2016 Chevrolet Silverado electrical problems
121 of the 802 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 261 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 121 reports a crash · 7 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 2 · 2017: 8 · 2018: 8 · 2019: 12 · 2020: 18 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 14 · 2023: 23 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 12 · 2026: 8
Half of the 53 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 33,000 and 70,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
802 complaints in all about the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado, 8 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Silverado electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
All forms of sound on the vehicle stops, for example the radio shuts off, turning signals work but no sound, door sounds, seatbelt alarm etc. none of these sounds work. This happens on random occasions while driving and sometimes it fixes itself on other occasions the vehicle has to be turned of or the battery reset.
GM wireless charging in my 2016 Silverado isn't comparable with any modern devices. It only works with their recommended devices which wasn't stated when I bought the truck new from the dealership
Makiing a turn the steering locked and engine died 2 times and yesterday while diving on the freeway at 70 miles per hour it died and managed to pull off the road. First time we allmost got hit by an other car . Im very, very concern . Truck has 19k miles
The 2016 Silverado has a programming issue for the transmission. When I drive under a load going up a hill it chugs like I have a miss fire issue. The programming is set so it stays in the highest gear for to long when driving in city conditions. It stays in 6th gear going 25-30mph and when you need the throttle.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. A neighbor alerted the contact that the vehicle was on fire. Upon inspection, the contact noticed flames. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not towed.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 16V084000 ModerateFeb 11, 2016 · 139 vehicles
- Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the door is opened or when the driver does not fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection", and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
261 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
C1114 P1682 C0398 B3055 B3060 B3935 C0710 U0028
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado
Source: the same files- brake problems 267 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 194 complaints
- engine problems 74 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 121 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (15% of everything owners filed about it), and 261 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 16V084000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 42,500 miles; half of them between 33,000 and 70,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.