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2016 Chevrolet Suburban problems

The most common problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban is brakes, typically around 64,000 miles. It has 1.7 times the complaints of a typical Suburban model year.

Typical year1.7x the typical complaints
Year score
53/100
Owner complaints
220
Recalls
6
Service bulletins
1,780
Worst area
Brakes
Fuel economy
18-19mpg
Typical repair
$6,200

The worst 2016 Chevrolet Suburban problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban

Transmission failure 22Check engine light 11Spongy pedal 11Stalling 10Jerking 8Brake failure 7Loss of power 7Shudder 7ABS 5Power steering loss 5

Trouble codes owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban mention

P0700 2P0796 2

Recalls 6

Service brakesReported October 24, 2019 · 652,967 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Risk
Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑630‑2438 or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.

Recall number 19V761000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuumReported September 6, 2019 · 3,456,719 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Risk
As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑630‑2438, Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006 or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.

Recall number 19V645000 · Recall details

Seat belts: pretensionerReported July 10, 2017 · 40,683 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V‑651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300, Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

Recall number 17V437000 · Recall details

Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exteriorReported January 12, 2017 · 214 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Suburban HD vehicles. These vehicles were assembled with a convex right-hand outside mirror, instead of with a non-convex (flat) right-hand outside mirror. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk
If equipped with the incorrect right-side rear-view mirror, the driver may misjudge the distance of other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the convex mirror with a non-convex mirror and provide a new page for the owner's manual with the customer notification letter, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is 17017.

Recall number 17V033000 · Recall details

Seat belts: pretensionerReported September 8, 2016 · 3,640,162 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300, Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

Recall number 16V651000 · Recall details

Suspension: front: control armReported April 28, 2016 · 3,738 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.
Risk
Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been made, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 42190.

Recall number 16V256000 · Recall details

See all 6 recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban

Defect investigations

Brake Vacuum Pump FailureOpened November 20, 2018, closed April 10, 2022

On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon SUVs.If the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extending the subject vehicle stopping distance. GM stated that the root cause of pump failures was due to foreign debris such as oil sludge in the engine oil. GM stated that this debris can become trapped by the oil inlet filter screen. Under normal operation, this screen allows a small amount of oil into the brake vacuum pump. The foreign debris can, over time, clog the pump which can cause a loss of lubrication and a reduction in the amount of vacuum produced leading to a hard pedal and extended stopping distance.On December 13, 2018, GM issued a Special Coverage (N182202780) for the brake vacuum pump issue in MY 2014-2017 trucks and 2015-2017 SUVs on the K2XX platform for 6 years or 72,000 miles. Special Coverage repair includes the replacement of the vacuum pump and vacuum pump belt. Consumers received notification of the coverage via mail. On September 6, 2019, GM notified the federal safety agency that it was conducting safety recall 19V‑645 which reprograms the electronic brake control module (EBCM) and included approximately 3.5 million trucks and SUVs. In October 2019, GM extended the terms of special coverage N182202780 to 10 years or 150,000 miles as well as now including the entire scope of recall 19V‑645. In October 2020, GM expanded the scope of coverage N182202780 to include the MY 2018 Escalade and 2019 Tahoe.The remedy implemented in GM recall 19V‑645 appears to be sufficient in addressing the safety-related concerns of this issue. Loss of vacuum assist now occurs at a progressive rate as well as there being a more timely warning of a brake problem to the driver through the driver information center (DIC). In view of the recall action and revision to the special coverage, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at under the identification numbers in the attached document.

PE18012

Technical service bulletins for the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban 1,780

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 1,780 bulletins for the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban

2016 Chevrolet Suburban fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
5.3L 8‑cylRWD162318-19
5.3L 8‑cyl4WD152218

What 2016 Chevrolet Suburban owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 20, 2026 · Body · FL

There is a defective paint on my 2016 ltz suburban

Filed Aug 26, 2026 · Visibility · 202,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was a loud booming sound coming from the vehicle, and the sunroof glass exploded. During the failure, the sunroof cover was closed. Upon inspection, the contact discovered shards of glass inside the sunroof location. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 202,000.

Filed Aug 19, 2026 · Transmission · TX

The transmission failed suddenly and without warning. When I Went to pull out from a stop sign with cross traffic doing 55 mph, the vehicle shuddered and stopped pulling. We barely had enough momentum to get out of the way of oncoming traffic at the last second. The oncoming traffic had to brake and honked. After reading online, this is a common issue with the 6l80 transmission torque converters being a failure point and the fluid temperature being too high. Gm has a service bulletin for a lower temp bypass valve but there is no recall and these units are failing by the tens of thousands.

Filed Aug 5, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · AL

While in the parking lot or stopping at the stop light the brakes will get hard and won’t brake .

Filed Jun 25, 2026 · Body · PA

Hood and roof of Suburban has discolored and lost its shine coat. The door and panels are fine

Filed Jun 11, 2026 · Electrical, Lights · MO

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.

Filed Apr 14, 2026 · Airbags, Seat belts · 192,252 miles · IL · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2016 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 30-35 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a concrete pole, and the front end of the vehicle was significantly damaged. The contact stated that the pole was 12-18 inches into the hood, and 1.5 ft. up into the engine bay. The concrete pole was damaged. The air bags and the seat belt pretensioners failed to deploy. Several warning lights, including the check engine, the ABS, the TPMS, the air bag, the StabiliTrak, and the traction control warning lights, were illuminated after the crash. The contact noticed he had sustained bumps on the head and neck from hitting the steering wheel, but did not feel sore at the time. The contact woke up dizzy the next day and sought medical assistance. The contact underwent X-rays and was informed that he had also sustained torn chest muscles. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The insurance company towed the vehicle to another lot the following day, and the vehicle was totaled. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number:Â 16V651000(Air Bags, Seat Belts), which was previously performed on the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the manufacturer had also issued the federal safety agency Campaign Number:Â 17V437000(Air Bags, Seat Belts) for vehicles repaired under the previous recall, and the recall information stated that the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. However, the second recall had not been performed on the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed, but the case manager was unreachable. The failure mileage was 192,252.

Filed Apr 4, 2026 · Airbags, Brakes · MD

Per AAA—Front Airbag/Seatbelt and Increase break pedal

Filed Mar 1, 2026 · Airbags · MD

While driving home vehicle slid on black ice and spun out. While spinning curtain airbags and driver seat deployed and battery died. Sis not hit anything

Filed Feb 23, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · IL

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

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 2016 Chevrolet Suburban before you buy

Compare the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban

Suburban vs Chevrolet TahoeSuburban vs Ford ExpeditionSuburban vs GMC YukonSuburban vs Toyota SequoiaSuburban vs Nissan Armada

Other model years

19901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024

Questions about the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?

Owners have filed 220 complaints about the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban, 1.7 times a typical Suburban model year.

What is the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban year score?

The 2016 Chevrolet Suburban scores 53 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Suburban: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban?

Brakes, with 82 complaints, typically around 64,000 miles. Next is transmission (45).

How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban have?

6 recalls, covering service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic and seat belts.

Was there a recall on the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban brakes?

Yes, 2 recalls: 19V761000, 19V645000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Chevrolet Suburban have bad brakes?

The Chevrolet Suburban model years with the most brakes complaints are 1994 (581 complaints), 1993 (382 complaints) and 1999 (246 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban get?

Official estimates for the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban range from 18 to 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (5.3L 8-cyl, RWD) gets 16 city and 23 highway.

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