2016 Chevrolet Suburban · symptom sheet
Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails
- 33owner reports
- 57,000median miles
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Oct 21, 2024 · checked Sep 29, 2026
33 of the 82 reports of brake wear on the 2016 Suburban describe brake booster failure.
Part of Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (82 reports)
Tick what matches of 33 reports
Brake booster failure on other Suburban years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside brakes for reports about a hard pedal or a failed power assist. The pedal stops feeling normal: it turns stiff, takes far more force, and the car needs a longer distance to stop.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the vacuum pump (14 reports) and the brake booster (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the brakes cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
All 6 recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Suburban
Brake vacuum pump failure. Closed apr 10, 2022, led to recall 19V-645.
Brake line corrosion failure. Closed apr 8, 2015.
Brake line corrosion failure. Closed jan 5, 2011.
Unwanted low-speed abs activation. Closed sep 13, 2005, led to recall 05V-379.
Hydraulic pump failres. Closed feb 28, 2005, led to recall 05V-005.
Poor brake performance. Closed sep 20, 2001, led to recall 01I-006.
Poor braking on panic stop. Closed feb 20, 1988.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 40,000 and 84,000 miles, from the 25 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Chevrolet Suburban that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
N182202780 Special Coverage Adjustment. In some circumstances, some 2014-2017 model year Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, and GMC Yukon vehicles may have a condition where customers may experience increased brake ...
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on the steps to diagnose and repair vehicles that may have issues were the customer will need increased effort to depress the brake pedal.
What owners wrote
“While backing up and going forward at a slow speed the car did not stop. The brake pedal was hard and my foot pressure did not help it stop. Terrible feeling. When I turned the vehicle off and back on the brakes seemed to work. This is worrisome. I bought the car used with the car fax stating it had previous minor front end damage. I am concerned this has happened before.”
Filed Feb 16, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 33 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works