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 GMC Sierra 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that her husband remote started the vehicle. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the defrosters automatically activated. The vehicle warmed up for approximately 2 to 3 minutes. The contact stated that while leaving the driveway, her husband stopped the vehicle to assist with moving a lawn mower. Upon returning to the vehicle and looking through the glass her husband observed that there was smoke coming from the rear glass. The contact stated that her husband unlocked the rear doors and released the folding rear seat and saw that the defroster unit was on fire and smoking. The contact stated that her husband turned the vehicle off and the flames were self-extinguished; however, approximately 45-seconds later the driver's side rear panel window shattered. …
while driving a hissing sound was heard from rear window, smoke appeared and rear window shattered. Dealer states that there was a short in the electrical system consistent with recall # N192220470 and that my vehicle does have RPO A48. My vehicle was not included in this recall due to geographical location of vehicle (Pennsylvania). This is a known potential fire risk and glass shattered into the vehicle. It should be noted that the outside temp was 60 degrees and my husband did NOT turn on defroster or open the rear window. After the smoke clear and window shattered he noticed that the defroster light was on and he shut it off manually. Had there been rear seat passengers they would have had glass on them and subjected to smoke and possible fire. God forbid a child in a rear facing child safety seat was back there, they would have been at serious risk of harm. …
Used auto start, got in truck few minutes later and heard from rear window and a hissing and smelled electrical burning in the cab and saw smoke coming from driver side rear power sliding window. I shut off the rear window defroster and brought it to the Freehold Buick GMC dealership in NJ. They told me they tried to duplicate problem and couldn't find anything wrong. Returned to me with no corrective action taken by them. Two days later with the rear defroster on the drivers side rear window exploded and shattered while I was driving which startled me and almost caused an accident. When I returned to dealership they said it wasn't their problem as they couldn't find anything wrong and to replace it would be 1500 dollars. As of this complaint, I see there are 17 other identical complaints. …
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at 45 mph, the four-wheel drive service light illuminated on the instrument panel. As he proceeded driving down the highway, both the service stabilitrak and the no power steering, drive with caution messages appeared on the instrument panel. The contact started losing control of the steering wheel as the vehicle began to sway. The decreased engine power, drive with caution message was also displayed on the instrument panel as the contact cautiously drove the vehicle into a parking lot and restarted the vehicle without further incidence. The next day, the contact drove the vehicle to a dealer where an electrical reboot was performed and the vehicle was returned to the contact. After the vehicle was returned, the contact was driving 50 mph when the failure recurred. The contact continued driving to his destination. …
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while idling in the drive-through at a pharmacy, the contact noticed smoke coming from the rear window, and the rear window shattered. The contact stated that the defroster was activated at the time of the failure. There was no injury sustained. The contact deactivated the defroster and drove to the residence, where the contact disconnected the defroster fuse. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program Number: N192265660 (Rear Window Defroster Thermal Events). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,250.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine started making a ticking sound and the vehicle independently turned off. The contact stated that he was on a busy street in the middle of traffic when the failure occurred and was almost involved in a road rage incident with an upset driver. The contact opened the hood and noticed that the battery cable was smoking and was burned. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Rear window defrost malfunctioned during remote start and electrical fire happened inside cab and shattered window. Vehicle caught on fire due to recall on 02/26/22 at 1AM and is at McGrath GMC in Cedar Rapids, IA. They will not release the vehicle due to safety issues; rental vehicle is not being provided and they have no update on when dealer will reach out to consumer. Dealer has been contacted multiple times.
The electrical system keeps throwing a code for short to ground as well as low voltage codes. The voltage gauge on the dash shows either over charging or under charging. The in dash radio and screen shut off and turns back on by itself while driving down the road. Occasionally while backing up or pulling forward the truck completely stalls. The transmission was subject to the shudder issue, we took it to King Cadillac in Lake City, SC for the transmission flush. After the flush we have not felt the shudder, but instead Occasionally when pulling off from a dead stop, or while crossing the very busy highway my house is on the truck looses momentum almost as if the transmission is failing to engage at all, and all of the sudden about 15 seconds later it engages and accelerates at a rapid rate. …
I have a 2016 GMC 1500 Sierra Denali and experiencing a very scary problem that has suddenly developed with this vehicle. As I am parking or in a slow turn, the vehicle completely looses all power [engine, electronics, brakes, etc..] and the steering wheel jerks out of my hands and then a second or 2 later it comes back on and then repeated 2 more times as I was attempting to park. I had this happen while turning into a parking spot at the store. Then the next day it did it a again as I was turning into a different parking lot. I loose complete control of the vehicle. I have been lucky not to hit another vehicle, more specifically a person. I decided to park the vehicle at home and not drive it until I get GMC service to diagnose. I have an appointment at a dealership to diagnose the problem on 08-15-204 at "Chevrolet Buck GMC of Puyallup Inc.". …
For over a year now multiple times while I'm driving. My vehicle's power steering will jerk/shake very abruptly, dash lights, radio, a/c & heater flicker on & off, service stabilitrak, trailer brakes etc, will pop up. then once stopped and shut off the engine the battery will act like it is dead and I will have no power to the vehicle at all. I have read the recall report & over 1 million SUV/Pickup GM vehicles (Chevy/Cadillac) manufactured through October 2015 are affected with the same issues. My 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 manufacture date on the vehicle is October 2015. I was told my VIN # was not included with the recall therefore they can't do anything to help. Even though my vehicle is experiencing exactly the same problems as the vehicles that were recalled and fixed with no out of pocket expense I am basically screwed. …
Electrical complaints in other Sierra 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA has 54 complaints about the electrical system of the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 16% of the model year's 343 complaints. The component named most often is alternator/generator/regulator (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500, though it has 8 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 GMC Sierra 1500 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 66,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 9 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.