2016 Chevrolet Colorado Problems: 12 Known Issues

On the 2015-2022 Chevrolet Colorado, the 3.6L V6 fitted to the 2015-2022 Colorado (LFX through 2016, LGZ from 2017) can suffer timing chain stretch and timing chain tensioner wear, showing up as a rattle on cold start that fades as oil pressure builds, a check engine light with cam/crank correlation or VVT position codes such as P0016, P0017 and P0018, rough running and lost power. Unlike the earlier high-feature V6s, the failures on the 2015-and-later engines are strongly correlated with oil neglect: extended intervals under the oil life monitor, running the engine low on oil, or using the wrong grade lets the hydraulically applied chain tensioners lose their bite. Forum consensus from Colorado owners is that trucks changed at around 5,000 miles rarely see it and neglected trucks see it well before 100,000. This is a V6 issue - do not attribute it to the 2.5L LCV, the 2.8L diesel, or the third-generation 2.7L turbo.

On the 2016-2022 Chevrolet Colorado 2.8L Duramax I4 LWN, the 2.8L LWN Duramax's variable-geometry turbocharger is a documented weak point on the 2016-2022 diesel Colorado. Reported failures include damaged compressor wheel fins, failed turbo mounting studs and excessive shaft play, most often on trucks driven on short trips in near- or below-freezing weather. Owners report failures well before 100,000 miles - some reported as early as roughly 12,000 miles - with a whistle or grinding from the turbo, a large loss of boost and power, a reduced-power message, and noticeably more frequent DPF regens as the engine tries to compensate. The failure pattern is specific to the 2.8L diesel; the gasoline engines in the same body do not share it.

On the 2016-2022 Chevrolet Colorado 2.8L Duramax (LWN), the 2.8L Duramax diesel can experience issues with the emissions system including DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) quality sensors, DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) regeneration problems, and NOx sensor failures. These can cause reduced power mode and check engine lights.

On the 2016-2019 Chevrolet Colorado 2.8L Duramax I4 LWN, the 2.8L LWN Duramax's Denso common-rail injectors are a documented failure point on 2016-2018 trucks. Owners and diesel forums report injectors leaking down or over-fuelling, producing a hard start, rough idle, knock, white smoke, and fuel-in-oil dilution. In the worst documented cases a failed injector burned a hole through a piston and the engine required replacement. GM's own response is telling: in the 2018-2019 timeframe it moved to a larger, higher-capacity injector and had to revise the cylinder head to accept it, which owners read as an acknowledgement the original injector was marginal for the rail pressure the system runs. Applies only to the 2.8L diesel - not the 2.5L LCV, 3.6L V6, or 2.7L turbo.

On the 2015-2021 Chevrolet Colorado, the electronic transfer case can fail to shift between 2WD and 4WD and show a Service 4WD message. GM documents several causes: on 2015 trucks an incorrectly installed transfer case select switch (PIP5256A, DTC B2725/B0770); on 2017 trucks with the NQ6 automatic transfer case an actuator motor brake that sticks (GM customer satisfaction program 17048, DTC C0326 58); and failures of the transfer case control module and encoder motor. GM also notes that some 4WD no-engage complaints come from the front axle actuator or idler gear rather than the transfer case.

On the 2004-2022 Chevrolet Colorado, on four-wheel-drive Colorados the front axle uses an electric disconnect actuator on the front differential housing that must engage before the transfer case will complete a shift into 4HI/4AUTO/4LO. The actuator's motor, position sensor, and its exposed connector sit low on the axle where they take road spray, salt, and mud. Owners report the dash showing "Service 4WD", the 4WD selector lights blinking and then reverting to 2WD, and the truck driving in two-wheel drive despite the transfer case shifting. C0387 is the code most often stored. This is distinct from transfer case encoder motor failure: forum diagnosis threads repeatedly find the transfer case shifted correctly while the front axle actuator, its connector, or the chafed harness running to it was the actual fault. Reported on the 2004-2012 GMT355 trucks and again on the 2015-2022 generation, and it is much more common in road-salt states.

On the 2015-2021 Chevrolet Colorado, the MyLink infotainment system can freeze, become unresponsive, or reboot randomly. This affects the radio, navigation, backup camera display, and phone connectivity. Issues are often software-related but can indicate hardware failure.

On the 2015-2021 Chevrolet Colorado, some Colorado owners experience unexplained battery drain that can result in a dead battery after sitting for a few days. This can be caused by various electronic modules not going to sleep properly, OnStar module issues, or faulty door switches.

On the 2016-2022 Chevrolet Colorado 2.8L Duramax I4 LWN, separate from the DEF/DPF aftertreatment faults, the 2.8L Duramax's exhaust gas recirculation hardware itself fails in two distinct ways. First, the EGR valve and intake tract pack with soot and oil-vapour carbon, particularly on short-trip trucks, giving rough idle, hesitation, poor economy and EGR flow codes. Second, owners report the EGR cooler developing a fissure at a weld that seeps coolant only under system pressure - the truck loses coolant slowly with no puddle on the ground, and the leak stops as soon as the engine cools and pressure drops, which makes it notoriously hard for a dealer to confirm. Diesel Colorado owners have chased unexplained coolant loss for months on this. Diesel-only; the gasoline Colorados do not use this hardware.

On the 2015-2017 Chevrolet Colorado, the 2015-2017 Colorado used the Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed behind both the 3.6L LFX V6 and the 2.8L Duramax diesel, and it has its own torque converter clutch shudder that is separate from the later 8L45/8L90 8-speed problem. Owners describe a rumble-strip or chuggle sensation under light throttle around 12-15 mph in second gear and again around 30-40 mph in top gear, frequently appearing under 20,000 miles. GM's preliminary bulletins PIP5342/PIP5342A described this chuggle as normal transmission and torque converter clutch operation and directed an ECM/TCM calibration update that GM said may not totally address it. Left alone the shudder glazes the converter clutch lining, at which point a fluid change no longer cures it.

On the 2015-2023 Chevrolet Colorado, a clunking or knocking noise from the front suspension when going over bumps is common. This is often caused by worn sway bar end links, upper control arm bushings, or strut mounts. The issue can be amplified by rough roads or off-road use.

On the 2004-2022 Chevrolet Colorado, the temperature blend door actuator behind the dash uses small plastic gears to swing the blend door between the heater core and the evaporator. On the 2004-2012 Colorado in particular these gears crack or strip, and the actuator then clicks or ticks repeatedly behind the dash while the cabin temperature is stuck at one extreme - typically full hot or full cold - regardless of what the controls are set to. It is one of the most common complaints on the first-generation truck, and the same actuator design continues to fail on later Colorados. It is distinct from a blower resistor failure: with a bad blend actuator the fan speeds all work fine, the air just comes out the wrong temperature.