2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Brake Problems

Which parts fail

• Power assist › Vacuum
  2

Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  710%
• 25k–50k
  3650%
• 50k–75k
  1926%
• 75k–100k
  46%
• 100k–150k
  57%
• 150k+
  11%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

While parking in San Francisco after driving for about 100 miles, the brakes felt they had lost all power, the pedal was pressed down to the floor and caused the braking distance to increase drastically. There was a fence post to the left of my truck. So I was going to go forward a little then back up and straighten out to pull forward and finish parking. Going slow 3-5MPH I pressed the brake and the truck kept going forward, I felt a shake from the brake pedal and then no pressure, straight to the floor, then the brake pedal didn't return up. i kept pressing/pumping the brake pedal but still felt like there was no power at all. When you released the brake pedal the pedal would not return to the top like normal. …

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the instrument panel went blank with white smoke coming from the vehicle. While approaching a stop light, the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard; the contact used the parking brake to stop the vehicle. Once the vehicle came to a stop, the contact was unable to turn off the vehicle. The contact poured water over the engine as the heat melted a switch that connected from one battery to the other. The contact managed to restart the vehicle and resumed normal driving. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000. The contact stated that the failure mileage was at or around 157,000. The cause of the failure was the second battery's positive cable became shorted out.

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while reversing into a parking space and attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal required an excessive amount of effort to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The VIN was included, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 63,000.

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while attempting to park the vehicle, the brakes failed to function as needed while being depressed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was unavailable.

My vehicle a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 upon lower idle speeds loses vacuum pressure. As the vacuum level drops the brake assist decreases, increasing the braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, which increases the risk of a crash. I have had a warning light come on advising to service the brake assist system. I took my truck to a local mechanic who confirmed the codes and learned that there had been a GM recall associated with this failure at one time, with GM recall # N192268490. There is also NHTSA recall bulletin 19V645000 regarding this matter as well. Upon contacting some local GM dealers in the area, I was informed that my VIN was not listed as one of the vehicles affected by this recall, so a recall notice was never sent regarding my vehicle. …

On a recent road trip my family and I experienced an issue with the Brake Assist on my 2016 GMC Sierra. When I returned back from our vacation I took the vehicle to a 3rd party mechanic that I trusted to perform diagnostics. He advised that I would need a new vacuum pump and stretch belt to correct the issue. Upon receiving this information I advised him to move forward with the repair. What I didn't know was that Special Coverage N182202780 covers this exact repair from GM at no cost to the customer. I followed up with GM to see if I could recoup any of the cost and I was told no because I didn't get the work done at a GM dealership. I find this to be extremely frustrating as I did not know there was a special notice that would have covered this defect, and if I had I would of taken the vehicle to a GMC dealership. …

I purchased a certified pre owned 2016 sierra slt in February and just after a month of owning it a notification started to pop up and chime on my dash stating "SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM". I have had my truck in the shop multiple times after to have this issue repaired and nothing has worked. They replaced the dash GM Genuine Part 84108373 break controller switch and buttons, the GM Genuine Part 23337305 trailer brake control module as well as the 7/4 pin 23404450 GM OEM Trailer Tow Receptacle. Nothing has fixed this issue! when the truck chimes I lose my trailer breaks and this is extremely dangerous hauling a camper weight 6500lbs. I also lose the ability to make phone calls, hear my blinker also the radio. This renders my truck inoperable and a danger to drive.

At low speed (5 mph or less), my GMC truck looses brake pedal resistance and I have to mash the pedal hard to stop.... very dangerous when in traffic, parking lot or pedestrians crossing in front. This needs immediate attention. No warning lights on dash. After researching this issue online I discover there are many youtubes and complaints about this apparent brake vacuum pump problem). I also see where there is a recall of over 3.5 million Chevy/GMC vehicles (recall #s N202300860 and N192268490) for this exact low speed brake pump problem. My GMC truck falls within this recall (GMC Sierra LD between 2014 and 2018). But when I check my VIN # on the NHTSA website, it states no recall. How can this be? It clearly is the exact same issue. Please explain.

Braking system is malfunctioning while driving at slower speeds. It has malfunctioned while backing up and almost hit another vehicle. It also malfunctioned while coming to a stop light. Brake system is not working as it should and is feeling spongy upon braking. It feels like the brake pedal is all the way to the floor before it will eventually stop the truck. In researching this problem, there was a recall on the secondary brake system back in Feb of 2020. I bought the truck in June of 2020. I never got any information that there was a recall from the dealership I bought it from. I am unable to drive my truck due to this problem. I have not taken the truck to a GMC dealer as of yet but planning to.

We recently had the recall installed on our truck, which was a brake software update for "increased brake pedal effort". No other work was performed and we had had no other issues prior to the recall being performed. Now, after the recall software update, we have all of the symptoms of the low speed increased brake pedal effort. There have been multiple times where we can barely get the truck to stop at low speed in a parking lot. The brake pedal vibrates and can hardly be pressed. Took it back to the dealer to complain about the recall installed and they said they would give a small discount for a vacuum pump repair but other than that there was nothing they could do due to our high mileage.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Brake complaints in other Sierra 1500 years