Of the 12 steering complaints filed for the 2016 Chevrolet SS,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
4 (57.1%)
50-75k
2 (28.6%)
75-100k
1 (14.3%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
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
Steering accounts for 50% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 3 categories tracked.
All 3 active steering recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet SS vehicles that previously received an inspect-only remedy under recall 17V-382
A greater steering effort would be needed to control the vehicle if power steering is lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began December 27, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N192265980.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit vehicles (PPV) and SS vehicles
A greater steering effort would be needed to control the vehicle if power steering is lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N192285350.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet SS vehicles
A greater steering effort would be needed to control the vehicle if power steering is lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering gear assembly, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 2, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17248.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2016 Chevrolet SS models report sudden loss of power steering assist while driving, making the steering wheel heavy and difficult to control. Failures occur at highway speeds and at low speeds, in straight lines and in turns. The dashboard displays a "Service Power Steering" warning, and in some cases the power steering assist returns after restarting the vehicle; in others, it fails to restore.
GM issued recall 17V-382 for loss of electric power steering assist in 2014–2016 SS Sedans and a later recall (N192285350) for steering racks without gold-plated contacts. However, owners report that many 2016 model year vehicles—especially those built in December 2015 and early production—are excluded from the recall VIN population despite exhibiting identical failures. Part number 92280375 has been confirmed as the defective steering gear component in owner repair documentation.
Dealers quote $2,500 for steering rack replacement. Software updates ($300) have not resolved failures. Owners report GM and dealers refusing to cover repairs under recall or warranty, even when the vehicle was previously "repaired" under the same recall and the problem recurred. Some owners say they were offered $100 vouchers toward service instead of warranty repair. GM reportedly declined to expand the recall population after being informed of additional affected vehicles.
Same Chevrolet SS steering reports on nearby years: 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of electronic power steering assist
The power steering system loses assist without warning while the vehicle is in motion. Steering wheel becomes very heavy and difficult to control. In some cases the failure is temporary and can be restored by restarting the vehicle; in others it persists and requires repair.
When: Failures reported from 49,000 miles through higher mileages; some at low speeds, some at highway speeds (65 mph). Two 2016 models built December 2015 and early production runs.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power steering assist while driving; Steering wheel becomes stiff and difficult to control; 'Service power steering' warning light appears on dashboard; Some intermittent failures that resolve after vehicle restart; Loss of power steering assist in corners and turns at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report steering gear replacement quoted at $2,500 by dealers. Software updates performed ($300 service charge) did not resolve the issue. One owner reports dealer charged $500–600 with temporary fix (problem returned after months). Part number 92280375 identified as the defective component in repair photos. Steering rack replacement is the permanent repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM recall 17V-382 issued for loss of electric power steering assist in 2014–2016 Chevrolet SS Sedans, but many 2016 model year vehicles (particularly early production from December 2015 and into early 2016) are not included in the recall VIN population despite exhibiting identical failures. GM also issued manufacturer recall N192285350 for steering racks without gold-plated contacts, but VIN coverage remains incomplete. Dealers have told owners the repair will not be covered by recall and have offered $100 vouchers toward service instead of warranty repair. Some owners report being told there is no warranty coverage on previously recalled repairs. GM reportedly refused to take further action after being informed of the pattern.
Intermittent 'Service Power Steering' warning with temporary stiffening
The power steering system experiences intermittent stiffness and warning messages that resolve on their own or with vehicle restart, suggesting an electrical or sensor issue rather than a complete failure of the steering rack itself.
When: Reported in one 2016 model; occurs while driving at variable speeds and conditions.
Symptoms owners cite: Sport mode automatically activates; 'Service power steering' warning appears on dashboard; Steering wheel stiffens for a few seconds, then returns to normal; Intermittent nature suggests electrical rather than mechanical failure
Codes mentioned:17V-382
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports a previous recall repair was performed on this vehicle for the same condition, but the problem has recurred. No repair cost provided. Car is not running and waiting on expensive repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Previous recall repair was performed; dealers state there is no warranty coverage on recalls and refuse to address the recurrence as a warranty item.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
10 most recent
steering · 40,200 mi
· filed 12/03/2018
Power stearing failure see service bulletin 17-h-009. Car was in motion and a serious safety concern. Gm says not part of recall but my car is in within the population build dates
steering · 50,000 mi
· filed 10/23/2019
Subject: NHTSA campaign number 17v-382 dear sir/madam, I own a 2016 Chevrolet ss, VIN 6g3f25rw6glxxxxxx, on which the power steering recently failed while I was driving the car. I became aware of the subject recall, 'loss of electric power steering assist,' and contacted Chevrolet's customer assistance center, who told me that my VIN did not fall under the recall. They could not tell…
steering · 80,000 mi
· filed 10/03/2019
Turned on car and service power steering appeared on the dash. Drove car home with a stiff steer and all. Turned car off/on and icon disappeared steering was back to normal.
steering
· filed 08/08/2024
A few days ago I was heading home from work and sport mode automatically turned on and the “service power steering” warning came on. Then the steering wheel stiffened up 2 times for a few seconds while I was driving. I looked into it and there was a recall before I purchased the vehicle and it was repaired also. But it is the same problem. I contacted the dealer ship but they said there’s no…
steering · 37,000 mi
· filed 08/07/2019
I own a 2016 Chevrolet ss sedan, there is currently a recall for the power steering rack due to the loss of power steering at random times due to their choice to cut costs in the initial assembly. My VIN is not listed on the recall, my vehicle was made in december 2015, the recalled part was removed from production in april of 2016, I have tried to solve this issue in house with gm, I have had my…
steering
· filed 08/01/2017
When driving the power steering goes out. I shut the car off and wait a minute and restart car and the power steering works again.
steering
· filed 07/30/2022
Collapsed lifter on cyl 6. Lifter tick / knock since 100,200 miles. Car has a warranty until 5/2026 or 171,000 miles and they refuse to honor it. Car has a steering issue. Two separate chevy dealerships unable to fix. vanderevere charged me 500-600 to fix NOTHING AT ALL. serpentini chevy charge me 500-600 and it was repaired for a few months problem is back. Serpentini quoted me 6,000 plus tax to…
steering · 49,000 mi
· filed 07/04/2018
Power steering failed while driving. This condition has been previously identified by gm and partially recalled under recall 17-248 for 2014-2016 Chevrolet ss sedans. As outlined in NHTSA report # 17v-382 part# 92280375 is the bad component part#. I have attached a photo taken by the dealer who completed the repairs of the bad part on my vehicle. This is the same bad component part # that was…
steering · 55,000 mi
· filed 07/01/2020
The latest recall on Chevy ss steering racks ( manufacturer recall no. : n192285350) states racks without gold plated contacts are unsafe and gold plated contacts started with model year 2017 production. This indicates all model year 2016 ss sedans need the steering rack recalled and replaced. Mine is not listed on the recall and a gm representative [xxx] only checked the computer and said,…
steering · 49,000 mi
· filed 06/03/2018
My vehicle recently experienced an electronic power steering failure while driving. The vehicle became significantly difficult to steer and I was fortunately traveling in a straight line and at a slow speed. If I had been traveling at highway speeds and in a corner the suddenness of the event could have quite possibly been catastrophic. The vehicle has 49k miles and I have owned the vehicle…
Had steering trouble with your 2016 Chevrolet SS?
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 SS?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 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 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 40,200 and 55,000 miles, with the median around 49,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,200; a quarter make it past 55,000. 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?
Yes — 3 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.
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/SS.
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.