2016 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500 has 156 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: at 7500 miles my trucks steering became really loose. could move 2 to 3 inches with out any wheel movement. which created a very dangerous driving condition. *tr. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 6 crash reports 4 injuries

156

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

49 complaints

31%

• AT 7500 MILES MY TRUCKS STEERING BECAME REALLY LOOSE. COULD MOVE 2 TO 3 INCHES WITH OUT ANY WHEEL MOVEMENT. WHICH CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. *TR
• OVER A PERIOD OF APROX 600 MILES/3DAYS, THE STEERING HAS GONE FROM NEAR 0 SLACK/PLAY TO WELL OVER 1 1/2 INCHES OF PLAY RESULTING ERRATIC STEERING RESPONSE WHICH, WHEN ON NARROW HIGHWAYS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STAY IN YOUR LANE. SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAD CLOSE CALLS BOTH WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC AND WITH R
• EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL PLAY OR (LASH). WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL 3 INCHES PAST CENTER TO EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND THE TRUCK HAS NO RESPONSE. THIS IS EXTREMELY STRESSFUL BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN YOUR LANE BECAUSE OF CHANGING ROAD GRADES AND CROW

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“AT 7500 MILES MY TRUCKS STEERING BECAME REALLY LOOSE. COULD MOVE 2 TO 3 INCHES WITH OUT ANY WHEEL MOVEMENT. WHICH CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

18 complaints

12%

• WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK IN 6TH GEAR AT 65 MPH, I APPROACHED A HILL AND I CHANGED THE GEAR SELECTOR TO THE MANUAL POSITION AND TO MY SURPRISE IT WENT INTO 4TH GEAR, RACING THE RPMS UP TO 3500 AND TRIED TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN QUICKER THAN I WANTED. THE BIGGER PROBLEM WITH THIS IS SLIPPERY SNOW COVER
• I PURCHASED A HEAVY LARGE STEEL CABINET WHICH WAS LOADED ONTO MY PICKUP TRUCK. WHEN I ARRIVED AT HOME, I WAS GOING TO LIFT THE CABINET OFF OF MY TRUCK WITH A JOHN DEERE LOADER. I PARKED MY TRUCK ON MY LAWN. I THEN DROVE THE LOADER UP TO THE TRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I RAISED THE BUCKET OF THE LOA
• I AM ON A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP AND THE VEHICLES ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I PULLED INTO A CHEVY DEALER FOR SERVICE. CHEVY DEALER CLAIMS THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIR CALLED AN ECM MODULE, (I.E. COMPUTER) IS NOT AVAILABLE AND IT IS NOT BEING PRODUCED BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN DESIGN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WITH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK IN 6TH GEAR AT 65 MPH, I APPROACHED A HILL AND I CHANGED THE GEAR SELECTOR TO THE MANUAL POSITION AND TO MY SURPRISE IT WENT INTO 4TH GEAR, RACING THE RPMS UP TO 3500 AND TRIED TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN QUICKER THAN I WANTED. THE BIGGER PROBLEM WITH THIS IS SLIPPERY SNOW COVER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

18 complaints

12%

• THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT I AM EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH MY AUDIO SYSTEM IN THE 2016 SILVERADO 2500 HIGH COUNTRY TRUCK. THE AUDIO SEEMS TO GO IN AND OUT OF STEREO SOUND AND ALSO SSEMS TO BE CHANGING ITS EQUALIZATION PERIODICALLY. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AND RHYME OR REASON WHEN THIS HAPPENS;
• THERE IS NO PASSENGER SEATBELT REMINDER.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOCKING NUT IN THE GEAR SYSTEM WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROADWAY CHEVROLET (920-498-6666, LOCATED AT 2700 S ASHLAND AVE, GREEN BAY, WI 54304) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN GLUED THE PART IN LIEU OF REPLACEMENT. THE C

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT I AM EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH MY AUDIO SYSTEM IN THE 2016 SILVERADO 2500 HIGH COUNTRY TRUCK. THE AUDIO SEEMS TO GO IN AND OUT OF STEREO SOUND AND ALSO SSEMS TO BE CHANGING ITS EQUALIZATION PERIODICALLY. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AND RHYME OR REASON WHEN THIS HAPPENS;”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

15 complaints

10%

• FOR THREE YEARS I HAVE TOWED SEVERAL 10,000# TOY HAULER TRAILERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH SUB STANDARD BRAKE SYSTEMS. EACH TIME I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE FINE AND NO PROBLEMS EXISTED.WITH THE TRUCKS TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM. AFTER CHECKING THE TR
• BRAKE FAILURE ON JUNE 21 2017, CAUSED ACCIDENT SAME ACCIDENT ON NOVEMBER 17 2017 AND AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 1 2019. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK IN SHOP TO BE FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES... ABS SENSOR IN FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WAS SUPPOSEDLY BAD. IT DID NOT FIX PROBLEM BC 3 RD ACCIDENT HAPPENED WEEKS AFTER. 9/11/19 GM RELE
• BRAKE FAILURE ON JUNE 21 2017, CAUSED ACCIDENT SAME ACCIDENT ON NOVEMBER 17 2017 AND AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 1 2019. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK IN SHOP TO BE FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES... ABS SENSOR IN FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WAS SUPPOSEDLY BAD. IT DID NOT FIX PROBLEM BC 3 RD ACCIDENT HAPPENED WEEKS AFTER. 9/11/19 GM RELE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“FOR THREE YEARS I HAVE TOWED SEVERAL 10,000# TOY HAULER TRAILERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH SUB STANDARD BRAKE SYSTEMS. EACH TIME I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE FINE AND NO PROBLEMS EXISTED.WITH THE TRUCKS TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM. AFTER CHECKING THE TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

13 complaints

• VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF WHILE IN OPERATION THEN WOULD TURN OVER BUT NO START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED FUEL PUMP FAILED AND WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. LUCKILY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BUT WAS IN PREPARTION FOR A VACATION PULLING OUR 5TH WHEEL CAMPER. FROM RESEARCHING SINC
• I AM ON A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP AND THE VEHICLES ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I PULLED INTO A CHEVY DEALER FOR SERVICE. CHEVY DEALER CLAIMS THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIR CALLED AN ECM MODULE, (I.E. COMPUTER) IS NOT AVAILABLE AND IT IS NOT BEING PRODUCED BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN DESIGN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WITH
• MY TRUCK HAS A MAJOR EXHAUST LEAK THAT FLOWS INTO THE CAB OF MY TRUCK. IT HAS A DURAMAX DIESEL ENGINE. I NOTICED AFTER I FIRST BOUGHT THE TRUCK, SO I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL AND TOLD MY FAMILY MEMBERS IT WAS NORMAL. 6 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE, I NOTICED THAT MY SENSE OF SMELL AND TASTE WAS LACKING. M

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF WHILE IN OPERATION THEN WOULD TURN OVER BUT NO START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED FUEL PUMP FAILED AND WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. LUCKILY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BUT WAS IN PREPARTION FOR A VACATION PULLING OUR 5TH WHEEL CAMPER. FROM RESEARCHING SINC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 156 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: AT 7500 MILES MY TRUCKS STEERING BECAME REALLY LOOSE. COULD MOVE 2 TO 3 INCHES WITH OUT ANY WHEEL MOVEMENT. WHICH CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK IN 6TH GEAR AT 65 MPH, I APPROACHED A HILL AND I CHANGED THE GEAR SELECTOR TO THE MANUAL POSITION AND TO MY SURPRISE IT WENT INTO 4TH GEAR, RACING THE RPMS UP TO 3500 AND TRIED TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN QUICKER THAN I WANTED. THE BIGGER PROBLEM WITH THIS IS SLIPPERY SNOW COVER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT I AM EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH MY AUDIO SYSTEM IN THE 2016 SILVERADO 2500 HIGH COUNTRY TRUCK. THE AUDIO SEEMS TO GO IN AND OUT OF STEREO SOUND AND ALSO SSEMS TO BE CHANGING ITS EQUALIZATION PERIODICALLY. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AND RHYME OR REASON WHEN THIS HAPPENS;
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: FOR THREE YEARS I HAVE TOWED SEVERAL 10,000# TOY HAULER TRAILERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH SUB STANDARD BRAKE SYSTEMS. EACH TIME I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE FINE AND NO PROBLEMS EXISTED.WITH THE TRUCKS TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM. AFTER CHECKING THE TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)