2016 GMC Sierra 1500: Failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2016 Sierra 1500 report: failure. CarComplaints.com lists 3 owner complaints, average mileage 75,950 miles.
NHTSA has 12 owner complaints for the 2016 Sierra 1500 in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11770275 (filed 10/10/2026): “Transmission was replaced about 13 months or so after purchasing and was already out of warranty.…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11729705 (filed 04/07/2026): “1- transmission issue, it’ll occasionally slip from 1-2 gear and engine rpm’s will shoot up making it when you release the gas pedal it’ll kick into second gear it’ll also do minor kicks into other gears (8l90 transmission) 2- breaks issue, unsure of what the…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: 4-5-6 clutch hub replaced (1 reports) replace with rebuilt transmission (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $4,100 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto