2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems owners report most
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems are documented in public: owners have filed 800 complaints with NHTSA, the earliest in 2016 and the most recent in 2026. Sorting those by the component the filer named puts the brakes clearly first, at 266 of the 800 complaints, close to a third of everything filed.
A complaint is not a repair bill and not a defect finding. It is one owner telling the regulator something went wrong. What makes the count useful is the concentration: when one component takes 33 per cent of everything filed on a car, the pattern is doing more than chance.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 266 | 33% |
| POWER TRAIN | 194 | 24% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 120 | 15% |
| STEERING | 111 | 14% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 82 | 10% |
| ENGINE | 72 | 9% |
Of those complaints, 43 describe a crash and 10 describe a fire. Filers reported 17 injuries. One complaint reports a death.
Recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator found a safety defect, and the repair is free at a franchised dealer however old the car is. There are 12 recalls on this model year. Your own car may be covered by some, all or none of them, so check the VIN rather than the model.
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.
The 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.
The fix. 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.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe Police Pursuit and Special-Service vehicles. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
The risk. If the pretensioner cable becomes fatigued or breaks, the driver may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pretensioner cable and seat side-shield, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18156.
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.
The 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.
The fix. 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.
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.
The 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.
The fix. 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.
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.
The risk. Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix. 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.
NHTSA advises owners not to drive this vehicle until the repair is done.
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.
The 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.
The fix. 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.
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.
The 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.
The fix. 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.
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.
The 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.
The fix. 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.
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.
The 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.
The fix. 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.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2014-2015 GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have received an incorrect replacement tensioner cable assembly as part of a previous recall remedy or a subsequent repair. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
The risk. A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat belt lap pretensioner, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212330040.
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.
The 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.
The fix. 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.
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.
The 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.
The fix. 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.
In owners own words
These are complaints filed about the brakes, quoted as written. They are one persons account rather than a diagnosis, and they are here because a symptom described by a driver is easier to recognise than a component name.
Vehicle suffered a failure cascade of the brake booster vacuum pump system. During a low-speed bumper collision on July 4 and a boat ramp slide, the pedal triggered abnormal ABS-like pulsing as the computer tried to hydraulically compensate for dropping vacuum pressure. This resulted in truck front bumper damage and boat trailer fender damage. On July 10, total failure occurred in a drive-thru, rendering the pedal rock-hard and sopping mear impossible. All marked parts and logs are available for inspection. Onboard diagnostic data reveals the electronic brake control module has driven contin
RPM INCREASES BETWEEN 4 AND 5.5K BUT UNABLE TO ACCELERATION AFTER DESCENSION FROM HILL WHILE DRIVING ON I-17. IT APPEARS MY TRANSMISSION/GEARS SLIP FOLLOWING HILL DESCENTS. ON 6 OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING TO AND FROM MOAB, UTAH ON AUG 9-10, THE ENGINE REVS UP TO 4.5 - 5.5K AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL/DECLINE. I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE GEAR OR PICK UP SPEED UPON ACCELERATION. BRAKING DID NOT STOP THE REVS. I JUST KEPT MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR UNTIL THE GEAR EVENTUALLY KICKED IN. OTHERWISE THE TRUCK RIDE AND DRIVE IS AMAZING AND NO OTHER PROBLEM EXCEPT GETTING ANNOYING GEAR CLUNKS
2016 SILVERADO CREW CAB, 3RD ONE I HAVE PURCHASED FROM THIS DEALERSHIP. IN DECEMBER OF 2018 , WITH 57094 MILES ON IT, THE TRUCK HAD A POWER BRAKE FAILURE WHILE BEING PARKED. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. PASSED ON HAVING THE WORKED DONE THERE AND BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP. THE BILL CAME TO $384.33, WHICH I PAID WITH A CREDIT CARD. ON MAY 7TH, 2019, I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM GM THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ON THE 2016 SILVERADO. THE LETTER INST
DURING PARKING OR IN TRAFFIC, THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO BECOME VERY STIFF AND NOISY REQUIRING INCREASED PRESSURE TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THE PROBLEM HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR-MISS ACCIDENTS AND HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT BETWEEN OCCURRENCES. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER OF 2018, BUT BECAUSE MY APPOINTMENT WAS LATER IN THE DAY, THEY ASKED IF I COULD RETURN ANOTHER DAY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED FINALLY ON MAY 4, 2019 WHICH THEY DID NOT ELUDE TO THIS BEING A FREQUENTLY REPORTED ISSUE, NOR THAT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE PRE
THE BRAKE GETS HARD WHEN YOU PUSH IT DOWN, AND IT WONT STOP. WE WERE AT A POND LOOKING AT THE WILDLIFE JUST BARELY MOVING WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP FOR A MOMENT, HOWEVER THE TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP. THE BRAKE FELT LIKE IT WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN AND WAS VERY HARD BUT YET, THE TRUCK KEPT ROLLING. I WAS IN A VERY BUSY CITY AND WAS SCARED THAT IT MIGHT NOT STOP IN TRAFFIC. I TRIED PUMPING THE BRAKES AND THAT MADE IT WORSE. I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND IT WAS WELL WITHIN THE NORMAL LEVEL. THE TRUCK SEEMED TO DO OK ON THE HIGHWAY AS WE WERE COMING HOME, AS LONG AS YOU DIDNT PUSH IT DOWN TWI
ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY BRAKES FAILED ME CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CRASH. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN FROM GOING LESS THAN 5MPH (I WAS INCHING UP AFTER ABOUT 10 CARS WERE IN FRONT OF ME). I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME AND NEVER ACCELERATES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE TRUCK WOULDN'T STOP. I WAS ON ABOUT A VERY SLIGHT DOWNHILL (MAYBE 1 DEGREE). IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKES BECAME SLIPPERY AND JUST SOUNDED AWFUL. I CAME WITHIN A FEW INCHES OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND ALMOST REAR ENDED THEM. THE NEXT OCCASION, I WAS GOING DOWNHILL AND TO THE LEFT AND HAS TO STOP. THE TRUCK D
Every component, by complaint count
The full breakdown of what owners named when they filed. Components below the top ten are grouped out of this table.
| Component | Complaints | Share of all complaints |
|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 266 | 33% |
| POWER TRAIN | 194 | 24% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 120 | 15% |
| STEERING | 111 | 14% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 82 | 10% |
| ENGINE | 72 | 9% |
| SUSPENSION | 30 | 4% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 26 | 3% |
| WHEELS | 21 | 3% |
| STRUCTURE | 21 | 3% |
How other model years compare
The same nameplate across the years we hold. Complaint counts fall naturally for newer cars because fewer of them have been on the road for long, so read the column as a rough signal rather than a ranking. In this set the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has drawn the most complaints and the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the fewest.
What to check on the brakes
Brake reports describe a pedal that goes soft or sinks, longer stopping distances, and a judder through the pedal under firm braking. Some describe the car braking by itself where an automatic system is fitted.
Buying a used 2016 Silverado 1500
Brake hard from speed on an empty road. Pads and discs are a normal wear item and cheap to replace, so a judder is not a reason to walk away. A pedal that sinks under steady pressure is a different matter.
If you already own one
Have the fluid tested, not just the pads. Brake fluid absorbs water as it ages and a soft pedal is more often old fluid than a failed part. A fluid change costs far less than a caliper.
- Brake firmly from speed to feel for judder or a sinking pedal.
- Have the brake fluid moisture content tested.
- Check pad and disc thickness against the service limit, not by eye.
- Ask for a quote separating pads, discs, fluid and labour.
Where the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problem data comes from
Every figure on this page is counted from complaints and recalls published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, read October 12, 2026. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by the agency before publication. We count each complaint once per component it names, so a complaint naming two components appears in both rows.
- NHTSA recalls and complaintsRead October 12, 2026
- NHTSA record for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500Read October 12, 2026
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