2016 Chevrolet Suburban Steering Problems

As I was driving 75 mph down the highway my collision alert flashed all my lights turned off, including my headlights and all interior lights as it was dark time and they flashed back on a couple of times until they finally stayed on. I pulled over and as I came to zero, speed, the vehicle completely shut down. It did start back up, but this is not the first time I get a light on my dash that says stability track and then everything resets and I don’t have any lights on at all after that this has been happening off and on I also have three coworkers that have the same make, and year that experienced the same problems ! My situation on the highway was very dangerous. It was pitched dark outside and I lost vision due to my lights going off at 75 mph and my steering wheel also locking up. The next time the vehicle does it I will take a video for proof. I have heard that this problem is very common in these vehicles and believe something should be done because that is a dangerous situation if I was going around a corner and my steering wheel locked up, I could easily flip my car. I have small children that’s why I have the big space but we need safety for our family.

NHTSA ID

11743382

Incident

Jun 9, 2026

I have read reports online of the two thousand sixteen chevy suburban turning off completely while driving.I have experienced this not once not twice.But three times now, with my chevy, suburban. This is a severe safety issue and can lead to death or major financial loss

NHTSA ID

11719978

Incident

Feb 23, 2026

Loss of steering, jerks the week right out of your hand and then you are unable to turn the wheel. Engine stalls and you have to try to coast to the side of the road, put in park and try to restart the vehicle. Service Stabilitrak warning appears on display, Alarm Sounds, Radio beeps and display goes blank, navigation compass does not work. There is a current Technical Service Bulletin for these issues: #18-NA-161, document ID 5075841 that lists the years from 2014 to 2020. There were Product Safety Recalls issued: 17276 Loss of Steering Assist, Reference Number:N172085440 for vehicles listed in this TSB for 2014 and 2015 but no Recalls for later vehicles with the same problems.

NHTSA ID

11655356

Incident

Apr 17, 2025

I was in the middle of a turn and the power steering went completely out

NHTSA ID

11653462

Incident

Apr 8, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ. The contact stated that while driving on a neighborhood street at 25 MPH, the steering wheel became increasingly stiff. She was able to continue driving until reaching her residence, where she parked the vehicle and attempted to restart it. Upon restarting, a message appeared on the instrument panel that read, "Service Power Steering." The local dealer was not contacted, so the vehicle was not diagnosed, and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

NHTSA ID

11645420

Incident

Feb 27, 2025

Mileage

88,000 mi

When driving the vehicle and when turning the steering wheel in reverse or pulling forward while turning the steering wheel. The dashboard will display a stability warning and the vehicle turns off and the steering wheel locks. It has happened two times in the last year and twice in 2023

NHTSA ID

11634783

Incident

Oct 19, 2024

Incident Report Vehicle Information: Year: 2016 Make: Chevrolet Model: Suburban I am experiencing a recurring issue with my 2016 Chevrolet Suburban involving the steering column lock module and the theft deterrent system. The truck intermittently fails to start, displaying a "Theft Deterrent" warning message on the dashboard and lighting get dim on the display. On some occasions, after waiting approximately 10 minutes, the vehicle starts, but other times it does not. Additionally, there are instances when the truck starts but cannot be shifted into gear. To address the problem, I have attempted to disconnect and reconnect the battery to reset the system, but this has not resolved the issue. The problem appears randomly and unpredictably, creating significant inconvenience and safety concerns, particularly in situations where I am stranded or unable to move the vehicle. Impact on Safety: This issue poses a risk to my safety and the safety of others. The inability to reliably start or move the vehicle could lead to dangerous situations, especially in emergencies or high-traffic areas. It is also concerning that the theft deterrent system may be malfunctioning, potentially leaving the vehicle vulnerable to unauthorized access. Resolution Attempts: Despite attempting to reset the system by disconnecting the battery, the issue persists. Online forums and anecdotal evidence suggest that this may be a common problem with the steering column lock module or related systems in this model. Request for Action: I urge the NHTSA to investigate this issue as it appears to affect multiple owners of similar vehicles. A thorough review and possible recall or service bulletin could ensure the safety and reliability of affected vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11631618

Incident

Dec 18, 2024

While turning at low speed steering went out engine shut off dash gauges, radio, hvac went off engine restarted dash information stated service trailer brake system and service stability system Turned wheel again same thing did this 2 more times then had to put vehicle in natural and restart manually This also has happened twice in the past week

NHTSA ID

11564007

Incident

Jan 7, 2024

While driving the vehicle on a freeway ramp at speed A warning light came on that said service Trailer breaking And the power steering turned off. Causing the vehicle to be very difficult to control at highway speed. Having a secondary auxiliary system turn off Your power steering at speed Is a serious safety hazard and design issue.

NHTSA ID

11536865

Incident

Jun 15, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the electrical power fluctuated, and the steering wheel jerked abnormally and became difficult to turn. The instrument panel lights turned off with an audible bell chime. The contact stated that during the failure, the engine remained operable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the battery, and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure later reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure and no service was performed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 117,000.

NHTSA ID

11529178

Incident

Mar 1, 2022

Mileage

117,000 mi

When stepping on brake the electrical system went off for several seconds as in the entire dash shut off, then later when driving at low speeds and backing up dash reads stabilizer track and jerks the steering wheel out of hands

NHTSA ID

11432882

Incident

Sep 14, 2021

At low speeds while steering, the steering wheel locks up for 1 or 2 seconds causing the vehicle to drive in an unintended direction. This is sometimes accompanied by the electrical system rebooting, and sometimes, there is no warnings at all. It has happened to us 4 times in the last six months. The dealer has had the car twice and is unable to reproduce or diagnose. In addition, sometimes the car has rebooted while driving 60 mph on highways. When this happens, it has engaged cruise control at least three times. I don't view this as unsafe as the steering description given above.

NHTSA ID

11432071

Incident

Sep 7, 2021

Reduced or loss of power steering assist. Steering wheel jerks or kicks back when turning. Service Stabilitrak message with warning chime. Engine stall. IPC going blank or inoperative. Radio/ICS going blank. HVAC going blank. Hood ajar message and/or dome lamps flash when shifting into reverse. Alarm sounds when locking doors or door locks cycling. Wipers continue to run for a short time after turning off and then stop/park in the incorrect location Engine stall and loss of steering almost caused a collision putting mine and others lives at risk. This has happened seven times since I bought the car in July 2021. No warning its going to happen other than dash lights flicker , warning lights on, steering fails, car dies, won't restart. GM has a Technical Service Bulletin #18-NA-161 . I hope you can do something about this serious problem before someone is serious hurt or dies. Thank you

NHTSA ID

11431179

Incident

Jul 1, 2021

Front passenger Spindle / Thimble that connects the lower ball joint sheared off. Suburban drops to ground, bolt end of lower ball joint hits and breaks through back of wheel that results in a deflated tier. Repair items listed by Chevy Service Center. Replace right lower ball joint Alignment Replace right front steering knuckle Replace right front wheel, monitor and stem, reprogram Replace broken front spoiler Replace RF fender liner With the low speed of travel , about 8mph there were no safety issues. Vehicle and broken steering knuckle has been inspected by Service Agent and Manager at Fred Bean Chevy, Doylestown, PM. Their position is normal wear, "We must have had impact at some time to cause initial fracture". Extended Warranty agrees with view stated from Fred Bean. Our insurance company is sending an agent to inspect. No warning lamps, messages, etc presented in driver display.

NHTSA ID

11428843

Incident

Aug 5, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idle, the vehicle made a choking sound as if the vehicle was about to shut-off. The brake pedal was stiff requiring extra effort than normal for the vehicle to come to a stop. While turning left or right at low speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to turn and made an abnormal hissing sound. The contact stated that there was oil leaking from the front-end of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the vacuum pump failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that due to the mileage on the vehicle, the vehicle no longer qualified for the special recall related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

NHTSA ID

11417732

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

119,000 mi

THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 DIFFERENT TIMES WITHIN A MONTH. FIRST TIME I WAS PARKED AND WHEN I WENT TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, I TRIED TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AND IT SEEMED TO LOCK UP AND ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER. AFTER ABOUT A SECOND IT ALLOWED ME TO USE STEERING WHEEL. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH AT RESTARAUNTS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. THE RADIO WILL QUIT PLAYING. IF I TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTART IT THE RADIO WILL WORK ONCE AGAIN. WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES THIS, NONE OF THE TURNING SIGNALS WORK.

NHTSA ID

11383311

Incident

Dec 1, 2020

Mileage

95,000 mi

MY FAMILY AND I HAD A TRIP TO L.A. ABOUT 2 HOURS AWAY. WHEN WE WERE HALF OF THE TRIP. MY TRUCK STARTED TO FLICKERING ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS. ALL SOUNDS INCLUDING RADIO AND TURN SIGNAL WHEN OFF. AFTER THAT I TRIED TO GET OUT OF THE NEXT COMING EXIT, BEFORE THAT THERE WAS A CURVE WHEN THE WORSE PART HAPPEN. MY TRUCK TURNED OFF ALL LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE FOR 1 SECOND AFFECTING THE STEERING WHEEL. I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE THE TURN THAT WAS COMING IN FRONT OF ME LUCKILY WAS ONLY 1 SECOND THAT THIS HAPPENED THEN ALL POWER CAME BACK. GOT OUT OF THE FREEWAY RIGHT AWAY. THIS EXPERIENCE WAS REALLY TERRIBLE FOR OUR FAMILY AND I. THE MOTOR NEVER WHEN OFF ONLY ELECTRICAL ON THE TRUCK. BY THE WAY WE WERE DRIVING 70MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

11352002

Incident

Aug 28, 2020

Mileage

78,203 mi

POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED SAME AS IN 2015. MY WIFE COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. AFTER LEAVING A PARKING SPOT DRIVING DOWN STREET MY WIFE WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE WHEEL. POWER STEERING FAILURE APPEARED ON THE DASH , SHE ENDED UP ON A NEIGHBOR'S LAWN. CHEVY WOULD ONLY COVER A PORTION. 2000.00 MY COST TO FIX FOR A PART CHEVY KNOWS IF FAULTY. VEHICLE HAS 50000 MILES. JUST THANKFUL MY WIFE AND THREE KIDS WERE NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

11292263

Incident

Dec 24, 2019

Mileage

51,000 mi

MY STEERING WHEEL POPS OR MAKES A CRACKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I BELIEVE THIS IS USUALLY OCCURRING AT LOW SPEED'S. I MOSTLY NOTICE IT WHEN DRIVING OFF OR SLOWING DOWN AND MAKING A TURN.ALSO MY TRUCK IS LEAKING WATER FROM THE TOP RIGHT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11243836

Incident

Jul 19, 2019

Mileage

21,200 mi

AT TIMES, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING. TYPICALLY, IT QUICKLY REBOOTS, BUT AT TIMES WILL NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE MAKING A HARD TURN AT LOW SPEED, IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING FAILS, WHEEL JERKS, AND ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ENGINE BECOME DISABLED, AND HAS ALSO HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHILE OPERATING ON CRUISE CONTROL, WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TYPICALLY SHUTTING DOWN WHEN THE BLINKER IS ENGAGED TO CHANGE LANES. WHEN ELECTRICAL SHUTS DOWN, RESULTS IN COMPLETE LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING POWER STEERING, BRAKE ASSIST, ENGINE POWER, LIGHTS, ETC.

NHTSA ID

11242419

Incident

Aug 7, 2019

Mileage

47,000 mi

LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 60 MPH ON A FREEWAY, BARELY AVOIDING CRASHING INTO MULTIPLE VEHICLES, ADJUSTED MY SPEED TO AVOID OTHERS, HAPPENED ON A CURVE WITH AN ASSOCIATED MESSAGE FOR THE LOSS OF STEERING. THANK GOD TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, ITS THE WEEKEND.

NHTSA ID

11229768

Incident

Jul 6, 2019

Mileage

25,400 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN INSIDE I HAPPEN TO EXPERIENCE PROBABLY THE WORST EXPERIENCE WHILE DRIVING. I GOT A ERROR MESSAGE ON MY SCREEN "POWER STEERING DRIVE WITH CARE" AT 50 MPH. I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. PROBLEM STARTED AT 37,500 MILES. I HAVE BEEN READING COMPLAINTS AND RECALLS AND THEY ALL STATE 2015S AND BELOW WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE IS ACROSS ALL VEHICLES IN THE CHEVY LINEUP. FOUND A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE TO SEE IF IT WERE A SIMPLE FIX AND IT DID "FIX" TEMPORARILY". PROBLEM CAME BACK EVEN WORSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WANT $2500 FOR THE PART (ELEC. POWER STEERING PUMP & INSTALLATION). THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES DTC SHOWING WHEN PLUGGED TO OBD PORT. LOOKING FOR A RESOLUTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER AS THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN AND FOR MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ID

11164045

Incident

Dec 21, 2018

Mileage

37,500 mi

I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL (ADJUSTING) FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION, EVEN WHEN THE ROAD IS STRAIGHT. IT IS ESPECIALLY NECESSARY WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS. THE ONLY TIME I DON'T HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT THE STEERING IS WHEN THERE IS A CONSTANT SIDE WIND FROM ONE SIDE. IT IS AS IF I'M DRIVING A HIGH MILEAGE VEHICLE WITH WORN STEERING COMPONENTS. THE ISSUE HAS PERSISTED FROM DAY ONE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW. THIS IS MY FOURTH SUBURBAN, AND THE FIRST TIME I HAVE THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE FIRST THREE SUBURBAN'S HAD HYDRAULIC P/S; AND THAT THIS SUBURBAN HAS ELECTRONIC P/S. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES, AND BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE ALSO REPORTED IT TO GM UNDER CASE NUMBER 8-3065886402.

NHTSA ID

11002968

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

Mileage

300 mi