2016 GMC Sierra 1500 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 439
- 209 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- 99 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 7
- see below
- Reported harm
- 14 reported crashes · 16 injuries · 18 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,193
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs GMC median
+191
median 248 across 165 GMC records
Vs 2014-2018
+142
median 298 complaints in 596 records
Top component share
23%
Service Brakes: 99 complaints
What owners report fails — 2016 GMC Sierra 1500
- SERVICE BRAKES 99
- POWER TRAIN 82
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 51
- STEERING 37
- ENGINE 36
7 recalls on record for the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500
- NHTSA 21V504000 · 2022 · 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 c
- NHTSA 20V736000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR If the end cap separates from the inflator, the compressed gas will escape and the end cap can be propelled into the veh
- NHTSA 19V645000 · 2019 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:V As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to sto
- NHTSA 19V761000 · 2019 · SERVICE BRAKES Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side
- NHTSA 17V437000 · 2017 · SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment in
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
NHTSA has 439 consumer complaints on record for the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and 7 recalls. The most-reported problem area is service brakes (99 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500?
Owners most often report problems with: service brakes (99), power train (82), electrical system (51), steering (37). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.