RecallMyCar

2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

8 safety recalls list the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500, and owners have filed 342 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.

8
safety recalls
342
owner complaints to NHTSA
11 / 13
complaints citing a crash / fire
17–20
MPG combined (EPA)

8 safety recalls for the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator (air bags)

    NHTSA 26V611000 Reported 1,559 vehicles potentially affected General Motors, LLC

    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.

    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…

  2. Inflator (air bags)

    NHTSA 21V504000 Reported 410,019 vehicles potentially affected General Motors, LLC

    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.

    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…

  3. Inflator (air bags)

    NHTSA 20V736000 Reported 9,279 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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.

    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…

  4. Wheel speed sensor/tone ring (service brakes) and 2 other components

    NHTSA 19V761000 Reported 652,967 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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…

    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.…

  5. Vacuum (service brakes)

    NHTSA 19V645000 Reported 3,456,719 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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.

    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…

  6. Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive and 2 other components

    NHTSA 17V437000 Reported 40,683 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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…

    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…

  7. Pretensioner (seat belts) and 2 other components

    NHTSA 16V651000 Reported 3,640,162 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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,…

    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…

  8. Suspension: control arm Do not drive

    NHTSA 16V256000 Reported 3,738 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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.

    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…

342 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 have filed 342 complaints with NHTSA; 11 describe a crash and 13 describe a fire. Reports cite 12 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 52,785 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 57 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Steering tried returning to center loss of electrical power service stabilitrack message service brake assist message engine tried to die had to disconnect battery to reset.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 2, 2026 · Steering

“air bags on my truck still dont work and i was not told by sales person that the safety features didnt work on truck before purchase. Dealership has worked on it twice and the last tech airbags were w”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 9, 2026 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2016 GMC Sierra (Sierra 15 Hybrid 2WD, Sierra 15 Hybrid 4WD, Sierra C15 2WD, Sierra C15 Cab Chassis 2WD, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined17–20 mpg
City / Highway15–18 / 19–24
FuelGasoline or E85, Regular
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD, Special Purpose Vehicle 4WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engine6/8 cyl, 4.3/5.3/6.2 L
TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd; Automatic 8-spd

Compare GMC Sierra 1500 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every GMC Sierra 1500 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1994 GMC Sierra 1500013
1995 GMC Sierra 150003
1996 GMC Sierra 150005
1997 GMC Sierra 1500383
1998 GMC Sierra 1500259
1999 GMC Sierra 15001158
2000 GMC Sierra 15001181
2001 GMC Sierra 15002140
2002 GMC Sierra 15001166
2003 GMC Sierra 15001180
2004 GMC Sierra 15002212
2005 GMC Sierra 15000177
2006 GMC Sierra 15000145
2007 GMC Sierra 15002262
2008 GMC Sierra 15002381
2009 GMC Sierra 15004234
2010 GMC Sierra 15004168
2011 GMC Sierra 15005284
2012 GMC Sierra 15003107
2013 GMC Sierra 15003115
2014 GMC Sierra 15009739
2015 GMC Sierra 15009719
2016 GMC Sierra 15008342
2017 GMC Sierra 15006354
2018 GMC Sierra 15007304
2019 GMC Sierra 150010650
2020 GMC Sierra 150012472
2021 GMC Sierra 15007580
2022 GMC Sierra 15006590
2023 GMC Sierra 15003485
2024 GMC Sierra 15001366
2025 GMC Sierra 15001118
2026 GMC Sierra 15002138

Checking a specific 2016 GMC Sierra 1500

How do I know if my 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 8 campaigns currently list the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised GMC dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 16V256000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other GMC models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.