RoadVitals

2016 GMC Sierra Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
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Latest Oct 25, 2024
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Sierra, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags228.6%
  • Electrical228.6%
  • Steering114.3%
  • Suspension114.3%
  • Visibility114.3%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owned a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would lose automotive power. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the negative battery was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at approximately 45 MPH, a deer ran into the middle of the roadway and impacted the front grill and bumper. The Service Air Bag warning light was illuminated. After the impact, the contact noticed smoke was leaking into the interior of the vehicle from the front driver-side and passenger-side air bags. The contact stated that the vehicle would not move forward or reverse after the impact. The contact stated that the front driver-side and passenger-side seat belts failed to retract or extend. The contact and her husband were able to unbuckle the seat belts and safely exit the vehicle in time. No injuries were sustained. No police reports or fire reports were filed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss and was towed to the contact's home where it remained for further investigation. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA ID 11621956 · filed Oct 25, 2024

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 HD. The contact stated that while driving at 64 MPH, he crashed head-on with a 350-pound deer. The deer went underneath the vehicle, and the driver ran over it with the passenger front tire. The driver's side air bag did not deploy. The air bag warning light was illuminated. There were no reported injuries or fire. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive away from the crash. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 85,379. Additionally, while driving in the snow, a motorcycle crashed into the rear of his vehicle. The driver-side front air bag did not deploy. There was an abnormal sizzling sound, and smoke was detected. There were no warning lights illuminated, There were no reported injuries, fore or police report. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID 11588953 · filed May 15, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owned a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would lose automotive power. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the negative battery was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at approximately 45 MPH, a deer ran into the middle of the roadway and impacted the front grill and bumper. The Service Air Bag warning light was illuminated. After the impact, the contact noticed smoke was leaking into the interior of the vehicle from the front driver-side and passenger-side air bags. The contact stated that the vehicle would not move forward or reverse after the impact. The contact stated that the front driver-side and passenger-side seat belts failed to retract or extend. The contact and her husband were able to unbuckle the seat belts and safely exit the vehicle in time. No injuries were sustained. No police reports or fire reports were filed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss and was towed to the contact's home where it remained for further investigation. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA ID 11621956 · filed Oct 25, 2024

WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK, IT HAS HAD 3 ALERTS ON DASH FOR "SERVICE STABILITRAK, POWER STEERING USE CAUTION AND TRAILER BRAKE." VEHICLE GAUGES ALL DROP TO ZERO WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AND GO ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS ALSO DISENGAGES FROM GEAR, VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC. THEN ENGINE REVS UP WHEN IT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND GENERALLY GOES BACK IN GEAR AS GAUGES COME BACK ON. THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO ALSO LOSE SOME POWER. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IF YOU DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL, YOU DO NOT GET ANY MORE POWER. THIS IS TECHNICALLY THE 6TH OCCURRENCE. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER (GRIFFIN GMC OF MONROE, NC) AND COMPUTER CODES WERE CLEARED AND NOTHING REPORTED IE...TECHNICALLY FOUND THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS ISSUE PER THE DEALERSHIP AS UNABLE TO RE-PRODUCE THE CAUSE. I RETURNED THE TRUCK TODAY AFTER THIS 6TH OCCURRENCE DUE TO MY FEAR OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN AND GETTING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS LAST OCCURRENCE OF DASHBOARD GAUGES AND SHARED THEM WITH THE DEALERSHIP. FIRST OCCURRENCE PICTURES ARE FEB 29, 2016 AND SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2016. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES ON ODOMETER. ENTIRE TIME, VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING ON LOCAL ROAD, EITHER AT STOP OR DRIVING BELOW 45MPH MOVING STRAIGHT AHEAD. I COULD NOT REPLICATE OR CAUSE THE ISSUE TO HAPPEN AGAIN ON PURPOSE, VERY RANDOM.

NHTSA ID 10850797 · filed Mar 21, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK, IT HAS HAD 3 ALERTS ON DASH FOR "SERVICE STABILITRAK, POWER STEERING USE CAUTION AND TRAILER BRAKE." VEHICLE GAUGES ALL DROP TO ZERO WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AND GO ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS ALSO DISENGAGES FROM GEAR, VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC. THEN ENGINE REVS UP WHEN IT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND GENERALLY GOES BACK IN GEAR AS GAUGES COME BACK ON. THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO ALSO LOSE SOME POWER. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IF YOU DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL, YOU DO NOT GET ANY MORE POWER. THIS IS TECHNICALLY THE 6TH OCCURRENCE. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER (GRIFFIN GMC OF MONROE, NC) AND COMPUTER CODES WERE CLEARED AND NOTHING REPORTED IE...TECHNICALLY FOUND THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS ISSUE PER THE DEALERSHIP AS UNABLE TO RE-PRODUCE THE CAUSE. I RETURNED THE TRUCK TODAY AFTER THIS 6TH OCCURRENCE DUE TO MY FEAR OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN AND GETTING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS LAST OCCURRENCE OF DASHBOARD GAUGES AND SHARED THEM WITH THE DEALERSHIP. FIRST OCCURRENCE PICTURES ARE FEB 29, 2016 AND SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2016. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES ON ODOMETER. ENTIRE TIME, VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING ON LOCAL ROAD, EITHER AT STOP OR DRIVING BELOW 45MPH MOVING STRAIGHT AHEAD. I COULD NOT REPLICATE OR CAUSE THE ISSUE TO HAPPEN AGAIN ON PURPOSE, VERY RANDOM.

NHTSA ID 10850797 · filed Mar 21, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70- 85 mph, the vehicle was shaking. The stability track warning indicator light was illuminated and flashing on and off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but they were unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics but they were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

NHTSA ID 11478795 · filed Aug 11, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH with the defroster engaged, she noticed smoke on the rear electric sliding glass window and smelled a burning odor. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road, disengaged the defroster and the smoke gradually faded away. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The contact notified the dealer of the failure and scheduled an appointment for diagnosis. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

NHTSA ID 11448788 · filed Jan 25, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .