2016 Chevrolet Colorado Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado most often describe intermittent loss of power steering assist, typically accompanied by StabiliTrak or "Service Power Steering" messages and cleared temporarily by shutting the truck off and restarting it. Many owners also report a key that will not come out of the ignition when parked, and some describe shuddering or harsh shifting traced to the transmission and torque converter. Complaints arrive across a wide mileage range, from very low miles up past 150,000.

1. 1
   Steering

   Intermittent loss of power steering assist

   • 419 complaints (59%)
   • median 69,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (135 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 26 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the steering wheel suddenly becoming very hard to turn, sometimes at low parking-lot speeds and sometimes at highway speed, with a StabiliTrak, traction control, or "Service Power Steering" message appearing. In most accounts the assist returns after the truck is shut off and restarted, but the problem comes back, and several owners say it became more frequent over time. Complaints mention dealers diagnosing a steering gear, rack, or power steering control module problem, while others say the dealer could not duplicate the failure or that the vehicle was not covered by a recall. Reported from very low mileage up to about 175,000 miles, spread fairly evenly, with many between roughly 40,000 and 90,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test-drive at low speed and listen for the assist dropping out; ask whether the power steering control module or steering rack has been replaced, and scan for stored power steering codes. Note that several owners report the VIN was not covered by the steering recalls they found.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rural 3 lane road. Came to a stop light. While stopped and idling, warning indicator came on 'power steering traction control' warning light came on. While accelerating from the stop light, I realized I had no power steering assist. After arriving at destination, vehicle sat for 5 hours. Upon restarting the Colorado, no warning lights were present and steering was functioning again properly.”

   NHTSA complaint #11349779, filed 2020-08, 68,000 miles

   “My 2016 Colorado is experiencing the exact same issue as the 2015 Colorado covered by GM recall 15595. Often when driving the vehicle power steering assistance is lost and the steering reverts to manually steering and is very hard to control the vehicle and get the vehicle to a save place. Gm states that my vehicle is not covered by the recall even though many 2016 colorados have the same issue as the 2015. The initial recall apparently did not cover enough vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11396336, filed 2021-02, 69,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Ignition key will not release when parked

   • 43 complaints (6%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2025

   Owners report that after parking, the key will not turn to the off position or come out of the ignition, sometimes with accessories staying on. Workarounds described include wiggling the steering wheel, cycling the shifter, restarting the truck several times, or disconnecting the battery. Complaints mention dealer diagnosis of a switch or shifter assembly problem and repairs quoted at the owner's expense. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 70,000 miles, often after several months of intermittent occurrences.

   What to check: Park the truck, shift to park, shut it off and try to remove the key several times; ask whether the shifter assembly or ignition switch has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Five months ago my key began to be stuck in my ignition. Had to continually restart my truck to get my key out. Same time I started to have intermittent lose of power steering. Only way to rectify that again is to turn my car off and restart. Just drove 13 miles with my daughter and it happened 5 times.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365462, filed 2020-10, 63,000 miles

   “The ignition key won't release at times, and has been happening for months now. The engine will turn off, but some accessories remain on. Sometimes I can fiddle with the key or the shift lever, but in a worse case I need to disconnect a battery cable, take the key out, and reconnect the battery. A dealer examination said it was some kind of switch malfunctioning and it would cost over $300. Gm/Chevrolet only offered $10 reduction. Many people apparently are having this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11376385, filed 2020-11, 25,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder and harsh shifting

   • 123 complaints (17%)
   • median 15,303 mi at 2.4 yrs old (71 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe shuddering while accelerating, jerky or delayed downshifts, and jumping when shifting into a lower gear or reversing. Some complaints mention the dealer replacing the torque converter after an initial diagnosis pointed elsewhere, and others say the dealer could not reproduce the concern. Reported from about 10,000 to 40,000 miles in the complaints sampled, with some later cases.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive at steady light throttle and at low speed to feel for shudder or harsh downshifts; ask whether the transmission fluid has been changed or the torque converter replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle shudders does not downshift smoothly jerks when backing up at times, vehicle jumps when trying to shift to a lower gear. Brought to dealership, couldn't get the problem to occur, so nothing they can do and don't care to, vehicle has 36,000 miles”

   NHTSA complaint #11316469, filed 2020-03, 36,000 miles

   “The contact stated the company they work for owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission would slip intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the transmission failed. The transmission was replaced. When attempting to start the vehicle it failed to start. They had to jump-start the battery to start the vehicle. The battery was replaced by O'Rileys, a battery specialty shop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11659171, filed 2025-05, 88,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Rough running or no-start after fueling

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report that after filling the tank the engine cranks but does not start, then starts after sitting and idles roughly, and some describe rough running or stalling after long highway drives. Complaints mention dealers diagnosing an evap purge solenoid or fuel-related fault, and one owner reports high-pressure fuel pump bolts coming loose with a loud noise from under the hood. Reported from about 30,000 to 60,000 miles, often right after refueling or after long highway runs.

   Recall 18V3580001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the high-pressure fuel pump recall work was completed for this VIN, and check for a fuel smell or difficulty restarting right after a fill-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After filling gas tank it doesn't start immediately.also when turning off vehicle the key does not go to off where it can be pulled out. Takes many tries and steering wheel appears tight to wiggle to release key. Doesn't happen all the time but enough times to be concerning”

   NHTSA complaint #11398721, filed 2021-03, 83,000 miles

   “After fueling, the vehicle cranks but does not start. After sitting for approximately 10 minutes, the engine will start but idles roughly for a few more minutes. Also after long highway drives, the engine will run roughly and occasionally stall when the vehicle is stopped. Vehicle was brought to dealer who diagnosed as a faulty purge solenoid. This is a known problem in 2015 models as detailed in GM special coverage adjustment letter #18029. This 2016 model year is not included.”

   NHTSA complaint #11414121, filed 2021-04, 45,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Reduced power or stall in wet weather

   • 111 complaints (16%)
   • median 40,900 mi at 4.0 yrs old (54 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the truck dropping into reduced engine power mode with accelerator pedal codes during rain, fog, or wet conditions, sometimes with several warning lights on, and one complaint reports a full loss of electrical power while driving. Complaints mention a pedal assembly replacement that did not resolve the concern and suspicion of water intrusion at the cowl affecting the harness. Reported from about 36,000 to 170,000 miles, tied to wet or rainy conditions.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the accelerator pedal or engine harness has been replaced, and check for stored pedal sensor codes; a wet-weather test drive can help reproduce the symptom.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There is an electrical issue that causes the truck to completely shut down and lose all power sometimes while driving with do warning. When this happens, power steering and power brakes are lost. This happened to me while turning into a gas station and I nearly wrecked into another vehicle as I couldn't stop or turn.”

   NHTSA complaint #11349053, filed 2020-08, 170,000 miles

   “During any type of moisture ie (fog, rain) vehicle goes into reduced engine power mode codes from the ECM p2122 and p2138 both relating to app. First time it happened was in rain storm in motion, app pedal was replaced with new oem part but the problem persists. I suspect water intrusion from wiper cowling affecting electric harness. This problem does not exist during dry season. After many hours of online research I have found that this is a widespread problem in Chevrolet vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11389643, filed 2021-01, 126,000 miles

Buying note. Check the power steering behavior carefully on a test drive and ask for service records covering the steering rack or control module, the shifter assembly, and any transmission work. Confirm whether the fuel pump recall applies to the VIN and was performed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.