2016 GMC Sierra 1500 · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 106owner reports
- 45,000median miles
- 8involved a crash
Newest report Jul 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
106 of the 341 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Sierra 1500.
Narrower sheets: Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails (46 reports)
Tick what matches of 106 reports
Brake wear on other Sierra 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: 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the ABS module (12 reports), the booster (9 reports) and the pads and rotors (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the brakes cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
All 8 recalls on the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Sierra 1500
Brake vacuum pump failure. Closed apr 10, 2022, led to recall 19V-645.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 37,000 and 63,000 miles, from the 72 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 8 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 GMC Sierra 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 an issue with the Hydrastar Electric Over Hydraulic trailer brake system causing a voltage spike into the trucks electrical system which is causing DTC C1114 to set.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to diagnose and repair vehicle that may have a "Check Trailer Wiring" or "Service Trailer Brake System” message on the Driver Information Center when a trailer is ...
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about fluid leaking from the brake caliper piston area found during a service of the vehicle.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on the step needed to diagnose and repair vehicles that may have uneven brake pad wear. Technician will need to inspect and measure the brake pads thickness.
4 more on the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 page.
What owners wrote
“Out of the blue I am getting constant trailer brake system alarms dinging at me. Even if I select dismiss the alarm keeps coming back. There seems to be no way of getting this to stop.”
Filed Apr 7, 2023
“At low/idle speeds the brake pedal becomes hard and will not stop. At speeds between 35-75mph the engine/transmission has a vibration about every 10seconds and the transmission shifts hard and/or rough at times when first taking off.”
Filed Jan 27, 2023
“Brakes give out in the parking lot or at low speeds out of no where. I was told there are recalls for this but I looked it up and itâs saying no? I donât wanna have a brake failure and wreck. Looking for some help please”
Filed Oct 21, 2022
“I'm having problems with my low speed braking. When I am breaking at low speed such as at a stop sign or parking, it's like the pedal stops working, gets stiff, and I have to brake very hard to get it to work. This is of great concern to me as a safety hazard. Unable to stop in a parking structure or at a stop sign/signal can be fatal and this needs to be addressed and dealt with immediately.”
Filed Oct 2, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 8 of 106 reports involved a crash and 9 people were hurt. 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 49 reports