2016 GMC Sierra 3500 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 11%of 19 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the electrical system of the 2016 GMC Sierra 3500, 11% of the 19 complaints for this model year.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11450594, filed 2022-02“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”
NHTSA complaint #11676023, filed 2025-07Related service bulletins
- 11017595Apr 3, 2025This service bulletin provides information on the proper Reflective High Temperature Heat and/or Insulating Tape to use for certain repairs, such as Wiring Harness Repairs.
- 11017244Mar 31, 2025The intent of this service bulletin is to identify aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices as potential sources for causing multiple customer concerns that do not have other…
- 11017207Mar 21, 2025This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414…
- 11017031Mar 12, 2025This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
- 11014230Jan 31, 2025This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
- 11013069Jan 9, 2025This bulletin provides information on identifying Non-GM Engine Calibrations for Gasoline Engines using the Tech 2 or GDS 2.
- 11012929Jan 7, 2025This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information on the requirements for 12V battery testing and warranty replacements.
- 11012027Dec 18, 2024This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that are found to have a back-up alarm inoperative during the Pre-Delivery…
- 11011805Dec 6, 2024This Preliminary information communicates a GM part number for reflective high temperature heat or insulating tape when repairing wiring harnesses.
- 11010421Oct 3, 2024This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information on the requirements for 12V battery testing and warranty replacements.
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 20% |
| 2025 | 3 | 18% |
| 2024 | 16 | 31% |
| 2023 | 4 | 14% |
| 2022 | 7 | 22% |
| 2021 | 4 | 20% |
| 2020 | 9 | 18% |
| 2019 | 3 | 23% |
| 2018 | 2 | 14% |
| 2017 | 3 | 23% |
| 2016 | 2 | 11% |
| 2015 | 6 | 19% |
| 2014 | 1 | 14% |
| 2013 | 1 | 7% |
| 2012 | 2 | 22% |
| 2011 | 2 | 10% |
| 2009 | 1 | 20% |
| 2008 | 1 | 4% |
| 2007 | 2 | 13% |
| 2005 | 3 | 13% |
| 2004 | 5 | 21% |
| 2003 | 1 | 14% |
| 2001 | 1 | 3% |
| 2000 | 1 | 4% |
| 1999 | 1 | 5% |
| 1998 | 1 | 8% |
Other parts of the 2016 GMC Sierra 3500
6 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 GMC Sierra 3500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology