2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · symptom sheet
Transmission fails or needs replacement
- 31owner reports
- 93,800median miles
- $6,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Mar 12, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
193 of the 799 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 31 of those describe transmission failure.
Tick what matches of 31 reports
Transmission failure on other Silverado 1500 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the end of the road for a transmission: the car stops moving under its own power, or a shop says the unit has to be replaced or rebuilt. Half of the owners here mention a warning light or message, and a quarter mention it happening again or to a second unit.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (31 reports) and the torque converter (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2016 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
6 of the 31 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $5,400 to $6,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 81,000 and 100,000 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Preliminary information communicates Diagnostic aids for a no start or DTC'S following a transmission replacement
This technical bulletin provides information for new transmission oil to use and a procedure for exchanging the old fluid and adding the new fluid to correct a shake/shudder during light throttle acceleration condition.
What owners wrote
“The transmission failed at 96,000 miles even though maintenance had been completed. This could have been a catastrophic failure on the highway my family or others at risk. The dealer has the truck now and confirmed a failed transmission. No warning signs other than odd behavior when accelerating which led to odd noises from the transmission.”
Filed Apr 13, 2023 · 96,000 miles
“6L80 Transmission blew gears 1-3 at 84,000 miles under normal load. Extended warranty replaced the transmission with rebuilt one and it is slipping and overheating after four months of normal driving. Extended warranty will not cover again.”
Filed Mar 5, 2023 · 84,000 miles
“The transmission failed while driving on a highway the transmission went into limp mode reducing speed down to 1st gear almost causing a wreck . Codes read p0700 and p0796 .after drawing transmission fluid it looked like water in there fluid but I found out it's glycol. There is a recall on my year make and model but not by my vin .”
Filed Feb 3, 2023
“Transmission slipping, it shudders really bad at times, Iâve already replaced the transmissions twice. Itâs ridiculous”
Filed Dec 25, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 31 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 266 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 89 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 65 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 47 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 41 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 33 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 30 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 26 reports