Problems · by component
2016 Chevrolet Colorado electrical system problems
120 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado cite electrical system, 17% of all 716 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
120
17% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“While driving a warning will pop up and says "stabilitrack." All I can do is put my hazards, wait on the side of the road, and turn off the vehicle to see if it goes away. I can't drive in that state as the steering wheel gets really hard to control. The steering that make it easier to move the steering wheel (left and right to drive) goes off. So, I am having to put all my strength to make a turn or continue driving. It becomes a huge problem when I am on the highway as it can cause an accident.”
“The truck suddenly losses power steering and traction control during trips rendering the vehicle with no power steering. Upon stopping and restarting the truck, the power steering can return to the vehicle or stay turned off. This is a concerning safety issue as the power steering can give out at any point during a trip.”
“During a three point turn, the power turned off the car completely for a brief few seconds on the screens and the steering wheel locked. Was able to straighten it and all power was back on immediately. Stabilitrak warning has come out on the dash a few times. There seems to be a sudden power loss till the wheel is straightened. Luckily no one was behind, but this has happened a few times when turning.”
“The power steering will intermittently go out. This occurs at random times and often at speeds of over 65 mph. This is not a maintenance issue as it is electronic power steering.”
“Intermittent total loss of power steering assistance while driving at speed, accompanied by the immediate illumination of the Traction Control and StabiliTrak warning indicators on the dashboard. The loss of power steering creates a sudden and severe handling hazard. This safety issue has occurred more than 15 times since this vehicle was purchase used in December of 2025. A diagnostic scan reveals specific diagnostic trouble codes: C0545-00 (Steering Wheel Torque Sensor Hardware Failure), C0460-5A (Steering Wheel Angle Sensor Plausibility), U0420-42 (Invalid Data Received from PSCM), and C0280-00. The power steering also intermittently returns to normal functionality after the vehicle sits completely powered off, indicating a thermal or electronic hardware failure within the internal torque sensor of the steering gear assembly. This specific failure occurred most recently at 76,143 miles on VIN 1GCGTCE38G1146466 (Manufacture Date: 10/1/2015; Original Sales Date: 4/1/2016). This is the exact component failure and safety hazard described in GM Recall #15595 (NHTSA Campaign #16V054) for the 2015 model year. Furthermore, despite this vehicle falling well within…”
“While sitting in idle the engine will just start to idle rough for no reason this happens all the time and clear out when accelerated. While driving the radio and Infotainment screen will go blank then come back on. I was driving on the freeway going straight and all of a sudden the power steering went out and I got this warning light on for the power steering being disabled along with this vehicle symbol and squiggly lines behind it on. I drove to a safe spot with the truck feeling really heavy. Turned it off and on then it cleared up. This power steering issue just happened.”
Showing 6 of 120 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.