles previously recalled under 20V-736 will now be repaired under the new recall number 21V-504. GM's numbers for this recall are N202309680, N202309681, and N202309682.
- 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.
2016 compared with other Sierra 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 Sierra 1500 has a complaint index of 60 and ranks 9th worst out of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Brakes are the top-reported problem area, covering 31% of complaints.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500?
- Brakes account for 118 of 377 complaints (31%), with a median failure mileage of 45,000 miles. Transmission and powertrain issues follow at 92 complaints (24%).
- Does the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2016 Sierra 1500, including one do-not-drive recall for front upper control arms (campaign 16V256000) and multiple airbag recalls related to roof-rail inflators.
- How does the 2016 Sierra 1500 compare to other years?
- Its complaint index of 60 is worse than years like 2012 (index 0, Best) and 2013 (index 10, Best), but better than 2014 (index 80, Avoid) and 2021-2024, which carry Avoid verdicts with higher indexes.