YearToAvoid

2016 Chevrolet Suburban Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 30 engine complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban, 14% of all 220 complaints filed for the year. Median mileage at failure was 48,500. There is no related recall for this engine issue on file.

Engine complaints
30
14% of 220
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
48,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Some owners report sudden loss of engine power or a rod through the engine block at highway speed, accompanied by loud noise and smoke.
  • Others describe the vehicle entering a reduced-power mode that blocks acceleration, forcing a restart before the vehicle responds normally again.
  • Several report the engine losing power or feeling like it wants to shut off while driving on the freeway, sometimes paired with unexpected braking.
  • A few owners describe the vehicle stalling or dying unexpectedly, including one case where the vehicle had to be towed multiple times and needed new motor mounts.
  • Some note a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment that occurs without warning at various speeds.

When 2016 Chevrolet Suburban engine complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 7, 2016, latest Apr 4, 2026.

2016 Chevrolet Suburban engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2016Sep 2017Jan 2020Apr 2021Mar 2022Aug 2024May 2025Apr 2026
30 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2016 to Apr 2026; peak Mar 2019 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Suburban model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201013 (7%)
  2. 201117 (7%)
  3. 201213 (13%)
  4. 201319 (16%)
  5. 20142 (3%)
  6. 201543 (10%)
  7. 201630 (14%)
  8. 201729 (21%)
  9. 201820 (25%)
  10. 201928 (36%)
  11. 202019 (43%)
  12. 202196 (48%)
  13. 202264 (52%)
  14. 202385 (60%)
  15. 202428 (67%)
  16. 202516 (53%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban?
NHTSA lists 30 engine complaints for the 2016 model year, which is 14% of the 220 total complaints filed for that year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban engine?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine issue.
At what mileage do 2016 Suburban engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure among reported engine complaints is 48,500 miles.
Have engine problems caused crashes or fires in the 2016 Suburban?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes and 1 fire linked to engine complaints for this model year, with 0 injuries reported.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.