2016 Chevrolet Colorado Safety Report
2016 Chevrolet Colorado Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (4) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (681) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 15 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Steering | Compare steering issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado with 61 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado before buying across this generation. |
Chevrolet Colorado Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Chevrolet Colorado years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Chevrolet Colorado | 210 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Chevrolet Colorado | 473 | 7 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Chevrolet Colorado | 173 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Chevrolet Colorado | 140 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Chevrolet Colorado | 74 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Chevrolet Colorado | 61 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Chevrolet Colorado Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Steering
322 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Chevrolet onlyPower Train
56 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Chevrolet onlySteering,Electrical System
39 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering,Electrical System issues Chevrolet onlyElectrical System
25 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Chevrolet onlySteering,Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
22 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering,Electronic Stability Control (Esc) issues Chevrolet onlyService Brakes
22 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Chevrolet onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado
Reliability Score
The 2016 Chevrolet Colorado receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Steering Failure Multiple owners have reported intermittent power steering failure, which can make steering difficult and dangerous, especially at higher speeds. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine And Fuel System Issues Owners have experienced sudden power loss and engine failure, which can be hazardous, especially on highways. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) Failure ESC has been reported to disable, leading to increased difficulty in maintaining vehicle control, posing a safety risk. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Air Bag Malfunction There have been recalls related to air bag malfunctions, though these are less frequent and typically occur at lower mileage. |
Low | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado:
Steering issues are the most common problem, with 32% of reported issues related to power steering failure.
Engine and fuel system issues are the second most common, with 23% of reported issues.
Electrical system problems, including power steering and ESC issues, are the third most common, with 19% of reported issues.
Air bag malfunctions are the fourth most common, with 14% of reported issues.
Recall Details for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado
The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado by NHTSA:
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17387.
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles manufactured January 19, 2016, to February 2, 2016, Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured January 9, 2016, to January 26, 2016, and 2016 GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 21, 2016, to February 4, 2016. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 28030.
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Colorado trucks manufactured August 25, 2015 to September 24, 2015, and GMC Canyon trucks manufactured August 28, 2015 to September 24, 2015. The affected vehicles have a console compartment lid latch assembly that may fail to keep the compartment door closed in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 201, "Occupant Protec...
Consequence: If the console compartment door does not remain closed in a crash, the contents stored in the console may strike the vehicle occupants, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the console compartment door latch assembly, free of charge. The recall began on January 5, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16370.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
While driving my family home on a hot 90+ degree day. My 2016 Chevy Colorado suddenly has a power loss engine died and i went from 75 to parked in less than 30 seconds. Luckily I was able to pull off the freeway to the median. We were almost hit by two vehicles pulling a trailer and the other pulling a RV. I had to have someone pick my kids up due to the hazards of being stranded on the side of th...
Driving down the road and had Stabiltrak disable and power steering go out, causing great difficulty to maintain control of steering the vehicle. My teenage son’s first vehicle and he was driving with myself and younger son as passengers. This could have been a very horrible situation. Apparently this is a pretty widely discussed and common issue with this vehicle make (a quick google search pr...
My 2016 Colorado is experiencing the same loss of power steering issue that the 2015 models have which was recalled. The 2016 models need to be included. It started 2 years ago and will randomly cut in and out. I was unaware of the recall when it first occurred and I took it to the dealer and after inspection they said my battery was low and would fix it. It didn’t fix it. I also have a hard ...
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, or while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel locked up, and excessive force was needed while steering the vehicle. The "Stabili-trak - Caution When Driving" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the failure started intermittently but became more frequent. Recent...
I am consistently having the power steering shut off while driving . I have read that this was an issue with the 2015 model year that had a recall issued , but there is no recall for the exact same problem on a 2016 model year . When this happens it puts me at risk of controlling vehicle , not only at slow speeds but also at freeway driving .
While driving the dash will show power steering alert and then stabilitrack alert and the power steering then fails. This always happens while in motion and never when parked\idling. It has happened while turning which proves dangerous as the car then starts to straighten out. Had the truck serviced at the dealership to be told that it is a low voltage issue. The car is running so the alternat...
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel locked. The message "Stabili-trak - Caution When Driving" was displayed. The contact stated that during the failure, the contact had to pull over to the side of the road almost every month. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to se...
Hello, I have already submitted a steering complaint for this 2016 Chev Colorado. It has intermittently have had this issue for some time. I have checked to see how many complaints there were with this same issue, and it was 422 complaints. I am just wondering how long it takes to get a recall. I am not feeling very safe and hope this gets taken care of soon. I have also checked and found that th...
We were driving on a busy freeway and the power steering quit working making it hard to steer and maneuver in traffic. We went directly to a GM dealer and the code CO545 Steering Wheel Torgue Sensor came up. This is a sensor inside the sealed steering gear that cannot be replaced without being completely removing and replaced. The cost is over $2000 and not covered under warranty. We will not be ...
When driving normally on wet paved city roads (it had recently rained but not currently raining), my truck suddenly lost power steering and the warning messages came on to service power steering and stabilitrak systems. Traction control lights also came on. The next morning, I tried starting the truck again, and the power steering came back temporarily before losing it again and service messages...
I currently have a 2016 Chev Colorado with a intermittent power steering issue. It stops sometimes without warning in which it makes it very difficult to drive especially if you have no warning to this issue. I am sure this is a extra unsafe condition to deal with. I have seen that the 2015 was recalled for the same issue. I have seen many complaints while researching this issue with exactly the s...
Vacuum pump busted as shown in photos. Once that busted it sent metal shrapnel into the engine which broke a piece of the cam shaft into bits. There were metal fragments that had to be meticulously cleaned out of my engine block. The loss of vacuum seal caused me to lose brakes while driving in stop and go traffic on the highway.
My 2016 Chevrolet Colorado lost all power steering while driving down the road. My young daughter was in the vehicle with me on a busy highway when I lost my ability to safely steer the vehicle. The stabilitrak light came on and that is when the power steering failed and I had to force my vehicle off the roadway manually to avoid getting into a collision. Had I needed to quickly steer to avoid ano...
The electric power steering system on my vehicle intermittently fails while I am driving. When the failure occurs, the steering suddenly becomes extremely heavy and difficult to control, creating an immediate safety risk to me and to others on the road. The loss of power steering has happened multiple times with no advance warning. Each time, the only way to temporarily restore normal steering is ...
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to steer in the intended direction. In addition, the “Service Stabili-trak” message was displayed, and the “Power Steering Failure” warning light was illuminated. The contact held the steering wheel tightly and pulled on the steering wheel, preventing the vehicle fro...
POWER STEERING AND STABILITAK UNABLE TO STEER . CHECKED OWNERS MANULE IT SAYS TURN TRUCK OFF THEN START AGAIN. iT ALSO STATES IT IS STILL SAFE TO DRIVE I don't think so!!! it comes with no warning and you have to pull over and shut the truck off let it sit just a short while then it will steer just fine ....again for a while . the warning lamps and chimes worked just fine. at the same time the...
My steering failed. I was driving under 30 mph and my steering locked up and I was presented with a Service notification "Stabilitrak". I can not turn my wheel and was not able to go down my driveway.
Steering of the truck. No, it has not been reproduced by a dealer No has not been inspected Does not do it all the time, does in over period of times cannot specify any specific time you be driving and all sudden the wheels seem to lock and hard to steer and turning is very hard.
The stabiltrack and power steering fail while driving.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at various undisclosed speeds, the stabili-trak activated independently, and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. In addition, the message “Service Power Steering” was displayed. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while reversing out of the driveway, the steering wheel became difficult to man...
Showing 20 of 681 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado
Has the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO has 4 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO have?
The 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO has 681 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 14 involved crashes. 6 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO?
The 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 3/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO involve steering (322 complaints), power train (56 complaints), steering,electrical system (39 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system, steering,electronic stability control (esc), service brakes.
How many crash reports does the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO have?
There are 14 crash reports associated with the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO out of 681 total complaints (2.1% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO out of 681 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO?
6 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO is proceed with caution. It has 681 complaints, 4 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO are: 1. STEERING (322 complaints), 2. POWER TRAIN (56 complaints), 3. STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (39 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (25 complaints), 5. STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) (22 complaints). STEERING is the single most-reported problem area with 322 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO?
Be cautious of steering and power train issues, as they can lead to sudden loss of control and engine failure. Regular maintenance is crucial. The 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO has 681 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO?
The 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 681 owner complaints, 4 recalls, and 15 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Power Steering Failure and Engine and Fuel System Issues.
What are the known issues with the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO?
Known issues with the 2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO include: Power Steering Failure, Engine and Fuel System Issues, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Failure, Air Bag Malfunction. These are based on patterns found across 681 NHTSA complaints. 4 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?
The most common issues are power steering failure, engine and fuel system problems, and electrical system issues, including ESC and air bag malfunctions.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?
Yes, there have been recalls for air bag malfunctions and engine and fuel system issues.
What should I do if I experience power steering failure?
Pull over safely, turn off the engine, and seek professional assistance to diagnose and repair the issue.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of steering and power train issues, as they can lead to sudden loss of control and engine failure. Regular maintenance is crucial.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Chevrolet Colorado
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The data includes 681 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 4 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 14 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 6 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 3 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-14