2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 Silverado 1500 most often describe brakes that feel soft, hard or unresponsive at low speed, and transmission shuddering or rough shifting, frequently in the 50,000-80,000 mile range. A third recurring theme is brief electrical dropouts that kill power steering and stall the engine, usually while turning or at parking speeds. Reports are spread fairly evenly across the model year rather than concentrated in early miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering loss with electrical dropouts and stalling

   • 106 complaints (13%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (74 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the power steering cutting out, the wheel locking or jerking, and the engine stalling, sometimes all at once, usually while turning at low speed or while parking. The same episodes bring a cluster of warnings such as Service StabiliTrak, a prompt to roll the driver window down and up, and a trailer brake message, with the dash going blank. Dealers who diagnosed the problem sometimes pointed to a faulty ground or battery cable. Reported from near-new mileage up to about 150,000 miles, most often during slow turns, parking or reversing.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: During the test drive, make slow tight turns in a parking lot and watch for power steering warnings or a momentary dead dash. Ask whether battery cables and grounds have been inspected or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I will drive down the road and the display goes black on dash and I hear clicking sound and truck shuts off. Steering wheel has locked up making turns, left or right. Issues mostly happen when driving extended period of times but has cut off with short trips and parking, backing in. These issues started around dec 2019 and increased in frequency this year 2020.”

   NHTSA complaint #11341125, filed 2020-07, 36,000 miles

   “1st I notice my info screen would black out and come back on then a service camera message would come on once in awhile. Now every once in awhile the stabilitirak will come on my screen and the steering wheel will jerk violently out of my hand. Very dangerous. Up to this point it has been at slow speeds...(under 30 MPH).”

   NHTSA complaint #11323778, filed 2020-05, 51,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal soft, hard or sinking to the floor

   • 271 complaints (34%)
   • median 49,800 mi at 3.5 yrs old (195 state mileage)
   • 27 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $714 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the brake pedal vibrating, feeling mushy, or sinking toward the floor, often at low speed, while reversing or when backing a trailer. Some owners report a growling or grinding noise and a longer stopping distance; others say the pedal became very hard to push. Several mention that a brake recall or software update was performed but the low-speed pedal feel returned afterward, and some were told parts for the recall were not yet available. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 110,000 miles, often at low speed or when reversing.

   Recall 19V761000Recall 19V645000Recall 18V578000Recall 16V069000

   What to check: Ask whether recalls 19V761000 and 19V645000 were completed and request the repair paperwork. On a test drive, try gentle braking at walking pace and in reverse, and note any soft, hard or sinking pedal.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Took my truck in for the recall on brakes. Dealer performed the recall service. Brakes still exhibit problems. Brakes become mushy at low speed after applying brakes gently, then moving forward slightly at low speed brakes seem to collapse and exhibit a low grumbling noise. Pads and rotors are good, so not the issue. It leaves me wondering if recall was done or done correctly.”

   NHTSA complaint #11328133, filed 2020-06, 50,000 miles

   “When I apply my brakes at low speeds or have to apply a decent amount of pressure I hear a high pitched noise and my brakes get hard and I have a hard time stopping. I also feel a catch and release kind of jump in the petal when this happens like the brakes catch then release.”

   NHTSA complaint #11375088, filed 2020-11, 61,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, harsh shifts and hesitation

   • 163 complaints (20%)
   • median 58,950 mi at 4.2 yrs old (76 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,800 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe shuddering, hesitation, hard shifts and lurching, sometimes with a rattle or knock from underneath at 30-40 mph that some attribute to the torque converter. Complaints also mention delayed engagement and hard bumps when shifting from reverse to drive. According to the complaints, dealers often performed fluid flushes or told owners the transmission needed to relearn shift patterns, and in some cases recommended valve body, wiring harness or complete transmission replacement. Typically reported from roughly 38,000 to 130,000 miles, often during light acceleration or at low speed.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive at steady 30-45 mph and feel for shudder or vibration, and test a few slow starts and reverse-to-drive shifts. Ask for service records showing transmission fluid changes or valve body work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our 2016 chevy SILVERADO 1500 transmission started knocking, pinging, and hesitating. We contacted the dealership and they diagnosed that we needed a new transmission.this vehicle is only 3.5 years old. It should not be responding the way. I noticed online that a class action lawsuit is being filed, however, GM does not recognize the lawsuit yet.”

   NHTSA complaint #11316244, filed 2020-03, 100,000 miles

   “At around 82,000 miles car started to be hard to drive due to transmission failing to switch gears properly... Now at 92,500 it's barely switching gears... I received error codes and check at dealership, they say it's not under warranty. I knew I am covered up to 100,000 mike's for drive train. Please help!”

   NHTSA complaint #11387754, filed 2021-01, 82,500 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Misfire, stall or loss of power with check engine light

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the engine shuddering, losing power or shutting off while driving, sometimes with the check engine light flashing or staying on. Some retrieved misfire codes, and others described coolant leaking from the radiator area and overheating, especially when towing or with the air conditioning on. Dealers are described as replacing the radiator and thermostat in the coolant cases, while some drivability complaints were not diagnosed. Generally reported between about 70,000 and 140,000 miles, sometimes under load or on the highway.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check for coolant residue around the radiator seams and overflow level, and ask whether the radiator or thermostat has been replaced. Scan for stored misfire and drivability codes before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving down the highway and traveling on an exit ramp about halfway through, my vehicle momentarily shuddered or lost power followed by the check engine light flashing. This could have resulted in quite a serious accident, however I was able to retain control of the vehicle and pull over immediately. When I pulled over, I connected my code scanning tool and pulled a p0300 code from the vehicle, meaning it had multiple/random misfires. This coincides with the shudder . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11330387, filed 2020-06, 86,000 miles

   “While traveling eastbound on interstate 10 from van horn to fort stockton at approximately 85 MPH with a semi parallel on the right hand lane and an SUV directly behind me no more than 3 car lengths away, the check engine light activated and all power was lost. When the engine shutdown luckily the SUV behind me was able to slow down after I immediately activated my emergency flashers and I was able to safely, after almost causing an accident, move over to the right hand shoulder/grass area. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11340482, filed 2020-07, 70,400 miles

Buying note. Check the recall history and repair paperwork first, then test the brakes at low speed and the transmission at steady cruising speeds. Have a mechanic scan for stored codes and inspect battery cables, grounds and the radiator before committing.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.