2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

12 safety recalls on file

The 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 12 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.

Owners have filed 797 complaints with NHTSA, including 42 crashes, 10 fires, 15 injuries.

The most-reported problem area is Service Brakes (256 reports).

NHTSA rates it up to 5 stars overall for crash safety, depending on the version.

12Recalls
797Owner complaints
42Crashes reported
5/5NHTSA safety rating
Is the repair still open on your Silverado 1500?

A recall covers specific vehicles. Your VIN shows whether yours still needs the free repair.

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 recalls

Side Curtain Airbag Inflator Can Rupture or Shed Parts

Recall 26V611Sep 24, 20261,559 vehicles affected

The roof rail airbag inflator on the left or right side may have an end cap that detaches, or the inflator housing may rupture.

Side Curtain Airbag May Fail in a Crash

Recall 21V504Jul 1, 2021410,019 vehicles affected

The roof-rail curtain airbag inflator on these trucks can have its end cap separate, or its sidewall can rupture.

Driver's seat belt may fail to tighten in a crash

Recall 21V245Apr 8, 20212,568 vehicles affected

A cable that connects the driver's seat belt to the seat can wear out and break.

Curtain airbag inflator end cap can detach and fly out

Recall 20V736Nov 25, 20209,279 vehicles affected

The roof-rail curtain airbag inflator end cap on certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups may separate from the inflator.

Wheel Sensor Fault Can Cause Sudden Pull to One Side

Recall 19V761Oct 24, 2019652,967 vehicles affected

A failed wheel-speed sensor can cause the vehicle's software to activate the driveline-protection system while driving between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode.

Reduced brake assist can lengthen stopping distance

Recall 19V645Sep 6, 20193,456,719 vehicles affected

Over time, the vacuum pump that supplies brake assist may produce less vacuum than it should.

Loose Brake Pedal Can Cause Loss of Braking

Recall 18V578Aug 30, 201842,280 vehicles affected

Certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Tahoe Police Pursuit, and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles may have a brake pedal pivot nut that loosens over time.

Driver's Seat Belt Cable Can Fatigue and Break

Recall 18V291May 3, 201823,004 vehicles affected

The flexible steel cable that connects the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat can be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield each time the driver gets in and out of the vehicle.

Front Air Bags and Seatbelt Pretensioners May Not Deploy in a Crash

Recall 17V437Jul 10, 201740,683 vehicles affected

Some vehicles may not have received the complete software update from an earlier air bag recall.

Front airbags and seatbelt pretensioners may not deploy in a crash

Recall 16V651Sep 8, 20163,640,162 vehicles affected

Certain 2014 Buick, Chevrolet vehicles have a software issue in the air bag sensing and diagnostic module.

Front Control Arm Welds Can Fail, Causing Loss of Steering

Recall 16V256Apr 28, 20163,738 vehicles affected

Certain large SUVs and pickups from 2016 have front upper control arms that may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.

Loose brake pedal can cause loss of braking

Recall 16V069Feb 5, 2016430,771 vehicles affected

On certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe Police Pursuit, and GMC Sierra heavy-duty trucks, the nut holding the brake pedal pivot can loosen.

Most common 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

Problem areas named in the 797 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem areaReports
Service Brakes256
Power Train194
Electrical System120
Steering110
Unknown Or Other81
Engine72
Suspension30
Fuel/Propulsion System26
Wheels21
Structure21

What owners report

2026-10-13, Power Train
Vehicle: 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Component: Powertrain – Automatic Transmission (8L90) Manufacturer: General Motors (Chevrolet) I am submitting this complaint regarding recurring transmission problems with my 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 equipped with the GM 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmission. I am concerned about the vehicle's inconsistent shifting behavior, the repeated failure to resolve these issues through service, and the potential safety implications of unpredictable transmission performance. My truck has been taken into the shop multiple times because of transmission-related concerns, including hard shifting, intermittent and inconsistent shifting, and transmission sh
2026-10-03, Power Train
"While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of propulsion/acceleration due to internal failure of the 6L80 6-speed automatic transmission. The failure occurred without prior warning, creating an immediate highway safety hazard by leaving the vehicle unable to maintain speed in traffic. A professional mechanic diagnosed the issue as a catastrophic torque converter failure that contaminated the entire transmission system with metal debris, requiring a complete out-of-pocket rebuild." This resulted in having to pay $4,800 plus tax in such a rough economy.
2026-09-30, Exterior Lighting
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that after parking and turning off the vehicle, the three rear brake lights remained illuminated overnight, causing the battery to drain. The contact had to disconnect the battery terminals to prevent the battery from draining. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and mechanic on several occasions, but the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The failure mileage was 30,000.
2026-09-18, Air Bags
The contact owned a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While the contact's husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was involved in a crash, and the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle drove over an embankment and down a hill and then crashed into the sides of two vehicles. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact was transported to the local medical center. The contact sustained a concussion and had oxygen treatment. In addition, the contact continued to receive medical treatment. A Police report was filed, but the information was unavailable. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The failure mileage was approximately 91,300.
2026-08-28, Engine
I had noticed that my a/c was not cooling due to refrigerant loss. went to dealer and was told that I needed a new condenser and that my original was out of warranty & no recall was in effect. I was charged $1600.00 after the replacement was installed. I asked to see my original condenser & was directed behind the shop & low & behold there was a pile of 30 condensers exactly identical to mine

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 safety rating

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Hybrid PU/CC RWD★★★★★ 5-star554 (17.9% rollover risk)
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 PU/RC 4WD★★★★★ 5-star554 (17.4% rollover risk)
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 PU/RC RWD★★★★★ 5-star554 (17.9% rollover risk)
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 PU/EC 4WD★★★★★ 5-star554 (17.9% rollover risk)
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 PU/EC RWD★★★★★ 5-star554 (17.4% rollover risk)
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 PU/CC RWD★★★★★ 5-star554 (17.9% rollover risk)
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 PU/CC 4WD★★★★★ 5-star554 (17.4% rollover risk)

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 questions

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 12 safety recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Side Curtain Airbag Inflator Can Rupture or Shed Parts; Side Curtain Airbag May Fail in a Crash; Driver's seat belt may fail to tighten in a crash; Curtain airbag inflator end cap can detach and fly out; Wheel Sensor Fault Can Cause Sudden Pull to One Side. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

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

Based on 797 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Service Brakes (256), Power Train (194), Electrical System (120).

How safe is the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings program gives the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 up to 5 out of 5 stars overall; ratings vary by version, see the table above.

How do I check if a recall on my 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

Other Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years

Other 2016 Chevrolet models