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 ↗2016 Chevrolet Camaro steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro have filed 22 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 35,500 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Camaro | 8 |
| 2013 Camaro | 23 |
| 2014 Camaro | 32 |
| 2015 Camaro | 17 |
| 2016 Camaro (this page) | 22 |
| 2017 Camaro | 56 |
| 2018 Camaro | 17 |
| 2019 Camaro | 4 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 22 steering complaints filed for the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
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 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 information on Characteristics of Wide Low Aspect Ratio Tires, Vehicle Pulls Left or Right, Wanders, Follows Depressions in Road Surface, Tramlining.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Power steering failures dominate this complaint cluster. Most common is intermittent loss of electrical assist: the steering wheel suddenly becomes rock-hard to turn, a dash warning appears ("Service Power Steering Drive With Care" or similar), and restarting the car temporarily fixes it. No diagnostic codes get stored, making dealer diagnosis nearly impossible. Incidents happen at any speed—city streets, highways, parking lots—and some occur during rain. One owner lost all steering at 26,000 miles while accelerating through a right turn, crashing into a median with enough force to hit an oncoming car. Another reported the steering wheel bouncing violently when assist drops at low speeds, nearly causing additional crashes. A separate failure mode involves a dead spot in the steering wheel when turning right, reproducible with a clicking noise. One owner's steering wheel failed to lock after shutdown. Battery draining and firm accelerator pedal accompanied steering issues in at least one case. Dealerships consistently tell owners they find nothing wrong, even when warnings display on the dash. Several owners cite related NHTSA recalls (Campaign 25V175000 and 19V086000) but report their VINs were excluded despite identical symptoms. One owner received a Chevrolet goodwill service letter in September 2020, suggesting awareness of the problem.
Same Chevrolet Camaro steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent loss of power steering assist (electrical)
Power steering assist disengages randomly while driving, with dash warning 'Service Power Steering Drive With Care' or 'Power Steering Assist Unavailable - Drive Safely.' Restarting the vehicle temporarily restores function. No diagnostic codes stored.
When: 26,000–59,000 miles; occurs both at low and highway speeds; some incidents during rain or wet conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes extremely hard to turn; Warning message displayed on dash; Power steering assist returns after restart; No check engine light or stored diagnostic codes; Failure intermittent, lasting minutes to days
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership software updates offered but ineffective; independent diagnostics inconclusive; some owners report replacement of power steering gear assembly at high cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners cite NHTSA Campaign Numbers 25V175000 and 19V086000 (Steering), but many VINs excluded from recalls despite similar symptoms; some owners received Chevrolet goodwill service letter (September 2020)
Complete steering system failure under load
Steering wheel locks or ceases function entirely during vehicle operation, requiring excessive force or causing inability to steer. At least one incident involved rack and pinion failure requiring replacement.
When: 26,000 miles; occurs during normal driving, turning, and acceleration from stops
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes immovable or extremely hard; Vehicle difficult or impossible to control; No warning lights illuminated; Airbags did not deploy in collision incident
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replacement required in one documented case; other incidents not repaired or diagnosed
Steering wheel instability and bouncing
Power steering assist becomes unstable or erratic during turns, causing steering wheel to bounce back and forth violently when attempting to steer during loss-of-assist episodes. Tension changes unexpectedly when turning.
When: Low-speed maneuvers, city driving, parking lot operations
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel bounces violently during assist loss; Sharp turns become unpredictably easy or overly sharp; Occurs while turning or attempting to avoid obstacles; Instability during slow U-turns
Steering wheel lock failure
Steering wheel fails to lock in the parked position after the ignition is turned off. Not repaired in reported case.
When: At least 59,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel does not lock when vehicle is off
Dead spot in steering wheel
Steering wheel has a dead zone when attempting to turn right, accompanied by clicking noise. Reproducible at any engine state.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Dead spot when turning right; Clicking noise during right turn; Reproducible while stopped, moving, or with engine off
Electrical system failure manifesting as steering issues
Broader electrical fault causing steering wheel to become firm and accelerator pedal to become stiff during vehicle operation. Diagnosed as electrical system failure; repair did not resolve issue.
When: 53,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes firm; Accelerator pedal difficult to depress; Vehicle becomes inoperable; No warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Electrical system failure diagnosed and repaired, but failure persisted
Synthesized from 22 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
I buy this car the 12/24/2020 power steering gets really hard sometimes when I'm driving you get s really hard the power steering
The power steering shuts of randomly with loss of steering. When I try to turn under this condition, the steering wheel bounces back and forth violently. I have ran into curbs and almost hit other vehicles due to the loss of power steering. There has never been an engine light or warning lamp displayed during the loss of steering while driving the vehicle. There’s no way to have the issue…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering disengaged. The contact was unable to turn the steering wheel. The loss of power steering function message was displayed. After restarting the vehicle, the message was no longer displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under…
Power steering becomes extremely hard as if there is no power steering this happens intermittently. It has almost lead me off the road many times. Dealerships do not find anything wrong. No recall but seems as if it falls under the recent recall descriptions of the problem. I feel uneasy driving this car that I'm paying so much for! It occurs during normal driving conditions driving straight or…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that while driving over the train tracks at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that there was smoke and a burning odor coming through the vents. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact opened the hood and inspected the engine compartment, but the contact could…
Steering assist unstable. When suddenly turning the wheel, the tension in the wheel jumps - making it possible to turn sharper than expected. Problem seems to be internment - something stopping after driving a while. Noticed issue while driving at low speeds in the city and while stationary. May happen at higher speeds but don't turn at high speeds. May happen if trying to avoid an accident.
Had steering trouble with your 2016 Chevrolet Camaro?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 22 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?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 20,000 and 53,000 miles, with the median around 35,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 53,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Chevrolet/Camaro.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.