This Preliminary information communicates a customer concern ofSIR light on with any DTC set in the SDM. During diagnostics a technician may find water in the SDM connector and is unable to locate a leak path. Dealer is instructed to inspect X150 connector for being broken allowing water into the body harness. Dealer to repair affected connector or harness as needed.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Chevrolet Silverado body problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 35,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Silverado | 36 |
| 2013 Silverado | 61 |
| 2014 Silverado | 78 |
| 2015 Silverado | 39 |
| 2016 Silverado (this page) | 16 |
| 2017 Silverado | 19 |
| 2018 Silverado | 6 |
| 2019 Silverado | 14 |
| 2020 Silverado | 18 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 16 body complaints filed for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that vehicles with front seat Regular Production Option Codes A52, AZ3, or B3F may comment about low treble, or excessive bass from the front door speakers. This is a normal design characteristic for this seat configuration. These vehicles lack a subwoofer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This preliminary informational bulletin provides a procedure to replace a body plug to correct a body plugs vivible on vehicles equipped with 6 inch oval accessory chrome assist steps condition
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information on removing paint stains on the under side of protective shipping film
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2016 Silverado body complaints cluster around five main problem areas. Paint defects dominate: multiple owners with vehicles under two years old report chipping, scratching, flaking, and white overspray on hand-washed trucks, with dealerships admitting the defect but refusing warranty coverage. Frame and subframe rust appears as horizontal corrosion lines that worsen over time and sometimes develop holes—some owners at higher mileage can't pass inspection because the structure is compromised.
Water intrusion affects the cab through multiple routes: roof leaks above the driver's seat, door seals fail, rear windows leak, and one rear defroster event caused a window to blow out spontaneously. Water intrusion creates mold risk.
Attachment hardware fails due to rust at welds—running boards loosen dangerously, and the powered tailgate assist slams instead of lowering safely even after multiple dealership repairs. Rear cab ventilation is poorly designed, with blocking insulation and no interior inlet vent, causing condensation buildup and visibility hazards. One vacuum pump failure caused complete brake loss at highway speed, and owners report jerky brake engagement is common on this model.
Same Chevrolet Silverado body reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Rear cab ventilation blockage
Insulating material and carpeting seal off rear outlet vent behind driver's seat, preventing air circulation. No corresponding interior inlet vent exists.
Symptoms owners cite: Heavy condensation on windshield interior despite defroster running; Very low airflow from vents at high speed; Dramatic airflow increase when lowering driver's window
Repairs/costs cited: Service center removed portion of rear insulating material and carpeting to improve airflow and defrost capability
Fuel tank filler neck obstruction
Fuel pump handle clicks off prematurely regardless of fill rate or nozzle insertion depth. Affects ability to fuel with standard pump; owner must use gas can.
When: 2800 miles since new
Symptoms owners cite: Pump handle clicks off when attempting to fill tank; Problem present since purchase, persistent across multiple gas stations
Repairs/costs cited: Owner must fill tank using gas can due to fuel spillage and inconvenience with pump
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB detailing fuel tank replacement exists; dealership unable to obtain parts from GM
Frame and subframe rust/corrosion
Rust develops on subframe and frame, appearing as horizontal corrosion lines that worsen over time. Some units show holes in frame structure compromising vehicle stability.
When: 80,681 miles observed; affects vehicles in areas with road salt
Symptoms owners cite: Horizontal rust lines on subframe; Wax coating peeling and corrosion visible underneath; Holes in frame structure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer offered wax coating as repair at owner expense; replacement frames needed for severe cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 19-NA-255 addresses wax coating failure and corrosion; frame rust issue extends to 2015 models per some owners; repairs denied under warranty
Roof and door seal leakage
Water leaks into cab interior from roof area. Shark fin radio antenna identified as cause in at least one case; rear window seal leakage also reported.
When: Under 35,000 miles; water intrusion occurring during rain
Symptoms owners cite: Water dripping on roof interior above driver's seat; Leaking from side driver's door area across roof to middle console; Rear window leaking water from top of cab; Mold formation risk inside vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Shark fin antenna identified as leak source; repair costs not covered by GM warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM declined warranty coverage; body shops report multiple trucks in area with identical issue
Paint chipping, scratching, and flaking
Paint chips, scratches, and swirls appear on body panels within first year to 2 years of ownership on hand-washed vehicles. Black paint shows white overspray and exposed metal where flaking occurs. Paint flakes off hood, cab, tailgate, and sides.
When: 1 year old; 26,000 miles observed
Symptoms owners cite: Chips and scratches on front end, hood, sides; Deep swirl marks in paint; Paint flaking with white overspray visible; Metal exposure beneath failed paint; Bubbling paint on body panels just under rear doors
Repairs/costs cited: No successful repairs documented; owners report dealership denying warranty coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership service managers admitted paint defect but refused warranty coverage; known industry issue linked to EPA regulations affecting Chevrolet paint process
Powered tailgate assist failure
Tailgate assist mechanism fails to lower tailgate slowly; tailgate slams down uncontrollably. Repair attempts do not resolve issue.
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate slams down instead of lowering slowly; Tailgate struck owner's leg on first failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership serviced 3 times; repair does not last
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty covers repair; dealership states they are not authorized to repair actual root cause
Running board attachment failure
Factory-installed running boards become unattached due to holding clip nuts rusting at weld points.
Symptoms owners cite: Running boards loosening and near-detachment; Nuisance rattle traced to failing attachment; Rust at mounting hardware welds
Repairs/costs cited: Only remedy is replacement of entire running boards; no individual replacement parts offered
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet parts department indicated replacement boards contain same mounting hardware type
Rear window spontaneous failure
Passenger side rear window blows out spontaneously while vehicle is in operation with rear defroster running.
When: Winter operation with defroster on
Symptoms owners cite: Loud pop sound when window fails; Window completely shatters; Burning wire smell detected before failure
Brake pedal performance issue
Brake pedal jerks and feels abnormal before engaging, then operates normally. Vacuum pump wear identified as cause in dealership diagnosis.
When: 45,000 miles reported in one case; occurring over 8-year ownership period
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal jerks before braking; Brake pedal feel inconsistent at low RPMs; One incident of brake pedal going completely to floor, requiring collision avoidance
Repairs/costs cited: Vacuum pump replacement required; mechanic stated this is a very common problem on this vehicle
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
rear window leaking water from top of cab into tru A common problem on chevy and gmc pickup trucks.Danger of mold forming inside of vehicle which is a health hazard.
Vehicle is 2 years old 26k miles & black paint is flaking. Looks like white overspray where paint has flaked. White spots everywhere. Metal is exposed. Never had a vehicle flake paint like this. I do not drive on gravel roads. Unacceptable for a vehicle of this age & price. *tr
Had body trouble with your 2016 Chevrolet Silverado?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 30,000 and 43,670 miles, with the median around 35,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 43,670. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Chevrolet/Silverado.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.