Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the TPMS warning light illuminated. Additionally, a message was displayed indicating that the driver's side window be closed. The contact stated that the vehicle then lost motive power and stalled. The contact shifted into park and restarted the vehicle. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was able to continue driving; however, the failure reoccurred several times while driving. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly while driving and he was concerned about his safety as he lived in a mountainous region. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact purchased a portable diagnostic machine and retrieved DTC Codes: C279A and U0422-71 indicating an electrical failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was purchased 30 days prior to the failure and the vehicle had been serviced by the dealer four times due to the persistent failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
Rear Defroster malfunction. After starting the vehicle smoke was coming from the rear cab of my truck in the area that the power sliding window meets the rest of the rear window. In the same area, one of the metal strips for the defroster was glowing red hot. Seconds later the rear window shattered within inches of my face. There were no warning lights or messages prior to the defroster malfunctioning. The vehicle is yet to be disabled and the dealer refuses to look at the vehicle until the rear window is fixed. There are messages and recalls from the manufacturer for this issue on the same year make and model as my vehicle but for some reason my trucks vin number is not associated with that recall.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and stalled. The contact indicated that the failure had occurred on multiple occasions. The contact stated that on one occasion while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with the power steering and power brake becoming inoperable nearly causing a crash. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the failure was due to a faulty battery cable. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 179,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while making left and right turns, the steering wheel started to jerk, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle took approximately five minutes to restart. The stabili-trak warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the ground and live battery cable in the steering wheel needed to be replaced due to low voltage. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the instrument panel display experienced intermittent malfunctions, causing the display screen to blink off and on, and the display screen lighting to increase to the extreme brightness level. During the failure the speedometer was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure and no repairs were performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 33,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the radio in the vehicle had started to switch stations independently. The failure persisted, causing other electrical operations to be affected. The contact stated that occasionally, the failure caused the vehicle to stall while coming to a stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the computer controller was replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,800.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the air conditioner was engaged but failed to produce cold air. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the condenser had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated the vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for routine service, it was discovered that anti-freeze had leaked from the radiator. The radiator and thermostat were replaced, and the failure was remedied. The contact indicated that prior to the repair the thermostat would occasionally over cycle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 84,204.
Rear power window defrost thermal event. While rear defrost was on the plastic connector that goes to the rear defrost of the power rear sliding window began to smoke heavily. In 2020 there was recall number N192265660 for the 1500 series of the same year for the same component that failed and is a fire risk. 2500 had no recall but this vehicle contains the same product and poses the same fire risk as the 1500.
Electrical complaints in other Silverado 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
NHTSA has 119 complaints about the electrical system of the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 15% of the model year's 797 complaints. The component named most often is software (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, though it has 12 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 43,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 7 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.