Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 3500/4500 Medium Duty.
The 2016 Chevrolet 3500/4500 Medium Duty is a commercial-grade work truck built on a rugged platform designed for vocational and heavy-duty applications. Paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, this model delivers EPA-estimated fuel economy of 11 city, 16 highway, and 12 combined mpg—a figure that reflects the fuel-thirsty nature of its work-oriented powertrain rather than prioritizing efficiency. In terms of dependability, this model year recorded zero recalls and just two owner complaints overall, with suspension emerging as the sole noted concern, positioning it among the more reliable iterations of this commercial platform.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic 6-spd |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 11 / 16 / 12 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Regular Gasoline |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 18.0 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3 |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | Ac Delco |
| Spark Plug Gap | .037 - .043 in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 11 ft-lbs |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | Ac Delco |
| Spark Plug Gap | .037 - .043 in |
| Engine Compression | 100 min psi |
| 1 | 48.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 | 48 ft. lbs |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 2016 Chevrolet 3500/4500 Medium Duty dominate in one area — the suspension, 1 of 2 reports (50%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the suspension pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 431 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIT3271Q | 2026-04-01 | Unknown Or Other | This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel… |
| PIP6104 | 2026-03-09 | Unknown Or Other | This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and… |
| PIP4902V | 2026-03-09 | Unknown Or Other | This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into… |
| PIP4902U | 2026-01-08 | Unknown Or Other | This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into… |
| PIT5214G | 2025-11-20 | Unknown Or Other | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 11 city / 16 highway / 12 combined mpg.