Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Sierra, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system2
- Air bags2
- Unknown or other1
- Suspension1
- Steering1
- Visibility1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 158 2016 Sierra vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 38 people died inside them, and 21 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2016 GMC Sierra failed the safety check 1.14% of the time — 42% less often than the average 2016 passenger car (1.97%). Median odometer at inspection: 86,859 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 13 variants: combined 11.9–18.1 L/100 km (about 13–20 mpg US), CO₂ 280–332 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 10.0 | 11.9 |
| Sierra 4WD FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 10.7 | 12.6 |
| Sierra · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 14.6 | 10.4 | 12.7 |
| Sierra FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 14.6 | 10.4 | 12.7 |
| Sierra eAssist 4WD · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 14.4 | 11.2 | 13.0 |
| Sierra 4WD · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.0 | 10.7 | 13.1 |
| Sierra 4WD FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.0 | 10.7 | 13.1 |
| Sierra · Pickup truck: Standard · Premium gasoline | 16.1 | 11.4 | 14.0 |
| Sierra 4WD · Pickup truck: Standard · Premium gasoline | 16.3 | 11.6 | 14.2 |
| Sierra FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 19.3 | 14.4 | 17.1 |
| Sierra FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 19.9 | 14.0 | 17.2 |
| Sierra 4WD FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 20.5 | 14.4 | 17.8 |
| Sierra 4WD FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 20.3 | 15.3 | 18.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
11 Transport Canada recalls for the 2016 GMC Sierra.
| 2024294 24 May 2024 | Electrical Issue: On certain trucks, the repairs completed by a General Motors dealer during recall N192220470 (Transport Canada recall no. 2019-325) or customer satisfa… |
| 2021410 1 Jul 2021 | Airbag Issue: On certain trucks, the side curtain airbag inflators could be defective. As a result, the driver and/or passenger side curtain airbag inflator(s) could… |
| 2019533 24 Oct 2019 | Brakes Issue: On certain vehicles, there may be an error in the electronic-brake control module software. This could cause the driveline-protection system to activat… |
| 2019420 21 Aug 2019 | Other Issue: This recall is for aftermarket replacement rear window glass produced by Vitro Automotriz. Certain rear window glass may not have been properly tempere… |
| 2019325 28 Jun 2019 | Electrical Issue: On certain trucks equipped with a power sliding rear window, the rear defroster circuit could overheat. This could cause melting, smoke or, in rare ins… |
| 2019324 28 Jun 2019 | Brakes Issue: On certain vehicles, there could be a reduction in power brake assist due to a decrease in output from the vacuum pump. This could cause a hard brake p… |
| 2017342 10 Jul 2017 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM), which controls airbag and pretensioner deployment, contains a software defect which may prevent th… |
| 2016439 9 Sept 2016 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM), which controls airbag and pretensioner deployment, contains a software defect which may prevent th… |
| 2016190 28 Apr 2016 | Suspension Certain vehicles may have been built with front upper control arms with a poor quality weld near the control arm’s bushing. If these welds were to fail, it coul… |
| 2016068 11 Feb 2016 | Electrical Certain vehicles may fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 114 - Theft Protection and Rollaway Protection, and CMVSS 208 - Occupant Pr… |
| 2015590 9 Dec 2015 | Airbag On certain vehicles, a mounting stud used to secure the airbag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) to the vehicle may have been incorrectly positioned during th… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the door is opened or when the driver does not fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection", and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pick up trucks manufactured October 13, 2015, to October 14, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the mounting stud used to secure the air bag sensing and diagnostic Module (SDM) may be incorrectly positioned, and as a result, the SDM housing could fracture.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What GMC told its dealers about the 2016 GMC Sierra: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10134598 | This preliminary informational bulletin contains recommendations of what needs to be done to swap/install camper outside rearview mirrors on a vehicle not originally equipped with them. |
| 10113980 | ? |
| 10113896 | This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that vehicles with front seat Regular Production Option Codes A52, AZ3, or B3F may comment about low treble, or excessive bass from the front door speakers. This is a normal design characteristic for this seat configuration. These vehicles lack a subwoofer. |
| 10113894 | This Preliminary Information communication provides the technician with information on vehicles with navigation radio Regular Production Option Code IO6 or UY4 that defaults to West Virginia instead of Virginia on a manual entry. General Motors engineering is currently working on a solution for this concern. |
| 10113893 | This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician when the radio display is continuously flashing on and off every five seconds the Human Machine Interface will need to be replaced. |
| 10113810 | This warranty administration bulletin provides dealership personnel with policy and procedure requirements for essential tools that include consumable parts (U.S. Only). |
| 10113796 | This informational bulletin provides information on the proper use of GM floor mats. |
| 10113792 | This informational bulletin provides information to technicians regarding intake manifold inspection/replacement after severe internal engine damage. |
| 10113788 | This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information on courtesy transportation and roadside assistance programs. |
| 10113773 | The intent of this technical bulletin is to identify aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices as potential sources for causing multiple customer concerns that do not have other diagnostic methods to identify them. |
| 10113753 | This preliminary informational bulletin provides technicians with diagnostic tips for a customer concern of odor emanating from HVAC system. |
| 10113745 | This warranty administration bulletin communicates GM required operating procedures (U.S. only) for service operations. |
| 10113741 | This warranty administration bulletin provides retail and wholesale service personnel with the policies and the warranty claims submission procedures that support Labor Operation 0600014 - Suspected Tampering or Vehicle Modifications. |
| 10113740 | This informational bulletin provides dealership personnel information on unscheduled supplemental services (including flushing services and additives) and proper use of GM simplified maintenance schedules (Canada only). |
| 10113701 | This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on when and how to submit a Field Product Report (FPR) (U.S. Dealers Only). |
| 10113688 | This informational bulletin provides dealership personnel with Global Warranty Management (GWM), Warranty Parts Center (WPC), and Parts Return Program information. |
| 10113687 | This informational bulletin provides information on a GM of Canada OnStar cellular communication upgrade. |
| 10113658 | This informational bulletin provides technicians with updated information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered seepage. |
| 10113657 | This informational bulletin provides information to technicians regarding intake manifold inspection/replacement after severe internal engine damage. |
| 10113405 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with the correct way to remove the front shock electrical connector terminals. Technician will need to slightly bend the end of the J-38125-12A release tool. There is a purple Terminal Position Assurance that will align itself in the release position when the release tool is inserted into the release hole. There is a metal locking tab on the terminal that will need to be pushed in before the terminal will pull out of the connector. |
| 10113404 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a bump feel or clunk noise at a stop or on launch. Dealer should communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle. The bump clunk issue may be due to fuel movement in the fuel tank when not completely full. The condition is eliminated after completely filling the fuel tank. |
| 10113365 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a hydraulic rush or flow type noise from the power steering gear. Dealer should communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle. |
| 10113364 | This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that the Hydro-Boost is not serviceable and will need to be replaced if the brake pedal moves or applies on its own at a full turn. |
| 10113357 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician how to diagnose and repair vehicles that may have fuel gauge that shows empty and the low fuel level indicator is on. Technician will find Diagnostic Trouble Code P2636 will be set in the Engine Control Module. Technician will need to install (Y) Fuel Tank Fill Vent hose. Technician will need to remove the original fuel balance pump line from the pump tube. Technician can now add a new line from the (Y) to the fuel balance pump line and reprogram the ECM with updated calibrations. If the vehicle returns with the |
| 10113356 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a reduced or loss of power steering assist, steering wheel jerks or kicks back when turning, Service Stabilitrak message with warning chime, engine stall, Instrument Panel Cluster going blank or inoperative, radio/Integrated Center Stack going blank, Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning going blank, hood ajar message and/or dome lamps flash when shifting into reverse, alarm sounds when locking doors or door locks cycling, and or wipers continue to run for a short time after turning off and then |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)