no report yet
Curtain: inflator
NewRisk. A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the…
2016 GMC Sierra 1500Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 346 owner complaints about the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500, most often about the service brakes. It is covered by 8 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-504 the manufacturer reports only 55% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 9, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 has problems
346 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
100Service brakes8 crash/fire/injury
86Power train
55Electrical system10 crash/fire/injury
39Engine2 crash/fire/injury
38Steering
15Suspension
12Air bags
9Fuel/propulsion system
8Structure
5614 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 100 | 8 |
| Power train | 86 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 55 | 10 |
| Engine | 39 | 2 |
| Steering | 38 | 0 |
| Suspension | 15 | 0 |
| Air bags | 12 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 0 |
| Structure | 8 | 2 |
| 14 other systems | 56 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
8 recalls
2016 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2025 Q1
Curtain: inflator
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…
no report yet
Curtain: 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…
repaired · 2021 Q2
Electronic stability control (ESC)
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…
Show 4 more recalls
repaired · 2021 Q1
Power assist: vacuum
Risk. As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the…
repaired · 2018 Q4
Air bags: frontal
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…
repaired · 2018 Q2
Air bags: frontal
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…
repaired · 2018 Q2
Front: control arm
Do not driveRisk. Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with GMC.
Mileage at failure
When do service brakes problems start?
44kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 68 service brakes complaints. 93% were reported before 100,000 miles.
8under 30k miles63under 100k miles5100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other Sierra 1500 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sierra 1500 median. How we score
'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 GMC Sierra 1500 safety ratings
2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid PU/CC RWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500, and the recalls they led to.
- Brake Vacuum Pump FailureLed to recall 19V-645
In owners' words
What Sierra 1500 owners report
Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
My vehicle a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 upon lower idle speeds loses vacuum pressure. As the vacuum level drops the brake assist decreases, increasing the braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, which increases the risk of a crash. I have had a warning light come on advising…
1- transmission issue, it’ll occasionally slip from 1-2 gear and engine rpm’s will shoot up making it when you release the gas pedal it’ll kick into second gear it’ll also do minor kicks into other gears (8l90 transmission) 2- breaks issue, unsure of what the problem is but at very low speeds like…
While traveling at low speeds in parking lots and in the operation of parking, my 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 gets a hard brake pedal that goes to the floor but I have no brakes. I almost hit a person in a local grocery store parking lot, at the bank driving up to the ATM, and I almost lost my truck over…
Own a 2016 Sierra 1500?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.