2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Electrical Problems

Approximately one week ago I was driving at a safe speed on a two-lane highway. Suddenly, my steering wheel and truck jerked to the right. For 8-10 seconds a warning message was displayed "Power Steering ... Drive Carefully." I took the truck to my local dealership. They scanned for trouble codes. The technician said something about an interruption communicating with the electrical system. My service advisor took the truck on a 15-mile drive and had no problem. They scanned again and there were no trouble codes. The service advisor said they could not fix the problem if they did not know the cause of the problem. I left the dealership. Since then, I have had 4 more incidents. Once the warning message appeared again, but no jerk of the steering wheel or truck; once there was the same warning message and a jerk of the steering wheel and truck; and twice there were sudden jerks of the steering wheel and truck but no warning message. I have reported each of these incidents to the dealership. I also called Chevrolet Customer Assistance. I explained the problem and asked if they would assign a Field Service Engineer to assist the dealership. hey declined my request. Because I momentarily lose control of steering the truck, I fear for my safety and the safety of others.

NHTSA ID

11752802

Incident

Jul 16, 2026

Vehicle suffered a failure cascade of the brake booster vacuum pump system. During a low-speed bumper collision on July 4 and a boat ramp slide, the pedal triggered abnormal ABS-like pulsing as the computer tried to hydraulically compensate for dropping vacuum pressure. This resulted in truck front bumper damage and boat trailer fender damage. On July 10, total failure occurred in a drive-thru, rendering the pedal rock-hard and sopping mear impossible. All marked parts and logs are available for inspection. Onboard diagnostic data reveals the electronic brake control module has driven continuously without a master clear for 22,665 miles, locking the last system initialization to 78,468 miles. This continuous data loop proves code C0299-00 was actively visible in the history log during the subsequent dealer service visits. Instead of performing the hardware pump remedy under Recall N192268490 (NHTSA 19V650). At the Jan 24 dealer visit (78,482 mi), dealer applied a software update and charged out-of-pocket fees to clear symptoms. They also ignored subsequent communication regarding the billing discrepancy. Technicians completely neglected the history logs despite explicit complaints regarding low-speed ABS sensations, trailer brake messages, park assist, and brake assist warnings. The 2026 dealers (and 2024) falsified multipoint inspections stating brakes required NO service until after winter. Jan '26 dealer delayed further diagnostics until June '26. May '26 dealer ignored texts regarding a crooked steering wheel and unstable tracking after alignment service. The truck was intentionally misdiagnosed as functional to avoid the warranty period repair. This unaddressed mechanical failure caused a destructive system cascade requiring replacement of the vacuum pump, oil-contaminated vacuum lines lines, oil-saturated booster, master cylinder, glazed pads, warped rotors, fluid flush, tires from module drag, alongside the resulting bumper and trailer property damage.

NHTSA ID

11750018

Incident

Jul 4, 2026

Doors automatically unlock while driving or parked and not running.

NHTSA ID

11742829

Incident

Jun 2, 2026

Rear power window defrost thermal event. While rear defrost was on the plastic connector that goes to the rear defrost of the power rear sliding window began to smoke heavily. In 2020 there was recall number N192265660 for the 1500 series of the same year for the same component that failed and is a fire risk. 2500 had no recall but this vehicle contains the same product and poses the same fire risk as the 1500.

NHTSA ID

11740948

Incident

May 29, 2026

Had steering centering go out. Data cable pinched or broken somewhere in system and transmission got out. Also 4x4 system went out.

NHTSA ID

11738003

Incident

Mar 9, 2026

While driving truck loses power. We stop put in park & then have to restart the truck to start driving. It has happened 3 times & we know this is a problem for other trucks.

NHTSA ID

11733869

Incident

Apr 23, 2026

On January 6, 2026., I was backing out of my son's driveway when I heard a loud pop, it sounded like a rock hitting the back window of my Silverado. I then discovered the driver's side of the back window shattered. Prior to backing out, I used the auto start to warm up my vehicle. I did some research and found there was a recall for this issue that was supposedly completed by Lithia Chevy of Helena on 6/29/2020. GM is refusing to replace the rear slider window stating there's no recall. I then reported the issue to GM Product Assistance claims it's do to wear/elements. See recall below. GM Program #N192265660 Status: Complete Description: Certain 2014-2019 model year Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles equipped with a power sliding rear window (RPO A48) may have areas of high electrical resistance on the rear defroster circuit. This could be caused, in part, by mechanical stress from opening and closing the rear power window, intrusion of debris, and use of the rear defroster. Over time, this condition could generate heat that could melt the areas surrounding the circuit. In rare instances, this heat could cause a non-propagating fire, increasing the risk of property damage or injury. This is the second time Lithia Chevy has claimed they completed a recall. On July 28, 2023, my brakes failed during a 200-mile trip to my hometown. After several days of battling with Chevy and General Motors I paid a private mechanic $100 to verify the vacuum pump had failed on my Silverado, Chevy finally fixed the issue on August 8, 2023. There was 47,781 miles on it at the time. See Repair Description below showing they supposedly completed the recall, the same day as the back window recall (6/29/2020). Repair Description Dealers will reprogram the electronic brake control module with a new calibration that will improve how the system utilizes the hydraulic brake boost assist function when vacuum assist is depleted. Recall Completed: 2020-06-29

NHTSA ID

11730258

Incident

Jan 6, 2026

Truck will shut off then on rapidly when turning left. Alert messages on sensors come on and off as lights flicker on and off. Radio screen will go black randomly or not turn on. AC shuts off and on randomly as well. Very dangerous while driving and you are about to turn left if truck shuts down. This happens at least once a week.

NHTSA ID

11724061

Incident

Mar 12, 2026

Was a light frost on mirror and back glass. Turned on rear defroster then all of a sudden back passengers side glass shattered.

NHTSA ID

11698413

Incident

Nov 9, 2025

Wheel will lock up randomly on slow turns like an intersection, parking lot or anything. It’s very random and there’s no reason why it does it. The truck drives fine most of the time. It will say stabitrack service on my dash then it will go away my wheel locks up so I can’t turn it anymore then it will release like 10 seconds after. I nearly been in two accidents from this. The dealership can’t find out what’s wrong with the truck and I don’t feel comfortable knowing it’s not fix.

NHTSA ID

11695699

Incident

Aug 15, 2025

We have replaced the engine twice and the transmission once spending 18,000 dollars on a truck that was 54,000 plus dollars that we bought in 2019 and we still owe over 5 grand on currently. Currently now were having a stablittrack malfunction weve been told by numerous mechanics how awful this year for yjis particular vehicle is because its the first year GM decided to put in a smart engine .we definitely regret ever buying this GM product 🙄we truly need help with the repairs for tnis truck ! Its stranded us numerous times even shutting off trying to go thru a red light !

NHTSA ID

11691231

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

Vehicle will cut off as if an electrical short and the Service Stabilitrak indicator will flash on the dashboard along with warning chimes. This has happened several times at low speed (1st gear) especially while turning. The steering wheel locks and can not be turned. I've almost been involved in an accident this week because the truck turns off while making a turn. I was at a stop sign waiting to turn left having to cross 2 lanes of on coming traffic and when I accelerated the trucks electrical cut out and forced the steering wheel to go straight I gave it more gas and the truck turned back on. On another day I pulled up and put it in reverse turned right and the truck shut off I had to put it in park and restarted it to back in my driveway. GM need to fix this.

NHTSA ID

11687496

Incident

Sep 12, 2025

While I was driving, my steering wheel was locking up, my dash lights were going off and on, and while my truck was on I wasn’t able to steer. It happened twice that day.

NHTSA ID

11684588

Incident

Aug 30, 2025

Stability track came on left me stuck a On train tracks and middle of an entersection

NHTSA ID

11681947

Incident

Aug 18, 2025

Vehicle will cut off as if an electrical short and the Service Stabilitrak indicator will flash on the dashboard along with warning chimes. This has happened twice at highway speed (65mph) and several times at low speed (1st gear) especially while turning. The steering wheel locks and can not be turned. I've almost been involved in 2 accidents this week because the truck turns off while making a turn. Also the MyLink infotainment system screen has gone completely blank while driving. Although functioning, the displays comes on and off. This has happened off and on for 3 months.

NHTSA ID

11677522

Incident

Jul 31, 2025

At low speeds and turning right or left the steering wheel locks up if wheel is turned quickly and engine quits momentarily, power is lost to instruments and radio, etc. or in one case the vehicle has shut off completely. I saw that there was a recall for this on earlier models but not for my VIN (2016 Silverado 1500)

NHTSA ID

11670879

Incident

Jun 24, 2025

Transmission issues already had one replaced 5/9/24 having issues again going to be 3rd transmission also having issues now with electrical system going out while driving and dinging noise,when entering or exiting vehicle here rebooting system whining. Going to contact car coverage to have vehicle inspected again for the problems.

NHTSA ID

11669383

Incident

Jun 16, 2025

I have a 2016 Silverado 1500 I bought new. It only has 33000 miles on it. Last week I was backing my boat into the shop and the steering wheel jerked back and forth on its own pretty violently and a stabilitrac warning popped up and the radio screen kinda went dead for a second. Then last night I was pulling in a parking space at a restaurant and it did it again. This time it jerked and went dead enough to cut the truck completely off. I had to put it in park and crank the truck again. It actually reset the radios time and date.

NHTSA ID

11662495

Incident

May 21, 2025

2016 Silverado with 5.3L and 8L90 transmission. Experienced a P0711-Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor "A" Circuit code and a P0700-Transmission Control System Malfunction. The P0711 code has periodically come up multiple times in the past, but would clear itself before could make to a dealership to troubleshoot. The temp reading on the instrument cluster has always been erroneous though with inaccurate readings (e.g. transmission temp reads 20 deg on an 80 deg day) or wild swings in temperature reading. There is a GM special coverage notice for this issue due to the amount of owners this has affected (N192291660), but this only applies to 6.2L owners even though multiple 5.3L owners that have the exact same 8L90 transmission are experiencing this same issue.

NHTSA ID

11648955

Incident

Mar 17, 2025

Truck lost power and died while making a low speed right turn. Attempted to start vehicle but was unable to immediately after losing power, after trying again for about 30 seconds I was able to get it to start and pull it off the road. I lost control of the steering as the steering wheel locked up. When I turned it back on the truck required me to roll the driver window down and back up and radio stations went back to the default station, letting me know that the truck lost power. This typically happens at low speed, but I have had it lose power while driving on the highway at night and my headlights shut off, luckily it immediately came back on.

NHTSA ID

11636611

Incident

Jan 16, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the instrument panel display experienced intermittent malfunctions, causing the display screen to blink off and on, and the display screen lighting to increase to the extreme brightness level. During the failure the speedometer was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure and no repairs were performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 33,000.

NHTSA ID

11618503

Incident

Jan 7, 2018

Mileage

33,000 mi

This has happened multiple times, most of the time going at a low mph while turning (I.e into a driveway). However, it has happened driving through a residential neighborhood as I’m going straight or turning. My truck will completely power off and I will lose access to the steering. The steering wheel will lock up, any systems (radio, A/C, etc. that were on will go off). Multiple time I have had my battery/alternator checked after these instances and my battery/alternator passes with flying colors. Luckily each time it has happened I haven’t been in traffic, but if another car was around or expecting me to make a full turn, it could have run into me while my truck just shut down in the middle of the turn. I had to restart the whole car to be able to move out of the way. These instances have happened intermittently and seemingly at random. When I took it to a dealer, they didn’t know what it was and couldn’t reproduce it. Insurance, police or other have not inspected it - again it happens intermittently. There haven’t been warning lamps prior to these instances, but when it happens it says stabilitrak warning or another message on the screen as it shuts down completely.

NHTSA ID

11616757

Incident

Sep 26, 2024

I was driving my 2016 silverado high country 1500 with my travel trailer when the brakes stopped working making it extremely difficult to stop at a traffic light. Dashboard says service trailer brake system. I checked fuses and connections and turn truck on and off and issue is unresolved.

NHTSA ID

11615016

Incident

Sep 15, 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact purchased a portable diagnostic machine and retrieved DTC Codes: C279A and U0422-71 indicating an electrical failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was purchased 30 days prior to the failure and the vehicle had been serviced by the dealer four times due to the persistent failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

NHTSA ID

11602319

Incident

Jun 15, 2024

Mileage

77,000 mi

Recall Airbag/electrical and cylinder won’t change to next gear m, know several people with the same truck and same issue.

NHTSA ID

11586482

Incident

Nov 18, 2022