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2016 Chevrolet Colorado problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
20%
141 of 709 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 20% of relevant complaints.

Better than 87% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 141 of 709 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). For comparison, the 2015 scores 16% and the 2017 scores 67%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
141
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
709
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
14 crashes · 6 injuries

Complaints by component

STEERING459 · 65%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM118 · 17%
POWER TRAIN97 · 14%
ENGINE48 · 7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER48 · 7%
SERVICE BRAKES41 · 6%

The years either side

2010
39%
9 of 29
2011
31%
8 of 42
2012
35%
11 of 42
2013
too few complaints
2014
too few complaints
2015
16%
74 of 491
2016
20%
141 of 709
2017
67%
137 of 216
2018
59%
102 of 183
2019
62%
89 of 150
2020
63%
49 of 84
2021
43%
29 of 76
2022
18%
10 of 56
2023
24%
31 of 136

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN07/28/2016CRASH1 INJURED
ON 6/6/16 I STARTED HAVING THE TROUBLE. AFTER BACKING UP AND PUTTING THE TRUCK IN GEAR, THE TRUCK WOULD SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. THIS ALSO OCCURRED ON 6/11/16, 6/17/16 AND 6/23/16. ON 6/23/16 I WAS AT SURDYKES PORT 20 MARINA AT THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS. AFTER BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE I P…

One of 141 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump18V358000 · May 2018

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. 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.

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,…

3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
air bags: frontal17V621000 · Oct 2017
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage…
air bags: frontal16V125000 · Mar 2016
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…
latches/locks/linkages15V807000 · Dec 2015
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…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2016 Chevrolet Colorado? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 141 of 709 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 18V358000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Chevrolet Colorado years are better?

Among the Chevrolet Colorado years we track, the 2015 (16%) and the 2022 (18%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (20%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2016 Chevrolet Colorado shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.