This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Chevrolet Colorado engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Colorado | 5 |
| 2015 Colorado | 15 |
| 2016 Colorado (this page) | 12 |
| 2017 Colorado | 15 |
| 2018 Colorado | 4 |
| 2019 Colorado | 10 |
| 2020 Colorado | 9 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in the cooling system and replace the parts that may be contaminated due to oil in system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the technician to flush the cooling system multiple times if oil has been found in the cooling system and replace the parts that may be contaminated due to oil in system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2016 Colorado engine complaints fall into two categories: catastrophic mechanical failures and drivability/control glitches.
Catastrophic failures are the most serious. Two owners found cracked pistons (#1 and #2) with metal particles in the oil. One fuel injector bored through a piston, causing violent shaking and loss of power at highway speed. A vacuum pump rupture sent shrapnel through the engine block, fracturing the camshaft and disabling brakes. Engine overheating issues emerge without triggering fault codes. These typically show up as metal ticking, shuddering, or sudden power loss.
Drivability gremlins plague multiple units. The most chronic is high idle at stops—engines revving to 2200–4000 RPM with the hill assist system misbehaving. Dealers can't find service bulletins. Engines stall randomly without warning, sometimes at traffic lights or during merges, then restart normally with no codes. Transmission downshift problems on hills leave the truck stuck in low gear, engine over-revving. One owner reported losing 5 gallons of coolant in 3000 miles with antifreeze smell in the cabin; another faced a climbing temperature gauge that never logged a code.
Chevrolet told one owner there aren't enough complaints to warrant action. Dealers consistently report no recalls, software updates, or service bulletins. Owners are doing their own diagnosis at forum sites like ColoradoFans.com.
Same Chevrolet Colorado engine reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
High idle/engine revving at stop
Engine revs excessively when coming to a stop, sometimes reaching 2200–4000 RPM. Hill assist system reportedly fails to detect road grade correctly, causing uncontrolled revving in first gear with dangerous braking torque.
When: Multiple instances reported, first visit 8–10 months prior to complaint
Symptoms owners cite: High idle at stops (2200–4000 RPM); Hill assist system not detecting road grade; Excessive braking torque required; Engine revving in first gear during deceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer investigated but found no service bulletins; issue not resolved. V-6 model test drive showed same behavior but at lower RPM (under 1800).
Coolant leak with antifreeze odor
Coolant loss of 5 gallons within 3000 miles with antifreeze odor inside cabin when heater runs. No visible leaks or puddles observed. Engine does not overheat despite low coolant, and heater loses heat function when coolant is low.
When: Early in vehicle ownership, within first 3000 miles of noted coolant loss
Symptoms owners cite: Antifreeze odor inside vehicle when heater running; Antifreeze odor near tailpipe; Rapid coolant consumption (5 gallons in 3000 miles); Loss of heater heat output when coolant low; No visible leaks or puddles
Repairs/costs cited: Owner adds coolant as needed; no repair performed.
Sudden loss of motive power and stalling
Engine loses power and stalls without warning during various driving conditions. Vehicle restarts and operates normally after stall. No diagnostic codes present in some cases. Multiple owners report this issue across forums.
When: 40,000 miles and higher; random instances
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine power; Complete engine stall without warning; No warning lights in some cases; Vehicle restarts normally after stall; Occurs at random speeds and stationary
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle not diagnosed or repaired; owners report reading online of similar complaints with unknown cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not notified in one case; no recalls or warranty coverage noted by dealers
Piston cracking with fuel injector damage
Cracked piston in cylinder (primarily #1 and #2 documented) allows fuel injector to bore through, causing catastrophic engine failure. Metal particles found in oil. Multiple reports confirmed on owner forums.
When: 96,000 miles and higher; two pistons cracked in separate vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine metal ticking on startup/idle; Sudden violent shaking at highway speeds; Metal particles in oil and filter; Broken piston below wrist pin; Loss of engine power
Codes mentioned: P11CC - NOx1 Performance Low (intermittent, possibly preceding failure)
Repairs/costs cited: Engine removal required; metal fragments cleaned from block. Forum posts document multiple identical failures on ColoradoFans.com.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Emission Recall N202313200 referenced in one case; manufacturer referred owner to NHTSA Hotline
Transmission downshift/hill descent control malfunction
Transmission downshifts to low gear coming off steep hill and remains stuck in low, with engine revving uncontrollably. Hill descent function fails to operate properly. Issue not permanently resolved.
When: During steep downhill operation
Symptoms owners cite: Uncontrolled engine revving after downshift; Transmission stuck in low gear; Hill descent function not working; Unable to shift out of gear without neutral engagement
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership confirmed hill descent malfunction; no recalls or software updates available at time of complaint.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet stated insufficient complaints to address issue; no warranty coverage
Vacuum pump failure with camshaft damage
Vacuum pump ruptures and sends metal shrapnel into engine block, fracturing camshaft. Loss of vacuum seal causes brake failure during stop-and-go highway traffic.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Vacuum pump rupture; Metal shrapnel in engine; Camshaft fracture; Loss of brake vacuum pressure; Brakes lost while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Metal fragments required meticulous cleaning from engine block.
Engine overheating with no diagnostic codes
Temperature gauge climbs to 210°F at various speeds without logged fault codes. Issue recurs after vehicle returned from dealer.
When: 35,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Temperature gauge spike to 210°F; No diagnostic fault codes present
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnostic testing completed but no failure code found; vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Engine shuddering and jerking during acceleration
Engine shudders and jerks during acceleration, limiting driver confidence to accelerate for passing or trailer towing.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering during acceleration; Jerking during acceleration; Unsafe acceleration conditions
Purge valve and mass air flow sensor failure
Purge valve and mass air flow sensor failures cause engine to stall and lose power when approaching incline. Vent valve canister contains water. Same failure recurs after initial repair.
When: 96,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuddering before power loss; Loss of motive power at incline; Check warning light illuminated; Vehicle fails to restart
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced purge valve and mass air flow sensor; failure recurred. Water found in vent valve canister during owner inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Emission Recall N202313200; manufacturer referred owner to NHTSA Hotline
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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.
Had engine trouble with your 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 43,884 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Chevrolet/Colorado.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.