This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Chevrolet Colorado steering problems
moderate 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 18 steering complaints filed for the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
This informational bulletin instructs the tech when fuel/fluid is needed to be tested and where it can be sent for analysis.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a procedure inspecting for excess grease or Sealant on the Exterior of the steering gear due to seeing grease or sealant on certain locations on the gear.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This technical bulletin advises the technician of possible concerns caused by failed or incorrectly installed parts that may cause the battery positive cable to contact the water pump pulley or alternator.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe power steering failing intermittently, with some cases under warranty mileage. One owner drove 45 miles to the dealer during an active failure; another reported being stranded when steering locked during operation. Cold weather may trigger failures; the "Service Power Steering" warning appears inconsistently. A brand-new Colorado failed completely within 24 hours due to faulty pre-purchase electrical work on the wiring harness.
Steering wheel jamming during turns—especially on both left and right—happens intermittently but worsens over time. One owner had a loose bolt in the electric power steering system. Another reported the steering wheel shaking violently at highway speeds despite a torque converter replacement.
Owners also report wiring harness chafing near hot engine components, triggering cascading warning lights and power steering cutouts. Ignition problems appear separately: keys stuck in switches, steering wheels locked with ignitions, immobilizing trucks completely.
Dealers frequently cannot recreate issues, refuse inspections, or keep vehicles for weeks on backorder parts. Repairs documented range from $1,533 to $2,700. Many narratives express safety concerns—losing power steering mid-corner or at highway speed is genuinely dangerous.
Same Chevrolet Colorado steering reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic power steering system failure
Power steering quits working intermittently, often without warning codes or with intermittent detection. Occurs during operation and sometimes at startup. Requires forceful wheel turning or manual steering until power returns.
When: Intermittent, sometimes at startup in cold conditions; one case at 42,000 miles; one at 9,242 miles; one under 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No power steering function; Steering becomes very difficult to turn; Service Power Steering warning light may appear; Intermittent operation makes diagnosis difficult; Eventually restores function on later startup
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Electronic rack and pinion steering gear replacement ($2,700); motor kit, steering gear, belt replacement and sensor reset ($1,533); battery replacement attempted without resolution
Steering wheel seizure or jamming
Steering wheel seizes, locks up, or becomes jammed during turns at various speeds, making it extremely difficult or nearly impossible to complete the turn. Intermittent but progressive. Loose bolt in electric power steering system found in one case.
When: During driving while turning; progressive over time; one case at 9,242 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel seized or jammed while turning; Steering assist warning indicator illuminated; Requires extra strength to operate steering; Affects both left and right turns; Intermittent occurrence that worsens
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Loose bolt in electric power steering system tightened; steering wheel jamming occurred near steering column/console area
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of loose bolt failure
Steering column rattle and shake
Rattle felt through steering column down to pedal area, originating from intermediate steering shaft. Visible shake in steering wheel. Worsens on rough roads.
When: During vehicle motion, especially on rough surfaces
Symptoms owners cite: Rattle through steering column; Shake visible in steering wheel; Vibration through intermediate steering shaft; More pronounced on rough roads
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to recreate noise and refused to inspect steering shaft
Ignition tumbler and steering wheel lock
Ignition tumbler and steering wheel lock simultaneously, preventing key turning and wheel movement. Vehicle left in park. Immobilizes truck completely.
When: Vehicle parked
Symptoms owners cite: Key cannot turn; Steering wheel cannot turn; Both systems lock simultaneously
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Immobilized truck required dealership towing and repair
Ignition switch key removal failure
Key cannot be removed from ignition switch. Occurs randomly with increasing frequency. Prevents vehicle shutdown and creates stranding risk.
When: Random, increasing in frequency over time
Symptoms owners cite: Key stuck in ignition and cannot be removed; Electrical system cannot fully shut off; Stranding incidents when battery dies
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple shop visits required; at least one case left vehicle stranded at veterinary clinic at 1 AM after battery death
Wiring harness chafing and electrical faults
Wiring harness chafing on engine bay components causes multiple steering and electrical system faults. Chafed wires located too close to hot engine components. Results in cascading warning lights and power steering cutouts during operation.
When: Progressive as harness deteriorates
Symptoms owners cite: Chafed wiring harness discovered; Multiple warning lights: Stability Service, Trailer Brake Service, Locker Service, Power Steering Service; Power steering cuts off and kicks back on during driving; Loss of vehicle control when power steering toggles; Resembles electrical fire hazard
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Chafing identified and filed; missing parts prevent completion of repair; power steering malfunction causes intermittent control loss
Power steering electrical malfunction at startup
Brand new vehicle exhibited complete electrical and power steering failure within 24 hours and under 900 miles. All lights and gauges flickering. Dealer found faulty wiring/steering module from pre-purchase electrical work.
When: Less than 900 miles, within 24 hours of new vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: No power steering; No reverse; All lights and gauges flickering; Engine chugging and making odd noises; Vehicle would not move from driveway
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Steering module or wiring harness fault; intermittent issue difficult to diagnose; part on backorder after 2+ weeks in shop; root cause: faulty wiring from dealer pre-purchase electrical work
Power steering toggle and uneven cornering
Power steering unexpectedly toggles on and off rapidly during driving, causing uneven and unsafe cornering. Intermittent nature prevents diagnosis. Similar to reported 2015/2016 Colorado issues with faulty electrical connections.
When: During slow-speed operation and various driving conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering rapidly toggles on and off; Uneven cornering; Intermittent recurrence; Cannot be diagnosed due to intermittent nature
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic can recreate but cannot pinpoint cause; possibly faulty electrical connection like earlier Colorado model years
Steering wheel shake and veer at highway speeds
Steering wheel constantly shakes and veers on roadway at speeds from 35 to 70 mph. Occurs on city streets and highways equally. Previous torque converter replacement did not resolve. Raises concern about steering control loss.
When: While driving at 35-70 mph on any road type
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shakes; Vehicle veers on roadway; Feels like steering control could be lost; Persistent despite torque converter replacement
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Torque converter replaced without resolving issue; root cause remains unidentified
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
He wiring harness to the 4wd kept coming on which wouldn’t allow me to ingage. Mountain Chevy citified mechanic found a chafing on the wiring harness. After filing it my truck started to light up like a Christmas tree, Stability service, trailer brake service, Locker service, Power streering service and they done turn off. Which is caused by more chafing wires that are to close to components of…
Brand new 2018 midnight edition Chevy colorado less than 24hrs on the engine and had less than 900 miles on it. Went to go to work one morning and it wouldn't do anything. No revere. No power steering. All lights and gauges were flickering and going crazy. Engine was chugging and making odd noises.it would not move from my garage/driveway. Had it towed it to nearest dealership. Over 2 weeks of…
While driving, specifically when making turns at various speeds, the steering wheel would get jammed up and be almost impossible to turn back to complete a turn/get straightened out. Happens on both left and right turns. First happened about 2 weeks ago, just one time while exiting my driveway. I turned the engine off and back on and it seemed to go away. It is now very clear that it is…
Had steering trouble with your 2018 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 steering problem on the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 18 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 20,288 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2018/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.