2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 337 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 overview page.
What owners report
“TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED FROM 4TH GEAR UP (3) TIMES WITHIN 91,000 MILES. WHEN GOING AT SPEEDS MORE THAN 50 MILES AN HOUR, THE TRANSMISSION WILL…”NHTSA complaint 11270712 — filed 10/24/2019
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SLAMMED AND JERKED INTO GEAR. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED…”NHTSA complaint 11270502 — filed 10/23/2019
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED UP AND DOWN VERY ABRUPTLY AND SHUDDERED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE FAILURE…”NHTSA complaint 11254839 — filed 09/11/2019
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500: 82 of 337 complaints on file (24.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 have in total?
337 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 11 involved a crash, 13 involved a fire, 12 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
