"How reliable is the 2016 Gmc Sierra 1500?"

"Based on 436 NHTSA complaints, the 2016 Gmc Sierra 1500 has a median complaint mileage of 47417 miles. The most common issue is Service Brakes."

"What are common problems with the 2016 Gmc Sierra 1500?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Gmc Sierra 1500 is Service Brakes, accounting for a significant portion of the 436 total complaints filed."

2016 Gmc Sierra 1500: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 436 complaints

436

Total Complaints

47,417mi

Median Mileage

Service Brakes

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

31,000 25th Percentile

47,417 Median Mileage

72,545 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Service Brakes

Power Train

Electrical System

Steering

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Suspension

Air Bags

Fuel/Propulsion System

Visibility/Wiper

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"VEHICLE SHAKES & VIBRATES AT SPEED I & OTHER OWNERS ARE REPORTING THAT CONDITION LEADS TO HEADACHES, DIZZINESS, AND NAUSEA. THIS TRUCK IS A REPLACEMENT FOR A 2014 THAT EXHIBITED SAME ISSUES. 2014 WAS TRADED FOR 2016 WITH $$ ASSISTANCE FROM GM WHEN THEY DID ADMIT THERE WAS NO FIX FOR VIBRATION ISS..."

"I BOUGHT A NEW 2015 GMC SIERRA 4X4 FROM BOB KING AUTO IN WILMINGTON NC WITH 0 MILE'S ON IT VERY EXPENSIVE TRUCK. YOU CAN'T SEE AT NIGHT TO DRIVE THE HEADLIGHT'S THE HEADLIGHT'S HAVE NO DISTANCE TO THEM MAYBE 25 FT. AND NO SIDE VISION IN OTHER WORD'S YOU CAN'T SEE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALSO IF IT'S RA..."

"I PURCHASED A NEW GMC SIERRA FROM ROYAL AUTOMOTIVE GMC IN VESTAVIA, AL ON MAY 12, 2016. SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE, THERE HAS BEEN A VIBRATION PRESENT, AND NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO ROYAL THREE TIMES AND THEY HAVE YET TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE. WHILE OBVIOUSLY A..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Service Brakes 98 complaints

25th: 35,950 mi Median: 44,261 mi 75th: 60,275 mi

Power Train 81 complaints

25th: 16,500 mi Median: 43,234 mi 75th: 79,000 mi

Electrical System 51 complaints

25th: 27,800 mi Median: 59,900 mi 75th: 77,396 mi

Steering 37 complaints

25th: 40,000 mi Median: 56,000 mi 75th: 73,396 mi

Engine 36 complaints

25th: 49,750 mi Median: 73,759 mi 75th: 89,093 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

TX: 47 FL: 28 IL: 27 NY: 22 OH: 20 MI: 19 CA: 18 MO: 15 AR: 15 AL: 14

Who Files Complaints?

1.1%

Original Owners

98.9%

Second+ Owners

Gmc Sierra 1500 — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1997	100	80,000	Steering	0
1998	68	80,500	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	6
1999	182	108,894	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	10
2000	215	93,000	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	15
2001	171	98,000	Service Brakes	14
2002	192	76,741	Service Brakes	20
2003	210	72,075	Service Brakes	15
2004	253	57,192	Instrument Cluster/Panel	12
2005	218	73,150	Electrical System	6
2006	182	54,400	Service Brakes	12
2007	310	67,500	Air Bags	11
2008	438	75,000	Air Bags	13
2009	278	65,114	Air Bags	5
2010	215	60,000	Air Bags	1
2011	362	56,000	Air Bags	9
2012	143	60,000	Air Bags	7
2013	147	72,000	Unknown Or Other	2
2014	1020	58,500	Steering	39
2015	914	46,000	Service Brakes	29
2017	465	38,900	Power Train	22
2018	405	33,000	Power Train	16
2019	783	10,000	Engine	19
2020	604	15,700	Engine	15
2021	617	43,500	Engine	7
2022	617	39,000	Engine	8
2023	470	20,000	Engine	9
2024	365	15,400	Engine	5
2025	109	16,500	Engine	7
2026	50	-	Engine	0

Active Recalls (7)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Vacuum

Campaign 19V645000 | 06/09/2019

As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's num

Wheel Speed Sensor/Tone Ring

Campaign 19V761000 | 24/10/2019

Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.

Frontal

Campaign 16V651000 | 08/09/2016

A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Ca

Control Arm

Campaign 16V256000 | 28/04/2016

Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been made, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at

Frontal

Campaign 17V437000 | 10/07/2017

A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadi

Inflator

Campaign 21V504000 | 01/07/2021

A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 18, 2021. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy is available. Phase I owner notification letters were mailed on May

Inflator

Campaign 20V736000 | 25/11/2020

If the end cap separates from the inflator, the compressed gas will escape and the end cap can be propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RRAB modules on the left and/or right side, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on December 22, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Note: GM

Extend Your Brake Life

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Replace brake pads before they wear to the metal — rotors cost 3x more
Flush brake fluid every 2-3 years regardless of mileage
Don't ride the brakes downhill — use engine braking
Address any grinding, pulsing, or pulling immediately
Have brakes inspected during every tire rotation

Vehicle Rankings

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28