2016 GMC Sierra 2500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 ranks 12th of 21 model years with a complaint index of 45 and a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 59 complaints, 5 recalls, and steering as the top problem area with 14 complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 45/100
- #12 of 21 Sierra 2500 years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 59
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Steering
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- —
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering14 (24%)
- Brakes12 (20%)
- Fuel System12 (20%)
- Electrical System11 (19%)
- Engine9 (15%)
- Other7 (12%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (7%)
- Airbags3 (5%)
- Seat Belts2 (3%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe excessive steering wheel slack or slop, sometimes requiring pitman shaft or steering box replacement.
- Some reported the engine stalling without warning at low speed after a fuel injector pump failure.
- One owner reported the engine losing power steering and brakes simultaneously at 45 mph before the vehicle would restart.
- Owners noted an oil leak traced to a defective turbo that recurred after an initial repair.
- Some described the 7-way trailer plug working loose during normal driving, cutting out trailer lights and brakes.
- One owner reported a dealer refusing to perform an airbag recall repair on a vehicle not purchased there.
2016 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls
5 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 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.
- NHTSA 17V437000Jul 10, 2017Seat Belts40,683 vehicles
Seat belts:pretensioner
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Risk: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.
2016 compared with other Sierra 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2016 model has a complaint index of 45, ranking 12th out of 21 model years and earning a Good verdict relative to other Sierra 2500 years.
- What problems does the 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 have?
- Steering issues account for 14 of 59 complaints (24%), followed by brakes and fuel system at 12 complaints each (20%), and electrical system at 11 complaints (19%).
- Does the 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2016 Sierra 2500, covering airbags, brakes, and seat belts, with none classified as do-not-drive.
- What is the median mileage for steering complaints on the 2016 Sierra 2500?
- The median mileage at failure across all problem areas for the 2016 Sierra 2500 was 29,500 miles, while steering complaints specifically had a median mileage of 25,000.
- Which GMC Sierra 2500 years should be avoided?
- Based on NHTSA data, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025 carry Avoid verdicts due to higher complaint indexes, while 2016 carries a Good verdict.