2016 Gmc SIERRA 1500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Gmc SIERRA 1500 has 439 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: when the peddles are raised and you step on the brake you could be pushing the gas and brake at the same time. when the peddles are lowered this does not happen. a lot of people step on the side of the brake and it happens only when raised.. ⚠️ 18 fire reports filed.

18 fire reports 9 crash reports 9 injuries

439

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

105 complaints

24%

• WHEN THE PEDDLES ARE RAISED AND YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE YOU COULD BE PUSHING THE GAS AND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THE PEDDLES ARE LOWERED THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. A LOT OF PEOPLE STEP ON THE SIDE OF THE BRAKE AND IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN RAISED.
• VACUUM PUMP FAILURE. THE TRUCK HAD THE VACUUM PUMP FAIL AFTER ONLY 56,XXX MILES. THE PUMP FAILED AND CAUSE ME A HARD BRAKE PEDAL WHILE COMING TO A STOP. THE PART INTERNALLY FAILED AND WAS NOT PRODUCING ENOUGH VACUUM TO SUPPLY THE BRAKE BOOSTER. AFTER DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE DEALER IT WAS A COMMON P
• BRAKES ARE HARD TO PRES AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO STOP. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN PARKING OR AT STOP LIGHTS. VEHICLE HAS 48K MILES.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 8 crashes

“WHEN THE PEDDLES ARE RAISED AND YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE YOU COULD BE PUSHING THE GAS AND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THE PEDDLES ARE LOWERED THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. A LOT OF PEOPLE STEP ON THE SIDE OF THE BRAKE AND IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN RAISED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

83 complaints

19%

• 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
• THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM THE NOTORIOUS CHEVY SHAKES THAT IS AFLICTING 2014/2015/2016 GM 1500S. I RETURNED TRUCK ONE BUSINESS DAY AFTER BUYING IT FOR SHAKING PROBLEMS. THE SHAKING/VIBRATING WAS FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, GAS PEDAL, AND SEAT OF YOUR PANTS. THEY SAID TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE. PICK
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT GEAR AND FAILED TO MOVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE DID RECOGNIZE THE CORRECT GEAR, IT ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSI

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

54 complaints

12%

• 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
• ELECTRICAL ISSUE CAUSING SOUND SYSTEM, REAR CAMERA AND RADIO TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. ISSUE STARTED 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES BUT ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVE.
• PERIODICALLY 3 TIMES A WEEK, WHILE DRIVING, THE STABILIZTRAK ILLUMINATES AND DRIVABILITY DECLINES, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMS, THE GEAR REMAINS IN A LOW GEAR WITHOUT SHIFTING. TURN THE IGNITION OFF FOR A COUPLE SECONDS AND IT CLEARS AND THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES OUT AFTER 25-35 MILES. SOMETIME IT DOESN'T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 9 fire reports

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

39 complaints

• ON TWO SEPARATE OCCURRENCES, W/ FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE, STARTING SPEED AT APPROX. 35MPH, THE ACCELERATOR (GAS PEDAL) STUCK TO THE FLOOR DURING THE PROCESS OF PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE DURING CITY STREET DRIVING. TOP SPEED GOT TO APPROX. 55MPH, W/ STOP LIGHTS FAST APPROACHING. THE PEDAL SIMPLY WOULD NOT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AGAIN. THE VEHICLE
• WHILE MAKING TURNS THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS, LOSING ALL CONTROL OF STEERING AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. WHEN IT STALLS THERE IS NO STEERING CONTROL WHATSOEVER AND THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE BRAKES, BUT SLOW TO REACT.. RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM SLOWLY RESETS. THIS HAS HAPPE

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

“ON TWO SEPARATE OCCURRENCES, W/ FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE, STARTING SPEED AT APPROX. 35MPH, THE ACCELERATOR (GAS PEDAL) STUCK TO THE FLOOR DURING THE PROCESS OF PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE DURING CITY STREET DRIVING. TOP SPEED GOT TO APPROX. 55MPH, W/ STOP LIGHTS FAST APPROACHING. THE PEDAL SIMPLY WOULD NOT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

37 complaints

• 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
• THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM THE NOTORIOUS CHEVY SHAKES THAT IS AFLICTING 2014/2015/2016 GM 1500S. I RETURNED TRUCK ONE BUSINESS DAY AFTER BUYING IT FOR SHAKING PROBLEMS. THE SHAKING/VIBRATING WAS FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL, GAS PEDAL, AND SEAT OF YOUR PANTS. THEY SAID TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE. PICK
• ONE DAY THE POWER STEERING WOULDN'T WORK AT ALL FOR SEVERAL TRIPS. I WOULD TURN THE TRUCK ON AND A SERVICE WARNING MESSAGE WOULD DISPLAY STATING "HAVE YOUR POWER STEERING SERVICED" THE NEXT DAY THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. RECEIVED THE SAME WARNING AS I RECEIVED S

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 439 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: WHEN THE PEDDLES ARE RAISED AND YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE YOU COULD BE PUSHING THE GAS AND BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN THE PEDDLES ARE LOWERED THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. A LOT OF PEOPLE STEP ON THE SIDE OF THE BRAKE AND IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN RAISED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: ON TWO SEPARATE OCCURRENCES, W/ FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE, STARTING SPEED AT APPROX. 35MPH, THE ACCELERATOR (GAS PEDAL) STUCK TO THE FLOOR DURING THE PROCESS OF PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE DURING CITY STREET DRIVING. TOP SPEED GOT TO APPROX. 55MPH, W/ STOP LIGHTS FAST APPROACHING. THE PEDAL SIMPLY WOULD NOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)