2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Problems & Reliability
CAUTION2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: CAUTION — 801 owner complaints (1.39 per 1,000 sold), 1.1× the Silverado 1500 median year; top issue: service brakes (266 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2016 is 1.35, where 1.00 is a typical Silverado 1500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60. Severity drives it: 78% of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury or involve a safety-critical system (engine, powertrain, steering, brakes or fuel).
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, published U.S. sales, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
801
NHTSA complaints
1.39
Complaints per 1,000 sold
1,067
Service bulletins
12
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems
Service brakes is the clear leader, named in 33% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2016 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 266 | 33% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 195 | 24% |
| Electrical system | 120 | 15% |
| Steering | 111 | 14% |
| Unknown or other | 82 | 10% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 recalls
12 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2016, reported between Feb 5, 2016 and Sep 24, 2026.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 26V611000 | Sep 24, 2026 | Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator |
| 21V504000 | Jul 1, 2021 | Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator |
| 21V245000 | Apr 8, 2021 | Seat belts › Front |
| 20V736000 | Nov 25, 2020 | Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator |
| 19V761000 | Oct 24, 2019 | Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Wheel speed sensor/tone ring |
| 19V645000 | Sep 6, 2019 | Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum |
| 18V578000 | Aug 30, 2018 | Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages |
| 18V291000 | May 3, 2018 | Seat belts › Front |
| 17V437000 | Jul 10, 2017 | Air bags › Frontal |
| 16V651000 | Sep 8, 2016 | Air bags › Frontal |
| 16V256000 | Apr 28, 2016 | Suspension › Front › Control arm |
| 16V069000 | Feb 5, 2016 | Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages |
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 1,067 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2016 — close to the 1,260 of the median Silverado 1500 year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (239), engine & cooling (174), powertrain / transmission (151). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2016 vs. the year before and after
From the 2015 to the 2016, owner complaints fell 32% (1,173 → 801) — an improvement. The 2017 that followed held roughly level (801 → 839).
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Silverado 1500 | CAUTION | 1,173 | 1,279 | 11 | — |
| 2016 (this page) | CAUTION | 801 | 1,067 | 12 | — |
| 2017 Silverado 1500 | CAUTION | 839 | 1,283 | 7 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Service brakes (266 complaints on the 2016): check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, look at rotor and pad wear, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
Powertrain / transmission (195 complaints on the 2016): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Electrical system (120 complaints on the 2016): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Steering (111 complaints on the 2016): check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering at parking speed, and clunks over bumps.
Engine (72 complaints on the 2016): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Recalls: confirm all 12 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Nearby Silverado 1500 years with a better rating: 2018.
Know what to pay for the right 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 — then negotiate it
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FAQ
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: CAUTION — 801 owner complaints (1.39 per 1,000 sold), 1.1× the Silverado 1500 median year; top issue: service brakes (266 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2016 is 1.35, where 1.00 is a typical Silverado 1500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60.
What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are service brakes (266, 33%), powertrain / transmission (195, 24%), electrical system (120, 15%). The manufacturer has 1,067 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?
12 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, most recently 26V611000 (Sep 24, 2026, air bags); 21V504000 (Jul 1, 2021, air bags); 21V245000 (Apr 8, 2021, seat belts). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the per-1,000 rate divides complaints by published U.S. 2016 calendar-year sales; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.