2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

◆ Worse than typical
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2016 highlighted. 1994: 10 complaints 1994 1995: 3 complaints 1996: 7 complaints 1997: 555 complaints 1998: 361 complaints 1999: 587 complaints 1999 2000: 611 complaints 2001: 468 complaints 2002: 509 complaints 2003: 805 complaints 2004: 797 complaints 2004 2005: 525 complaints 2006: 357 complaints 2007: 849 complaints 2008: 912 complaints 2009: 444 complaints 2009 2010: 360 complaints 2011: 562 complaints 2012: 214 complaints 2013: 300 complaints 2014: 1429 complaints 2014 2015: 1091 complaints 2016: 787 complaints 2016 2017: 706 complaints 2018: 507 complaints 2019: 1033 complaints 2019 2020: 686 complaints 2021: 757 complaints 2022: 569 complaints 2023: 344 complaints 2024: 276 complaints 2024 2025: 80 complaints 2026: 52 complaints 2026
2016: 787 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
199410
19953
19967
1997555
1998361
1999587
2000611
2001468
2002509
2003805
2004797
2005525
2006357
2007849
2008912
2009444
2010360
2011562
2012214
2013300
20141429
20151091
2016787
2017706
2018507
20191033
2020686
2021757
2022569
2023344
2024276
202580
202652

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SERVICE BRAKES 32%

32% of complaints: service brakes — 255 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

I was pulling up behind a vehicle that was entering the highway when I noticed that the driver had to yield to oncoming traffic and did not continue driving.

NHTSA ODI report, 20251016

There is a recall (N182202780) for certain models of gm apparently, but my truck does not fall under the recall though it is the same exact problem with the brake vacuum.

NHTSA ODI report, 20250715

WENT TO MAKE LEFT TURN ON WET ROAD AN IT DIDN'T TURN IT SLIDE AN KEPT GOING STRAIGHT .IT JUST DOESN'T STOP IT SLIDES YES VEHICLE WAS MOVING THE ROAD WAS WET MADE THIS SAME TURN FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS IN MANY CHEVROLET SILVERADO TRUCKS AN THIS HAS...

NHTSA ODI report, 20161207

POWER TRAIN 24%

24% of complaints: power train — 187 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%

15% of complaints: electrical system — 116 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. A NEIGHBOR ALERTED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171222

STEERING 13%

13% of complaints: steering — 106 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
ENGINE 9%

9% of complaints: engine — 71 distinct reports on file.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. A NEIGHBOR ALERTED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20171222

SAFETY TIMELINE

2016 — complaint volume: 787
R 20160314 — service brakes, hydraulic

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...

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 16V069000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160518 — suspension

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.

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.

Campaign 16V256000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20161013 — air bags, seat belts

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...

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 October 13, 2016.

Campaign 16V651000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20170804 — air bags, seat belts

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...

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 August 4, 2017.

Campaign 17V437000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20180619 — seat belts

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe Police Pursuit and Special-Service vehicles.

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 18V291000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20181003 — service brakes, hydraulic

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.

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 18V578000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20181120 — PE (closed 20220410)

Brake Vacuum Pump Failure

R 20191008 — service brakes, hydraulic

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.

Campaign 19V645000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20191211 — electronic stability control (esc), service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic

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.

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.

Campaign 19V761000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20210505 — seat belts

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: 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.

Campaign 21V245000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20220505 — air bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks.

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 the remedy is available.

Campaign 21V504000 — check if this car was fixed

R Date not on file — air bags

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.

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.

Campaign 20V736000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for service brakes issues (255 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (187 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (116 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 20V736000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V069000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V256000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V651000 (air bags, seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 17V437000 (air bags, seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V291000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V578000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V645000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V761000 (electronic stability control (esc), service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 21V245000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 21V504000 (air bags) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2026 ▲ 2025 ▲ 2012

WORST YEARS

■ 2014 ◆ 2015 ◆ 2019

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 32% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?

11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.