FaultScore

Chevrolet Colorado steering problems

939 of the 4,906 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Colorado are about the steering — 19% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2016.

939

Complaints

19%

Share of all complaints

16

Crashes

1

Fires

Steering complaints by model year

2004 Colorado 6 0.6%

Median failure at 40,000 miles

2005 Colorado 4 0.4%

Median failure at 55,000 miles

2006 Colorado 10 1.1%

Median failure at 64,000 miles

2007 Colorado 3 0.3%

Median failure at 71,500 miles

2008 Colorado 3 0.3%

Median failure at 1,700 miles

2011 Colorado 1 0.1%

Median failure at 34,000 miles

2012 Colorado 6 0.6%

Median failure at 85,000 miles

2014 Colorado 1 0.1%

Median failure at 72,000 miles

2015 Colorado 354 37.7%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

2016 Colorado 447 47.6%

Median failure at 68,000 miles

2017 Colorado 19 2.0%

Median failure at 26,861 miles

2018 Colorado 18 1.9%

Median failure at 9,242 miles

2019 Colorado 21 2.2%

Median failure at 16,000 miles

2020 Colorado 9 1.0%

Median failure at 13,500 miles

2021 Colorado 10 1.1%

Median failure at 49,000 miles

2022 Colorado 12 1.3%

Median failure at 20,000 miles

2023 Colorado 6 0.6%
2024 Colorado 6 0.6%

Median failure at 3,000 miles

2026 Colorado 3 0.3%

What owners said

2016 Chevrolet Colorado Kansas City, MO

STEERING

For about two months my 2016 Chevy Colorado has been having a random power steering and stabilitrak issue message popping up. There’s no clear reason why this happens as I can drive my truck for days/weeks and it was suddenly lose power steering. When this happens it is a serious safety issue as I can be on the highway driving fine and my power steering will just suddenly stop working. Normally, I pull over and turn my truck off for 30 seconds to 1 minute and turn it back on and the issue will go away. I had two separate scans performed on the truck and both scans showed no “current” errors but pulled up past error codes of problems with ABS system and “low voltage.” I do not drive my truck roughly and most miles are simple roads or straight highways. No rough roads or heavy water/snow/mud. I have looked online and multiple threads from other drivers of GMC Canyons around 2015/2016 and trucks like mine who have had similar issues and the Canyon has recalls concerning this but I currently have none for the Chevy Colorado so I wanted to report this issue, especially for the safety reason. I believe if my wife was driving my truck on the highway and this happened she may not be strong enough to pull off and/or turn the truck if she had needed to since it is very difficult to turn the wheel when this error occurs.

NHTSA complaint #11758817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2026 Chevrolet Colorado Costa Mesa, CA

STEERING

Seats: Driver’s seat shifts forward when normal braking pressure is applied. Bottom cushion seems to be loose/shifting. Cause for major concern if emergency braking should be needed and seat does not restrain driver Steering: Steering wheel has vibrations when driving over normal aberrations/roughness on paved roads. Accompanied by rattles and mechanical noise. Extremely annoying Suspension: Front passenger side has loud clunk from time to time on certain speedbumps/off road. Low speeds 10-15mph. Vehicle Details: 2026 Colorado ZR2, Odometer: 3176

NHTSA complaint #11758786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Chevrolet Colorado Saint Joseph, MO

STEERING

I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety defect involving my 2015 Chevrolet Colorado. While I was driving the vehicle, it suddenly lost power steering assist. The steering wheel immediately became extremely heavy and difficult to turn, requiring significantly more physical effort to control the vehicle. This sudden loss of steering assistance created a dangerous situation for me, my passengers, and other motorists. The failure occurred without warning and substantially affected my ability to safely steer and maneuver the vehicle. A sudden loss of power steering is particularly dangerous when making turns, maneuvering at low speeds, or attempting to avoid another vehicle or obstacle. What is especially concerning is that the failure experienced by my vehicle appears to match the defect described in General Motors Safety Recall N202325410, NHTSA Campaign 21V-213, concerning loss of power steering assist in certain 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles. The NHTSA recall documentation states that affected vehicles may experience a loss of power steering assist while starting or driving because of a poor electrical connection within the steering gear assembly. The recall specifically explains that when power steering assist is lost, the vehicle reverts to manual steering and requires substantially greater steering effort, particularly at lower speeds. NHTSA and GM identified this condition as a safety defect because it can increase the risk of a crash. My vehicle experienced the same symptoms described in the recall: Sudden loss of power steering assistance while driving. The steering wheel became heavy and difficult to turn as the vehicle reverted to manual steering. A warning chime occurred. A warning message/malfunction indicator appeared on the dashboard. The loss of power steering made the vehicle substantially more difficult

NHTSA complaint #11757461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Chevrolet Colorado Russellville, AR

STEERING

The electric power steering assembly has failed. I will be driving and my power steering will cut out with no warning, the sensor light is on constantly. Turning it off will sometimes fix it but not for long. It will affect my cruise control at times as well

NHTSA complaint #11755892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2022 Chevrolet Colorado Mears, MI

STEERING

Loss of power steering, Truck repaired by GM dealer, he stated it was the same failure mode described in Recall notice N2023254 10. The repair even though the same as the previous failures was not covered by GM because my VIN was not in GMs recall notice. Looking at this website there a number of reports of power steering failures for later model Colorado and Canyons that were not covered by the recall. Either GMs fix was not effective, or they did not select the right VIN population. So the Power steering failure repair on my truck even though it is the same failure mode as the previous recall was not covered by GM.

NHTSA complaint #11753756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2026 Chevrolet Colorado Branchburg, NJ

STEERING

The steering shaft on my 2026 Colorado Trail Boss is faulty and needs to be replaced. There was no accident but feel like this could be a safety issue that needs to be addressed and reported.

NHTSA complaint #11753787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Chevrolet Colorado Austin, AR Crash

STEERING

Was traveling down the interstate at 75mph. The steering wheel jolted left and would not allow driver to turn the wheel back to the right causing a single vehicle accident. The vehicle left the roadway and hit the cable barrier in the median and traveled approximately 50 yards before stopping.

NHTSA complaint #11753394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Chevrolet Colorado Divide, CO

STEERING

While driving 40-45 mph on a curvy mountain highway, the power steering suddenly stopped working. There was no warning message prior. Once the power steering ceased, a warning message displayed, "Service Stabilitrak". I was left in a situation which was challenging to steer the vehicle, and much more difficult to maneuver at slower speeds and turns. Soon after, I parked the vehicle and shut it off overnight. The next morning the vehicle started with the same warning message "Service Stabilitrak", but the power steering worked fine. I brought the vehicle into Chevrolet dealership service for inspection and diagnosis. Results are attached. The vehicle has not yet been repaired, and is available for inspection. Thank you.

NHTSA complaint #11749265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Chevrolet Colorado Aurora, CO

STEERING

My 2015 Colorado has begun to periodically lose power steering. I have now several times been driving. I here a warning ding and a warning on the dash, then my power steering is completely gone. Steering becomes very difficult. This is a significant safety issue. Once I am able to safely pull out of traffic, and restart the truck, the power steering returns.

NHTSA complaint #11749061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Chevrolet Colorado Houston, TX

STEERING

**Vehicle Safety Complaint** I am experiencing a serious safety issue with my 2016 Chevrolet vehicle involving the power steering system. On a somewhat regular basis, I receive dashboard warnings including "StabiliTrak Not Working," and "Service Power Steering." Shortly after these warnings appear, the power steering fails while I am driving. When this occurs, I must use significant force to turn the steering wheel in order to maintain control of the vehicle and make turns. When I pull over, turn off engine and wait a few minutes, the restart the engine, it  appears to be resolved and works fine. This creates an extremely dangerous driving condition. I am concerned that I may not be able to turn quickly or forcefully enough to avoid an accident, potentially resulting in a collision, injury, or death. I am aware that certain 2015 model year vehicles were recalled for similar power steering issues. However, despite experiencing what appears to be the same defect in my 2016 vehicle, no recall has been issued. The issue remains uncorrected and continues to pose a significant safety risk. GM Customer Care (1-800-462-8782) states I am not eligible for any cost assistance because it is a 2016 model and not 2015. Given the serious safety implications of sudden power steering loss while driving, I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue and determine whether a recall is warranted for affected 2016 vehicles. The sudden loss of power steering while the vehicle is in motion presents a substantial safety hazard and should be addressed before it leads to serious accidents or injuries.

NHTSA complaint #11744770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Chevrolet Colorado Pueblo, CO

STEERING

Driving 65mph down highway and power steering lost power and Error message "Stabilitrak" "Power steering drive with care" This is a busy highway and I was scared I was going to crash into another vehicle or run off the road. I have taken this vehicle immediately to my Chevy dealer and was told it was my rack and pinion needed to be fully replaced. I checked the recall list and my vehicle was not listed , however GM recall N202325410 for the 2015 Colorado has the same components and parts was involved in a recall.

NHTSA complaint #11743914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Chevrolet Colorado at 60,000 miles Arvada, CO

STEERING

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The power steering failure warning light illuminated. The contact, who was a retired certified mechanic, diagnosed the vehicle with an electronic power steering gear unit failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with electronic power steering gear unit failure. The contact was informed that the part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #11742743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Chevrolet Colorado West Warwick, RI

STEERING

was driving my vehicle on heavily traveled road June 3rd , 2026 when suddenly TC light and "service power steering drive with care "came on . Steering wheel became very stiff and hard to turn. Luckily I was able to pull into a parking lot and avoided an accident. I then turned off the vehicle and steering wheel became free. This happened again later that day and the next day. Each time I shut off the vehicle and it reset the steering wheel. However, due to safety issue I have not driven the vehicle since Thursday June 4th. We are a two care family and down to one car now. I need my vehicle so I made an appointment for service on June 8th. I will forward a copy of the bill. I noticed there was a recall on the 2015 Chevy Colorado however not on the 2016 model. I wanted to bring this to your attention.

NHTSA complaint #11742547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Chevrolet Colorado Norwood, NY

STEERING

Power steering failure, without incident. It started one morning, after turning off truck the previous day. Warning lights displayed as soon as truck was started. Very difficult to turn steering wheel. Too dangerous to drive. Dealer indicated the steering rack should be replaced.

NHTSA complaint #11742439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2026 Chevrolet Colorado Neshanic Station, NJ

STEERING

Not sure if this is a safety issue at this point but there is a rattling noise around the steering column when you drive over any bumps and hoping this will not lead to any safety issues.

NHTSA complaint #11742212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Chevrolet Colorado Bend, OR

STEERING

The power steering has failed 4 times. This is the same problem that the 2015 Colorado's had. There was recall on the 2015 models. There has not been a recall on the 2016 models. but the problem still exists.

NHTSA complaint #11741604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Chevrolet Colorado Flagstaff, AZ

STEERING

Complete failure of power steering while driving vehicle. Luckily I was almost home, had just exited the highway and was on a side road at low speed. High likely hood i would have crashed on the highway or at speeds greater than I was travelling. Numerous (at least 436 on one site) reports exist of this happening in the 2016 model. A recall exists on the 2015 model for this problem, but did not include my VIN. The stabilitrak icon flashed and I received a Power steering failure message on the dash. Stopping the vehicle and restarting apparently rebooted the electronic steering system and I was able to park it. The repair cost over $3000 at an independent mechanic. He replaced the rack and pinion component and said the wiring harness showed no wear, damage, or issues. Why isn't a recall issued for this safety problem on this model year? Especially given the number of complaints on the carcomplaints.com webpage and others.

NHTSA complaint #11741043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2021 Chevrolet Colorado San Diego, CA

STEERING

I am reporting a serious safety defect involving my 2021 Chevrolet vehicle. While driving, multiple warnings appeared including “Service Power Steering,” “Steering Assist is Reduced,” “Service ESC,” and “Service Battery Charging System.” The vehicle then lost steering assist, braking performance became unreliable, and it created a serious risk of crash. The vehicle later shut down completely and has remained inoperable. The failure appears electrical and affected multiple critical systems at once, suggesting a cascading system malfunction. Since the incident, the vehicle has not restarted or operated normally. I have replaced the battery, alternator, starter, ignition switch, brake vacuum pump, ECM, spark plugs, fuses, and relays, but the issue persists. The vehicle still shows charging system faults and severe battery drain, indicating an unresolved underlying electrical defect. I have found numerous reports from other 2021 Chevrolet owners describing nearly identical failures, including sudden loss of power steering assist, ESC warnings, charging system failures, battery drain, and complete vehicle shutdowns. This suggests a possible widespread defect affecting this model year. Given the loss of steering assist, braking irregularities, and full vehicle shutdown while driving, I request NHTSA investigate this issue for a potential safety-related defect and determine whether a recall or manufacturer action is necessary.

NHTSA complaint #11740930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Chevrolet Colorado St. Louis, MO

STEERING

Will be driving and suddenly my EPS light turns on and doesn’t allow me to turn. I have sudden loss of power assist, making the steering wheel incredibly heavy to turn. Once I pull over to safety and fully turn the truck off and back on, I can generally make it to my destination as the sensor temporarily goes off. It appears there have been recalls for this, but my specific VIN was not included in the recall for some reason. Ultimately, this is extremely dangerous as I have a pretty busy route to/from work. This all randomly started happening two days ago. I am working to schedule an appointment with a local mechanic, but hoping to be included in the recall because it sounds exactly like what was happening in the recall.

NHTSA complaint #11739374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Chevrolet Colorado at 115,225 miles Lancaster, OH

STEERING

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Service Power Steering light would illuminate and the power steering would fail. The contact would have to pull to the side of the road, turn off the vehicle, and wait a while in order to reset the vehicle's computer system and re-activate the power steering. The traction control, stability, track, and service 4-Wheel Drive warning lights were illuminated as well. The vehicle was taken to 3 different certified mechanics, who were not able to diagnose and repair the vehicle. The steering wheel was recalibrated by a mechanic; however, the failure remained persistent. The manufacturer was informed, and it was confirmed that the VIN was not included in any recall. The failure mileage was 115,225.

NHTSA complaint #11738542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chevrolet Colorado problems