I was driving on the freeway and the reduce engine power came on, my vehicle immediately start slowing down and I couldn't go over 19 MPH !! Very scary and unsafe and gm has failed to take care the problem!!
2016 Chevrolet Impala steering problems
moderate 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple owners report sudden, intermittent power steering loss on 2016 Impalas that leaves the steering wheel locked or extremely hard to turn—a serious safety risk. Dealerships often cannot diagnose or fix the problem despite multiple visits, and resets only temporarily mask the issue.
The dominant complaint is sudden, intermittent loss of electric power steering assist. Owners describe the steering wheel becoming extremely hard to turn or completely locked, with warning messages like "CHECK POWER STEERING," "SERVICE POWER STEERING DRIVE WITH CAUTION," or "POWER STEERING FAILURE" appearing on the dashboard. These events happen without warning during normal driving—at highway speeds, during turns, or immediately after starting the engine. They occur between 37,000 and 109,000 miles.
The pattern is consistent: power is lost, the warning appears, the driver pulls over or limps to safety, the engine is restarted or the car sits for 20 to 45 minutes, and steering function returns. This intermittency makes diagnosis difficult; dealerships often run diagnostics and find nothing wrong, or mechanics simply "reset the error code" with no lasting fix.
One owner reported the dealership replaced the front axle based on a diagnosis of difficulty maneuvering and clinking sounds, but the steering problem persisted, prompting a second diagnosis suggesting the steering gear itself needed replacement—which was not completed.
A few owners reported multiple electrical faults occurring simultaneously—power steering loss combined with ABS failure, StabiliTrak warnings, and speedometer failure—suggesting a possible module or electrical connectivity issue rather than a hydraulic or mechanical failure.
The safety concern is acute: loss of power steering at highway speed or on a curved road puts drivers in genuine danger.
Same Chevrolet Impala steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering lockup / loss of assist
Electric power steering system loses assist or completely locks, making the steering wheel extremely hard or impossible to turn. Occurs during driving or immediately after engine start. Warning messages appear: 'CHECK POWER STEERING', 'SERVICE POWER STEERING DRIVE WITH CAUTION', 'POWER STEERING FAILURE'. Problem is intermittent; restarting the engine or waiting 20-45 minutes and restarting usually restores function.
When: Between 37,000 and 109,000 miles; some complaints describe initial occurrence within first week of ownership, others after 6-10 months of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes extremely hard to turn or completely locked; Warning messages on dash (CHECK POWER STEERING, SERVICE POWER STEERING, POWER STEERING FAILURE); Problem is intermittent; function returns after engine restart or waiting period; Occurs during low-speed driving, highway driving, and during turns; Nearly caused accidents due to inability to steer into safe location
Codes mentioned: Power steering warning code (unspecified)
Repairs/costs cited: Local mechanics and dealerships run diagnostics but often find no fault or cannot identify root cause. One complaint mentions steering gear replacement attempted; another mentions axle replacement attempted without resolving the issue. Some techs state they 'reset the error code' with no lasting solution.
Steering gear or front axle mechanical wear / noise
Steering becomes difficult to maneuver and abnormal clinking sound heard from steering wheel area. Dealership diagnosed front axle replacement initially, then steering gear replacement. Problem persisted after front axle replacement.
When: 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel difficult to maneuver; Abnormal clinking sound from steering wheel area; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Front axle replaced but problem persisted. Dealership then diagnosed steering gear as needing replacement, which was not completed. Owner reports failure continued.
Multiple electrical / module faults (power steering, ABS, StabiliTrak, speedometer)
Multiple warning lights and system failures appear simultaneously: power steering loss, ABS control loss, StabiliTrak warning, speedometer failure, Check Engine light. Occurs intermittently over 1-2 months on both city streets and highway. Multiple service visits did not resolve.
When: 109,000 miles; intermittent over 1-2 months
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering loss; ABS brake control failure; StabiliTrak warning light; Speedometer failure; Multiple warning lights flickering on/off; Intermittent Check Engine light that turns off after a day or two
Codes mentioned: Power steering fault, ABS fault, StabiliTrak fault
Repairs/costs cited: Serviced twice; underlying issue not resolved.
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I was driving and entering [XXX] at [XXX] when my power steering went completely out! I was unable to steer my vehicle at all and was on a windy road with my children in the vehicle! I pulled to the side of the road! Shut my car off waited a couple minutes and turned it back on and the problem went away! This has happened twice now. My power steering is due to it being electrical and not a…
I purchased a '16 impala ls2 with 37k miles, after owning it for a week, I checked the air pressure on the spare tire to find the trunk with about 4" of water in trunk, the deal replaced the tail light gaskets and have not had an issue since. After driving the car for 6 months and just over 10k miles, I was driving through the small town I live in and my power steering just stopped working and…
Had steering trouble with your 2016 Chevrolet Impala?
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 Impala?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 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 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 69,000 and 110,233 miles, with the median around 86,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 69,000; a quarter make it past 110,233. 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/Impala.
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.