2016 Gmc Sierra 1500 — Known Issues & Recalls

Your truck's transmission hasn't worked properly since you bought it and now no longer works at all. Another dealership has documented that this truck has multiple issues and shouldn't have been sold to you, and they declined to help. Additionally, your truck pulls to the left or right at traffic lights, and it has fewer than 100,000 miles on it.

When you put your truck in reverse, it suddenly lurched forward uncontrollably for several feet before responding normally. This unexpected acceleration could create a safety hazard, especially in tight spaces or around obstacles. The issue likely involves the transmission control system or torque converter not responding properly to the gear shift.

Your vehicle's rear window defroster caught fire and began smoking while the car was warming up after a remote start. The fire self-extinguished, but about 45 seconds later your driver's side rear window shattered from the heat. This is a known defect related to a thermal event in the defroster unit. The fix will likely involve replacing the rear window defroster assembly and possibly the rear window glass.

While idling with the rear window defroster on, you noticed smoke coming from the rear window, which then shattered without warning. You disconnected the defroster fuse to stop the problem and drove home safely. The defroster repair may involve replacing the rear window heating element or wiring that overheated, or installing a new rear window with an updated defroster system.

Your Firestone Destination A/T2 tires (275/55R20) developed tread belt separation after less than 16 months of use, causing a hazardous driving condition. When driving on the interstate, the truck felt unstable and like it might rollover, forcing you to pull over. Firestone was unable or unwilling to provide a refund or credit. Addressing this issue will require replacing the affected tires with a new set.

Your tires are showing signs of dry rot on the sidewalls near the rims after only 30,000 miles, and this is happening on all four tires despite regular pressure checks every couple months. The tires are Kenda 255/55R20s, and the manufacturer hasn't responded to your inquiries about the issue. You'll likely need to replace all four tires to restore safe driving conditions.

Your 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 had two separate crashes with deer. In the first crash at 35 MPH with significant front-end damage, the airbags did not deploy at all. In the second crash at 50 MPH with only minor front-end damage, most airbags deployed (driver and passenger front airbags, side curtain airbags, seat belt pretensioners, and passenger seat airbag), but the driver's side seat airbag did not deploy. You experienced respiratory irritation from the airbag powder during the second deployment. The reason for the airbag failure in the first crash and the inconsistent deployment pattern in the second crash could not be determined. The airbag system may need diagnostic testing to identify faulty sensors or wiring that prevented proper deployment.

Your engine has developed a serious problem with the lifter and cam components, which your dealer says is related to the Displacement on Demand design feature. Your vehicle is losing power intermittently and isn't safe to drive any distance. The dealer recommends a complete engine replacement, but since your mileage exceeds 100,000 miles, it's not covered under warranty.

Your brake pedal goes hard and sinks to the floor without providing any braking power, especially during low-speed maneuvers in parking lots. This has happened multiple times and is occurring more frequently, creating a serious safety hazard. The issue may involve air in the brake lines, a failing master cylinder, or brake fluid leakage that needs to be diagnosed and repaired by a mechanic.

Your truck's bed is making contact with the cab, and upon inspection, you've found severe rust damage that has completely corroded through the frame on the driver's side. This represents a structural integrity failure that compromises the truck's strength and safety. A frame replacement or major structural repair will likely be necessary to resolve this issue.

Your steering wheel has excessive looseness (play) that causes the vehicle to suddenly and unpredictably veer out of its lane without you turning the wheel. This is caused by a defective steering box that isn't properly adjusted. The steering feels uncontrollable and requires the steering box to be inspected, adjusted, or replaced to restore proper steering control.

Your truck's 8-speed transmission experiences hard shifting and has wiring issues that GM has acknowledged in multiple service bulletins but hasn't recalled. Additionally, your brake system loses pressure intermittently while driving at various speeds, making braking unpredictable and unsafe—the dealership couldn't identify the root cause. Both issues require significant repairs that you may have to pay for out of pocket.

Your transmission has been problematic since you bought the vehicle, with severe issues like unexpectedly dropping from 70 mph to 20 mph on the highway and jerking or kicking at any speed, especially when driving slowly. The shifting quality is poor, and you're concerned that sudden power loss could damage the transmission and put you and your passengers at risk. Additionally, your engine vibrates around 80 mph, and the steering pulls back when you try to change lanes without using your turn signal.

While backing into a parking spot, you noticed your brake pedal became harder to press and required more effort to stop the truck. This made it difficult to control your vehicle during parking. The issue may involve the brake system's ability to assist you when braking.

Your rear windshield suddenly shattered while driving at low speed with no impact. You noticed the rear fog light had turned on by itself, and when you checked the third taillight, you found water inside along with mold and mildew buildup. This suggests moisture is getting into your taillight assembly and potentially other rear glass seals. The fix will likely involve replacing the rear windshield, inspecting and replacing the affected taillight assembly, and addressing the weatherstripping or seals that are allowing water intrusion.

While driving 70 mph on the highway, your sunroof suddenly exploded. Fortunately, the sunroof screen was in place and prevented glass shards from entering the cabin. There were no overpasses or large trucks nearby that could have caused this by throwing debris or rocks. The repair will likely involve replacing the entire sunroof assembly and glass panel.

Your rear driver's side seatbelt won't retract properly when unbuckled and requires manual feeding back into the housing to prevent it from dangling or getting caught in the door. Additionally, your truck shakes while driving and occasionally shakes violently, a problem that started around 58,000 miles and appears to be a known issue called "Chevy shake." The seatbelt issue may require replacement of the retractor mechanism, while the shaking could involve inspection and repair of engine or suspension components.

Your wheel split into two separate pieces after hitting a post at low speed in a parking lot. This caused the wheel to fail structurally, creating a significant safety hazard. The wheel will need to be replaced entirely, as the damage cannot be safely repaired.

When you put your 2016 GMC Sierra Denali into reverse, you heard a loud noise within about 2 feet of movement. You saw smoke in the backup camera view and found the rear passenger window had shattered into glass pieces. The window failed at approximately 94,000 miles without any known impact or collision.

Your fuel gauge is intermittent and unreliable — sometimes it doesn't display at all when you start driving, may take several miles to activate, or quits unexpectedly while driving. The problem started around 40,000 miles and gets worse after the truck sits for a few days. The gauge works fine sometimes, but you can't predict when it will fail. This likely involves testing or replacing the fuel gauge sender unit or its electrical connections.