RoadVitals

2016 GMC Sierra Denali

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
30
Latest Jan 29, 2025
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
5 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 30 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 GMC Sierra Denali, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), brakes and steering categories. 1,272 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Powertrain (other)923.1%
  • Brakes820.5%
  • Steering615.4%
  • Engine37.7%
  • Visibility25.1%
  • Electrical25.1%
  • Exterior lighting25.1%
  • Other / unspecified25.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 30
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jan 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra Denali. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the rear windshield exploded without impact. The contact stated that the rear fogger had been activated independently. There were no injuries sustained. There was water located in the third taillight. The contact noticed there was mold and mildew in the taillight. The contact was seeking assistance from the insurance company. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN related to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID
11639303
Incident
Jan 15, 2025
Mileage
120,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 11, 2021

WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY SUNROOF EXPLODED. SCREEN WAS IN PLACE SO GLASS SHARDS DID NOT ENTER THE CABIN. THERE WAS NOT AN OVERPASS NOR LARGE TRUCKS IN THE AREA TO BE CAUSED BY DEBRIS OR THROWN ROCKS.

NHTSA ID
11400327
Incident
Mar 11, 2021
Mileage
115,200 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 9, 2021

EXCESSIVE SLOP AND UNCONTROLLABLE, UNINTENDED STEERING SHIFTS CAUSING VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY AND SUDDENLY VEER OUT OF LANE OF TRAVEL RELATED TO DEFECTIVE LASH ADJUSTMENT STEERING BOX

NHTSA ID
11399983
Incident
Feb 22, 2021
Mileage
80,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 11, 2020

APPARENTLY, THE 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS ISSUES WITH WIRING HARNESS AND HARD SHIFTING WHICH THE MANUFACTURER HAS 18 SERVICE BULLETINS OUT ON YET STILL WILL NOT RECALL AND FIX PROBLEMS. ALSO THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND UNSAFE IT LOSES PRESSURE AND EVEN BRAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY AND SAY IT IS VARIOUS PARTS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BUT IT IS NOT AS OF YET. GM KNOWS OF THESE ISSUES AND THE 1000S OF DOLLARS CUSTOMERS HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. THIS IS WRONG AND NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED.

NHTSA ID
11363769
Incident
Sep 30, 2020
Mileage
77,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Sep 2, 2020
5 injuries reported

SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. ONCE IT WENT FROM 70 TO 20 ON THE HIGHWAY.. IT KICKS OR JERKS AT ANY SPEED... ESPECIALLY GOING SLOW.. THE SHIFTING IS HORRIBLE!!! THE FEELING OF IT LOSING POWER AGAIN LIKE IT DID COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND UNSELFISH AND PASSENGERS.. I DON'T TRUST IT ON THE HIGHWAY!!! I KEEP A MONITOR CONNECTED TO MY TRUCK AT ALL TIMES.. THE DATES COINCIDE WITH THE PAPERWORK!! ONGOING TRANNY ISSUES ALL THE TIME!! I PAID WAY TO MUCH FOR THIS LEMON!! ENGINE VIBRATES AROUND 80.. AND IF YOU DON'T USE YOUR BLINKER.. THEY TRUCK FIGHTS YOU TO CHANGE LANES.. IT PULLS YOU BACK!!

NHTSA ID
11352692
Incident
Oct 28, 2018
Mileage
54,000 mi
Seat beltsSteering
Filed Aug 27, 2020

1) REAR DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT WOULD NOT RETRACT WHEN UNBUCKLED. SEATBELT HAD TO BE MANUALLY FED BACK IN SO THAT THE BELT DIDN'T DANGLE OR GET SHUT IN THE DOOR. REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 18, 2020 AT ROUGHLY 55-56,000 MILES. 2) TRUCK IS CURRENTLY SHAKING WHEN DRIVING AND HAS TENDENCIES TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AT TIMES. I'M CURRENTLY JUST SHY OF 59,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND HAS BEEN NOTICEABLE WITHIN THE LAST 1,000 MILES. RESEARCHING IT APPEARS IT HAS A COMMON NAME OF "CHEVY SHAKE."

NHTSA ID
11351566
Incident
Jun 19, 2020
Mileage
56,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 6, 2020
Crash reported

HIT POST AT PARKING SPEED AN WHEEL SPLIT INTO TWO SECTIONS

NHTSA ID
11337673
Incident
Jul 3, 2020
Mileage
45,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 20, 2020

I HAVE DIESEL 3500 1FUEL TANK THE FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T ALWAYS COME ON AND IF DOES IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL MILES BEFORE IT BEGINS TO WORK. OR SOMETIMES IT MAY JUST QUIT. THEN OTHER TIME IT MAY WORK JUST FINE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM DID NOT START TILL I TURNED ABOUT 40,000 I HAVE ABOUT 42,000 NOW. IF IT WORKS TODAY THEN IF IT SET FOR AN FEW DAY IT MAY NOT WHEN IT START TILL YOU DRIVE SEVERAL MILES. THEN IT MAY WORK FOR SEVERAL DAY THEN IT MAY STOP YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT GOING TO STOP. DO YOU HAVE A ANSWER FOR THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW THERE A PROBLEM WITH DUAL TANKS BUT HAVE SINGLE TANK.

NHTSA ID
11321745
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Mileage
40,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIT5099J

PI to help diagnose A/C concern

PIT3271Q

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

PIP6104

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

PIP4902V

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PIP4902U

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PIT5214G

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does not correct the customer complaint, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support. For any vehicles that remains unrepaired after being at the dealer for three days or more and a related bulletin or PI is not found, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Sierra Denali by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2020900—
2019260031.0
2018170040.1
2017140045.0
2016Viewing300036.8
2015220140.5
2014140131.8
2013800—
2012100026.9
2011280029.4
2010100027.8
2009700—
2008180031.9
2007100—
2006510—
2005420—
2004111037.6
2003000—
2002131039.8

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.