CHEVROLET SUBURBAN · model year

2016 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

283 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2016CHEVROLETSUBURBAN carries 283 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 1 fire, 12 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2016 SUBURBAN is service brakes with 76 filings, followed by power train (41) and unknown or other (26). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 6 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2016 SUBURBAN, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

283
Complaints
11
Crashes
1
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

283 filings

Crashes Reported

11 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume, review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES76
POWER TRAIN41
UNKNOWN OR OTHER26
ENGINE25
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23
STEERING20
SUSPENSION10
STRUCTURE:BODY7
WHEELS7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC4
SEATS3
SEAT BELTS3
AIR BAGS3

Recalls (6)

16V25600028/04/2016

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

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

19V76100024/10/2019

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING

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 tra

17V03300012/01/2017

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

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 Moto

17V43700010/07/2017

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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, Subur

16V65100008/09/2016

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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 Poli

19V64500006/09/2019

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

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.

Recent Complaints

20260217UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My 2016 transmission was jerking, shuddering, vibrating, ruff shifting and stopped moving in traffic. My safety was at risk, I turned off a major boulevard onto a neighborhood street, my SUV stopped shifting and stopped, I had to contact my son to come to help to push by hands out of traffic.

20260122SERVICE BRAKES

Increased brake pedal effort to the point of difficulty to stop or control brake pressure at low speeds. This seems like the same issue reported in Safety Recall #N192268499-01, but my VIN is outside the covered range. Is the effected range in the recall correct? This has happened intermittently since we purchased the vehicle private party in 2022 with 115.5k miles on it, but is getting worse.

20260122ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20260122SERVICE BRAKES

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

20260122ENGINE

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

20260120SERVICE BRAKES

There are 2 components of the vehicle that I believe are malfunctioning. The first component would be the brake system. At first the problem presented itself when going down a parking garage it was approximately 5 miles an hour while applying the brake and the brake suddenly got stuck and really sticky, I had to apply extreme pressure to the brake to get the vehicle to stop completely. It was only after I put the vehicle in park, turned it off, removed the keys from the ignition, open the doors, and then restarted the car afterwards where the brakes would become unstuck. Since that first incident in summer of 2024, there has been other similar incidents when I am breaking in a parking lot at lower speeds, on side streets at lower speeds, or any other circumstance where I would be applying the brake at lower speeds. The brakes would get very sticky hard to press and would not come to a complete stop unless using extreme force. This is a very scary incident because if there was a vehicl

20260120SUSPENSION

There are 2 components of the vehicle that I believe are malfunctioning. The first component would be the brake system. At first the problem presented itself when going down a parking garage it was approximately 5 miles an hour while applying the brake and the brake suddenly got stuck and really sticky, I had to apply extreme pressure to the brake to get the vehicle to stop completely. It was only after I put the vehicle in park, turned it off, removed the keys from the ignition, open the doors, and then restarted the car afterwards where the brakes would become unstuck. Since that first incident in summer of 2024, there has been other similar incidents when I am breaking in a parking lot at lower speeds, on side streets at lower speeds, or any other circumstance where I would be applying the brake at lower speeds. The brakes would get very sticky hard to press and would not come to a complete stop unless using extreme force. This is a very scary incident because if there was a vehicl

20251118SERVICE BRAKES

When driving at low speeds the brakes do not work. The vehicle will stop, but it is very hard to get it to stop. You must push the brake pedal all the way to the floor to get the brakes to work. This does not happen all time it will just happen out of no were, this can be scaring. I looked up to see if our vehicle has any current recalls, which it does not. But on 9/19/2019 we had our vehicle in the shop and they did do a recall at this time. It was Increased Brake Pedal Effort. NHTSA Campaign # 19V645000 and this sounds like exactly what was happening. This was done when our vehicle had 60,000 miles on it and at the time it was having no symptoms. We had never had any brake issues at this time. Now our vehicle is having these issues and I feel that this safety issue should be another recall on our vehicle and should be covered and fixed as it sounds like the same issue. Please let me know what can be done about this.

20251031STRUCTURE

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a rattling sound coming from the rear of the driver’s door. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered that the exterior trim on the front driver’s door had started to detach and was loose. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the exterior trim on the front driver’s door had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000.

Mileage: 121,000

20251020ENGINE

Transmission and Engine Failed. Please inspect. I've had several shops and mechanics inspect. I was towing both times and could have been seriously injured when my transmission went out. Then after that was resolved my engine went out. No symptoms or warnings before incidents occurred.

20251020POWER TRAIN

Transmission and Engine Failed. Please inspect. I've had several shops and mechanics inspect. I was towing both times and could have been seriously injured when my transmission went out. Then after that was resolved my engine went out. No symptoms or warnings before incidents occurred.

20251020FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Transmission and Engine Failed. Please inspect. I've had several shops and mechanics inspect. I was towing both times and could have been seriously injured when my transmission went out. Then after that was resolved my engine went out. No symptoms or warnings before incidents occurred.

20250816FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Gas leak on top of tank from fuel line strong gas odor in vehicle

20250807SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle brakes independently activated. The contact stated there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled off the highway and stopped the vehicle. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and regained braking functionality. The failure was intermittent but occurred at various speeds. The failure occurred mostly while driving up an incline and depressing the accelerator pedal and the independent braking failure would occur. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that prior to the failures the vehicle had been taken to a dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

Mileage: 175,000

20250801POWER TRAIN

The transmission stopped working it's wouldn't go we had kids in the car the car is in the shop and needs a transmission the engine light also came on

20250626POWER TRAIN

The transmission prematurely had to be replaced. The vehicle exhibited hesitation and thumping when changing from one gear to the next causing acceleration issues. The transmission exhibited the issue before 100,000 miles. The dealership changed the transmission at a cost to me over $6,000

20250613POWER TRAIN

The transmission shift solenoid stopped working going down the road which caused the vehicle to stall. Going from 65mph to dying without any warning signs no check engine no issues driving before. Check engin came on after the fact took it to a parts store to run the code came back with shift solenoid. More then likely need a new transmission for $6k.

20250524FireENGINE

While driving on the interstate in Nevada (speed limit of 80MPH) I had my 2016 Suburban throw a rod through the engine block as I was in the left lane passing a Uhual on an incline. The vehicle made a loud bang, lost all engine power and protruded smoke so thick I could not see cars behind me. I was thankfully able to coast to side of the road without being hit. I then exited vehicle and there was a fire in the engine bay which I put out with a gallon of water in the trunk. My mechanic confirmed the thrown rod and hole in the block and that the car needs a new engine now. I had a CEL a few minutes prior to throwing the rod for an engine knock.

20250501FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Various times while I was driving my 5 kids have I had an issue with the brakes and having to over compensate to pump brakes to get them to stop in time or at all. Very scary

20250501WHEELS

Various times while I was driving my 5 kids have I had an issue with the brakes and having to over compensate to pump brakes to get them to stop in time or at all. Very scary

Compare 2016CHEVROLETSUBURBAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2016 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN have?
The 2016 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN has 283 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 1 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN?
Yes, the 2016 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN?
The most-complained component for the 2016 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN is SERVICE BRAKES with 76 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2016 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.