2016 Gmc SIERRA DENALI

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Gmc SIERRA DENALI has 42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: this issue started a few months after i purchased the truck took it to two dealers they say its normal. called gmc & they have no recall. when driving the truck & have to slow down in traffic the automatic transmission down shifts & has a very noticable jerk. will actually jerk the hole truck. peop.

2 crash reports 15 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

9 complaints

21%

• THIS ISSUE STARTED A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE TRUCK TOOK IT TO TWO DEALERS THEY SAY ITS NORMAL. CALLED GMC & THEY HAVE NO RECALL. WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK & HAVE TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS & HAS A VERY NOTICABLE JERK. WILL ACTUALLY JERK THE HOLE TRUCK. PEOP
• LOOSES BRAKE ASSISTANCE IN PARKING LOT AND SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH VARIOUS CODES THE MOST COMMON IS MISFIRE ON STARTUP IT HAPPEN IN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.
• TRUCK SHIFTS REALLY HARD AND IS UNPREDICTABLE. I ALMOST DROVE THROUGH MY GARAGE DOOR THE OTHER DAY SHIFTING TO DRIVE FROM REVERSE. TRUCK WILL LUNGE FORWARD OR DELAY IN SHIFTING. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES I'VE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES BEFORE I BACKED INTO SOMETHING. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN 3-4 TIMES

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

“THIS ISSUE STARTED A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE TRUCK TOOK IT TO TWO DEALERS THEY SAY ITS NORMAL. CALLED GMC & THEY HAVE NO RECALL. WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK & HAVE TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS & HAS A VERY NOTICABLE JERK. WILL ACTUALLY JERK THE HOLE TRUCK. PEOP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

8 complaints

19%

• LOOSES BRAKE ASSISTANCE IN PARKING LOT AND SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH VARIOUS CODES THE MOST COMMON IS MISFIRE ON STARTUP IT HAPPEN IN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.
• ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE BRAKING SYSTEM BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I'VE HAD THE BRAKE PEDDLE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY AT SLOW SPEEDS, A GOOD
• AT 38,200 MILES, THE TRUCK EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BREAK PRESSURE WHILE IN A PARKING GARAGE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NARROWLY MISS HITTING A CONCRETE UPRIGHT. AFTER REALIZING THERE WAS A BREAK ISSUE, VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE CAREFULLY MOVED FROM THE PARKING GARAGE BY COASTING ON T

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

“LOOSES BRAKE ASSISTANCE IN PARKING LOT AND SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH VARIOUS CODES THE MOST COMMON IS MISFIRE ON STARTUP IT HAPPEN IN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

6 complaints

14%

• THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN ICY CONDITIONS AND CAN BE NOTICED DRIVING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON DRY OR ICY PAVEMENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED SERVICE BULLETIN WORK AT MY EXPENSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE
• STEERING WHEEL SLOPPY 1-2 INCHES OF PLAY WHILE DRIVING
• PURCHASED THE 2016 DURAMAX DENALI WITH LESS THAN 39,000 MILES AFTER MY PREVIOUS GMC TRUCK TURNED OUT TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND A MONEY PIT. SALES REP HAD ME DRIVE THE VEHICLE AROUND THE BLOCK AND THE VEHICLE WAS WHAT I WANTED. AFTER DRIVING THE TRUCK AT HIGHWAY SPEED I STARTED NOTICING THE VEHICLE D

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

“THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN ICY CONDITIONS AND CAN BE NOTICED DRIVING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON DRY OR ICY PAVEMENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED SERVICE BULLETIN WORK AT MY EXPENSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

3 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. TH
• MY 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500 DIESEL DENALI HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AND OVER 50 DAYS SINCE NOVEMBER 4, 2017 FOR AN EMISSIONS ISSUE. ON NOVEMBER 4 WHILE DRIVING, I RECEIVED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT SAID TO SERVICE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND A COUNTDOWN STARTED, REDUCING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE BY 10 MP
• SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. ONCE IT WENT FROM 70 TO 20 ON THE HIGHWAY.. IT KICKS OR JERKS AT ANY SPEED... ESPECIALLY GOING SLOW.. THE SHIFTING IS HORRIBLE!!! THE FEELING OF IT LOSING POWER AGAIN LIKE IT DID COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND UNSELF

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

3 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, WITHIN APPROXIMATE 2 FEET THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT LOOKED INTO THE BACKUP CAMERA AND NOTICED SMOKE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICE SHATTERED GLASS. THE REAR
• The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra Denali. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the rear windshield exploded without impact. The contact stated that the rear fogger had been activated independently. There were no injuries sustained. There was water located in the third taillight. The contact not
• The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra Denali. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the rear windshield exploded without impact. The contact stated that the rear fogger had been activated independently. There were no injuries sustained. There was water located in the third taillight. The contact not

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, WITHIN APPROXIMATE 2 FEET THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT LOOKED INTO THE BACKUP CAMERA AND NOTICED SMOKE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICE SHATTERED GLASS. THE REAR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 42 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: THIS ISSUE STARTED A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE TRUCK TOOK IT TO TWO DEALERS THEY SAY ITS NORMAL. CALLED GMC & THEY HAVE NO RECALL. WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK & HAVE TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS & HAS A VERY NOTICABLE JERK. WILL ACTUALLY JERK THE HOLE TRUCK. PEOP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: LOOSES BRAKE ASSISTANCE IN PARKING LOT AND SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH VARIOUS CODES THE MOST COMMON IS MISFIRE ON STARTUP IT HAPPEN IN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN ICY CONDITIONS AND CAN BE NOTICED DRIVING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON DRY OR ICY PAVEMENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED SERVICE BULLETIN WORK AT MY EXPENSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)