2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 63 Electrical System complaints for the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 17% of all complaints filed for the year, with 9 reported fires. Most center on the rear window defroster shorting out, plus a radio software recall (16V084000) unrelated to the fire pattern.
- Electrical System complaints
- 63
- 17% of 377
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 9
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 57,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners report the rear power sliding window defroster overheating and shattering the glass, often right after a remote start, sometimes with a burning smell or visible sparks.
- Several complaints describe smoke or flames coming from behind the rear seat area tied to the same rear defrost/window circuit, in some cases while the truck was parked or idling.
- Some owners state a dealer linked the fire to a known electrical short in the rear window circuit, but their vehicle was excluded from a related recall based on location.
- One complaint describes the battery gauge dropping to zero and a service charging system warning at highway speed, followed by stalling.
- One owner reported the dash showing stabilitrak, power steering, and trailer brake alerts together with gauges dropping to zero and the transmission slipping out of gear.
- One complaint describes the sound system, rear camera, and radio shutting down completely soon after purchase.
When 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Mar 21, 2016, latest Dec 1, 2025.
Electrical System recalls for the 2016 GMC Sierra 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 Sierra 1500 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- Are there widespread electrical fires on the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500?
- NHTSA recorded 9 fires among the 63 Electrical System complaints for this year, mostly tied to the rear power window defroster shorting out.
- Is there a recall for the 2016 Sierra 1500 electrical system?
- Yes, recall 16V084000 covers a radio that may fail to give an audio warning when the key is left in the ignition; it was reported February 11, 2016.
- At what mileage do electrical problems usually show up?
- The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on this model year is 57,000 miles, though some cases were reported much earlier or later.
- How common are electrical complaints compared to other problem areas?
- Electrical System complaints make up 17% of the 377 total complaints logged for the 2016 Sierra 1500, one of the larger single categories that year.