YearToAvoid

2016 Chevrolet Colorado Steering Problems

Steering problems are the top complaint category for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado, with 457 complaints making up 65% of all 707 complaints filed for the year. NHTSA lists 6 crashes and 1 injury tied to this area, with a median failure mileage of 68,000 miles, but no related recall is listed for the 2016 model.

Steering complaints
457
65% of 707
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
68,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden, unexpected loss of power steering assist while driving, sometimes accompanied by stabilitrak, traction control, ABS, and check-engine warning lights coming on at the same time.
  • Some describe the steering wheel locking up more than once, with dealers unable to identify a permanent fix.
  • Several owners connect the power steering module to the vehicle's CAN bus, saying a fault there knocks out stabilitrak and traction control simultaneously and can trigger limp mode.
  • One owner reported the lower and upper control arm attachment points, made of cast aluminum, breaking near the tie rod connection, causing a front tire to separate from the vehicle during driving.
  • Owners report the power steering failure recurring on icy or wet roads, in some cases leading to loss of vehicle control.
  • A few complaints tie a power steering warning message to engine stalling, describing a combined loss of steering assist and braking ability.

When 2016 Chevrolet Colorado steering complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 8, 2016, latest Sep 16, 2026.

2016 Chevrolet Colorado steering complaints: complaints filed per quarter312016 Q42018 Q12019 Q32020 Q42022 Q12023 Q22024 Q32025 Q4
457 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (31).

Steering recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by Colorado model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20054 (1%)
  2. 200610 (4%)
  3. 20073 (2%)
  4. 20083 (4%)
  5. 20090 (0%)
  6. 20100 (0%)
  7. 20111 (2%)
  8. 20125 (12%)
  9. 20130 (0%)
  10. 20141 (100%)
  11. 2015358 (73%)
  12. 2016457 (65%)
  13. 201719 (9%)
  14. 201818 (10%)
  15. 201922 (15%)
  16. 202010 (12%)
  17. 202110 (13%)
  18. 202212 (22%)
  19. 20236 (4%)
  20. 20246 (5%)
  21. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are steering complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?
NHTSA lists 457 steering complaints for the 2016 Colorado, which is 65% of the 707 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a steering recall for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the 2016 model year, though several owners reference a steering recall that applied to the 2015 Colorado.
At what mileage do steering problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for steering complaints on the 2016 Colorado is 68,000 miles.
Did the steering issue cause any crashes?
NHTSA data shows 6 crashes and 1 injury linked to steering complaints on the 2016 Colorado.
How does 2016 compare to other Colorado model years for steering complaints?
The 2016 Colorado's 457 steering complaints and 65% share are close to the 2015 model year's 358 complaints and 73% share, both far above other model years like 2017 with 19 complaints and a 9% share.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.