2016 GMC Sierra 1500 brakes problems

Related recalls

• Recall 19V761000Oct 24, 2019652,967 vehicles
  ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · SERVICE BRAKES · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING

  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.

  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.

  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 19V645000Sep 6, 20193,456,719 vehicles
  SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

  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.

  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.

  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.

What owners say

1. Filed Jul 22, 2026KSBrakes

   My vehicle a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 upon lower idle speeds loses vacuum pressure. As the vacuum level drops the brake assist decreases, increasing the braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, which increases the risk of a crash. I have had a warning light come on advising to service the brake assist system. I took my truck to a local mechanic who confirmed the codes and learned that there had been a GM recall associated with this failure at one…

   NHTSA complaint #11752078 · source
2. Filed Apr 7, 2026INBrakesTransmission & Drivetrain

   1- transmission issue, it’ll occasionally slip from 1-2 gear and engine rpm’s will shoot up making it when you release the gas pedal it’ll kick into second gear it’ll also do minor kicks into other gears (8l90 transmission) 2- breaks issue, unsure of what the problem is but at very low speeds like parking or going in slow traffic the break pedal will get really hard making you have to press extra hard for it to break, releasing and pressing again doesn’t help either

   NHTSA complaint #11729705 · source
3. Filed Jan 12, 2026MEBrakes

   While traveling at low speeds in parking lots and in the operation of parking, my 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 gets a hard brake pedal that goes to the floor but I have no brakes. I almost hit a person in a local grocery store parking lot, at the bank driving up to the ATM, and I almost lost my truck over a bank because the brakes failed. This has happened multiple times at low speeds but it is getting more consistent recently. It has endangered myself and others. It is only a…

   NHTSA complaint #11710305 · source
4. Filed Jun 10, 2025LABrakesEngine

   The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while her and her husband were driving on several occasions at various speeds, the brake was depressed; however, the braking distance was extended, and the vehicle took longer to slow down. The contact also stated that occasionally while driving at undisclosed speeds, her husband observed a loud sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined…

   NHTSA complaint #11665987 · source
5. Filed Oct 10, 2024NMBrakes

   I towed a trailer last month and noticed some hard breaking issues in slow moving traffic. Las night as I was parking my vehicle under the car port, I had to press on the brakes to straighten my vehicle and as I was moving forwards slowly, my brakes failed, the pedal was stiff and I almost hit my other vehicle and the garage door.

   NHTSA complaint #11619202 · source
6. Filed Sep 25, 2024NCBrakes

   Driving at low speed such at in drive thru or parking lot if you press brake couple repetitive times pedal gets hard and you have to press really hard to stop it’s like vacumn assist losses vacumn in braking assist been happening last couple years but I’ve learned to adjust my braking at low speed to adapt

   NHTSA complaint #11616516 · source
7. Filed Sep 6, 2024OHBrakes

   Stopping at a stop sign with several cars in front of me my vehicle wouldn’t stop, luckily the car in front of me moved. I immediately called the dealership to have my vehicle repaired. They confirmed my brakes had a problem including the vacuum pump having an internal failure. They replaced vacuum pump and required belts then charged me $800.00 for this service.

   NHTSA complaint #11613141 · source
8. Filed May 9, 2024ILBrakes

   On a recent road trip my family and I experienced an issue with the Brake Assist on my 2016 GMC Sierra. When I returned back from our vacation I took the vehicle to a 3rd party mechanic that I trusted to perform diagnostics. He advised that I would need a new vacuum pump and stretch belt to correct the issue. Upon receiving this information I advised him to move forward with the repair. What I didn't know was that Special Coverage N182202780 covers this exact repair from GM…

   NHTSA complaint #11587853 · source
9. Filed Mar 29, 202463,000 miFLBrakes

   The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while reversing into a parking space and attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal required an excessive amount of effort to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the…

   NHTSA complaint #11580168 · source
10. Filed Dec 2, 2023UTBrakes

    Braking system is malfunctioning while driving at slower speeds. It has malfunctioned while backing up and almost hit another vehicle. It also malfunctioned while coming to a stop light. Brake system is not working as it should and is feeling spongy upon braking. It feels like the brake pedal is all the way to the floor before it will eventually stop the truck. In researching this problem, there was a recall on the secondary brake system back in Feb of 2020. I bought the…

    NHTSA complaint #11558129 · source
11. Filed Nov 14, 2023FLBrakes

    Brakes go out at low speeds, especially in reverse. Makes it really hard to stop vehicle. It happens at least once every couple days and seems to be getting progressively worse.

    NHTSA complaint #11555164 · source
12. Filed Aug 13, 2023CACrashBrakes

    While parking in San Francisco after driving for about 100 miles, the brakes felt they had lost all power, the pedal was pressed down to the floor and caused the braking distance to increase drastically. There was a fence post to the left of my truck. So I was going to go forward a little then back up and straighten out to pull forward and finish parking. Going slow 3-5MPH I pressed the brake and the truck kept going forward, I felt a shake from the brake pedal and then no…

    NHTSA complaint #11538172 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology