2016 Chevrolet Colorado (2.8L Duramax Diesel) — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $18,000–$27,000. There are 2 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Deciding between model years? Compare the 5 Chevrolet Colorado (2.8L Duramax Diesel) years we've written up →
Kestrel Take
A midsize truck that tows 7,700 pounds and returns 30 mpg on the highway — a combination nothing else in the class offers. The emissions system is the price of admission, and this engine is much happier on long drives than on short errands.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-25
NHTSA holds 699 owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado (2.8L Duramax Diesel), and 4 recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 64% of them are about one thing — steering. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.
4 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Not written up yet: steering (450 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado (2.8L Duramax Diesel)
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
Short-trip use prevents regeneration, clogs the filter, and eventually derates the truck. This is the dominant complaint on the diesel Colorado.
Repair cost (estimate): $1,500-$4,000
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (49).
DEF heater and pump failures trigger countdown-to-derate warnings that immobilize the truck if ignored.
Repair cost (estimate): $800-$2,500
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (114).
Sticking vanes and clogged EGR passages cause underboost and reduced power.
Repair cost (estimate): $1,200-$3,000
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (49).
The six-speed can shift harshly, particularly when cold or towing.
Repair cost (estimate): $300 service to $3,500
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (97).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗City-only driving history
- ✗Emissions faults or a history of forced regenerations
- ✗Deleted emissions with no documentation
- ✗Cracked or leaking DEF tank
Good Signs
- ✓Highway commuting or regular towing use
- ✓Complete emissions service history
- ✓Fuel and DEF services documented at a dealer
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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