2016 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500 has 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: new truck had lose steering when i took delivery, requiring over correction. with just 4529 in mileage on it i took it back to my dealer. was told they already had made repairs to four other trucks with the same issue. they replaced the hydraulic recirculating ball steering gear. steering gear adjus.

2 crash reports 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

15 complaints

21%

• NEW TRUCK HAD LOSE STEERING WHEN I TOOK DELIVERY, REQUIRING OVER CORRECTION. WITH JUST 4529 IN MILEAGE ON IT I TOOK IT BACK TO MY DEALER. WAS TOLD THEY ALREADY HAD MADE REPAIRS TO FOUR OTHER TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC RECIRCULATING BALL STEERING GEAR. STEERING GEAR ADJUS
• THE SAFETY CONCERN ON THIS ISSUE IS THE SIGNIFICANTLY ELEVATED POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF VEHICULAR STEERING CONTROL. AFTER THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN TO 1,700 TOTAL MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THE TRUCK'S STEERING CONTROL BECAME SLOPPY IN 70MPH + INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DRIVING RESULTING IN HIGHWAY WANDER SIMILAR T
• 2016 SILVERADO 3500 EQUIPPED WITH "DIGITAL STEERING ASSIST" THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. AT APPROXIMATELY 11,000 MILES STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE WITH ABOUT 3-4 INCHES OF FREE PLAY AT THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK TO 1ST DEALER, STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET TSB AND SYSTEM WORKE

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

“NEW TRUCK HAD LOSE STEERING WHEN I TOOK DELIVERY, REQUIRING OVER CORRECTION. WITH JUST 4529 IN MILEAGE ON IT I TOOK IT BACK TO MY DEALER. WAS TOLD THEY ALREADY HAD MADE REPAIRS TO FOUR OTHER TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC RECIRCULATING BALL STEERING GEAR. STEERING GEAR ADJUS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

11 complaints

15%

• WE HAVE HAD REPEATED INSTANCES, WHERE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND FUEL GUAGE FLAT LINES. IF YOU CAN NOT GET TO A QUALIFIED DEALER SOON ENOUGH, VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING[ACTUALLY IT REMAINS RUNNING UNTIL IT ALMOST COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP]. WE HAVE HAD TO INSTANCES OF SHUT DOWN, AND AT LEAST
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL MONITORING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO TRANSFER FUEL PUMPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE
• P2636 TRANSFER PUMP - DRIVER INDICATED FUEL GAUGE WAS FLUCTUATING FROM FULL TO EMPTY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND GAUGE DROPPED TO EMPTY. DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION STRONG FUEL ODOR. DEALERSHIP FOUND CLEARED CODE AND FOUND GAUGES READING NORMAL, THEN PUMP "

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

“WE HAVE HAD REPEATED INSTANCES, WHERE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND FUEL GUAGE FLAT LINES. IF YOU CAN NOT GET TO A QUALIFIED DEALER SOON ENOUGH, VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING[ACTUALLY IT REMAINS RUNNING UNTIL IT ALMOST COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP]. WE HAVE HAD TO INSTANCES OF SHUT DOWN, AND AT LEAST ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

10 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH HAULING A GOOSE NECK FLATBED DUEL TANDEM TRAILER, THE POWER BUS BAR SHORTED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH A LOOSE WIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STARTER. THE RADIO WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND THE CONTACT WAS LOCKE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, FELT SOFT, AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EVENTUALLY SLOW DOWN AND STOP WHILE THE BRAKES WERE STILL BEING APPLIED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDIC
• DRIVING VEHICLE ABS AND SKID WARNING LIGHTS APPEARS, BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING APPEARS ALWAYS LIT WHILE IN TOWING MODE. NONE STOP BEEPING. NO REASON WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. HAD VEHICLE CHECKED BY MULTIPLE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE CHANGED SENSORS, TOWING PLUG TWICE, ELECTRICAL REWIRING. BEGAN TO

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH HAULING A GOOSE NECK FLATBED DUEL TANDEM TRAILER, THE POWER BUS BAR SHORTED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH A LOOSE WIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STARTER. THE RADIO WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND THE CONTACT WAS LOCKE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

6 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH HAULING A GOOSE NECK FLATBED DUEL TANDEM TRAILER, THE POWER BUS BAR SHORTED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH A LOOSE WIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STARTER. THE RADIO WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND THE CONTACT WAS LOCKE
• DRIVING VEHICLE ABS AND SKID WARNING LIGHTS APPEARS, BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING APPEARS ALWAYS LIT WHILE IN TOWING MODE. NONE STOP BEEPING. NO REASON WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. HAD VEHICLE CHECKED BY MULTIPLE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE CHANGED SENSORS, TOWING PLUG TWICE, ELECTRICAL REWIRING. BEGAN TO
• WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE ACCOMPANIED BY A STRONG BURNING ODOR. AT THE SAME TIME THE HVAC BLOWER STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THE WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, BURNED WIRES AND MELTED HARNESS CONNECTORS WHERE FOUND AT THE HVAC BLOWER THE HVAC BLOWER MOTO

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

6 complaints

• WE HAVE HAD REPEATED INSTANCES, WHERE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND FUEL GUAGE FLAT LINES. IF YOU CAN NOT GET TO A QUALIFIED DEALER SOON ENOUGH, VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING[ACTUALLY IT REMAINS RUNNING UNTIL IT ALMOST COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP]. WE HAVE HAD TO INSTANCES OF SHUT DOWN, AND AT LEAST
• WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED, THE AIR CONDITIONER ON, WITH THE RECIRCULATE BUTTON LIT AND DASH LEVEL VENTS SELECTED, I WAS OVERCOME BY TRUCK EXHAUST FUMES (A TRUCK PULLED IN MY LANE AHEAD OF ME ON THE ROADWAY) AND BRIEFLY LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE FROM CHOKING AND COUGHING ON IT'S FUMES FR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH, THE REDUCED ENGINE SPEED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HERB EASLEY MOTORS (1125 CENTRAL E FWY, WICHITA FALLS, TX 76306, (940

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 72 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: NEW TRUCK HAD LOSE STEERING WHEN I TOOK DELIVERY, REQUIRING OVER CORRECTION. WITH JUST 4529 IN MILEAGE ON IT I TOOK IT BACK TO MY DEALER. WAS TOLD THEY ALREADY HAD MADE REPAIRS TO FOUR OTHER TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC RECIRCULATING BALL STEERING GEAR. STEERING GEAR ADJUS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: WE HAVE HAD REPEATED INSTANCES, WHERE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND FUEL GUAGE FLAT LINES. IF YOU CAN NOT GET TO A QUALIFIED DEALER SOON ENOUGH, VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING[ACTUALLY IT REMAINS RUNNING UNTIL IT ALMOST COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP]. WE HAVE HAD TO INSTANCES OF SHUT DOWN, AND AT LEAST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH HAULING A GOOSE NECK FLATBED DUEL TANDEM TRAILER, THE POWER BUS BAR SHORTED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH A LOOSE WIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STARTER. THE RADIO WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND THE CONTACT WAS LOCKE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH HAULING A GOOSE NECK FLATBED DUEL TANDEM TRAILER, THE POWER BUS BAR SHORTED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH A LOOSE WIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STARTER. THE RADIO WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND THE CONTACT WAS LOCKE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)