2016 GMC Sierra 2500 problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Sierra 2500, most often about fuel, hybrid & EV propulsion. There are 6 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
33
Recalls
6
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Median mileage
47,500 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion is the most-reported problem area, named in 11 of 33 complaints (33%).
  • Brakes (6) and electrical system (6) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 47,500 mi.
  • Owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury.
  • The 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 has 6 recalls on file.
  • It ranks 8th of 22 GMC Sierra 2500 model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 15% fewer complaints than the 2015 model year (39).

2016 GMC Sierra 2500 problems by category

  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    11 complaints
  • Brakes
    6 complaints
  • Electrical System
    6 complaints
  • Steering
    5 complaints
  • Wheels & Tires
    4 complaints
  • Engine
    4 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    2 complaints
  • Airbags · 1 crash
    1 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts · 1 crash
    1 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    1 complaints
  • Visibility & Wipers
    1 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Fuel/propulsion system9
Service brakes6
Electrical system5
Steering5
Engine4
Tires:tread/belt3
Unknown or other2
Visibility/wiper1

When problems happen (mileage)

1Under 10k110k–30k330k–60k160k–100k1100k–150k1150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 complaints that list mileage.

2016 GMC Sierra 2500 recalls (6)

  • Recall 26V611000Sep 24, 20261,559 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500, GMC Sierra 2500/3500 vehicles, and 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.

    Risk: 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 customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262569920. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 24, 2026.

  • Recall 21V504000Jul 1, 2021410,019 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

    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.

    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.

    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 18V578000Aug 30, 201842,280 vehicles
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, 1500 Crew Cab Special Service, Tahoe Police Pursuit/Special Service, GMC Sierra 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.

    Risk: 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 a crash.

    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 contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18278. Note: The vehicles in this recall need this additional remedy despite being covered by recall 16V069 for brake pedal loosening.

  • Recall 17V437000Jul 10, 201740,683 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE · SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

    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.

    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.

    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 16V651000Sep 8, 20163,640,162 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE · SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

    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.

    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.

    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 16V069000Feb 5, 2016430,771 vehicles
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured October 1, 2013, to February 1, 2016, 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicles (PPV) manufactured March 1, 2014, to February 1, 2016, and 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured October 29, 2013, to February 1, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.

    Risk: 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 a crash.

    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, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 20760.

Recent 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Jul 2, 2026FLElectrical SystemOther / Unknown
    My HMI was "bricked" when onstar pushed an incompatible update when I changed the service plan. While driving the screen has intermittently turned off and on causing temporary unexpected loss of navigation functions, Bluetooth connectivity, and use of the back up camera. This causes a safety issue as the unexpected loss of display and connectivity has caused me to be unable to continue using hands free features during operation, and to no longer view behind the vehicle…
    NHTSA complaint #11747986 · source
  2. Filed Feb 23, 2026150,000 miNEElectrical System
    The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that the horn was inoperable. The contact became aware of the failure when the horn failed to sound while locking the vehicle with the key fob. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that there were no recalls on the VIN related to the failure. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
    NHTSA complaint #11719983 · source
  3. Filed Jun 19, 2025COFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    The CP4 pump failed while driving causing vehicle to stall. Upon failure, lost power to steering. Luckily we were on an access road for a rest area and not yet on the interstate. This resulted in a 14.5 thousand repair. No prior warning to pump failure. GM has recently settled a class action related to this pumps failure and has never recalled trucks with this pump to avoid failure.
    NHTSA complaint #11668022 · source
  4. Filed Jun 10, 2025CAFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    My vehicles High Pressure Fuel Pump failed causing the vehicle to shutoff while driving. In addition, due to the engine shutting down while driving, the power steering quit working causing me to not be able to steer the vehicle. Thank you
    NHTSA complaint #11666095 · source
  5. Filed May 14, 2025IDEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    My 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 with a 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8 engine suffered a complete engine shutdown—an issue that is both hazardous and expensive to repair. Fortunately, mine failed in a parking lot. No warning lights or symptoms were present. Failure is instantaneous and can occur any time rendering the vehicle inoperable on high-speed highways, Intersections, etc. Failure always leaves vehicle occupants stranded, creating an unsafe and dangerous situation. My vehicle was…
    NHTSA complaint #11660921 · source
  6. Filed May 3, 2025MNEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    Motor stopped dead while driving on a local Interstate Hwy. Was able to negotiate the truck out of traffic without crashing. Not an easy thing to do in speeding rush hour traffic. Had the truck towed to a reputable repair shop and discovered the CP4 fuel pump had failed and shattered throughout the fuel system. Repairs in the amount of $13,520.30 incurred to get the truck back in service. The attached invoice includes $167.87 for other maintenance not related to the CP4 fuel…
    NHTSA complaint #11658680 · source
  7. Filed Aug 24, 2024CAFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    My high pressure fuel pump, cp4, went out with no warning while driving causing me to lose power. Was able to bring truck to stop safely but was stuck in middle of roadway.
    NHTSA complaint #11610634 · source
  8. Filed May 24, 2024NCFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign, an alert of "50% fuel range remaining" message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact stated afterwards while attempting to make a right turn the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who advised contact the fuel pump needed to be replaced due to metal fragments entering the oil tank. The manufacturer was not made…
    NHTSA complaint #11590577 · source

Compare the 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 with another vehicle →

Other 2016 GMC models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. 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