2016 Chevrolet COLORADO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
699 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
43,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 295 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 448 of 699 complaints (64.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 454 | 64.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 71 | 10.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 64 | 9.2% |
| Braking behavior | 63 | 9.0% |
| Engine operation | 62 | 8.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 448 |
| Electrical System | 111 |
| Power Train | 95 |
| Unknown Or Other | 48 |
| Engine | 47 |
| Service Brakes | 38 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 36 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 24 |
Steering: 448; Electrical System: 111; Power Train: 95; Unknown Or Other: 48; Engine: 47; Service Brakes: 38; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 36; Vehicle Speed Control: 24
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 97 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 69 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 51 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 23 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 43 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 97; 25,000 to 49,999: 69; 50,000 to 74,999: 51; 75,000 to 99,999: 23; 100,000 to 149,999: 43; 150,000 and above: 12
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (97). 404 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 38 |
| 2017 | 37 |
| 2018 | 26 |
| 2019 | 60 |
| 2020 | 57 |
| 2021 | 77 |
| 2022 | 65 |
| 2023 | 119 |
| 2024 | 96 |
| 2025 | 93 |
| 2026 | 29 |
2015: 2; 2016: 38; 2017: 37; 2018: 26; 2019: 60; 2020: 57; 2021: 77; 2022: 65; 2023: 119; 2024: 96; 2025: 93; 2026: 29
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 454 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 71 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 64 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10933834 · 2016-12-08 (December 8, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED MORE THAN TWICE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED EACH TIME, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10933834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10934932 · 2016-12-13 (December 13, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A LOUD POPPING NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE AREA BEFORE THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECREASED TO 40 MPH. DURING THE FAILURE, THE STEERING ASSIST, STABILITRAK, FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND TRAILER BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,700. …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10934932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10839703 · 2016-03-03 (March 3, 2016)
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY FROM UPPER GEARS (5,6) TO LOWER RANGE WHEN DECELERATING FROM 40 + MPH TO UNDER 20 MPH. VEHICLE WILL EXHIBIT LOSS OF POWER FROM BEING IN TOO HIGH OF A GEAR RANGE, CAUSING "CHUGGING", AND THEN A SUDDEN BURST OF POWER AS YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE. DEALER RESET ECM FOR TRANSMISSION; PROBLEM PERSISTS. TYPICALLY OCCURS ON RESIDENTIAL OR NON-FREEWAY STREETS, BUT HAS HAPPENED ENTERING A FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10839703 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10859928 · 2016-04-17 (April 17, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVER 40+ MPH AND THEN REDUCING SPEED DUE TO TRAFFIC TO 20 MPH, AND THEN ACCELERATING THE ENGINE AGAIN BETWEEN 21-28 MPH IT SEEMS TO BOG DOWN THE ENGINE ALMOST AS IF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO TO LOW OR HIGH OF A GEAR AND MAKES THE VEHICLE FEEL LIKE IT'S BUCKING/JERKING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE BETWEEN 21-28 MPH AND THEN A BURST OF SPEED. VEHICLE DOES IT ALL THE TIME BETWEEN THESE SPEEDS. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW HAD IT CUSTOM ORDERED AND ONLY HAD 9 MILES ON IT SO I KNOW IT'S NOT A ISSUE FROM SOMEONE ELSE DRIVING…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,190 miles reported. Look up ODI 10859928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10913629 · 2016-10-04 (October 4, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THERE WERE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES, INCLUDING ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE SHRINK WRAPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK OR WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPA…
Owner-reported narrative. 176 miles reported. Look up ODI 10913629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10945281 · 2017-01-14 (January 14, 2017)
I STARTED MY COLORADO TO HEAD HOME, THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND COOL. THE "DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER" IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FLASHED THAT THE AIRBAG, ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS)/STABILITRAK WERE INOPERABLE. THE AIRBAG, TCS, AND ONE OTHER LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. WAITED A FEW SECONDS AND TURNED IT BACK ON. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I CLEARED THE WARNING MESSAGES AND STARTED TO DRIVE TO TAKE IT IN AND GET IT LOOKED AT BY A CERTIFIED CHEVROLET MECHANIC. I LEFT THE PARKING LOT AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10945281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10851490 · 2016-03-24 (March 24, 2016)
DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MILES A HOUR AND LOST ALL POWER ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT GOING NO WERE ALL LIGHT WERE LITE ON DASH LIKE YOU TURN KEY ON BEFORE STARTING THANK GOD NO ONE WAS COMING THE OTHER WAY OR THE CAR BEHIND ME WOULD HAVE HIT ME. HE WAS A GOOD DRIVER. SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT THEN IT WOULD RUN WITH ALL LIGHT ON DASH EVEN BRAKE LIGHT AND ANTI SKID LIGHT AND IT SAID ON INFRO. RUNNING AT REDUCED SPEED. DROVE TO MY HOME A SLOW SPEED IT LET ME. SHUT IT DOWN LET IT SIT A FEW MIN. RESTARTED IT STILL THE SAME. SHUT IT DOWN FOR ABOUT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10873361 · 2016-06-09 (June 9, 2016)
APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND OBSERVED A YELLOW LIGHT. I WAS TRAVELING 35MPH AS POSTED AND APPLIED THE BRAKES ONLY TO HAVE THE PEDAL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FIRE WALL. THE TRUCK HAD NO BRAKING POWER AND ONLY SLOWED TO ABOUT 15MPG AFTER APPLYING FOR ROUGHLY 40-50 YARDS. I ENDED UP RUNNING INTO THE INTERSECTION COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT PROCEEDED ON GREEN.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10906106 · 2016-09-13 (September 13, 2016)
VEHICLE STALLS SOMETIMES WHEN I STOP. SE LIGHT IS NOW ON. SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST COMES ON NOW. TRUCK SURGES AND SHUTTERS AND IS ANNOYINGLY HUNTING FOR GEARS AND CAN'T FIND THEM. SLUGGISH THROTTLE LIKE I'M TRYING TO PULL A BULL DOZER OUT OF THE MUD. THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS BETWEEN 15 AND 40 MPH BACK ROADS AND HIGHWAY STOP-N-GO. NOT SETTLING FOR THE "OH THAT'S NORMAL" BSHT. SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A FORD F150. TIME FOR A TRADE IN. 10K MILES AND I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED WITH CHEVY NOW. ALL I CAN SAY IS GOOD LUCK IF YOU HAVE A 2016 COLORADO.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10906106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11067059 · 2018-02-05 (February 5, 2018)
DURING OWNERSHIP OF MY 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO V6 GASOLINE ENGINE VEHICLE IT HAS HAD NUMEROUS SPUTTERING SITUATIONS WHEN ACCELERATING. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHY THE TRUCK SPUTTERS TO ALMOST STALLING. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE PROBABLY DIRTY / FOULED. HAD INJECTOR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AND TRUCK HAS NO BETTER ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND SPUTTERING CONTINUES. THIS IS DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY WHEN ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE DATE IN OCTOBER 2015.
Owner-reported narrative. 49,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11067059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11081309 · 2018-03-26 (March 26, 2018)
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DIESEL FUEL LEAK WHICH BEGAN IN OCTOBER 2017. WILL BE RETURNING TO THE DEALER ON 27 MARCH 2018 FOR CAUSE SEARCH OF THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR. DEALER CONFIRMED ONE OF THE DIESEL FUEL LEAKS DURING NOVEMBER 2017 WAS A LEAK AT THE FUEL PUMP AND A LOOSE FUEL LINE. PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AFTER 3900 MILES OF USE. DIESEL FUMES PERMEATE THE CABIN AND DIESEL FUEL COVERS THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE TRUCK FROM THE FRONT WHEEL WELL ALONG THE BODY TO THE REAR LEFT BUMPER. HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET CORPORATE DURING NOVEMBER 2017 TO MAKE THEM AWAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11081309 at NHTSA ↗