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Total NHTSA Complaints
795
Owner filings recorded
#1 Reported Problem
Brakes & Traction Control
279 reports (35.1%)
Crash Incident Reports
42
Filings citing a crash
Fire & Injury Reports
21
10 fire • 11 injury filings
Defect Investigation Analysis

Executive Problem Findings

AutoUtility currently tracks 795 official NHTSA owner defect complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Brakes & Traction Control issues are the most frequently reported category, appearing in 279 complaints (35.1% of submitted records). Among these NHTSA complaint records, 42 filings cite a crash, 10 cite a fire, 11 report one or more injuries, 1 reports one or more fatalities.

Methodology Notice: Consumer complaints are unverified voluntary submissions to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Filings are not normalized for sales volume or vehicle mileage and do not constitute an audited component failure rate.
Incident & Severity Profile
  • • Total Owner Reports: 795 complaints submitted under federal penalty.
  • • Primary Subsystem: Brakes & Traction Control accounts for 35.1% of submissions (279 reports).
  • • Secondary Systems: Powertrain & Transmission (191), Electrical System (120).
  • • Crash Incidents: 42 filings cite an impact or collision.
  • • Thermal Incidents: 10 filings cite smoke or fire.
  • • Reported Casualties: 11 injury filings • 1 fatality filings.
Category Distribution

Reported Defect Categories for 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Factual proportion of owner complaints categorized by automotive subsystem in NHTSA records

Brakes & Traction Control
279
35.1%
Powertrain & Transmission
191
24%
Electrical System
120
15.1%
Steering System
111
14%
Engine & Cooling
68
8.6%
#1 35.1% SHARE

Brakes & Traction Control

279 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

⚠️ 29 Crash 🩹 4 Injury
⚠️ 3 Associated Recall Campaigns
#2 24% SHARE

Powertrain & Transmission

191 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

⚠️ 1 Crash
#3 15.1% SHARE

Electrical System

120 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

⚠️ 3 Crash 🔥 7 Fire
⚠️ 1 Associated Recall Campaign
#4 14% SHARE

Steering System

111 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI for this subsystem.

⚠️ 10 Crash 🩹 2 Injury
⚠️ 1 Associated Recall Campaign
Deterministic Text Analysis

Recurring Symptoms Identified in Owner Reports

Specific mechanical, electrical, and driver-assist defect symptoms identified via deterministic narrative analysis

Powertrain & Transmission 4%

Loss of Motive Power While Driving

32 complaint narratives describe this symptom.

NHTSA Narrative Match
Federal Oversight

Official NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

Formal engineering analyses and preliminary evaluations opened by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

ODI Action #PE18012 CLOSED Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Opened: 2018-11-20 • Closed: 2022-04-10
Subject / Subsystem
Brake Vacuum Pump Failure
Affected Component
SERVICE BRAKES
Recall Linkage
Campaign #19V645000
On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon SUVs.If the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extending the subject vehicle stopping distance. GM stated that the root cause of pump failures was due to foreign debris such as oil sludge in the engine oil. GM stated that this debris can become trapped by the oil inlet filter screen. Under normal operation, this screen allows a small amount of oil into the brake vacuum pump. The foreign debris can, over time, clog the pump which can cause a loss of lubrication and a reduction in the amount of vacuum produced leading to a hard pedal and extended stopping distance.On December 13, 2018, GM issued a Special Coverage (N182202780) for the brake vacuum pump issue in MY 2014-2017 trucks and 2015-2017 SUVs on the K2XX platform for 6 years or 72,000 miles. Special Coverage repair includes the replacement of the vacuum pump and vacuum pump belt. Consumers received notification of the coverage via mail. On September 6, 2019, GM notified NHTSA that it was conducting safety recall 19V-645 which reprograms the electronic brake control module (EBCM) and included approximately 3.5 million trucks and SUVs. In October 2019, GM extended the terms of special coverage N182202780 to 10 years or 150,000 miles as well as now including the entire scope of recall 19V-645. In October 2020, GM expanded the scope of coverage N182202780 to include the MY 2018 Escalade and 2019 Tahoe.The remedy implemented in GM recall 19V-645 appears to be sufficient in addressing the safety-related concerns of this issue. Loss of vacuum assist now occurs at a progressive rate as well as there being a more timely warning of a brake problem to the driver through the driver information center (DIC). In view of the recall action and revision to the special coverage, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.
Consumer Filings

Recent NHTSA Owner Reports for 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Representative defect filings submitted by owners to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Air Bags & Restraints ODI #11757832
Filed: 08/18/2026
Defect Report

"This truck is a 1500 Silverado custom with extended tail. There was a loud sound as if something happened , I moved to the shoulder and there was nothing visibly wrong. All tires had air in them, continued driving but did noticed a difference when I would back or turned to the right. Then days..."

Incident Date: 08/01/2026 NHTSA Component: SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS,WHEELS
Steering System ODI #11756540
Filed: 08/12/2026
Defect Report

"For the past 2 years ive been having issues of losing power steering. Lots of parts and modules have been replaced out of pocket. Still not fixed. When it goes out it can be out for days to weeks and is extremely hard to steer. Its gone out or come back in during a turn which is very problematic..."

Incident Date: 08/15/2024 NHTSA Component: STEERING
Steering System ODI #11752802
Filed: 07/25/2026
Defect Report

"Approximately one week ago I was driving at a safe speed on a two-lane highway. Suddenly, my steering wheel and truck jerked to the right. For 8-10 seconds a warning message was displayed "Power Steering ... Drive Carefully." I took the truck to my local dealership. They scanned for trouble codes...."

Incident Date: 07/16/2026 NHTSA Component: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Brakes & Traction Control ODI #11750018
Filed: 07/13/2026
⚠️ Crash Cited

"Vehicle suffered a failure cascade of the brake booster vacuum pump system. During a low-speed bumper collision on July 4 and a boat ramp slide, the pedal triggered abnormal ABS-like pulsing as the computer tried to hydraulically compensate for dropping vacuum pressure. This resulted in truck front..."

Incident Date: 07/04/2026 NHTSA Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
Electrical System ODI #11742829
Filed: 06/08/2026
Defect Report

"Doors automatically unlock while driving or parked and not running."

Incident Date: 06/02/2026 NHTSA Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Multi-Year Trend

Complaint History for Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Reported defect complaint volume across sibling model years (2015–2026)

Model Year NHTSA Complaints Crash Reports Safety Recalls Detailed Report
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 1184 61 18 View 2015 Problems →
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Current Page 795 42 13 Current
2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 836 49 6 View 2017 Problems →
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 514 10 7 View 2018 Problems →
2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 1059 27 10 View 2019 Problems →
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 708 13 12 View 2020 Problems →
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 792 20 8 View 2021 Problems →
2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 604 10 6 View 2022 Problems →
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 365 7 3 View 2023 Problems →
2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 289 7 2 View 2024 Problems →
2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 90 1 0 View 2025 Problems →
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 0 0 3 View 2026 Problems →
Exhaustive System Audit

Detailed NHTSA Component Breakdown for 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Complete distribution of consumer defect reports across all 117 granular NHTSA system and subsystem classifications

Vehicle Component / System Total Complaints Crash Reports Fire Reports Injury Entries Fatality Entries
Service Brakes NHTSA category: SERVICE BRAKES 211 20 0 3 1
Powertrain NHTSA category: POWER TRAIN 136 1 0 0 0
Steering NHTSA category: STEERING 48 3 0 0 0
Other / Uncategorized NHTSA category: UNKNOWN OR OTHER 45 0 1 0 0
Electrical System NHTSA category: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 38 0 5 0 0
Engine NHTSA category: ENGINE 33 0 1 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14 0 0 0 0
Fuel & Propulsion System NHTSA category: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 13 0 0 0 0
Air Bags NHTSA category: AIR BAGS 12 4 0 8 0
Structure & Body NHTSA category: STRUCTURE 12 0 0 0 0
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11 0 0 0 0
Visibility & Wipers NHTSA category: VISIBILITY/WIPER 11 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 9 0 1 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 8 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 7 0 0 0 0
Seat Belts NHTSA category: SEAT BELTS 7 0 0 0 0
Service Brakes NHTSA category: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 7 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 7 1 0 0 0
Suspension NHTSA category: SUSPENSION 7 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES 6 0 0 0 0
Visibility / Glass NHTSA category: VISIBILITY 6 0 1 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 0 1 0 0
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 0 0 0 0
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 4 0 0 0 0
STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES 4 2 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,WHEELS 4 0 0 0 0
Tires NHTSA category: TIRES 4 0 0 0 0
Wheels & Hubs NHTSA category: WHEELS 4 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 3 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 3 0 0 0 0
STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS 3 1 0 0 0
Vehicle Speed Control NHTSA category: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 0 0 0 0
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,SEATS 2 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 2 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 0 0 0 0
Seats & Restraints NHTSA category: SEATS 2 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES 2 0 0 0 0
STEERING,SUSPENSION 2 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN 2 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES 1 1 0 1 0
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS 1 1 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 1 0 2 0
AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 1 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,POWER TRAIN 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES 1 1 0 0 0
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),EQUIPMENT 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
Engine & Cooling NHTSA category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 0 0 0 0
ENGINE,STEERING 1 0 0 0 0
EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
Fuel System NHTSA category: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,SEAT BELTS 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE,WHEELS 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,TIRES,WHEELS 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
SEAT BELTS,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 1 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,WHEELS 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE 1 1 0 2 0
STEERING,SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES 1 1 0 0 0
STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES 1 1 0 0 0
STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES 1 1 0 0 0
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS,WHEELS 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,WHEELS 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
Related Workstations

Related Official Reports for 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Cross-reference safety recalls, crash test safety ratings, and EPA fuel economy for this model year

← 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Overview

Key performance indicators, EPA fuel economy specs, powertrain variants, and summary ratings.

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Safety Recalls (13) →

Official recall campaigns, safety defect descriptions, and manufacturer free remedy instructions.

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Safety Ratings →

NHTSA 5-Star NCAP crash test results, driver assistance systems, and rollover resistance ratings.

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 MPG & Range →

EPA fuel economy ratings, electric range, and annual energy cost benchmarks.
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Common Problems & Reliability Questions for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

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

In official NHTSA consumer records, the most frequently cited issue area for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is Brakes & Traction Control, appearing in 279 records (35.1% of submitted filings).

Secondary reported categories include Powertrain & Transmission (191) and Electrical System (120).

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 a reliable vehicle?

AutoUtility does not issue subjective reliability scores or commercial ratings. In official United States government records, NHTSA tracks 795 consumer defect complaints and 13 safety recall campaigns for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

Reviewing documented component complaint distributions, recall remedy notices, and active federal investigations provides an objective, evidence-based view of the vehicle's historical safety and defect record.

Cross-reference official safety recall campaigns →
Source: NHTSA ODI & Safety Recalls Databases

Are there crash, fire, or injury reports associated with the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

Among consumer complaint records on file with NHTSA for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 42 filings cite a crash, 10 cite smoke or fire, and 11 report one or more injuries.

Incident entries represent consumer descriptions at the time of submission to federal authorities and do not establish mechanical causation or legal liability.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Consumer Logs

Has NHTSA formally investigated defects on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

NHTSA ODI records list 1 formal defect investigation involving the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (all closed).

Federal defect investigations are formal engineering evaluations opened when safety defect trends emerge, and do not by themselves establish a confirmed defect or mandatory recall.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Registry
Official US Government Data Provenance

The complaint records on this page are retrieved directly from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) public database under 49 CFR Part 576.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.