NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 716 owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado.
Recalled components: fuel system, air bags, and latches, locks and linkages. Most-described problem: power steering problems or locked steering (309 complaints, 43%). Most-reported area: steering (465 complaints, 65%; median mileage when it happened: 68,000).
More complaints than most Colorado years
The 2016 drew 103 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 66 for a typical Colorado year: 1.5 times as many. It is not a year to avoid, which takes at least twice the typical count and at least 50 complaints.
No Colorado year stands out enough to avoid; best years: 2021 and 2022. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
NHTSA listing: COLORADO. Chevrolet campaign 18188 18268.
The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles.
NHTSA listing: COLORADO. Chevrolet campaign 17387.
The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
NHTSA listing: COLORADO. Chevrolet campaign 28030.
Latches, locks and linkages
Dec 1, 2015
Fails federal standard 201 (interior impact protection)
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 Protection in Interior Impact."
Risk: 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.
The fix and full notice
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.
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.
NHTSA listing: COLORADO. Chevrolet campaign 16370.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado.
What owners report
Owners have filed 716 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Colorado. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Power steering problems or locked steering309 · 43%
Median 71,500 miles at failure, from 106 reports with mileage
Steering rack problems: sticking, play or pulling44 · 6%
Loss of power or limp mode38 · 5%
Jerking, lurching or harsh shifting33 · 5%
Median 5,000 miles at failure, from 24 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off28 · 4%
Median 35,700 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Hesitation or slow acceleration27 · 4%
Median 6,000 miles at failure, from 21 reports with mileage
Median 68,000 miles at failure, from 141 reports with mileage
Electrical system120 · 17%
Most named: ignition (3) · Median 35,000 miles at failure, from 40 reports with mileage
Powertrain97 · 14%
Median 10,000 miles at failure, from 61 reports with mileage
Engine48 · 7%
Median 30,000 miles at failure, from 35 reports with mileage
Brakes40 · 6%
Stability control36 · 5%
Median 63,000 miles at failure, from 32 reports with mileage
Speed control24 · 3%
Median 7,200 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
Unknown or other48 · 7%
Median 34,000 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Chevrolet Colorado recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2016 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2023 Colorado drew the most (105) and the 2016 drew 103.
Owner complaints
2016: 716 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Chevrolet Colorado
Model year
Complaints
2010
29
2011
42
2012
43
2015
499
2016
716
2017
217
2018
183
2019
151
2020
88
2021
80
2022
57
2023
142
2024
127
2025
28
2026
22
Safety recalls
2016: 4 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Chevrolet Colorado
Model year
Recalls
2010
2
2011
5
2012
2
2015
7
2016
4
2017
1
2018
1
2019
0
2020
0
2021
1
2022
1
2023
3
2024
3
2025
1
2026
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 716 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado, the problems described most are power steering problems or locked steering (309), steering rack problems such as sticking, play or pulling (44), and loss of power or limp mode (38). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado earns 4 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado.
How do I check if my Colorado has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Chevrolet dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: COLORADO.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.