2016 Chevrolet Suburban electrical problems

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 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

Filed Jan 22, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · NE

I am reporting a severe and recurring safety defect where my vehicle suffers a complete loss of electrical and engine power while in motion. This happens without warning at various speeds and during various maneuvers, including making turns and driving straight. This has happened over 500 times since the 3 years I have had it. I have not felt safe in the vehicle for a long time and when I have taken it to have it checked no one could tell me anything because it was not happening at the moment. When the vehicle dies it comes back to life on it's own but the timing is not precise as to when it happens. The unpredictability of these power failures creates an imminent risk of a high speed collision or being stranded in a dangerous intersection. I can't even sell it to someone in good conscious knowing it has these serious issues. Not sure I am doing everything or contacting who all I need to about this situation but this is a start

Filed Apr 18, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · IN

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.

Filed Feb 27, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · TX

Had the transmission replaced after 100,000 miles. Not even a year later the whole engine blew. With zero warnings lights or signs the engine gave 5 gallons of gas was in the engine along with other issues. We replace the engine and everything starts falling apart. Another $1,400 later it’s still throwing codes which come to find out the computer is now bad. Less the 300 miles have been put on the engine since it was replaced. Constant cam shaft sensors are going off causing the car to not run. $10,000 was put into it to have a running car and huge mechanical issues continue to happen with maybe 150,000 miles. Maintenance was done regularly. Zero issues prior to the transmission which thankfully was covered under warranty.

Filed Dec 19, 2024 · Electrical, Steering · NY

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 federal safety agency 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.

Filed Jan 3, 2024 · Electrical · 68,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving slower speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. Due to the failure, the vehicle was coasted to a stop before being restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic discovered high resistance in the negative ground battery cable. The contact was informed that the cable needed to be replaced. Upon investigation, the contact discovered Technical Service Bulletin: 18-na-161 and linked the TSB to the failure. The manufacturer and the dealer were notified of the failure and the TSB. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

Filed Jun 27, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · 117,000 miles · OH

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.

Filed Jan 19, 2023 · Electrical · CA

Purchased my 2016 suburban on 1/14/23 and since it has been “service trailer brake” distracting me from driving . The service chime stops me from listening to music , my turn signals , constantly making me look down . I drove around in total for 4 hours throughout my day and non stop. I’ve contacted the dealership and told me to wait till the end of the week.

Filed Dec 20, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · FL

The vehicle will just stop operating while driving. This past Sunday, December 18, 2022, I was driving to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game and turning into the parking lot and the vehicle just stopped operating, completely turned off. Couldn't turn steering wheel, put into neutral or anything. Police assisted me as I was blocking the main road to the parking lot. No electrical in the vehicle. This happened a few times before but the car would usually restart quickly. This time it sat for over 5 minutes and then for some reason I was able to get it restarted. There is a service bulletin for this issue from Chevrolet TSB PIT5405, however there are no parts available for this fix. This is a very dangerous situation as this happened in the middle of a major road and could happen at anytime without any warning. Luckily no one has been hurt or any accident but it is scary to say the least.