2016 GMC Sierra 1500: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Dec 1, 2025 · Electrical, Visibility · 139,250 miles · OH

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 federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,250.

Filed Nov 24, 2025 · Electrical, Visibility · 89,000 miles · IN · fire

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. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program Number: N192265660 - Rear Window Defroster Thermal Events (Electrical System, Visibility). The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

Filed Apr 7, 2023 · Brakes · 200,000 miles · FL

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.

Filed Nov 23, 2022 · Electrical · NY · fire

I remote started the vehicle for about five minutes. I then got in, and turned the key on and sat in the vehicle. While it was idling, I smelled something burning. I observed a relay? On the rear window burning. I could see a flame (inside of the truck) , and the truck cab filled with smoke. The relay exploded, and the rear window shattered. I shut the truck off, and the fire went out. I opened all the doors and cleared the smoke out. I believe the relay for the rear window defogger failed, causing it to overheat and start a fire. I am replacing the entire rear window. This is a fire hazzard, and a driving hazzard due to the cab filling with smoke. There was absolutely no warning or warnig lights that this was about to happen.

Filed Feb 27, 2022 · Electrical · IA · fire

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.

Filed Jan 13, 2022 · Electrical · NJ · fire

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. There is also a customer satisfaction program (laughable) from GMC #N192265660 which identifies the problem and action the dealerships are supposed to take. But only for certain areas in the USA, Which mine did not. (purchased in PA, registered in NJ). How this is not a recall is ridiculous. It is listed as a "thermal event" Not sure how they got away with this. Its the incipient stages of a fire period. It involves a window which when starrers completes obstructs your vision and is a cut and blinding action if gets in eyes while driving. I implore the NHTSB to investigate this and order a full recall. It likely caused injuries or deaths already that are not known or reported as the reason for the accident/incidents.

Filed Dec 14, 2020 · Engine · 50,000 miles · NM · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 gmc sierra 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 45 MPH he suddenly saw smoke coming from underneath the hood.the husband pulled the vehicle over and got out of the vehicle quickly and watched as the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The entire vehicle was destroyed by the fire . There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The wreckage was towed to an impound yard. The contact retrieved a wreckage and towed it to a private residence. The dealer and manufacturer had not been contacted yet. The failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Apr 17, 2020 · Electrical, Visibility · 129,000 miles · IA · fire

Vehicle was remote started- rear defrost turned on automatically due to outside temperature. Rear defrost overheated and shattered rear power sliding window (rpo a48) while stationary. Burning smell was noted. Gm claims my VIN is not associated with special customer satisfaction program n192265660.

Filed Feb 15, 2020 · Electrical · 55,000 miles · NY · fire

5 minutes after starting my truck, I was driving on a side road, to work, with the rear window defrost on, when I heard a hissing sound then started to smell something burning, from behind me. I look in my rearview mirror and saw smoke coming from above/behind the passenger seat. I quickly pulled over, jumped out and as I was looking for the source of the smoke, I saw sparks jump from the rear window defrost then "bang" like a gun firing: the rear driver's side passenger window shattered. The air temp was 3f. I immediately drove to a chevy/gmc dealership 4 miles away. They told me to report to the gmc customer care line. No mention of a recall was made to me. Though it appears there is one. If someone had been sitting in the back seat, infront of the window, I do feel this may have caused them harm. ## VIN passed ## gmc 2016 ##

Filed Jan 10, 2020 · Electrical · VA

Started truck with rear defrost on, loud gun-like sound and smoke came from left, rear window and left window shattered while stationary.

Filed Jan 2, 2020 · 27,000 miles · IL

Here is what happened regarding the rear sliding-window shattering (and nearly a fire) in my 2016 sierra: on january 1st, 2020, I was driving straight at approximately 30 MPH on a smooth, level city street (no potholes or road defects, etc.) in 25-degree weather with my rear-window defroster on when I smelled something burning and looked in mirror and saw smoke and a few seconds later the driver's side glass-panel of my sliding rear-window shattered. There was no ice on window at the time and I had been driving approximately 7 minutes. I know that gm has acknowledged this problem and issued a recall #n192220470 on canadian vehicles, and that there is a major fire hazard. I spoke with anderson chevrolet and grossinger gmc this morning (january 2nd) and was basically dismissed and told to call gm about it, they won't help me.

Filed Nov 8, 2019 · Visibility · 50,000 miles · OH · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 gmc sierra 1500. After the contact parked the vehicle from being driven a short distance, he noticed smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact also noticed a spark of fire on the inside of the vehicle underneath the rear windshield where the defrost mechanism was located. The contact and the passenger exited the vehicle and the fire extinguished itself. The fire department was not contacted. Almost immediately, the rear driver's side window shattered. There were no injuries. The contact took the vehicle to gmc of perrysburg (located at 26875 n dixie hwy, perrysburg, oh 43551, 866‑442‑6919), but it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.