YearToAvoid

2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 47 engine complaints for the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500, about 12% of its 377 total complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure was 73,759.5. No related recall is on file for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
47
12% of 377
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
5
Median mileage
73,760 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine stalls at low speed, sometimes rolling backward, and requires shifting to park and restarting before it will drive again.
  • Accelerator pedal sticks to the floor during passing maneuvers, holding the throttle open until the vehicle finally comes to a stop.
  • A check engine light appears alongside a stall and steering wheel shake, then the vehicle needs to be restarted to move again.
  • Owners report engine fire, including one case where smoke appeared from under the hood at highway speed and the vehicle was destroyed.
  • A small pinhole in the radiator tied to a thermostat problem was reported, with the dealership declining to cover repair once mileage passed a stated cutoff.
  • Steering seizes during reversing along with check engine and parking assist warning lights, recurring multiple times.

When 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 31, 2017, latest Aug 11, 2026.

2016 GMC Sierra 1500 engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2017Aug 2020Apr 2021Aug 2022Jun 2023Aug 2024May 2025Aug 2026
47 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2017 to Aug 2026; peak Oct 2021 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Sierra 1500 model year

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

  1. 201022 (10%)
  2. 201133 (9%)
  3. 201216 (11%)
  4. 201313 (8%)
  5. 201493 (11%)
  6. 201593 (12%)
  7. 201647 (12%)
  8. 201777 (18%)
  9. 201881 (25%)
  10. 2019334 (50%)
  11. 2020263 (55%)
  12. 2021351 (62%)
  13. 2022267 (46%)
  14. 2023232 (48%)
  15. 2024218 (61%)
  16. 202560 (52%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA lists 47 engine complaints for the 2016 Sierra 1500, which is about 12% of the 377 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 engine?
No related recall is listed in the data for this engine complaint area.
At what mileage do 2016 Sierra 1500 engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2016 Sierra 1500 is 73,759.5 miles.
What kind of engine failures do owners describe?
Owners describe stalling at low speed, a stuck accelerator pedal, a steering seizure with warning lights, a radiator pinhole tied to the thermostat, and one reported engine fire.
Were there any injuries or crashes linked to these engine complaints?
NHTSA data tied to this engine complaint area records 1 crash, 1 fire, and 5 injuries for the 2016 Sierra 1500.

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.