I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN OCTOBER 2019. WHILE OUT ON THE TEST DRIVE, I NOTICED 2 TO 3 INCHES OF FREE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I ASKED THEM TO LOOK INTO IT AND THEY FOUND A BOLT IN THE STEERING BOX HAD BACKED OUT ABOUT A HALF INCH ON IT'S OWN. THEY FOUND A TSB FROM GM SAYING TO USE LOCTITE ON THE BOLT. THEY FIXED IT AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOOD FOR TWO MONTHS. I AM NOW STARTING TO FEEL FREE PLAY AG…
2016 Chevrolet 3500 steering problems
moderate 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
I REPORTED TO MY DEALER CHARPER CHEVROLET NOV. 2018,I HAD ROUGHLY 23K MILES,THAT MY 2016 CHEVY 3500 HAD DEVELOPED A WOBBLE, SHAKE WHATEVER YOU COULD CALL IT. THEY INVESTIGATED AND TOLD ME MY TIRES POSSIBLY HAD BROKEN BELTS THE TIRES HAD PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT. I WAS TOLD IF I COULD DEAL WITH THE SHAKE TILL I GET NEW TIRES SO BE IT. I RODE THEM TILL JULY 2019 GOT 6 NEW MICHELIN 235/80/17 LTX A/T2…
NEW TRUCK HAD LOSE STEERING WHEN I TOOK DELIVERY, REQUIRING OVER CORRECTION. WITH JUST 4529 IN MILEAGE ON IT I TOOK IT BACK TO MY DEALER. WAS TOLD THEY ALREADY HAD MADE REPAIRS TO FOUR OTHER TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC RECIRCULATING BALL STEERING GEAR. STEERING GEAR ADJUSTER WAY TOO FAR OUT, LEAKING AT SHAFT SEALS. REPLACED GEAR AND THE NEW ONE WAS BAD AS WELL, WITH STE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFERENT AND HAD TO BE TURNED A FEW INCHES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESPOND AND TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LARAMIE GM AUTO CENTER (3600 GRAND AVE, LARAMIE, WY 82070 (307) 460-4761) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR AS…
AT 54,000 MILES, NOTICED 2-3 INCHES IN PLAY IN THE STEERING WILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. NOW THAT THE STEERING HAS LOOSENED, IT IS A CONTINUAL ISSUE. I HAVE NOT HAD IT DIAGNOSED YET. HOWEVER, IN READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN ERROR. AS THIS IS DANGEROUS. THE NHTSA SHOULD FORCE GM TO ISSUE A RECALL.
STEERING IS ALWAYS A BIT LOOSE. AT ONLY 70,000 THE ABS AND STABILITRAK WARNINGS CAME ON. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND LEARNED THAT THE PITMAN SHAFT IS BACKING ITSELF OUT OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. YET, CHEVY HAS 6 TSBS ON THIS ISSUE (THE LATEST SAYING TO USE SOME LOCK-TITE ON IT); THEY HAD A NEWLY DESIGNED PART; AND, CHECKING INVENTORY YOU LEARN THAT DEALERS HAVE N…
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2016 Chevrolet 3500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
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.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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