2016 GMC Sierra 1500: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500: 8 recalls, 342 owner complaints.
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Recalls
8 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Suspension Vehicle recall #16V256000 · 2016 · 3,738 vehicles
What's wrong: The front upper control arms May have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.
Why it matters: Inadequate welds May allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #16V651000 · 2016 · 3,640,162 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions May cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (sdm) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #17V437000 · 2017 · 40,683 vehicles
What's wrong: While being previously remedied for recall 16v-651, the affected vehicles May not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions May cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (sdm) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #19V645000 · 2019 · 3,456,719 vehicles
What's wrong: The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump May decrease over time.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the electronic brake control module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019.
Brakes, Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #19V761000 · 2019 · 652,967 vehicles
What's wrong: 3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the electronic-brake control module (ebcm) software May activate the driveline-protection system.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ebcm, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V736000 · 2020 · 9,279 vehicles
What's wrong: The roof-rail air bag (rrab) inflator end cap May detach from the inflator.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #21V504000 · 2021 · 410,019 vehicles
What's wrong: The roof-rail air bag (rrab) inflator end cap May detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall May rupture.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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…
Airbags Vehicle recall #26V611000 · 2026 · 1,559 vehicles
What's wrong: The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (rrab) inflator end cap May detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall May rupture.
Why it matters: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace both rrab modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2026.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 13 mention a fire, 12 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (100): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (28).
- Transmission & drivetrain (83): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (58), noise or vibration (24), warning light on (11).
- Electrical (54): the most common themes are electrical failure (24), stalls / loses power (14).
- Steering (38): the most common themes are steering problems (35).
The 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 has 342 owner complaints, ranking #11 of 33 Sierra 1500 model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 271). Complaints peaked in 2019 (57 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 47,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (719 complaints, 9 recalls), 2017 (354 complaints, 6 recalls).
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 problems?
Owners have filed 342 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (100), transmission & drivetrain (83), electrical (54).
Where can I get a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.