2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Visibility Problems

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while idling in the drive-through at a pharmacy, the contact noticed smoke coming from the rear window, and the rear window shattered. The contact stated that the defroster was activated at the time of the failure. There was no injury sustained. The contact deactivated the defroster and drove to the residence, where the contact disconnected the defroster fuse. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program Number: N192265660 (Rear Window Defroster Thermal Events). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,250.

NHTSA ID

11702181

Incident

Nov 30, 2025

Mileage

139,250 mi

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that her husband remote started the vehicle. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the defrosters automatically activated. The vehicle warmed up for approximately 2 to 3 minutes. The contact stated that while leaving the driveway, her husband stopped the vehicle to assist with moving a lawn mower. Upon returning to the vehicle and looking through the glass her husband observed that there was smoke coming from the rear glass. The contact stated that her husband unlocked the rear doors and released the folding rear seat and saw that the defroster unit was on fire and smoking. The contact stated that her husband turned the vehicle off and the flames were self-extinguished; however, approximately 45-seconds later the driver’s side rear panel window shattered. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program Number: N192265660 - Rear Window Defroster Thermal Events (Electrical System, Visibility). The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

NHTSA ID

11701194

Incident

Nov 22, 2025

Mileage

89,000 mi

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the contact enabled the remote start, however, the remote start did not function as intended. The contact stated that the temperature was below freezing. The contact stated that the remote start simultaneously enabled the defroster, and the rear windshield fractured. Additionally, the contact noticed a burning odor on the interior of the vehicle. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

NHTSA ID

11631484

Incident

Dec 5, 2024

Mileage

102,000 mi

Similar to the Canadian recall that effected those models, the rear defrost on the power sliding window malfunctioned, produced a weird smell like fire and promptly exploded, shattering the window. Vehicle is being used normally with no aftermarket products.

NHTSA ID

11451671

Incident

Feb 5, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED HE STARTED VEHICLE USING THE REMOTE START FUNCTION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF SMOKE DETECTED INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOSEPH BUICK GMC (8700 COLERAIN AVE, CINCINNATI, OH 45251, (513) 741-1000) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ID

11384106

Incident

Dec 17, 2020

Mileage

76,000 mi

DRIVE TRUCK TO THE STORE GOT BACK HOME WHEN I SHUT MY DOOR STATIONARY I HEARD A LOUD SHATTERING SOUND IT TURNED OUT TO BE MY REAR WINDOW LOOKED ONLINE IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON OCCURANCE CALLED GMC THEY SAID IT IS ALL HE SAY SHE SAY AND NO RECALL IS AVAILABLE, IF THERE HAD BEEN A PERSON IN THE BACK SEAT THEY WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN INJURED WITH THE GLASS EXPLODING

NHTSA ID

11383784

Incident

Dec 15, 2020

Mileage

101,000 mi

SMELLED ELECTRICAL BURNING AND THEN SECONDS LATER THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY REAR WINDOW EXPLODED INTO PIECES WITH A LOUD BANG.

NHTSA ID

11375334

Incident

Nov 19, 2020

Mileage

93,500 mi

VEHICLE WAS REMOTE STARTED- REAR DEFROST TURNED ON AUTOMATICALLY DUE TO OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. REAR DEFROST OVERHEATED AND SHATTERED REAR POWER SLIDING WINDOW (RPO A48) WHILE STATIONARY. BURNING SMELL WAS NOTED. GM CLAIMS MY VIN IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM N192265660.

NHTSA ID

11321444

Incident

Apr 10, 2020

Mileage

129,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO HEARING A LOUD EXPLOSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE PANEL HAD SHATTERED. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN IN THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE OPTION AS WELL AS THE REAR DEFROST SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH PHILLIPS CHEVROLET (9700 W LINCOLN HWY, FRANKFORT, IL 60423). THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,417.

NHTSA ID

11307368

Incident

Feb 5, 2020

Mileage

47,417 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 1500. AFTER THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE FROM BEING DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A SPARK OF FIRE ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDSHIELD WHERE THE DEFROST MECHANISM WAS LOCATED. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GMC OF PERRYSBURG (LOCATED AT 26875 N DIXIE HWY, PERRYSBURG, OH 43551, 866-442-6919), BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11278919

Incident

Nov 6, 2019

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE AIR CONDITIONER STARTED TO BLOW HOT AIR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY DAY SINCE SEPTEMBER 25, 2019. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO ALEXANDER BUICK GMC (1501 E VENTURA BLVD, OXNARD, CA 93036) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CONDENSER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,930.

NHTSA ID

11265366

Incident

Sep 25, 2019

Mileage

39,930 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE POWER MIRROR BUTTON WAS ACCIDENTALLY TOUCHED, THE MIRRORS FOLDED INWARD AND WOULD NOT FOLD BACK OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STERLING MCCALL BUICK GMC (713-776-4600, LOCATED AT 10422 SOUTHWEST FWY, BLDG D, HOUSTON, TX 77074) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.

NHTSA ID

11161430

Incident

Feb 15, 2018

Mileage

28,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR, WHICH FOGGED UP THE WINDSHIELD AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GOLD STAR BUICK GMC (1980 N DAVIS RD, SALINAS, CA, (831) 240-4859) FOR REPAIRS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND REPAIR SPECIFICS WERE UNDISCLOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,696. *TT

NHTSA ID

11081087

Incident

Mar 23, 2018

Mileage

55,696 mi

WIPERS DO NOT MOVE FAST ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE RAIN FROM THE WINDSHIELD MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE 5 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE BLADES NEED TO MOVE MORE QUICKLY TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD MAKING IT SAFE TO OPERATE WHEN IT RAINS.

NHTSA ID

10993564

Incident

May 20, 2017