Model year record

2016 GMC Sierra 1500

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 500 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V504000

Air bags: side/window: curtain: inflator

Component
Air bags: side/window: curtain: inflator
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Vehicles affected
410,019
Reported to NHTSA
2021-07-01
Owners notified
2022-05-05

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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 will receive a second notice when the remedy is available. Phase I owner notification letters were mailed on May 5, 2022. Phase II owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 31, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. This recall supersedes NHTSA recall number 20V-736. GM's number for this recall is N202324251.

Recall campaignNHTSA 20V736000

Air bags: side/window: curtain: inflator

Component
Air bags: side/window: curtain: inflator
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
9,279
Reported to NHTSA
2020-11-25

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator.

Safety risk

If the end cap separates from the inflator, the compressed gas will escape and the end cap can be propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RRAB modules on the left and/or right side, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on December 22, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Note: GM filed a new recall, number 21V-504 that supersedes this recall. All vehicles previously recalled under 20V-736 will now be repaired under the new recall number 21V-504. GM's numbers for this recall are N202309680, N202309681, and N202309682.

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V761000

Service brakes

Component
Service brakes
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
652,967
Reported to NHTSA
2019-10-24
Owners notified
2019-12-11

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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 service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V645000

Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
3,456,719
Reported to NHTSA
2019-09-06
Owners notified
2019-10-08

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.

Recall campaignNHTSA 17V437000

Seat belts: pretensioner

Component
Seat belts: pretensioner
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
40,683
Reported to NHTSA
2017-07-10
Owners notified
2017-08-04

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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 free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V651000

Seat belts: pretensioner

Component
Seat belts: pretensioner
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
3,640,162
Reported to NHTSA
2016-09-08
Owners notified
2016-10-13

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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 free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V256000

Suspension: front: control arm

Component
Suspension: front: control arm
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
3,738
Reported to NHTSA
2016-04-28
Owners notified
2016-05-18

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.

Safety risk

Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been made, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 42190.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Service brakes10344,000 mi
Power train8840,000 mi
Electrical system5966,000 mi
Engine4572,727 mi
Steering4256,000 mi
Unknown or other3927,000 mi
Suspension1633,128 mi
Air bags1423,619 mi
Fuel/propulsion system1130,500 mi
Structure: body850,000 mi
Visibility/wiper850,000 mi
Seats79,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)642,800 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic563,000 mi
Visibility589,000 mi
Exterior lighting411,000 mi
Tires4
Vehicle speed control491,000 mi
Wheels4500 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system3139,250 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly298,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ECU/ECM)2137,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner255,696 mi
Lane departure: assist2
Lane departure: warning2
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter266,456 mi
Seat belts2109,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum239,578 mi
Structure2
Air bags: side/window: curtain1112,000 mi
Back over prevention: warnings1
Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control1
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables1150,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator1147,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor1113,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: rear window147,417 mi

The 2015 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2017 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.