Random loss of power steering
Chevrolet Colorado power steering loss problems
423 of the 3,667 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Colorado describe loss of power steering, most of them for the 2015 model year.
- owner complaints
- 423
- worst model year
- 2015
- typical repair cost reported
- $2,000
- typical mileage
- 66,000
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Loss of power 193Steering lock-up 10Engine failure 8Jerking 7Check engine light 7Stalling 6ABS 6Warning lights 4
Trouble codes mentioned
C0545 15U0420 4U0101 2C0460 2U0415 1U0131 1U0121 1U0073 1C0800 1C056D 1
What owners say
Power steering Assist is failing consistently. Travelling on highways 65+ speeds while the power assist goes out. Must make it to the side of the road to reset vehicle. No they have not been able to reproduce because they do not test it long enough. By a Chevrolet dealer twice now. First visit they simply replaced the battery and never informed me of error codes regarding this internal component being a problem No warnings until the power steering goes out. There have been recalls from GM for power steering errors but they will not fix this one.
Vehicle experienced sudden loss of electronic power steering assist due to an integrated EPS module failure. This matches the exact failure criteria of GM Recall N202325410, but my VIN was excluded due to manufacturing date limits.
Power steering failure. 4WD stuck.
While driving, the truck can suddenly lose power steering and traction control without warning. When this occurs, steering becomes extremely difficult and creates a significant safety risk, particularly at higher speeds or when turning. Restarting the vehicle will sometimes restore power steering, but the problem can persist after restarting. Because the failure is unpredictable and can occur at any time while driving, I am concerned that it could result in loss of vehicle control or a crash.
Shortly after startup or while driving, my vehicle will suddenly lose power steering. The dashboard will illuminate the traction control light and warn "Service Staiblitrak" and "Power Steering Reduced Drive With Care" however this happens when the power steering is already lost. This has happened while pulling out of parking lots and also while pulling up to a red light in the street. If I turn the vehicle off and on 1-2 times then the fault clears and I can continue driving. A dealer could not reproduce the issue. They found two stored fault codes but could not diagnose further. There is no advance warning of the failure. The failure is random and has occurred about 2-3x per month for 3 months.
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.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, causing the steering wheel to become difficult to turn. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted and operated as intended. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V213000 (STEERING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.
While driving my vehicle, the power steering assist suddenly and completely dropped out without warning. The dashboard displayed the warning message 'Service Power Steering, Drive with Care'. Immediately, the steering wheel became extremely heavy and nearly impossible to turn, creating an immediate and severe crash hazard. Turning the vehicle off and back on temporarily clears the message, but the power steering assist fails again shortly after. This is an intermittent hardware and electrical communication failure that makes the vehicle unsafe to operate on public roads. I contacted a Chevrolet dealership to check for remedy under the federal safety agency Safety Recall #21V213 (GM Recall #N202325410). However, I was informed that my VIN is not included in the current recall list, despite my vehicle experiencing the exact same catastrophic steering gear and torque sensor defect described in the recall. I am filing this report because this severe safety defect clearly extends beyond the manufacturer's limited VIN scope.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as intended. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000.
Related recalls
Steering: electric power assist system
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles. The power steering assist may be lost due to a poor electrical connection within the steering gear assembly.
- Risk
- A loss of power steering, particularly at lower speeds increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace steering gear torque sensor cover assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, and GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N202325410.
Recall number 21V213000 · Recall details
Steering: electric power assist system
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles manufactured January 6, 2015, to March 17, 2015, and 2015 GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 6, 2015, to March 19, 2015. A poor electrical connection within the steering gear connector may cause a loss of power steering assist.
- Risk
- A loss or reduction in power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear torque sensor cover assembly, free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 15595.
Recall number 16V054000 · Recall details
Questions about the Chevrolet Colorado power steering loss
Which Chevrolet Colorado years have loss of power steering problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2015 (194 complaints), 2016 (192 complaints) and 2019 (10 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix loss of power steering on the Chevrolet Colorado?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,000 (median of 45 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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