2016 Chevrolet Silverado transmission and drivetrain problems
194 of the 802 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 167 manufacturer bulletins. 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 transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 194 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 5 · 2017: 12 · 2018: 12 · 2019: 13 · 2020: 23 · 2021: 11 · 2022: 22 · 2023: 39 · 2024: 21 · 2025: 24 · 2026: 12
Half of the 84 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 20,000 and 90,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
802 complaints in all about the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado, 12 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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Silverado transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Transmission will make a hard shift sometimes, mostly at low speeds and light trottle. Feels like you just hit a large pothole
I purchased a 2016 Silverado lt leftover in feb of 2017 with 44 miles on it. I noticed a vibration while accelerating and deceleration and at about 70-80 MPH. I figured it was the GM factory 22 inch rally 2 edition wheels being in balanced and since I was changing the wheels and tires at 1000 miles anyway I figured it would go away.
While driving the transmission clunks into gear many times. It will clunk into gear when down shifting and upshifting and almost feels like a bad u joint but its the transmission. Feels very sloppy. I had Chevrolet look at it twice and was told that according to GM thats the way its supposed to be and the they all shift like that.
The truck has a vibration issue that my chevy dealer can not correct. Tires have been balanced. Still have the issue. They installed 4 new tires and rims and still have the vibration
Steady driving between 35 and 65 MPH, the truck shudders and the RPM tach needle jumps. It does not do it while shifting but when running at a steady speed. My 4th time at the dealership and they are only focused on the vibration of the truck and are now replacing the third tire.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications167 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
P050D C0398 P0700 P0333 P0711 P0796
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
- electrical problems 121 complaints
- engine problems 74 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 194 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (24% of everything owners filed about it), and 167 manufacturer bulletins 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 transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 14 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 62,000 miles; half of them between 20,000 and 90,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.