2016 GMC Sierra Denali

Routine

Owners filed 30 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
48,000 milesMedian miles at failure

29 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 40,00050,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes8
100
Power Train5
000
Steering4
000
Engine3
005
Electrical System2
000
Wheels1
100
Visibility/Wiper1
000
Suspension1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Seats1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights
Filed Jan 29, 2025120,000 milesOH

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra Denali. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the rear windshield exploded without impact. The contact stated that the rear fogger had been activated independently. There were no injuries sustained. There was water located in the third taillight. The contact noticed there was mold and mildew in the taillight. The contact was seeking assistance from the insurance company. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN related to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Structure › Body
Filed Mar 11, 2021115,200 milesMI

WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY SUNROOF EXPLODED. SCREEN WAS IN PLACE SO GLASS SHARDS DID NOT ENTER THE CABIN. THERE WAS NOT AN OVERPASS NOR LARGE TRUCKS IN THE AREA TO BE CAUSED BY DEBRIS OR THROWN ROCKS.

Steering
Filed Mar 9, 202180,000 milesCA

EXCESSIVE SLOP AND UNCONTROLLABLE, UNINTENDED STEERING SHIFTS CAUSING VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY AND SUDDENLY VEER OUT OF LANE OF TRAVEL RELATED TO DEFECTIVE LASH ADJUSTMENT STEERING BOX

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 11, 202077,000 milesPA

APPARENTLY, THE 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS ISSUES WITH WIRING HARNESS AND HARD SHIFTING WHICH THE MANUFACTURER HAS 18 SERVICE BULLETINS OUT ON YET STILL WILL NOT RECALL AND FIX PROBLEMS. ALSO THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND UNSAFE IT LOSES PRESSURE AND EVEN BRAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY AND SAY IT IS VARIOUS PARTS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BUT IT IS NOT AS OF YET. GM KNOWS OF THESE ISSUES AND THE 1000S OF DOLLARS CUSTOMERS HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. THIS IS WRONG AND NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED.

Engine5 injured
Filed Sep 2, 202054,000 milesCA

SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. ONCE IT WENT FROM 70 TO 20 ON THE HIGHWAY.. IT KICKS OR JERKS AT ANY SPEED... ESPECIALLY GOING SLOW.. THE SHIFTING IS HORRIBLE!!! THE FEELING OF IT LOSING POWER AGAIN LIKE IT DID COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND UNSELFISH AND PASSENGERS.. I DON'T TRUST IT ON THE HIGHWAY!!! I KEEP A MONITOR CONNECTED TO MY TRUCK AT ALL TIMES.. THE DATES COINCIDE WITH THE PAPERWORK!! ONGOING TRANNY ISSUES ALL THE TIME!! I PAID WAY TO MUCH FOR THIS LEMON!! ENGINE VIBRATES AROUND 80.. AND IF YOU DON'T USE YOUR BLINKER.. THEY TRUCK FIGHTS YOU TO CHANGE LANES.. IT PULLS YOU BACK!!

Seat Belts
Filed Aug 27, 202056,000 milesTN

1) REAR DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT WOULD NOT RETRACT WHEN UNBUCKLED. SEATBELT HAD TO BE MANUALLY FED BACK IN SO THAT THE BELT DIDN'T DANGLE OR GET SHUT IN THE DOOR. REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 18, 2020 AT ROUGHLY 55-56,000 MILES. 2) TRUCK IS CURRENTLY SHAKING WHEN DRIVING AND HAS TENDENCIES TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AT TIMES. I'M CURRENTLY JUST SHY OF 59,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND HAS BEEN NOTICEABLE WITHIN THE LAST 1,000 MILES. RESEARCHING IT APPEARS IT HAS A COMMON NAME OF "CHEVY SHAKE."

WheelsCrash
Filed Jul 6, 202045,000 milesKS

HIT POST AT PARKING SPEED AN WHEEL SPLIT INTO TWO SECTIONS

Electrical System
Filed Apr 20, 202040,000 milesOK

I HAVE DIESEL 3500 1FUEL TANK THE FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T ALWAYS COME ON AND IF DOES IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL MILES BEFORE IT BEGINS TO WORK. OR SOMETIMES IT MAY JUST QUIT. THEN OTHER TIME IT MAY WORK JUST FINE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM DID NOT START TILL I TURNED ABOUT 40,000 I HAVE ABOUT 42,000 NOW. IF IT WORKS TODAY THEN IF IT SET FOR AN FEW DAY IT MAY NOT WHEN IT START TILL YOU DRIVE SEVERAL MILES. THEN IT MAY WORK FOR SEVERAL DAY THEN IT MAY STOP YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT GOING TO STOP. DO YOU HAVE A ANSWER FOR THIS PROBLEM. I KNOW THERE A PROBLEM WITH DUAL TANKS BUT HAVE SINGLE TANK.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Feb 5, 202094,000 milesMN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, WITHIN APPROXIMATE 2 FEET THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT LOOKED INTO THE BACKUP CAMERA AND NOTICED SMOKE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICE SHATTERED GLASS. THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

Power Train
Filed Jan 16, 202048,000 milesWA

TRUCK LURCHED UNCONTROLLED FOR SEVERAL FEET WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE GEAR.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 7, 202047,000 milesNJ

PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT LED LIGHTS FAILED. LIGHT BEGAN TO DIM AND FLUTTER IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN LED STRIP, EVENTUALLY TOTALLY FAILING IN BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL.

Steering
Filed Dec 16, 201938,456 milesTX

PURCHASED THE 2016 DURAMAX DENALI WITH LESS THAN 39,000 MILES AFTER MY PREVIOUS GMC TRUCK TURNED OUT TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND A MONEY PIT. SALES REP HAD ME DRIVE THE VEHICLE AROUND THE BLOCK AND THE VEHICLE WAS WHAT I WANTED. AFTER DRIVING THE TRUCK AT HIGHWAY SPEED I STARTED NOTICING THE VEHICLE DRIFTING ALL OVER, I HAD TO TURN THE LANE DEPARTURE WARNING SYSTEM OFF BECAUSE YOU CANT KEEP IT IN THE LANE. GOING INTO A CONSTRUCTION ZONE I ALMOST WAS PUSHED INTO THE BARRIER BECAUSE OF THE DRAFT OFF OF A SEMI. WITH SPEED LIMITS UP TO 85 HERE IN TEXAS I CANT BELIEVE SOMEBODY HAS NOT BEEN KILLED YET. I AM TAKING IT TO GMC CAVENDER OF BUICK IN SAN ANTONIO WEDNESDAY. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE.

Power Train
Filed Dec 14, 201962,000 milesOH

THE TRUCK HAS A HORRIBLE VIBRATION FROM AROUND 45 MPH AND UP. HAVE TEST DROVE OTHER 2016 GMC SIERRAS WITH SAME ISSUE. HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP WE BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY SAID IT SHOULD BE A RECALL

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Jul 29, 201978,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REVERSED AT UNDER 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR, FENDER AND SIDE MIRROR. THERE WAS NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VAN BUREN BUICK GMC LOCATED AT 2257 JERICHO TURNPIKE, GARDEN CITY PARK, NY 11040, (516) 535-9508, TO BE DIAGNOSED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

Service Brakes
Filed May 15, 201927,000 milesAR

BRAKE FAILURE ISSUE AT LOW SPEED. THIS HAPPENED IN TWO SEPARATE OCCURRENCES IN PARKING LOTS. THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY STILL AND REQUIRED GRABBING THE STEERING WHEEL AND USING IT TO PULL MYSELF DOWN HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THIS RESULTED IN GREATLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. FORTUNATELY NO VEHICLES OR PEOPLE WERE IN MY PATH DURING THESE OCCURRENCES. GM HAS SINCE REPAIRED MY VEHICLE. I HAVE SINCE RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT THEY ARE REPAIRING THIS ISSUE ONLY AFTER THE OWNER HAS A BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEM. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IS UNACCEPTABLE. OWNERS NEED A SOLUTION AND DO NOT NEED TO WORRY THAT THIS ISSUE WILL ARISE AGAIN. IF I HIT A PERSON OR A VEHICLE, WILL GM PAY FOR MEDICAL BILLS, VEHICLE REPAIRS, LEGAL FEES? THIS TRUCK AS WELL AS MY LAST 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HAD ISSUES WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN THAT GM CLASSIFIED AS NORMAL. THESE TRUCKS SHOULD NOT HAVE DRIVE SHAFT CLUNK WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THESE VEHICLES HAVE MAJOR MECHANICAL CONCERNS AND THEIR QUALITY IS TRASH!

Service Brakes
Filed May 6, 201967,000 milesFL

THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT SLOW SPEED GOING FORWARD OR IN REVERSE

Suspension
Filed Apr 29, 201975,000 milesNY

THE SEALS ON THE FRONT END SUSPENSION SHOCKS - SEALS ARE BROKEN ON BOTH FRONT SETS GREASE IS LEAKING OUT OF THEM AND CAUSING A ROUGH RIDE WITH NOISE WHEN YOU GO OVER BUMP

Steering
Filed Apr 9, 201938,000 milesAZ

STEERING WHEEL SLOPPY 1-2 INCHES OF PLAY WHILE DRIVING

Electrical System
Filed Apr 1, 201955,000 milesCO

A FEW MINUTES AFTER STARTING TRUCK WITH REMOTE STARTER (DEFROSTER ON), A PORTION OF THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. SEEMS LIKE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, APPARENTLY CAUSED BY THE DEFROSTER OVERHEATING THE GLASS.

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 23, 201944,972 milesPA

AT 44,972 MILES I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE LOSS OF BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS (10-15 MPH) ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST ITS SPONGY FEEL AND FELT HARD AND DEAD. NO MATTER HOW MUCH PRESSURE I APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. IT WAS A SCARY FEELING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAD MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN MY TRUCK THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. I HAD TO DEPRESS MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. I PULLED THE TRUCK OVER AND TURNED OFF AND ON THE IGNITION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL REGAINED ITS SPONGY, NORMAL PRESSURE AND FEEL. THE BRAKES FELT NORMAL FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AND I FELT MAYBE IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT UNTIL THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN CITY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 5-10 MPH TRYING TO COME TO A STOP BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. I BARELY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO DEPRESS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP AND CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AT VERY LOW SPEED, BUT NONETHELESS A COLLISION. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT AND ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE VACUUM PUMP ASSEMBLY FOR $656.50, PARTS AND LABOR. I DEFINITELY FEEL THIS IS A VALID SAFETY ISSUE THAT DESERVES INVESTIGATING AND DOING EITHER A SAFETY NOTICE TO VEHICLE OWNERS THAT COULD BE EFFECTED OR A RECALL. HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ISSUE I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT. IT REALLY

20 of 30 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2016
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202011000Routine
201926000Routine
201817000Routine
201714000Routine
2016 — this page30000Routine
201522000Routine
201414000Routine
20138000Routine
201210000Routine
201128000Routine
201010000Routine
20097000Routine
200818000Routine
20071000Routine
20065100Routine
20054200Routine
200411100Routine
200213100Routine

Compare every Sierra Denali year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.