2016 GMC Sierra Denali Owner Complaints

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

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

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

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

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

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

HIT POST AT PARKING SPEED AN WHEEL SPLIT INTO TWO SECTIONS

NHTSA ID

11337673

Incident

Jul 3, 2020

Mileage

45,000 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, WITHIN APPROXIMATE 2 FEET THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT LOOKED INTO THE BACKUP CAMERA AND NOTICED SMOKE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICE SHATTERED GLASS. THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ID

11307330

Incident

Feb 4, 2020

Mileage

94,000 mi

TRUCK LURCHED UNCONTROLLED FOR SEVERAL FEET WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE GEAR.

NHTSA ID

11299736

Incident

Jan 15, 2020

Mileage

48,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT LED LIGHTS FAILED. LIGHT BEGAN TO DIM AND FLUTTER IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN LED STRIP, EVENTUALLY TOTALLY FAILING IN BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL.

NHTSA ID

11297821

Incident

Dec 12, 2019

Mileage

47,000 mi

PURCHASED THE 2016 DURAMAX DENALI WITH LESS THAN 39,000 MILES AFTER MY PREVIOUS GMC TRUCK TURNED OUT TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND A MONEY PIT. SALES REP HAD ME DRIVE THE VEHICLE AROUND THE BLOCK AND THE VEHICLE WAS WHAT I WANTED. AFTER DRIVING THE TRUCK AT HIGHWAY SPEED I STARTED NOTICING THE VEHICLE DRIFTING ALL OVER, I HAD TO TURN THE LANE DEPARTURE WARNING SYSTEM OFF BECAUSE YOU CANT KEEP IT IN THE LANE. GOING INTO A CONSTRUCTION ZONE I ALMOST WAS PUSHED INTO THE BARRIER BECAUSE OF THE DRAFT OFF OF A SEMI. WITH SPEED LIMITS UP TO 85 HERE IN TEXAS I CANT BELIEVE SOMEBODY HAS NOT BEEN KILLED YET. I AM TAKING IT TO GMC CAVENDER OF BUICK IN SAN ANTONIO WEDNESDAY. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11289518

Incident

Dec 7, 2019

Mileage

38,456 mi

THE TRUCK HAS A HORRIBLE VIBRATION FROM AROUND 45 MPH AND UP. HAVE TEST DROVE OTHER 2016 GMC SIERRAS WITH SAME ISSUE. HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP WE BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY SAID IT SHOULD BE A RECALL

NHTSA ID

11289000

Incident

Nov 8, 2019

Mileage

62,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REVERSED AT UNDER 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR, FENDER AND SIDE MIRROR. THERE WAS NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VAN BUREN BUICK GMC LOCATED AT 2257 JERICHO TURNPIKE, GARDEN CITY PARK, NY 11040, (516) 535-9508, TO BE DIAGNOSED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID

11240305

Incident

Jul 29, 2019

Mileage

78,000 mi

BRAKE FAILURE ISSUE AT LOW SPEED. THIS HAPPENED IN TWO SEPARATE OCCURRENCES IN PARKING LOTS. THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY STILL AND REQUIRED GRABBING THE STEERING WHEEL AND USING IT TO PULL MYSELF DOWN HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THIS RESULTED IN GREATLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. FORTUNATELY NO VEHICLES OR PEOPLE WERE IN MY PATH DURING THESE OCCURRENCES. GM HAS SINCE REPAIRED MY VEHICLE. I HAVE SINCE RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT THEY ARE REPAIRING THIS ISSUE ONLY AFTER THE OWNER HAS A BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEM. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IS UNACCEPTABLE. OWNERS NEED A SOLUTION AND DO NOT NEED TO WORRY THAT THIS ISSUE WILL ARISE AGAIN. IF I HIT A PERSON OR A VEHICLE, WILL GM PAY FOR MEDICAL BILLS, VEHICLE REPAIRS, LEGAL FEES? THIS TRUCK AS WELL AS MY LAST 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HAD ISSUES WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN THAT GM CLASSIFIED AS NORMAL. THESE TRUCKS SHOULD NOT HAVE DRIVE SHAFT CLUNK WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THESE VEHICLES HAVE MAJOR MECHANICAL CONCERNS AND THEIR QUALITY IS TRASH!

NHTSA ID

11207803

Incident

Jan 31, 2019

Mileage

27,000 mi

THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT SLOW SPEED GOING FORWARD OR IN REVERSE

NHTSA ID

11205791

Incident

May 6, 2019

Mileage

67,000 mi

THE SEALS ON THE FRONT END SUSPENSION SHOCKS - SEALS ARE BROKEN ON BOTH FRONT SETS GREASE IS LEAKING OUT OF THEM AND CAUSING A ROUGH RIDE WITH NOISE WHEN YOU GO OVER BUMP

NHTSA ID

11204434

Incident

Feb 28, 2019

Mileage

75,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL SLOPPY 1-2 INCHES OF PLAY WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11194964

Incident

Apr 9, 2019

Mileage

38,000 mi

A FEW MINUTES AFTER STARTING TRUCK WITH REMOTE STARTER (DEFROSTER ON), A PORTION OF THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. SEEMS LIKE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, APPARENTLY CAUSED BY THE DEFROSTER OVERHEATING THE GLASS.

NHTSA ID

11193133

Incident

Mar 31, 2019

Mileage

55,000 mi

AT 44,972 MILES I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE LOSS OF BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS (10-15 MPH) ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST ITS SPONGY FEEL AND FELT HARD AND DEAD. NO MATTER HOW MUCH PRESSURE I APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. IT WAS A SCARY FEELING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAD MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN MY TRUCK THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. I HAD TO DEPRESS MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. I PULLED THE TRUCK OVER AND TURNED OFF AND ON THE IGNITION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL REGAINED ITS SPONGY, NORMAL PRESSURE AND FEEL. THE BRAKES FELT NORMAL FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AND I FELT MAYBE IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT UNTIL THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN CITY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 5-10 MPH TRYING TO COME TO A STOP BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. I BARELY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO DEPRESS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP AND CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AT VERY LOW SPEED, BUT NONETHELESS A COLLISION. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT AND ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE VACUUM PUMP ASSEMBLY FOR $656.50, PARTS AND LABOR. I DEFINITELY FEEL THIS IS A VALID SAFETY ISSUE THAT DESERVES INVESTIGATING AND DOING EITHER A SAFETY NOTICE TO VEHICLE OWNERS THAT COULD BE EFFECTED OR A RECALL. HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ISSUE I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT. IT REALLY SHOOK ME UP THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE TRUCK EVEN 10 FEET AFTERWARDS.

NHTSA ID

11191062

Incident

Mar 10, 2019

Mileage

44,972 mi

AT 38,200 MILES, THE TRUCK EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BREAK PRESSURE WHILE IN A PARKING GARAGE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NARROWLY MISS HITTING A CONCRETE UPRIGHT. AFTER REALIZING THERE WAS A BREAK ISSUE, VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE CAREFULLY MOVED FROM THE PARKING GARAGE BY COASTING ON THE BREAK. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FIRST DEPRESS OF THE BREAK SEEMED TO GIVE FULL PRESSURE, BUT EACH SUBSEQUENT DEPRESS GAVE LESS AND LESS PRESSURE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND IS CURRENTLY AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE PART OF ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FAILURE (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE18012).

NHTSA ID

11182193

Incident

Feb 23, 2019

Mileage

38,200 mi

THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN ICY CONDITIONS AND CAN BE NOTICED DRIVING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON DRY OR ICY PAVEMENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED SERVICE BULLETIN WORK AT MY EXPENSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND REWORK INVOLVED TIGHTENING THE STEERING BOX BACKLASH SCREW. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED AND STILL EXISTS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL LIST TO FIX THE ISSUE. IN ORDER TO FIX THE ISSUE, THE PITMAN ARM SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH AN UPDATED VERSION GM PN 84240812 IF THE STEERING PLAY CANNOT BE ADJUSTED OUT. THIS IS THE CASE WITH MY VEHICLE AND THE PART WAS NOT REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

11165611

Incident

Dec 29, 2018

Mileage

49,900 mi

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE BRAKING SYSTEM BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I'VE HAD THE BRAKE PEDDLE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY AT SLOW SPEEDS, A GOOD EXAMPLE IS WHEN YOU ARE IN A TRAFFIC JAM AND ARE PRIMARILY USING THE BRAKES TO EDGE FORWARD AND STOP.

NHTSA ID

11160788

Incident

Dec 6, 2018

Mileage

50,500 mi

8 SPEED TRANSMISSION BUCKS, HESITATES, LURCHES FORWARD, CLUNKS, WHILE STARTUNG ACCELERATION OR COMING TO A STOP. I TRY TO KEEP A BIG GAP BETWEEN MY TRUCK AND CARS IN FRONT OF ME AT STOP SIGNS BECAUSE IT RANDOMLY LURCHES FORWARD AND I ALMOST HAVE BUMPED CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALER SO MANU TIMES TO FIX THE VIBRATION ISSUES AS WELL, THEY SAID 3 TIRES THAT CAME IN THE BRAND NEW TRUCK WERE DEFECTIVE SO I HAD TO REPLACE THEM ALL AND THE SHAKE IS STILL THERE, THE BALANCED, REBALANCED, ROAD FORCE BALANCE AND NOTHING WORKS. LAST TIME AT THE DEALER SAID IT IS PROBABLY THE TIRES, HE SAID DONT ROTATE THEM AGAIN AND WHEN THEY WEAR OUT HE WILL PUT ME IN A 'BETTER' TIRE. I AM PAST MY WARRANTY SO THE DEALER SAYS ANY COSTS ARE MY RESPONSIBILITT, IF THE NHTSA COULD PLEASE STEP IN TO ASSIST US TO MAKE GM FIC THEAE VEHICLES WHICH ARE A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

11118643

Incident

Mar 16, 2017

Mileage

5,000 mi

TRUCK SHIFTS REALLY HARD AND IS UNPREDICTABLE. I ALMOST DROVE THROUGH MY GARAGE DOOR THE OTHER DAY SHIFTING TO DRIVE FROM REVERSE. TRUCK WILL LUNGE FORWARD OR DELAY IN SHIFTING. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES I'VE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES BEFORE I BACKED INTO SOMETHING. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN 3-4 TIMES FOR THE ISSUE AND GMC WON'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11114476

Incident

Jul 7, 2018

Mileage

10,000 mi