Home · 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 Hd · Complaints

What 65 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 Hd

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (65)Crash / fire / injury (4)Steering (15)Electrical system (11)Brakes (10)Fuel system (10)Engine (9)Airbags (5)Tires (3)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (2)Fuel System, Diesel (2)Lights (2)

10 of 65 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters

Jul 11, 2023Brakes

Trailer brake system continues to pop up “service.”

NHTSA ODI 11531600

Jan 6, 2023Electrical systemBrakes

I am receiving an on-and-off “Service Trailer Brake System” when towing and sometimes when not towing. Checked every component and alert does not stop. When this happens while I’m towing, trailer brakes stop working momentarily.

NHTSA ODI 11500519

May 26, 2022Brakes

Service trailer brake system warning over amd over

NHTSA ODI 11466299

Mar 11, 2022SteeringBrakes

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed four years ago, the steering wheel became significantly loose, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact depressed the brake pedal and veered to the side of the road. The contact then continued to drive at slower speed and away from other vehicles. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was repaired under Technical Service Bulletin Number: PIT 5501F; however, after the repair, the front-end of the vehicle and the steering wheel would wobble while depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel failure reoccurred several months ago while driving. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact removed the driver's side wheel cover and discovered that the brake fluid had been leaking inside the wheel well and underneath the floorboard under the steering column. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 4,450.

NHTSA ODI 11456370

Feb 9, 2022Brakes

BRAKES MAKE A NOISE WHEN I BRAKE. I AM ONLY GOING ABOUT 25 MILES AND PRESS ON BRAKE THE BRAKES DON'T SEEM TO STOP RIGHT. THERE'S A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE OR BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI 11451128

Oct 15, 2021Electrical systemBrakes

I keep getting a warning message "service trailer brake system". The warning may come on for a second or it may stay on for 10 to 15 minutes. It may do it once a month or 10 times in a 2 minute period. Whenever this happens I lose the electrical braking system on what I am towing. There is no set pattern or circumstance for when or how long it will happen. I was told if the alert is not on there is not a way to diagnose the problem and since I never know when it will happen I cannot schedule any type of diagnostic service. It does seem to happen more often when it is raining but has happened in perfect weather too. The warning has occurred both when I am towing and when I am not. I've done searches for possible causes and it seems to be a common problem. I regularly tow a 12,000 lb. fifth wheel RV with my family. I cannot afford to lose my ability to stop in a reasonable amount of time. I simply cannot do it when I lose my trailer braking system. The date below is the last incident.

NHTSA ODI 11436876

Nov 13, 2019Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, A VERY LOUD SQUEALING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD THAT OTHER DRIVERS INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH HER BRAKES. THE NOISE BEGAN EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2016. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NICK ABRAHAM AUTO-MALL GMC (1115 E BROAD ST, ELYRIA, OH 44035) ON EIGHT OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-563-9469535. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,876. *BF *AS

NHTSA ODI 11279762

Mar 21, 2019Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED SUTTLE MOTORS (12525 JEFFERSON AVE, NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23602, (757) 886-1700) AND A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,265. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11190578

Aug 24, 2018Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTRA FORCE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PARKS MOTOR SALES INC. (919 NASHVILLE HWY, COLUMBIA, TN 38401, (931) 398-5090) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER WAITING TO BE SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000.

NHTSA ODI 11122129

Nov 5, 2016SteeringBrakesEngine

WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH IN THE LEFT LANE OF A MAJOR CITY THOROUGHFARE THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THIS ISSUE WAS REPORTED IN ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA AND TENNESSEE. THE DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT SHARDS OF METAL WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL INJECTOR AND THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY I WAS TOLD THE PARTS ARE HARD TO GET. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND WAS 7 MONTHS OLD AND HAD JUST OVER 7,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS STILL SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP 10 DAYS LATER AND HAS NOT BEEN MOVED FROM WHERE IT WAS DELIVERED BY THE WRECKER SERVICE. GM HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BUT NO RESPONSE FROM GM OR DEALERSHIP MANAGEMENT YET AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. I OCCASIONALLY TOW A FIFTH-WHEEL RV WITH THIS VEHICLE. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT CONSIDER PURCHASING ANOTHER UNTIL A DETERMINATION IS MADE ON EXACTLY WHAT WENT WRONG.

NHTSA ODI 10924403

Working with the data? Download all 65 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 Hd verdict →