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2016 GMC Sierra Denali

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

29 reports with mileage · 1 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

30 reports
38,200 miles · Feb 24, 2019
Service Brakes

AT 38,200 MILES, THE TRUCK EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BREAK PRESSURE WHILE IN A PARKING GARAGE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NARROWLY MISS HITTING A CONCRETE UPRIGHT. AFTER REALIZING THERE WAS A BREAK ISSUE, VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE CAREFULLY MOVED FROM THE PARKING GARAGE BY COASTING ON THE BREAK. AFTER RESTARTING TH…

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AT 38,200 MILES, THE TRUCK EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF BREAK PRESSURE WHILE IN A PARKING GARAGE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NARROWLY MISS HITTING A CONCRETE UPRIGHT. AFTER REALIZING THERE WAS A BREAK ISSUE, VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE CAREFULLY MOVED FROM THE PARKING GARAGE BY COASTING ON THE BREAK. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FIRST DEPRESS OF THE BREAK SEEMED TO GIVE FULL PRESSURE, BUT EACH SUBSEQUENT DEPRESS GAVE LESS AND LESS PRESSURE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND IS CURRENTLY AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE PART OF ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FAILURE (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE18012).

NHTSA ODI #11182193

49,900 miles · Jan 3, 2019
Steering

THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN ICY CONDITIONS AND CAN BE NOTICED DRIVING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON DRY OR ICY PAVEMENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED SERVICE BULLETIN WORK AT MY EXPENSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND REWORK INVOLVED T…

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THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN ICY CONDITIONS AND CAN BE NOTICED DRIVING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON DRY OR ICY PAVEMENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED SERVICE BULLETIN WORK AT MY EXPENSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND REWORK INVOLVED TIGHTENING THE STEERING BOX BACKLASH SCREW. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED AND STILL EXISTS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL LIST TO FIX THE ISSUE. IN ORDER TO FIX THE ISSUE, THE PITMAN ARM SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH AN UPDATED VERSION GM PN 84240812 IF THE STEERING PLAY CANNOT BE ADJUSTED OUT. THIS IS THE CASE WITH MY VEHICLE AND THE PART WAS NOT REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #11165611

50,500 miles · Dec 11, 2018
Service Brakes

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE BRAKING SYSTEM BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I'VE HAD THE BRAKE PEDDLE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY AT SLOW SPEEDS, A GOOD EXAMPLE IS WHEN YOU ARE IN A T…

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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE BRAKING SYSTEM BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I'VE HAD THE BRAKE PEDDLE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY AT SLOW SPEEDS, A GOOD EXAMPLE IS WHEN YOU ARE IN A TRAFFIC JAM AND ARE PRIMARILY USING THE BRAKES TO EDGE FORWARD AND STOP.

NHTSA ODI #11160788

5,000 miles · Aug 8, 2018
Power TrainWheels

8 SPEED TRANSMISSION BUCKS, HESITATES, LURCHES FORWARD, CLUNKS, WHILE STARTUNG ACCELERATION OR COMING TO A STOP. I TRY TO KEEP A BIG GAP BETWEEN MY TRUCK AND CARS IN FRONT OF ME AT STOP SIGNS BECAUSE IT RANDOMLY LURCHES FORWARD AND I ALMOST HAVE BUMPED CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALER SO MANU TIMES TO FI…

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8 SPEED TRANSMISSION BUCKS, HESITATES, LURCHES FORWARD, CLUNKS, WHILE STARTUNG ACCELERATION OR COMING TO A STOP. I TRY TO KEEP A BIG GAP BETWEEN MY TRUCK AND CARS IN FRONT OF ME AT STOP SIGNS BECAUSE IT RANDOMLY LURCHES FORWARD AND I ALMOST HAVE BUMPED CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALER SO MANU TIMES TO FIX THE VIBRATION ISSUES AS WELL, THEY SAID 3 TIRES THAT CAME IN THE BRAND NEW TRUCK WERE DEFECTIVE SO I HAD TO REPLACE THEM ALL AND THE SHAKE IS STILL THERE, THE BALANCED, REBALANCED, ROAD FORCE BALANCE AND NOTHING WORKS. LAST TIME AT THE DEALER SAID IT IS PROBABLY THE TIRES, HE SAID DONT ROTATE THEM AGAIN AND WHEN THEY WEAR OUT HE WILL PUT ME IN A 'BETTER' TIRE. I AM PAST MY WARRANTY SO THE DEALER SAYS ANY COSTS ARE MY RESPONSIBILITT, IF THE NHTSA COULD PLEASE STEP IN TO ASSIST US TO MAKE GM FIC THEAE VEHICLES WHICH ARE A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI #11118643

10,000 miles · Jul 30, 2018
Power Train

TRUCK SHIFTS REALLY HARD AND IS UNPREDICTABLE. I ALMOST DROVE THROUGH MY GARAGE DOOR THE OTHER DAY SHIFTING TO DRIVE FROM REVERSE. TRUCK WILL LUNGE FORWARD OR DELAY IN SHIFTING. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES I'VE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES BEFORE I BACKED INTO SOMETHING. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN 3-4 TIMES FOR THE ISSUE AND GMC WON'T RE…

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TRUCK SHIFTS REALLY HARD AND IS UNPREDICTABLE. I ALMOST DROVE THROUGH MY GARAGE DOOR THE OTHER DAY SHIFTING TO DRIVE FROM REVERSE. TRUCK WILL LUNGE FORWARD OR DELAY IN SHIFTING. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES I'VE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES BEFORE I BACKED INTO SOMETHING. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN 3-4 TIMES FOR THE ISSUE AND GMC WON'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11114476

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2018
Power TrainService BrakesUnknown Or Other

LOOSES BRAKE ASSISTANCE IN PARKING LOT AND SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH VARIOUS CODES THE MOST COMMON IS MISFIRE ON STARTUP IT HAPPEN IN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI #11093803

38,700 miles · Feb 27, 2018
Engine

MY 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500 DIESEL DENALI HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AND OVER 50 DAYS SINCE NOVEMBER 4, 2017 FOR AN EMISSIONS ISSUE. ON NOVEMBER 4 WHILE DRIVING, I RECEIVED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT SAID TO SERVICE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND A COUNTDOWN STARTED, REDUCING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE BY 10 MPH AFTER EVERY 50-75 MILES . …

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MY 2016 GMC SIERRA 3500 DIESEL DENALI HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AND OVER 50 DAYS SINCE NOVEMBER 4, 2017 FOR AN EMISSIONS ISSUE. ON NOVEMBER 4 WHILE DRIVING, I RECEIVED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT SAID TO SERVICE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND A COUNTDOWN STARTED, REDUCING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE BY 10 MPH AFTER EVERY 50-75 MILES . THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 38,700 MILES AT THE TIME. THE ERROR MESSAGE THAT THE DEALERSHIP RECEIVED WAS P205B REDUCTANT TANK TEMPERATURE SENSOR PERFORMANCE. THEY REPLACED THE EMISSION REDUCTION TANK RESERVOIR AND COMPLETED A REGENERATION TEST. ON DECEMBER 11 I GOT THE SAME MESSAGE AND THEY RECEIVED A REDUCTANT HEATER CONTROL CIRCUIT LOW ERROR AND THEY REPLACED GLOW PLUG CONTROL MODULE. ON JANUARY 2 I GOT THE SAME MESSAGE AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE EMISSION REDUCTION FLUID SUPPLY PUMP MODULE. ON JANUARY 17 I GOT THE SAME ERROR AND THEY REPLACED REPLACED THE REDUCTION FLUID SUPPLY PUMP MODULE AGAIN. I GOT THE SAME SERVICE EXHAUST SYSTEM ERROR AND TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FEBRUARY 10. IT IS NOW FEBRUARY 27 AND THEY HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM. THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH EITHER THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM OR THE COMPUTER THAT RUNS THE SYSTEM, BUT NO ONE CAN SAY FOR SURE.

NHTSA ODI #11075339

24,200 miles · Jan 17, 2018
Seats

THE REAR SEAT HEADRESTS ARE UNDERSIZED AND TOO SMALL TO PROPERLY PROTECT AND ACCOMMODATE TEENAGE AND ADULT PASSENGERS. ALSO, WHEN THEY ARE SET AT THEIR HIGHEST SETTING, THEY BECOME UNLOCKED WITH VERY LITTLE BACK OR SHOULDER PRESSURE AND FALL TO THE LOWEST SETTING. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI #11063400

6,000 miles · Sep 15, 2017
Power Train

THIS ISSUE STARTED A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE TRUCK TOOK IT TO TWO DEALERS THEY SAY ITS NORMAL. CALLED GMC & THEY HAVE NO RECALL. WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK & HAVE TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS & HAS A VERY NOTICABLE JERK. WILL ACTUALLY JERK THE HOLE TRUCK. PEOPLE WHO HAVE RODE WITH ME TELL …

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THIS ISSUE STARTED A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE TRUCK TOOK IT TO TWO DEALERS THEY SAY ITS NORMAL. CALLED GMC & THEY HAVE NO RECALL. WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK & HAVE TO SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS & HAS A VERY NOTICABLE JERK. WILL ACTUALLY JERK THE HOLE TRUCK. PEOPLE WHO HAVE RODE WITH ME TELL ME I HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHAT CAN I DO

NHTSA ODI #11023589

8,300 miles · Mar 31, 2017
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,300. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,300. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10969732

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.