Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Chevrolet Colorado owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to steer in the intended direction. In addition, the "Service Stabili-trak" message was displayed, and the "Power Steering Failure" warning light was illuminated. The contact held the steering wheel tightly and pulled on the steering wheel, preventing the vehicle from crashing into a wall. The vehicle was driven to the intended destination. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was driven very slowly, and the contact used added force to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall for the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado with a similar description of a failure; however, the VIN was not under recall. …
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. Additionally, the traction control warning light and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact turned off the vehicle for a while and upon restarting the vehicle, the steering wheel responded as needed. The contact continued driving; however, the failure recurred while driving. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact to bring the vehicle to their location for diagnostic testing when the warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,250.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on several occasions, the "Stabili-trak Failure" message was displayed. The contact then stated that the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted. The contact stated that on several occasions, the message and failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where DTC code: UO420-42: "Power Steering Control Module - Not Receiving Signal" was retrieved. The contact was informed that the power steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the steering failed to respond, and the steering became difficult to turn. There were no warning lights illuminated; however, messages "Loss of Steering Assist" and "Stabili-trac" were displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained steering functionality. The contact was able to dive the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while driving approximately 27 MPH and making a right turn, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the failure initially occurred while making turns but had started occurring while driving straight. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent, requiring the contact to pull over to the side of the road, restart the vehicle, for the vehicle to operate as designed. The stabili-trak warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while driving approximately 55-60 MPH, the stabili-trak failure message was displayed, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure was frightening. The contact was able to continue driving at a slower speed. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist deactivated, and the steering wheel became very difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that the messages "Power Steering - Drive with Care" and "Service Stabili-track" were displayed, and the traction control warning light remained illuminated during the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, intermittently the steering wheel became firm. The Service Stabili-trak warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the stability control warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while his brother was driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The stability control system warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V213000 (Steering); however, neither VIN nor the model year was included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
Traction Control complaints in other Colorado years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado?
NHTSA has 38 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado, 5% of the model year's 712 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2016 Chevrolet Colorado traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Colorado traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to stability & traction control problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.