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ProblemsByVin File / 2016-CHEVROLET-COLORADO NHTSA data synced 8 hours ago
2016 · Chevrolet

Chevrolet Colorado problems

691 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. 1 active recall campaign on file.

0 5 10
Reliability score
6.6 / 10

Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.

0
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2016 Colorado?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

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Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

steering
443 reports · fails ~77,055 mi · avg $700
moderate
powertrain
83 reports · fails ~24,209 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
electrical
47 reports · fails ~35,286 mi · avg $850
moderate
brakes
26 reports · fails ~82,356 mi · avg $450
severe
engine
12 reports · fails ~43,884 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
cruise control
10 reports · fails ~22,883 mi · avg $600
moderate
airbags
7 reports · fails ~68,280 mi · avg $1,100
severe
body
6 reports · fails ~20,696 mi · avg $1,500
severe
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2016 Colorado's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2016 Colorado?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2016 Colorado · engine
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…
2016 Colorado · steering
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…
2016 Colorado · steering
My power steering goes out intermittently. I get a power steering drive with care and stabilitrak service on my dash. It’ll go back to normal when I shut off the truck and restart. But sometimes the service error doesn’t go away. Also, while power steering is out service…
2016 Colorado · steering
This is the 2nd time this has happened. Once in 2018 approx feb. The steering lost all electric assist. This always appeared after it was driven and had been parked. It did this about 4 times before the dealer would repair it. At that time everything was covered by warranty.…
12/23/2019 · at 47,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11290981.0 · see steering pattern →
View all 691 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2016 Chevrolet Colorado? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 15V807000 December 1, 2015

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

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.

Fix: 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.

Common questions

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.6 out of 10 based on 691 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

Should you avoid the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?

The 2016 Chevrolet Colorado is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Brakes: 26 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 42,000–130,000 mi; Reliability score 6.6/10 — around the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What's the most common problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 443 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 77,055 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 77,055 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Chevrolet Colorado has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 691 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 8 hours ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Chevrolet/Colorado. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Chevrolet. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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