GMC Sierra Complaints (2016)
457 consumer complaints on file.
- #11442662December 4, 2021SERVICE BRAKES
At low speed, parking in reverse, brakes began failing. Symptoms included a vibrating brake pedal, and a large change in the amount of pressure needed to depress the brake pedal (low pressure required). Pedal went to floor without stopping power. Symptoms match existing NHRTA campaign 20V603, but 2016 is not currently covered by the existing recall.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11442514December 3, 2021POWER TRAIN
Torque converter went out causing hesitations which led to the entire transmission needing replaced.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11440306November 13, 2021SERVICE BRAKES
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11440081November 10, 2021STEERING
The Power Steering suddenly failed while I was driving at 50 mph in the highway The steering was so hard that I can barely moved, I have to figure out to not crash the side by side vehicles Not yet I will take my car to the mechanic tomorrow No there was not any symptoms before the failure
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11438477October 28, 2021ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
When placing the truck in Drive, there is a very hard 'clunk' between first and second gear. Additionally, when driving, the truck shakes/shudders, mostly on the highway, but sometimes in town when driving between 25 and 70 m.p.h. The first instance was in March, 2019 whereby the dealer indicated this was normal operation for this transmission. As it seemed to get worse, I took it back and was told the transmission fluid was the wrong type and I had to pay to get it evacuated and changed out, even though this was an error on GMs part.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11438411October 27, 2021POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
I purchased the 2016 GMC Sierra new. From the very start I felt there were issues with the transmission. I took the truck in for the shaking, vibrations and clunking in the trans with 5058 miles. Over the next 36 months I had the truck in 7 times and 3 different dealerships to get the trans fixed. Only once did they really do anything where they changed the fluid. I lived with the issues after the warranty expired as GM would not do anything to fix it. Now at 66,000 miles the vibrations have gotten so severe I am afraid to drive the truck. At no point has the truck not had vibrations, only they have increased. And now I have had 2 check engine warnings both dealing with the trans.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11438132October 25, 2021ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES
-Engine gas consumption states 21 MPG Highway, 17 MPG combined and 15 MPG City. -When I started using vehicle during the first weeks and months the best MPG I could geta at the highway was 18.5 MPG with top-tier gas. -Ever since I bought the vehicle, the gas MPG have gone down around 0.5 MPG. The vehicle feels that it has to use more gas in order to perform the level of task everyday. -The motor oil pump at times moves down from the 40 mark to the 20 mark when idle at traffic light and it starts moving, it temporarily goes to the 60 mark. At other times when idle it stays in the 30 mark. -The transmission is an 8 speed automatic. It has issues shifting 1st and 2nd gear, and at times 3rd gear as well. When driving at slow speeds like in a traffic jam, mall parking, do a u turn or when you slow down at the traffic light and then turns green and you start accelerating again it feels harsh on gearing up and down. -This vehicle has the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system, it turns on even at slower speeds and you feel how the engine and transmission struggle to accelerate, go a gear up and push the vehicle with only 4 cylinders. Like in manual transmissions when you accelerate on a higher gear than the correct one, it takes forever to accelerate and properly change to 8 cylinder and establish the correct gear and ratio. -Even if all 8 cylinders on it it feels like if I am running on a smaller engine. -There was a fix done to the transmission for a valve, but the vehicle still runs the same as before. -There is a knocking noise starting to build in the engine. Best mileage I can get driving the same and gas is 13 MPG combined. -The recent safety recall for the breaks is actually making the breaking worse than before. -My vehicle is 2016 GMC Sierra All Terrain V8 5.3L 4WD Z82 with 36,500 miles on it and is doing all this and its getting worse little at a time.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11437746October 22, 2021SERVICE BRAKES
At very low speed, my brakes fail. They work fine at regular speed. It’s only when I am parking or like at a drive thru. I almost hit someone.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11437333October 19, 2021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Sitting at a traffic light, I could smell smoke. My Entertainment dispatch was showing a Green lightening bolt, and I knew that my phone didnt work on the center console charging pad. I lifted up the center console pad, and it was completely full of smoke. It appears that a bad design by GM has the wire running up to the wireless charging pad, in the same path as the lid hinge, and it appears that over time, the hinge has worn away all of the protective material on the wiring harness. The wiring harness is burned and charred for as long as the eye can see. Unsure what has been affected by this yet, as it goes into the shop tomorrow.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11436876October 15, 2021SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11434790September 28, 2021STEERING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
While driving down the road pulling a trailer The steering wheel started to get sloppy it got up to 3 to 4 inches of play in the steering wheel before the wheels return either way The adjustment screw locking nut and clip all came loose and backed out and caused a slap in the steering gearbox The truck became unsafe to drive I had to park the truck until the parts were ordered and the whole gearbox had to be replaced at a cost of over $1500. GM has service bulletins out there on this problem they all came from one assembly factory but they said they would not repair the truck it was under my expense
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11431404September 1, 2021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
When making turns left and right at low speeds power to the truck shuts off, the steering wheel jerks left or right and warning lights and beeps are activated. The vehicle will continue through momentum, but as you try to turn the steering wheel, the wheel will jerk violently rendering the turn dangerous. This also happens when backing up and turning. The vehicle has to placed in park, ignition shut off and turned back on to continue through the turn and drive. This issue is sporadic and unpredictable. I've avoided near accidents on 5 occasions. The same symptoms occurred during the 2015 GMC Power Steering recall. I've contacted a dealership but was told it could not be fixed without my VIN number being included in the recall.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11430507August 25, 2021POWER TRAIN
This complaint follows the same pattern for thousands of vehicles manufactured by General Motors. The specific component is the 8L90 (RPO-5MU) 8-speed transmission. The vehicle has experienced torque converter shudder since the purchase date of 06/28/2016. Numerous "attempts" via TSBs and cover-ups by General Motors has failed to alleviate the common shifting, shuddering, rough shifting, LURCHING out of control along with appurtenant damage to adjacent components and structures within the vehicle itself. The vehicle manufacturer has attempted to forestall remedy at the expense of consumers. It has knowingly violated specific requirements for merchantability of said vehicle. IF SUCH KNOWLEDGE had been in my possession prior to purchase, I would NEVER have purchased the subject vehicle. Damage to torque converter components via polluted fluid and destructive particles caused by torque converter malfunction are situated throughout the entire structure of the named Transmission itself. Valve bodies. Gears. Filters, Fluids and tolerances have all been affected by the KNOWN DEFICIENCY by the stated manufacturer: General Motors Corporation. General Motors has shown neither the desire; nor will, to effect a meaningful and reliable solution to this problem.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11430139August 23, 2021ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Experienced error code of P0307 after vehicle backfired while on highway. Check engine light and stabilitrak lights immediately turned on and vehicle was shaking violently. Immediately took vehicle to an independent shop to have it looked at. After running diagnostics, pressure tests, and bore scope. It has been determined that piston in cylinder 7 is a complete loss and has a 0 pressure reading. From talking with shop owner he said he sees this issue quite often with GM vehicles due to DOD or AFM (active fuel management) that GM has on their engines. I'm at just shy of 67k miles, out of warranty, and needing to replace the engine.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11428167August 7, 2021TIRES:TREAD/BELT
belt separation at highway speed Left Front tire
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11428168August 7, 2021TIRES:TREAD/BELT
LT265/60R20 Belt separated from tire, second failure on truck in 2 weeks
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11423299July 2, 2021POWER TRAIN
Sudden jerking while traveling at low speeds. This jerking / shuttering happens while traveling forward, reverse, and coming to a stop. Hard shifting while driving. I've never owned a 4x4 before and thought this was normal when I purchased the vehicle. After reading about this it seems like a known problem for Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac. Link below for exact issues going on with my truck. https://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/08/tsb-seems-to-fix-8-speed-automatic-gm-transmission-problems/
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11422524June 27, 2021POWER TRAIN
The transmission failed on my vehicle while going highway speeds. The vehicle shifted into neutral and I was force to pull onto the shoulder. The check engine light came on and would no longer drive without the vehicle being turned off and then back on. It would still repeat this problem over the next 2 miles while I traveled to an exit to get to a safe location. The vehicle was towed to the dealership and inspected. An internal problem was found and the whole transmission has to be replace at about 79000 miles.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11421871June 22, 2021POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
The truck shakes on right side, it has done this in the past and was taken into the dealer for repair it worked for a few months then it was back and not it has returned again. it is to the point that if feels unsafe to drive
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11421572June 20, 2021TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Tire tread bulged from center line of tire tread to outside of tread approximately 1 ft long. I had been highway driving for about 4 hours at 70 mph. Truck started vibrating and was becoming worse. I pulled over and found bulge in tire. I took it about 5 miles to Matlock Tire in Lenior City Tn. But by this time the tread was cracking and separating. I was able to get a used tire to bring vehicle home. The service person at Matlock Tire advised me to replace all the tires. If one did it they probably all are bad.The tires have been very well cared for. They have 7/32 tread across all the tires. Very even ware. No dry rot. They had been rotated and inspected at McKenny Chevy in Gastonia NC aweek earlier. I had just come through the mountains on route 40 and if the tire had let go it could have been catastrophic. The DOT tire number is from one of the other tires on truck. Matlock Tire kept bad tire. Attachment is invoice for repair and picture of one of other tires on truck.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0