Chevrolet Colorado Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls β NHTSA Data
Comparing used Chevrolet Colorado options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017β2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Model-year trends show patterns. Run a VIN check for the exact Chevrolet Colorado you plan to buy.
CHEVROLET COLORADO has 991 NHTSA complaints and 12 recalls across 2017β2026. Powertrain (309) and electrical system (209) are top concerns. 2017β2019 models have the most complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Make
- Chevrolet
- Model
- Colorado
- Model years analyzed
- 2017β2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 991
- Safety recall campaigns
- 12
- Crash-related complaints
- 30
- Fire-related complaints
- 14
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2017 (212 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2026 (8 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- POWER TRAIN
- Reliability signal
- Below Average
Chevrolet Colorado: Which Years to Avoid & Which to Buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β lower risk starting points.
β NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Below AverageBased on NHTSA complaint data, the Chevrolet Colorado from 2017 to 2026 has 991 total complaints and 12 recalls, with the highest complaint years being 2017 (212), 2018 (175), and 2019 (143). The powertrain (309 complaints) and electrical system (209 complaints) are the most reported components, along with 30 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Powertrain accounts for 309 complaints, the highest of any component.
- Electrical system has 209 complaints, the second most reported.
- 2017 model year has 212 complaints, the highest of any year.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM failures including wiring and modules.
- POWER TRAIN issues such as transmission and driveline problems.
- ENGINE problems including stalling and loss of power.
2017, 2018, and 2019 have the highest complaint counts, driven primarily by powertrain and electrical system issues.
2022, 2025, and 2026 show the fewest complaints, suggesting improved reliability in later model years.
- Inspect electrical system for any warning lights or malfunctions.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for powertrain and electrical repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect transmission and engine before purchase.
π NHTSA Safety Recalls
12 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
Safety Recall
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Safety Recall
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017β2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
π§ Most-Reported Problem Areas
Based on component keywords extracted from all 991 NHTSA complaints.
π NHTSA Complaint Reports
991 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Component: Drivetrain, brake, and engine management systems repeatedly fail in a coordinated pattern, with multiple warning indicators activating simultaneously and sudden unintended deceleration occurring without warning. Vehicle available for inspection. Safety risk: Most recent failure occurred at highway speed with family including passengers in the vehicle. Without warning, the vehicle decelerated abruptly while multiple dashboard warnings activated at once. Sudden deceleration at highway speed creates immediate risk of rear-end collision from following traffic and loss of vehicle control. Prior dealer confirmation: Yes. Curry Chevrolet (Scarsdale, NY) has had the vehicle in service for the same defect category on multiple prior occasions, including stays of over a week on at least two visits. The dealer has not permanently resolved the issue β symptoms have now recurred at sixth time. An additional early service visit at the same dealer was not documented with a repair order; I retain contemporaneous text messages establishing that visit occurred. Other inspections: Inspected only by Curry Chevrolet to date. GM Customer Assistance engaged (Case #XXX). No police, insurance, or independent inspections. New case has been filed with GM, linked to the previous (Case #XXX).Next service visit will be at a different authorized Chevrolet dealer for an independent diagnostic. Warning indicators: Yes. In the most recent incident, multiple warning lamps and system alerts activated simultaneously at the moment of deceleration, with no advance warning. Prior incidents showed the same multi-system warning pattern, consistently without predictive indicators. Vehicle is a 2026 Chevrolet Colorado, VIN [XXX], delivered January 2026 with 2,209 miles on the odometer at delivery. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Not sure if this is a safety issue at this point but there is a rattling noise around the steering column when you drive over any bumps and hoping this will not lead to any safety issues.
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while using the cruise control at 60 MPH, the vehicle began to accelerate. The contact was able to depress the brake pedal to avoid a crash. The cruise control was restarted and set to 50 MPH, and the vehicle accelerated again without warning. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 832.
Front passenger headlight assembly is defective with less than 200 miles on vehicle. The defect is allowing excessive condensation in assembly and fogging up headlight brightness and assuming will eventually cause bulbs to prematurely burn out. This in my opinion is a safety concern and issue . Also seems like there is a shortage of the defective headlight assembly.
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle started, however the battery became drained. No warning lights were illuminated. After the battery was drained, the doors failed to unlatch, and the contact was stuck inside the vehicle. The tow truck driver arrived and assisted the contact with exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,800.
ECM Engine Control Module TCM Transmission Range Sensor TCM Transmission Control Module While driving in a 45 MPH speed zone in heavy traffic, the vehicle suddenly lost power and abruptly slowed down causing a number of other vehicles to have to break and swerve . Problem confirmed through ONSTAR Diagnosis As of this date, the GM dealer has not confirmed the problem. No other inspections have been confirmed. there were no warnings prior to the event.
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH with the adaptive cruise control engaged, while the vehicle was approaching another vehicle from the rear, the vehicle failed to automatically slow down. The contact depressed the brake pedal to get the vehicle to slow down as needed. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a defective module, and that there was no replacement part available to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 2,100.
[INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BLACK-OUT] While driving on I-15S, suddenly the Instrument Cluster went completely dark for 5-10 seconds. A scary and alarming development.
Sunroof exploded outwards. On a sunny afternoon while driving on highway. No other vehicles around.
The infotainment system does not operate correctly. The screen where the backup camera and all other information is you can not view since the screen is black most of the time. That is also where the light switch is for headlights and such.
All electronic braking lights came on in truck @13040 miles dropped at dealership last Monday they believe itβs the master cylinder. Pending additional info
The upper radiator hose on some huge percentage of these trucks fail (mine has failed at just over 5k miles). You can check the Colorado Chevy forum, youtube, etc., et al, and find plenty of instances where this has failed. As this is the cooling system, it can cause the engine to overheat and potentially ruin the engine. The flaw seems to be an engineering issue with the rubber seal they use (instead of a high quality o-ring) to seal the upper hose to the radiator. Additionally, since this can cause engine failure it should be addressed immediately. Instead, my local Chevy dealer, since its not a recall item, said they could schedule a time next week for me to LEAVE the truck and then they would get to it in 10-14 days. This is extremely unfair to the consumer who depends on these vehicles. This should absolutely be a recall item. You can find 1000's of examples online and if you can pull GM repair data, I'm sure you'll find 1000's more.
The Transmission jumps into 1St gear when spot at a traffic light or when parking.Back seat gap and Forward Collision Warning not functioning.
Any time the heated seats and or steering wheel heat are on the lights pulsate inside and outside the vehicle. I have complained to the dealership and Chevy. Neither one has any answers for this. Chevy admitted via email finally that it was an issue but they did not have a fix at this time and the vehicle was safe. I find this to be a safety issue due to the lights pulsating and that apparently it is pulling too much power somewhere. To me this could cause a fire. For the money I paid for a brand new vehicle you'd think they would be willing to figure this out quickly. I know of others who have this issue as well with the same response from Chevy. They apparently do not care about the safety of the people who purchase their vehicles.
When using heated seats and heated steering wheel the headlights randomly pulsate and dim - dangerously impacting driver night-time vision / visibility and confusing / disorienting other drivers. Ongoing issue. Happens EVERY time headlights are utilized in conjunction with heated seats and heated steering wheel. Occurs at idle and at speed. Chevrolet refuses to acknowledge, address, or remedy the issue. Has not been remedied to date. Videos available.
When I try to accelerate some times my truck doesnβt go. Itβs like itβs not even in drive. The check engine light is on and the dealership that I bought it from told me just to drive it because they donβt have a loaner vehicle at this time. That it wonβt hurt the vehicle to drive but itβs unsafe to drive. I step on the gas and it doesnβt go. I could be hit if Iβm trying to move when in traffic. Also my truck only had 5200 miles on it when this started and Iβve only had it since 16 July 2025.
The headlights flicker/pulse creating visibility issues at night. This occurs when the heated seats are activated. This is a safety concern for myself, passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians. Flickering lights can cause an accident due to poor visibility and the creating of false shadows. This would also hinder the ability to see pedestrians. The problem was reproduced at the local Chevrolet dealer, they said they would contact Chevrolet, at my insisting. Initially they told me I should replace the stock halogen light bulbs with aftermarket LED bulbs at my cost. They said it is extremely unlikely that GM will do anything to rectify the issue because from the design standpoint of the vehicle everything is operating within its standards on paper. The manufacturer has initiated a case. There are no warning lights of any kind. This is a 2025 with 2,300 miles.
After the vehicle was parked and powered off for several hours, I started the truck and experienced an extreme and unexpected audio volume spike from the factory BOSE sound system. The startup sound and turn-signal chime played at an excessively loud level, far beyond normal operation. The sound was sudden and intense, causing immediate ear pain, ringing, and a headache. My dog, who was in the vehicle, became visibly distressed and shaken by the noise. This volume spike occurred before any media audio was playing and appears tied to the vehicle's startup and chime audio system, not user-adjustable radio volume. The turn-signal clicking remained extremely loud afterward, indicating the same audio channel was affected. The vehicle has been operating normally prior to this incident and had not been modified in any way. This occurred during normal use of a brand-new vehicle (purchased about a month ago) with no warning lamps/messages/ or other symptoms prior to the incident. The problem has been reproduced and was able to be recorded via phone video during a reproduction attempt to provide to dealer.
I was driving down a hill and hit my brakes and the pushed back against me and then went right to the floor with minimal braking. I got an error message on my dash that said βbrake system failure- do not exceed 62 mphβ Luckily it was early in the morning and nobody was in front of me. All of the lights were green and between the engine braking and the little brake power that I had I made it up the hill (about a mile) to the Chevy dealership. I got an error notification the day prior that said there was an electrical error and my check engine light came in. I drove straight to the dealership but they couldnβt do anything since it was 4:30 and later than work hours so they made me an appointment for the next day and let me go. They told me later that day that it was an issue with the master cylinder (which with some research I found that there is an active lawsuit against this issue) I was issued a loaner vehicle with a crack straight across the entire windshield (it was all they had available and I was told it would be βokayβ so Iβm fine with that)
My 2025 Chevrolet Colorado continues to experience roof denting caused by the vehicleβs structural weakness in the roof panel when exposed to normal car-wash air dryers. This problem began in 2023 with my previous model year Colorado, and it has carried into the 2025 model despite GM having issued an internal service advisory in 2023 describing the need to install additional roof braces to prevent this exact failure. GM acknowledged the issue two years ago but did not incorporate the recommended reinforcement into manufacturing. As a result, even routine exposure to the forced air from automated car-wash dryers causes the roof to bend inward. I have had this inspected multiple times, and the root cause has been consistently identified as inadequate roof support. The problem has not been corrected at the design or production level, and dealerships are not taking further action. The roof denting raises concerns about structural rigidity, potential weakening over time, and whether the roof would perform correctly in rollover or impact scenarios. This is an ongoing defect affecting normal use of the vehicle, with no resolution provided by GM despite documented awareness since 2023.
Showing 20 of 991 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Before You Buy, Check the Exact Chevrolet Colorado
These pages show model-year patterns across 10years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
π Understanding This Data
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Chevrolet Colorado has 991 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Chevrolet Colorado has 12 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 30 of the Chevrolet Colorado's 991 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Below Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Chevrolet Colorado vehicles on the road β not any specific car. Two Chevrolet Colorado vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Chevrolet Colorado has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
Buyers Also Compare
How does the Chevrolet Colorado stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
π Check a Chevrolet Colorado by State
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Chevrolet Colorado.