2016 GMC Sierra Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 13 NHTSA recalls and 134 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required. The counts include both the light-duty (1500) and the heavy-duty (2500/3500) pickups, which NHTSA lists under the same model name.
F
32/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2016 GMC Sierra
The 2016 GMC Sierra shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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13
NHTSA Recalls
13 recalls on record
134
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
6
Crash Reports
2 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 GMC Sierra (13)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized GMC dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Electrical System: Software
An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or…
🔧 Air Bags: Frontal: Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
If the SDM housing fractures, water may get into SDM causing it to malfunction and hinder the proper deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash, thereby increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will have the mounting stud repositioned and the SDM replaced, free of charge. The recall began December 2, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer…
🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Pedals And Linkages
If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition may increase the risk of…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the nut and reinstall the nut with increased tightness, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2018. Owners may…
🔧 Air Bags: Frontal
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.
Remedy: 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…
🔧 Air Bags: Frontal
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.
Remedy: 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…
🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Pedals And Linkages
If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition may increase the risk of…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the brake pedal pivot nut and reinstall with an increased torque, free of charge. The recall began on March 14,…
🔧 Air Bags: Side/Window: Curtain: Inflator
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.
Remedy: 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…
🔧 Air Bags: Side/Window: Curtain: Inflator
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet…
🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Power Assist: Vacuum
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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438,…
🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: Wheel Speed Sensor/Tone Ring
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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer…
Showing 10 of 13 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2016 GMC Sierra
Based on 134 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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GMC Sierra — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked GMC Sierra VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2014, 2015 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2010, 2012, 2013 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 GMC Sierra
Is the 2016 GMC Sierra reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 GMC Sierra has 13 recall campaigns and 134 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 GMC Sierra have?
The 2016 GMC Sierra has 13 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 GMC Sierra?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 GMC Sierra are: Steering, Engine, Electrical System, Service Brakes. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 GMC Sierra safe to buy?
The 2016 GMC Sierra has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 13 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year GMC Sierra should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the GMC Sierra are: 2010, 2012, 2013. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2014, 2015.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.