2016 GMC Sierra 3500HD

What owners should know

Covers 2015–2019 · 6.6L Duramax diesel (LML 2015–2016, L5P 2017–2019) and 6.0L V8 gas · Updated 2026-10-01

Researched from owner forums and NHTSA complaints and written by Know Your Truck. These are patterns in what owners report, not a guarantee about any particular truck.

Common failures & how to fix them

Parts and video buttons search for your 2016 GMC Sierra 3500HD. Always confirm a part fits using your VIN. Brakes, steering, fuel and airbag work affects your safety, so if you're not sure, have a qualified mechanic do it.

• 2015–2016 Duramax fuel pump (CP4) failure

  Best left to a shop

  Signs: Sudden stalling or no-start, low fuel pressure codes such as P0087.

  Fix: Prevention: change the fuel filter on schedule and buy fuel from busy stations. Some owners replace the CP4 with a different pump design as prevention. A failed pump usually means a full fuel system replacement at a diesel shop.

  Shop: Duramax fuel filterShop: Duramax CP3 conversion kit▶ How-to videos

• Loose brake pedal (2015–2016)

  Dealer (recall)

  Signs: The brake pedal feels loose or doesn't work right.

  Fix: Covered by GM recalls for the brake pedal pivot nut.

  May be covered free by recall 16V069000 / 18V578000. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

• Block heater cord fire risk (2017–2019 diesels)

  Dealer (recall)

  Signs: A burnt or melted block heater cord or plug.

  Fix: Covered by GM recalls. Don't use the block heater until it's checked.

  May be covered free by recall 19V328000 / 21V496000. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

• 'Service trailer brake system' warning

  Easy DIY

  Signs: Trailer brake warnings that cut the trailer brakes while towing.

  Fix: Start with the simple things: clean and inspect the 7-pin trailer connector and the trailer's wiring. If it continues, have a dealer check the trailer brake module.

  Shop: 7 pin trailer connector▶ How-to videos

• L5P cracked intercooler pipe

  Easy DIY

  Signs: A loud pop, then low power and limp mode.

  Fix: Replace the plastic charge pipe. Many owners upgrade to a metal pipe.

  Shop: L5P Duramax intercooler pipe▶ How-to videos

Recalls

A recall doesn't mean a truck still has the problem. Enter the truck's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or ask a dealer to see whether the repair was done.

• Air Bags:Side/Window:Curtain:Inflator

  Sep 2026 · #26V611000

  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 and fix

  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.

  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.

• Air Bags:Side/Window:Curtain:Inflator

  Jul 2021 · #21V504000

  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 and fix

  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.

  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.

• Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

  Feb 2019 · #19V088000

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 GMC Sierra 3500 and Chevrolet Silverado 3500 trucks equipped with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks. The fuel-level sensor in the front tank may stick in a low-level position, allowing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.

  Risk and fix

  Risk: If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure may cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank. The hole will leak fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.

  Fix: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear-tank fuel-pump module, inspect the front tank and, if necessary, replace the front tank, free of charge. The recall began July 30, 2019. GM's number for this recall is N182204190.

• Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

  Aug 2018 · #18V578000

  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 and fix

  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.

  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.

• Air Bags:Frontal

  Jul 2017 · #17V437000

  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 and fix

  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.

  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.

• Air Bags:Frontal

  Sep 2016 · #16V651000

  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 and fix

  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.

  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.

• Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

  Feb 2016 · #16V069000

  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 and fix

  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.

  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.

Owner complaints by area

Reports owners filed with NHTSA. They aren't verified, and one complaint can mention more than one area. Tap an area to read the most recent ones.

• Steering7

  • Filed Jun 2024

    When braking, the service trailer brake system message and service stabilitrac message appear on the dash and brake pedal gets soft to hard repeatedly and truck pulls from side to side violently as if one side of the trucks brakes are working and the other side is not.

  • Filed May 2021

    BACKED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE TO GO SOMEWHERE, GOT ON THE MAIN ROAD AND IT WAS WONDERING WITH A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, NEXT HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE FRONT WHEELS STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL I SLOWED TO UNDER 40 MPH, HIT ANOTHER ROAD SEAM AND IT DID THE SAME THING.TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, HE DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILED STEERING BOX. TRUCK ONLY HAS 27,500 MILES ON IT. NEVER SEEN A DIRT ROAD, NOT DRIVEN IN THE WINTER.$1700.00 LATER ITS FIXED. MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET AND GMC HAS NOT RECALLED THESE TRUCKS FOR THIS PROBLEM THEY KNOW ABOUT. HAS SOURED MY TRUST IN THEIR BRAND.

  • Filed Jan 2021

    EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL 2 TO 3" VERY UNSAFE, AT ALL TIMES WHEN DRIVING. GM IS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SERVICE BULLETIN PIT5501D. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

  • Filed Mar 2019

    STEERING WHEEL HAS SLOP/PLAY IN IT. WHEEL HAS 3-4 INCHES OF PLAY BEFORE IT CATCHES. CAN DRIVE DOWN ROAD AND 1 MIN WHEEL IS TO THE LEFT NEXT ITS TO RIGHT TO KEEP TRUCK GOING STRAIGHT.

  • Filed Jul 2018

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE PASSING A BOAT RAMP HAULING A BOAT TRAILER, THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT BECAME DETACHED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT THE SERPENTINE BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEGACY BUICK GMC (293 E HOWZE BEACH RD, SLIDELL, LA 70461, (985) 231-5256) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT

  • Showing the 5 most recent of 7.
• Service Brakes6

  • Filed Jul 2025

    Driving down the road and I got a service trailer brake code pop up and would not go away and kept dinging It is very distracting and sometimes causes the trailer brakes to malfunction

  • Filed Jun 2024

    When braking, the service trailer brake system message and service stabilitrac message appear on the dash and brake pedal gets soft to hard repeatedly and truck pulls from side to side violently as if one side of the trucks brakes are working and the other side is not.

  • Filed Nov 2021

    Brake pedal has to be pushed almost all the way to the floor to stop, this recently changed from barely having to apply any pressure to the pedal. Took it to Quebadeaux gmc on 11-10-2021 and they inspected the brakes, said everything was good and that’s normal for the brakes to be that soft. That’s not normal or it would’ve always been like that.

  • Filed Sep 2020

    THE BRAKE BOOSTER CILYNDER HAVE A BAD LEAKING IT WAS PARKED WHEN I SAW THIS HAPPEN

  • Filed Jul 2018

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE PASSING A BOAT RAMP HAULING A BOAT TRAILER, THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT BECAME DETACHED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT THE SERPENTINE BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEGACY BUICK GMC (293 E HOWZE BEACH RD, SLIDELL, LA 70461, (985) 231-5256) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT

  • Showing the 5 most recent of 6.
• Engine5

  • Filed Apr 2025

    The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 3500. The contacted stated that while her husband was attempting to start the vehicle, the contact stated that after five minutes the engine independently failed while the vehicle was running. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel system and fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was transferred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

  • Filed Apr 2025

    Driving my vehicle in the mountains pulling a 16000 lb 5th wheel trailer, the engine goes into Reduced Engine Power due to a Turbo Vane Position sensor / Turbo Over Boost or Under Boost fault. This has happened 4 times in the last 3 months and has nearly caused an accident following each occurrence. The vehicle is a 2016 GMC Sierra 3500HD with the 6.6L LML Duramax Diesel engine with 75000 miles. I believe the Reduced Engine Power protection is far to abrupt in the loss of Engine Power to safely move the vehicle out of the flow of traffic. During each occurrence I was in the left lane of a 2 lane expressway attempting to pass a much slower vehicle going up a 5-8% grade and was unable to complete my pass due to the loss in propulsion which nearly caused an accident.

  • Filed Jul 2024

    The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the crankshaft, lower bearings, head gasket seals, and the long block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.

  • Filed Jul 2023

    I own a 2016 GMC 3500 Diesel that had a serious mechanical breakdown while traveling on the freeway. The truck lost all motive power and needed to coast across 4 freeway lanes. Once towed to a local GMC Dealer, they diagnosed the problem as the Bosch CP4 fuel pump internally came apart while driving. I have to have this vehicle working so I got it repaired at a cost of $16,145. This is a known issue and losing all power while at highway speeds could have caused a serious incident. Please address this issue before someone dies.

  • Filed Jul 2018

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE PASSING A BOAT RAMP HAULING A BOAT TRAILER, THE BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT BECAME DETACHED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT THE SERPENTINE BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEGACY BUICK GMC (293 E HOWZE BEACH RD, SLIDELL, LA 70461, (985) 231-5256) WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT

• Electrical System4

  1 involved a crash

  • Filed Jul 2025

    Driving down the road and I got a service trailer brake code pop up and would not go away and kept dinging It is very distracting and sometimes causes the trailer brakes to malfunction

  • Filed Oct 2024

    The contact owned a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would lose automotive power. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the negative battery was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at approximately 45 MPH, a deer ran into the middle of the roadway and impacted the front grill and bumper. The Service Air Bag warning light was illuminated. After the impact, the contact noticed smoke was leaking into the interior of the vehicle from the front driver-side and passenger-side air bags. The contact stated that the vehicle would not move forward or reverse after the impact. The contact stated that the front driver-side and passenger-side seat belts failed to retract or extend. The contact and her husband were able to unbuckle the seat belts and safely exit the vehicle in time. No injuries were sustained. No police reports or fire reports were filed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss and was towed to the contact's home where it remained for further investigation. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

  • Filed Feb 2022

    I had the rear defrost running, and began to hear a sizzling/hissing sound in the back seat. After a minute of hearing this noise, I noticed smoke coming from the rear sliding window. I immediately turned off the rear defrost. A few seconds later, I heard a loud pop and the passenger side of my rear window was shattered. I called and spoke with the dealership and explained what had happened. They said they knew exactly what had happened and it is pretty common in these trucks.

  • Filed Mar 2016

    WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK, IT HAS HAD 3 ALERTS ON DASH FOR "SERVICE STABILITRAK, POWER STEERING USE CAUTION AND TRAILER BRAKE." VEHICLE GAUGES ALL DROP TO ZERO WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AND GO ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS ALSO DISENGAGES FROM GEAR, VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC. THEN ENGINE REVS UP WHEN IT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND GENERALLY GOES BACK IN GEAR AS GAUGES COME BACK ON. THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO ALSO LOSE SOME POWER. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IF YOU DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL, YOU DO NOT GET ANY MORE POWER. THIS IS TECHNICALLY THE 6TH OCCURRENCE. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER (GRIFFIN GMC OF MONROE, NC) AND COMPUTER CODES WERE CLEARED AND NOTHING REPORTED IE...TECHNICALLY FOUND THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS ISSUE PER THE DEALERSHIP AS UNABLE TO RE-PRODUCE THE CAUSE. I RETURNED THE TRUCK TODAY AFTER THIS 6TH OCCURRENCE DUE TO MY FEAR OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN AND GETTING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS LAST OCCURRENCE OF DASHBOARD GAUGES AND SHARED THEM WITH THE DEALERSHIP. FIRST OCCURRENCE PICTURES ARE FEB 29, 2016 AND SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2016. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES ON ODOMETER. ENTIRE TIME, VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING ON LOCAL ROAD, EITHER AT STOP OR DRIVING BELOW 45MPH MOVING STRAIGHT AHEAD. I COULD NOT REPLICATE OR CAUSE THE ISSUE TO HAPPEN AGAIN ON PURPOSE, VERY RANDOM.

• Air Bags3

  2 involved a crash

  • Filed Oct 2024

    The contact owned a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would lose automotive power. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the negative battery was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at approximately 45 MPH, a deer ran into the middle of the roadway and impacted the front grill and bumper. The Service Air Bag warning light was illuminated. After the impact, the contact noticed smoke was leaking into the interior of the vehicle from the front driver-side and passenger-side air bags. The contact stated that the vehicle would not move forward or reverse after the impact. The contact stated that the front driver-side and passenger-side seat belts failed to retract or extend. The contact and her husband were able to unbuckle the seat belts and safely exit the vehicle in time. No injuries were sustained. No police reports or fire reports were filed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss and was towed to the contact's home where it remained for further investigation. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

  • Filed May 2024

    The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 HD. The contact stated that while driving at 64 MPH, he crashed head-on with a 350-pound deer. The deer went underneath the vehicle, and the driver ran over it with the passenger front tire. The driver's side air bag did not deploy. The air bag warning light was illuminated. There were no reported injuries or fire. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive away from the crash. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 85,379. Additionally, while driving in the snow, a motorcycle crashed into the rear of his vehicle. The driver-side front air bag did not deploy. There was an abnormal sizzling sound, and smoke was detected. There were no warning lights illuminated, There were no reported injuries, fore or police report. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

  • Filed Oct 2016

    SIDE THORAX AND HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAGS ARE LISTED AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE 2016 GMC SIERRA TRUCK LINE. I DISCOVERED AFTER MY PURCHASE THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE SIDE AIRBAGS. AFTER RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT WHEN YOU SELECT THE DURAMAX ENGINE OPTION, GMC DELETES ALL SIDE AIRBAGS AND DOES NOT NOTIFY THE CUSTOMER. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS SIDE AIRBAGS OR NOT. SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SIDE AIRBAGS (LIKE MYSELF) BUT IF THEY SELECTED THE VERY POPULAR (AND QUITE EXPENSIVE) DURAMAX ENGINE OPTION, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SIDE AIRBAGS AS ADVERTISED. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURE THAT GMC IS DELETING FROM ADVERTISED STANDARD EQUIPMENT WITHOUT PROPERLY ADVISING CUSTOMERS. IT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY IF SOMEONE IS INJURED IN A VEHICLE THEY BELIEVE HAS SIDE AIRBAGS BECAUSE OF THE DECEPTIVE PRACTICE. THIS POSSIBLE AFFECTS OTHER YEARS AND POSSIBLY THE CHEVROLET SILVERADO ALSO.

• Fuel/Propulsion System3

  • Filed Feb 2024

    Bosch CP4 fuel pump failure that shut down vehicle while driving, luckily did not cause an accident. Would not restart. Damaged entire fuel system including injectors and now have $17,000 in damage that needs repaired.

  • Filed Oct 2023

    This is a 2016 GMC 3500 Denali truck with 70,000 miles on it. The Bosch fuel pump threw metal shavings into the fuel system. This is a known issue with GMC trucks with a Bosch CP4 fuel pump for 2011-2016. The engine suddenly quits running leaving the driver without power steering or power brakes. It happened to me when pulling a 14,000-pound 5th-wheel RV. Fortunately, I was on an interstate outside of Grand Junction CO and the road was flat. If I had been in the mountains going downhill and the engine quit I'd likely caused an accident perhaps fatal. GMC quoted me $16,000 to repair. Again, this is a known issue at GMC but they refuse to do anything about it. GMC Dealership in Grand Junction performed the analysis and advised me to drive it home to Phoenix. I got 60 miles when the engine quit. Cost me $1,600 to get the truck returned to my GMC Dealer in Phoenix and another $1,600 to get my trailer back home.

  • Filed Jul 2023

    I own a 2016 GMC 3500 Diesel that had a serious mechanical breakdown while traveling on the freeway. The truck lost all motive power and needed to coast across 4 freeway lanes. Once towed to a local GMC Dealer, they diagnosed the problem as the Bosch CP4 fuel pump internally came apart while driving. I have to have this vehicle working so I got it repaired at a cost of $16,145. This is a known issue and losing all power while at highway speeds could have caused a serious incident. Please address this issue before someone dies.

• Power Train2

  • Filed May 2023

    Vechicle is giving codes of Emissions warning, P0102, P154B and P154D

  • Filed Jan 2020

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH OR MORE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH A MESSAGE STATING THAT IN APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (BURTENESS CHEVROLET BUICK GMC OF WHITEWATER LOCATED AT 1389 W MAIN ST, WHITEWATER, WI 53190 PHONE NUMBER 262-456-6849) TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED OF WHAT REPAIR WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

• Suspension2

  • Filed Aug 2022

    The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70- 85 mph, the vehicle was shaking. The stability track warning indicator light was illuminated and flashing on and off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but they were unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics but they were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

  • Filed Jan 2020

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH OR MORE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH WOBBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH A MESSAGE STATING THAT IN APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (BURTENESS CHEVROLET BUICK GMC OF WHITEWATER LOCATED AT 1389 W MAIN ST, WHITEWATER, WI 53190 PHONE NUMBER 262-456-6849) TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED OF WHAT REPAIR WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

• Engine And Engine Cooling1

  • Filed Jul 2024

    The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the crankshaft, lower bearings, head gasket seals, and the long block needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.

• Visibility1

  1 involved a fire

  • Filed Jan 2022

    The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH with the defroster engaged, she noticed smoke on the rear electric sliding glass window and smelled a burning odor. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road, disengaged the defroster and the smoke gradually faded away. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The contact notified the dealer of the failure and scheduled an appointment for diagnosis. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

• Unknown or Other1

  • Filed Mar 2016

    VEHICLE SHAKES AND VIBRATES AT ANY SPEEDS ABOVE 75 MPH.

Safety ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings from government crash tests. Ratings can differ by cab style and 2WD/4WD.

NHTSA hasn't published star ratings for this truck. Many heavy-duty pickups aren't included in NHTSA's crash-test program, so this doesn't mean the truck is unsafe.