Is the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 a bad year?
797 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 194, 10× a quiet Silverado 1500 year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 10× the complaints of a quiet Silverado 1500 year, spread over 22k–94k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Silverado 1500 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 62,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 266 (33%) | 41k–70k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 194 (24%) | 22k–94k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 110 (14%) | 27k–70k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 119 (15%) | 34k–70k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 73 (9%) | 30k–70k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 27 (3%) | 20k–70k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Body structure | 21 (3%) | 25k–67k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 21 (3%) | 40k–76k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 18 (2%) | 22k–62k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 11 (1%) | 41k–93k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 30 (4%) | 5k–38k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 21 (3%) | 8k–33k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 18 (2%) | 29k–59k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 17 (2%) | 10k–58k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 62,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 797 complaints: 42 mention a crash · 10 mention a fire · 11 report an injury · 23 say the car was towed.
42 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I have a 2016 Silverado 1500 that having trouble with my breaks and powertrain. I try to stop the other day and the pedal got stiff and wasnt able to come to a complete almost hitting a pedestrian.
At approximately 32,000 miles, as I was entering the on ramp to the freeway, I lost forward drive. I coasted to a stop on the side of the road and tried several times unsuccessfully to resume forward motion or even reverse.
Transmission shifts violently at times. Feels as if something ran into the truck and scares you when it happens.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 62,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 12
The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture. A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture. A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate. A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator. If the end cap separates from the inflator, the compressed gas will escape and the end cap can be propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system. Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time. As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
The brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative. If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal.
The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate. If the pretensioner cable becomes fatigued or breaks, the driver may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash. A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash. A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing. Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
On the affected vehicles, the brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative. If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 537
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Engine related shudder
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Diagnostic aids for a no start or DTC'S following a transmission replacement
Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips, or Flares
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Brake Vacuum Pump Failure
Neighbouring years
2015 Silverado 1500: 1,110 complaints, keep it · 2017 Silverado 1500: 714 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Chevrolet Silverado 1500 year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Silverado 1500 years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 a bad year?
797 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 194, 10× a quiet Silverado 1500 year. At 62,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 10× the complaints of a quiet Silverado 1500 year, spread over 22k–94k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (266), transmission and drivetrain (194), steering (110), electrical system (119), engine (73). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 22k–94k miles.
How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?
12 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 26V-611), Air bags (NHTSA 21V-504), Seat belts (NHTSA 21V-245), Air bags (NHTSA 20V-736) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.