2016 Chevrolet Colorado: jerking or lurching

Filed Sep 1, 2025 · Steering · DE

After purchasing my 2016 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 (approx. 113,000 miles) from Avalon Honda in New Jersey, steering began to exhibit an intermittent, jerky, “cog‑like” feel—almost as if slipping or catching. It’s unpredictable but recurrent, raising serious concern for sudden loss of control and potential collision. A repair shop replaced the front passenger‑side control arm, but the issue persists. It comes and goes, making it difficult to diagnose. I believe this may be a hidden steering defect that needs formal investigation.

Filed Dec 13, 2024 · Transmission · 142,000 miles · MO

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving and coming to a complete stop, the vehicle jerked while shifting gear. Additionally, while driving at slow speeds, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle hesitated while shifting into gear. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the torque converter and other unknown transmission parts had previously been replaced, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

Filed Aug 28, 2024 · Steering, Transmission · TX

On multiple occasions the warning to service Power Steering and Stabilitrak have popped up during driving causing a loss of power steering. Once I was taking a curve and it jerked the truck toward the right but I luckily had a good grip on the steering wheel to keep it on the road. Other occasions it occurs upon starting the vehicle in the morning or after sitting parked for several hours. When this occurs, it is very difficult to keep control of the vehicle when turning is concerned. I have brought it up with service technicians at the dealership but they cannot diagnose unless it is in the state of warning lights on and loss of power steering. The issue usually goes away when vehicle is turned off and restarted, though not always. This issue continues at haphazard intervals so it makes driving tense and unsafe as there is no telling when it will pop up. It is also causing an issue to get fixed because it cannot be replicated to get diagnosed properly. I have not been able to get any codes read for the issue as I am not near a facility when it occurs.

Filed Nov 21, 2023 · Steering · SC

While driving my Chevy Colorado to work steering wheel suddenly jerked from my hands in a turn and forced me to drive straight. Luckily was able to make it into a median after nearly striking another vehicle. While completing a turn into a gas station to assess the problem steering was extremely difficult, even beyond what a vehicle without power steering feels like. Had to shut off the truck and wait for a complete power down, restart and the issue was corrected. I have no doubt that had my daughter been driving, as she sometimes uses the truck, she would have had zero chance of steering the vehicle. Reading other similar issues with the 2016 online, how was this not a recall along with the 2015s? Extremely unsafe!

Filed Oct 31, 2023 · Steering · 84,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH uphill on a curvy road, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and jerked to the right towards a ditch that was in front of a cliff. The contact used physical strength to steer the vehicle back into the lane. The message "Power Steering Failure" was displayed and the traction control, the Stabili-trak and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact drove downhill and pulled to the side of the roadway, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as needed; however, the failure recurred while driving in the mountains. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where diagnostic code: C0545 was retrieved, and the mechanic informed the contact that the failure was related to the power steering system. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for repairs. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering rack and pinion assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

Filed Feb 23, 2023 · Steering · CA

Power steering fails at random points while driving.The steering wheel jerks suddenly, locks up and becomes nearly impossible to turn, and the Power steering and StabiliTrack warnings come on. This happens while driving in town and on highways, at high rates of speed. I’m forced to pull off the road (if possible, and not surrounded by traffic), and restart my truck. SOMETIMES restarting the truck will clear the problem, sometimes not. Many times I’m forced to drive the truck unsafely and barely be able to steer. I have nearly been in several crashes due to not being able to steer or get off the road in time. I see the 2015 model has the same problem and was recalled. RECALL THE 2016’s too!! Why are we being put in danger? The dealership won’t fix it because they say there’s “nothing to fix”. But obviously there is if the year prior model was recalled for this exact problem. It is terrifying. This type of incident has occurred over 75 times (NOT an exaggeration), in the last year. Often multiple times a day.

Filed Jan 20, 2023 · Steering · AZ

While stopped at an intersection, the steering wheel jerked to the right and the power steering systems shut down and felt like it was "locked" in position. The idiot lights on dashboard indicated power steering and Vehicle Stabilitrack systems were not working. It was a yellow light with a car and something representing swerves. The truck steering became incredibly difficult to control and turn the wheels. When it was safe, I managed to pull into a shopping center. I tried restarting the vehicle 3 -4 times before the system errors were cleared and steering performed normally. I drove 14 miles towards my house, when the same scenario happened, except this time I was driving on the highway.

Filed Oct 6, 2022 · Transmission · FL

The transmission sucks. It’s jerky, rough, and random. Downshifting from 5th to 4th and 2nd to 1st is rough. Stopping the vehicle can be a pain sometimes because it’s like the truck doesn’t want to stop. Acceleration is very poor, I shouldn’t have to go pedal to floor to accelerate 5+mph while at highway speeds. It shudders, chuggles, and creates a weird deep droning noise when getting up too speed While driving, the engine picks and chooses when to speed up. I press the gas peddle down and have to wait a few seconds before the vehicle responds. I have noticed the vehicle making sounds like it is sputtering almost to the point to seizing all together. Slow and go driving 20-40mph after coasting and trying to accelerate again the transmission bucks, hesitates trying to find a lower gear. It can’t decide which gear to go into and just sputters and chugs until I push the accelerator 1/2 way down or more and it the finds its gear and rockets off. This type of driving is not safe at all. This happens all the time. This is a known gm issue with Colorado/Canyons and GM changed transmissions following years and no support for 2015-16. It sucks at maintaining speeds; even with cruise control. I go up the slightest, and I mean like a 2% grade incline it loses its speed by 2-5 mph. And with cruise control it’ll down shift to get back to the set speed but I go nowhere. Then it’ll downshift again to a lower gear and climbs even higher in RPMs to get up to speed and then cruise control will shut off and I’ll have to manually accelerate.

Filed Mar 20, 2022 · Engine · LA

accelerating and shuttering and jerking when you are trying to accelerating afraid to accelerate to go aroud another vehicle or to pull my tariler

Filed Sep 22, 2020 · Transmission · 34,455 miles · OH

When traveling forward,or turning, at highway speeds between 20 MPH and 40 MPH, this vehicle shudders ( 6 speed transmission)and acceleration pauses until a lot of extra effort is placed on the gas pedal.the transmission then downshifts with a sudden lurch. This leads to a safety hazard when instant acceleration is needed.this happens everyday at any time of the day and whether hot or cold.

Filed Mar 5, 2020 · Transmission · 36,000 miles · SC

Vehicle shudders does not downshift smoothly jerks when backing up at times, vehicle jumps when trying to shift to a lower gear. Brought to dealership, couldn't get the problem to occur, so nothing they can do and don't care to, vehicle has 36,000 miles

Filed Jan 7, 2020 · Acceleration · 5,000 miles · NY

When driving about 35 MPH, and then pressing the gas pedal to accelerate / pass another vehicle, the engine revs up to 4000 ' 5000 rpms, but does not downshift. It then takes a few seconds to go back to 1200-1500 RPM range. It may downshift at that point, and the truck will jerk violently. I took it to the dealer where I bought it new. They said gm is aware of the problem and referred to tsb #pip5547. I took it in again in dec. 2019 before the warranty expired. They had the vehicle for 18 days. They agree there is a problem, but gm has no fix for it. This is a repeatable problem, happen consistently in the 30 to 40 MPH range. The manual states that when trying to pass at less than 35 MPH, press the accelerator halfway down, as I have done. That is when the engine revs up but does not downshift like it normally should. But then the downshift does occurs while the rpms are coming back down, and the truck jerks violently. This is dangerous because I am unable to reliably pass another vehicle at this speed. Also, the same behavior will occur in the 50 to 60 MPH range. This is very dangerous when using an on ramp to get on an expressway.