Transmission was replaced about 13 months or so after purchasing and was already out of warranty.
2016 GMC Sierra 1500 engine problems
41 complaints (12% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 79,000. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 41
- of this car's complaints
- 12%
- typical mileage
- 79,000
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor1
- Engine: engine control module (ecu/ECM)1
- Cooling system: radiator assembly1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
GMC Sierra 1500 engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Check engine light 20Loss of power 13Stalling 11Engine failure 9Misfire 7Knocking 6
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The vehicle stopped dead in traffic and would not restart. No warning lights. This is a huge safety hazard. Had to be towed to a dealership. The dealership and other diesel shops said the issue is a known catastrophic CP4 fuel pump failure. The fuel pump shreds and metal shavings are found throughout the fuel system. Requires a full fuel system replacement...quotes have been obtained from GM dealership and local diesel mechanics, ranged from $15,000-$17,000. There is a known fix and could have been solved by replacing the fuel pump with an alternative one, without putting us in a dangerous situation. There is also a settled class action lawsuit directly associated to this fuel pump and issue, however the vehicle was purchased in GA and therefore not included. Based on the VIN the truck would be included if sold within a qualifying state. GM corporate and dealers know about this problem and the safety risk, but are not even suggesting the fuel pump conversation as a repair. They are putting customers in dangerous situations and leaving them with high bills.
Catastrophic engine failure while traveling 40 mph. Dealership diagnosed as cylinder walls being scorched and rods blown through. No warning signs existed - just had a loud thud before the check engine light started flashing and grinding sound started coming from engine.
Engine has developed a serious lifter / cam issue. dealer identified it as a result of Displacement on Demand design. Total engine replacement recommended by dealer but since the mileage on that vehicle is over 100,000 warranty, the repair is not covered. Known issue, should have been pointed out by dealer / manufacturer before warranty expiration. FYI _ I do all repair work at dealer. Vehicle looses power intermittently is is not drivable at any distance. Manufacturing / design issue known over different versions of this engine since 2010, I believe.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the radiator was leaking fluid. There was no warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 98,000.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while her and her husband were driving on several occasions at various speeds, the brake was depressed; however, the braking distance was extended, and the vehicle took longer to slow down. The contact also stated that occasionally while driving at undisclosed speeds, her husband observed a loud sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine and braking system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
I have not experienced a failure as of yet. But the CP4 fule pump is prone to fail. With that failure the engine is destroyed as well. So why is there no recall to get the CP4 fuel pump replaced? GM has been sued correct? A settlement of $35 million due to the failure of the CP4 fuel pump. So why is there no recall to address the issue before it happens? I have contacted GM directly and got no assistance. They just told me to fill a complaint. My Vehicle is a 2016 GMC Denali 2500 with the Duramax motor. This issue needs to have a recall! Why should owners of these vehicles with the CP4 fuel pumps have to wait until it fails and cost thousands of dollars to get assistance or reimbursement. Would appreciate any help with this matter. Thank You.
Having the same issue as the recent recall on the 6.2L v8 engine failures. This has been an ongoing issue from well before the 2021 and up manufacturing dates according to many online complaints. My vehicle now needs a motor due to complete failure.This came out of nowhere with no warning very recently. It is not drivable and a new motor is not in my budget when I still owe money on the truck. GM needs to step up for the rest of these failures.
My truck uses excessive oil .i bought my truck on [XXX] and we decided to take it to pipestone camping for the weekend in August of 2023 . I still had roughly 3000miles before my next service . We left on a Saturday night to go home around 12:30 am . it was a 4 hr drive and about 3:00am my oil light came on . Before we left i checked the oil and it was full I stopped at the nearest gas station which was 10 miles and it took 2 and1/2 quarts to hit the full mark then went to Arkansas with the truck, just had it serviced prior and checked myself before we left and it was good . We drove there and back I checked at every gas fillup. The light never came on but when I checked the next day it was 2 1/2 quarts low this was this past January of 2025 it’s gotta be blowing past the rings or something with the pcv system ,but this is far from routine and could destroy the motor or at the least severely diminish the longevity of my truck and [XXX] knows of all safety concerns anywhere from engine seizing up all of a sudden driving down the interstate at speed and losing power to everything. Degrading the oil like that is not good for any internal parts . Now every time I start it the lifters tic and it only has 84263 miles .This is a very expensive truck . I take care of my vehicles to make them last and I can’t afford another pickup in this price range which was 38,000 in 23 . I know I can’t be the only one complaining about this issue . I’ve had it serviced by a outlet of the dealership I bought from it only been serviced 2 times that I know of since I bought and well before the service it’s been drastically low on oil with well over half the miles left before the next service . To me that’s insane . I have a ford fusion I’ve never added oil since I bought it and it has twice the millage . Gm needs to take responsibility for this and get these autos fixed before there is a fatality because of the faulty cheep parts they put in these trucks INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a sharp turn, the steering wheel seized, the vehicle lost motive power, stalled, and shut off. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the ECM was losing power and that further testing was needed to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.
Questions about the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 engine
Does the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 have engine problems?
Owners have filed 41 complaints about the engine of the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 12% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 79,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 engine?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the GMC Sierra 1500 have bad engine?
The GMC Sierra 1500 model years with the most engine complaints are 2021 (372 complaints), 2019 (335 complaints) and 2022 (270 complaints).
Other 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Brakes 106Transmission 85Electrical 54Steering 38Suspension 15Visibility 14Airbags 12Fuel system 9Driver assistance 8Body 7Seats 7Acceleration 4Lights 4Wheels 4Seat belts 2Tires 2
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2016 GMC Sierra 1500?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history