MODELYEARINDEX

Which Chevrolet Colorado years to avoid

Across 10 scored model years, the 2016 and 2015 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Chevrolet Colorado Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2016 vs model median 3.1×
Model median3× median
Steering 64
Drivetrain 56
Electrical 34
Avoid

2015 · 2016

Best

2010 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.09× 13 A
2011
0.21× 23 B
2012
0.38× 33 A
2015
2.60× 245 F
2016
3.09× 295 F
2017
1.58× 173 C
2018
1.48× 143 C
2019
1.29× 129 C
2020
0.56× 56 A
2021
0.71× 66 B
2022 P
0.63× 66 B
2023 P
1.80× 208 D
2024 P
1.75× 182 D
2025 P
0.49× 47 A

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2015 F 245 reports · median 34,000 mi

  1. Steering 107

    I had a power steering malfunction on three occasions on february 13,16,and 17. All three times it was -10 below zero or more and lost my power steering. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Drivetrain 27

    I wanted to reach out to you on chevrolet?s claim that their engine achieves 305 horsepower. While it may be true that their engine achieves this figure it does so at a stated 6800 RPM. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Driver Assist 24

    I was driving onto an exit ramp and felt the steering get stiff. The informaction screen above the steering wheel flashed yellow lights and the message "service power steering, drive safely". owner complaint filed with NHTSA

11 crash · 5 fire · 3 injuries

2016 F 295 reports · median 30,000 mi

  1. Steering 64

    The contact owns a 2016 chevrolet colorado. The contact stated that the steering wheel locked more than twice. The dealer was notified each time, but was unable to provide a solution to prevent the failure. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Drivetrain 56

    Transmission does not downshift properly from upper gears (5,6) to lower range when decelerating from 40 + MPH to under 20 MPH. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 34

    The contact owns a 2016 chevrolet colorado. While the vehicle was at the dealer, the technician diagnosed that the wiring harness had fractured. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

12 crash · 7 injuries

The best year for the Colorado

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2010 is the best-scoring Colorado model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 92.7 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2010 0.09× 13 A
2020 0.56× 56 A
2012 0.38× 33 A

Recalls

24 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
10V575000 CHILD SEAT 2010, 2011 192,676
12V594000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH 2010–2012 118,800
21V213000 STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM 2015 60,681
24V133000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:DRIVER MONITORING:CAMERA/SENSOR 2023 55,755
15V267000 SEATS 2015 49,980
11V007000 SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE 2011 30,566
15V278000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER 2015 24,380
15V807000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2016 8,763
24V491000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY 2024 8,622
11V337000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) 2011 6,768
26V114000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL 2025 5,861
11V552000 SEAT BELTS:FRONT 2012 5,593

+ 12 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2016 were reported at a median of 30,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Chevrolet Colorado years should you avoid?
2016, 2015 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Chevrolet Colorado model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Chevrolet Colorado?
2010 is the best-scoring Chevrolet Colorado model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 92.7 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Colorado have?
24 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Chevrolet Colorado model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2016 Colorado
Complaints in window
295
Severity-weighted
427.5
Model median (weighted)
138
vs model median
3.09×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
4
Open investigations
0
Score 15 F