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moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Of the 10 steering complaints filed for the 2016 Buick Regal, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Steering accounts for 24% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
A loss of power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin instructs the tech when fuel/fluid is needed to be tested and where it can be sent for analysis.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a procedure inspecting for excess grease or Sealant on the Exterior of the steering gear due to seeing grease or sealant on certain locations on the gear.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners of 2016 Buick Regals describe power steering failures ranging from complete loss of assist to sudden wheel lock-up during turns. The most dangerous scenario is steering that locks or seizes mid-maneuver—one owner reported the wheel locking while turning into a parking space, another had it lock on the highway at 60 mph, and a third experienced grinding and clicking before the wheel seized. These failures are intermittent and unpredictable, sometimes happening once, sometimes multiple times within days.
In several cases, owners brought the car to dealerships four or more times for the same failure. Repairs have included replacing the complete rack & pinion assembly, replacing the power steering control module (PSCM), resetting steering angle sensors, and software downloads—none of which fixed the problem permanently. One dealership test-drove the car 66 miles and couldn't reproduce the issue, then made no repairs.
All owners flagged an existing recall (NHTSA Campaign 16V108000 for steering), but report their VINs were excluded despite experiencing the exact problem the recall addresses. One owner's vehicle was built in September 2015, the recall cutoff period, but was excluded because of body style. Manufacturers told several owners to contact NHTSA; others received no assistance. One owner also reported the engine shut off twice—once in park, once at an intersection—concurrent with steering failures.
Power steering assist cuts out randomly while driving, forcing the driver to steer manually. Occurs without warning or with a brief warning light, at various speeds and driving conditions. Multiple dealership visits and component replacements have not resolved the issue in some cases.
When: Occurs intermittently throughout ownership; one owner reported it at 43,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist suddenly unavailable; Steering becomes very heavy and difficult to control; Power assist warning light illuminates; Occurs during turns, highway driving, and parking maneuvers; Issue recurs after repairs
Codes mentioned: U150K 00, Configuration error fault code in PSCM
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealerships replaced complete rack & pinion gear with power steering control module, performed PSCM downloads and resets, reset steering angle sensor values multiple times. These repairs did not resolve the issue in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 16V108000 (Steering) exists but VINs of affected owners are reported as not included in recall. Manufacturer advised some owners to contact NHTSA; others received no assistance.
Steering wheel locks, seizes, or becomes extremely difficult to turn while actively turning the vehicle. Creates immediate safety hazard as the vehicle becomes difficult or impossible to control mid-maneuver. Occurs in both dry and wet conditions.
When: Occurs intermittently; one owner reported at 59,418 miles, another at 117,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks or seizes during left or right turns; Grinding and clicking sounds from steering column; Steering becomes extremely tight/difficult to turn; Wheel jolts hard to one side; May occur at various speeds including highway speeds
Codes mentioned: B101E
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships unable to duplicate the issue on multiple service visits despite multiple attempts. No repairs completed as a result.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 16V108000 (Steering) referenced but owners' VINs reported as excluded from recall. Manufacturer advised some owners no recall exists for their VIN.
Vehicle steering pulls hard to one side (typically left) without driver input, causing the vehicle to drift out of lane. Creates hazardous driving condition requiring constant correction. Owner reported requiring towing.
When: Occurs intermittently; timing not specified by owners
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls to the left into traffic; Difficult to keep vehicle in lane; Hard to control steering pull; May be related to electric belt drive rack & pinion failure
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reported mechanic identified electric belt drive rack & pinion as the cause. No dealership repair completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall exists but owner's VIN reported as excluded despite same problem as recalled units.
Loss of power steering, ABS, and traction control caused by wheel bearing failure. A fractured magnet ring in the wheel bearing disrupts wheel speed sensor signal, triggering loss of multiple vehicle safety systems. Owner reported this as the third wheel bearing failure in two years.
When: Reported at undisclosed mileage; owner states third bearing failure in 2 years
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light illuminates; StabiliTrak light illuminates; Power steering light illuminates; Loss of power steering assist; Loss of traction control; All three warning lights appear simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Owner did not specify repair; issue identified as fractured magnet ring in wheel bearing sensor.
Multiple electrical or control module problems affecting power steering. Includes configuration errors in the power steering control module (PSCM) and steering angle sensor faults that prevent proper steering functionality or cause cascading safety system failures.
When: Occurs intermittently; one owner experienced at 66-mile test drive
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering warning light illuminates; ABS light illuminates; All-wheel drive system deactivates; Traction control/StabiliTrak deactivates; Engine shuts off (reported in one case); Multiple safety systems fail simultaneously
Codes mentioned: Configuration error in PSCM, Steering angle sensor fault
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships performed PSCM downloads, resets of steering angle sensor values multiple times. Scanning found only unrelated radio code U150K 00 on fourth visit despite steering failures.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
While driving down the highway at 60 mph with myself my husband and my 7 year old son my steering wheel locked up and then jolted very hard to the left. Got the car pulled to side of the road the power assist warning started flashing this all happened Saturday October 22, 2022. It had never happened before turned the car off and checked fluids they were filled to where they needed to be started…
Driving on the highway and abs, stabltrack and steering lights came on. This is the third time in 2 years that a wheel bearing failed on this vehicle. A magnet ring in the wheel bearing that sensors wheel speed failed and fractured causing a loss of power steering, abs, and traction control.
Power steering randomly fails while driving. This happened while turning into a parking space, on residential street and the expressway. The car has been at the dealership 4 times since june 3 for the same issue. The first time the following repairs were performed: replaced complete rack & pinion gear with power steering control module reinstalled, download for power steering module. Did not fix…
I was driving and all of a sudden my power steering light came on telling me to drive with care. The wheel tightened up within seconds my abs lights on, no all wheel drive, stabilize for tracation went off. All safety equipment went hairwired. We looked up the part and found out that there was a recall on the steering power prior however everyone is telling us not for our car. I only had it for…
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Regal. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed during rainy weather, and making a left or right turn, the steering wheel intermittently made a grinding and clicking sound. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V108000 (Steering). The vehicle was then taken…
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Based on the 10 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 81,893 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.