Chevrolet Colorado 2004–2012 problems by year and mileage
1st generation · GMT355
NHTSA data through 24 September 20261,353 complaints, 1,107 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
- 200456kmedian
- 200551kmedian
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- 2010—too few
- 201154kmedian
- 201243kmedian
The 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- 56,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 361
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2004
- Electrical system88 reports · median 74,000 mi
- Body structure61 reports · median 115,000 mi
- Exterior lighting43 reports · median 48,000 mi
3 recall campaigns name the 2004: Child seat; Exterior lighting — brake lights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- 51,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 356
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2005
- Electrical system69 reports · median 73,000 mi
- Hydraulic brake circuit61 reports · median 48,000 mi
- Exterior lighting49 reports · median 39,000 mi
3 recall campaigns name the 2005: Child seat; Exterior lighting — brake lights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- 53,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 236
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2006
- Electrical system69 reports · median 56,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system31 reports
- Exterior lighting30 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2006: Child seat; Exterior lighting — brake lights; Equipment — other. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- 59,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 140
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2007
- Electrical system45 reports · median 59,000 mi
- Exterior lighting19 reports
- Engine18 reports
3 recall campaigns name the 2007: Child seat; Exterior lighting — brake lights; Wheels — rim. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2008 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- 53,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 81
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2008
- Electrical system32 reports
- Airbag system14 reports
- Engine8 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2008: Child seat; Exterior lighting — brake lights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2009 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- 54,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 67
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2009
- Electrical system36 reports
- Engine10 reports
- Fuel and propulsion system9 reports
3 recall campaigns name the 2009: Child seat; Exterior lighting — brake lights; Fuel system, gasoline. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2010 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 28
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2010
- Electrical system12 reports
- Engine5 reports
- Airbag system4 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2010: Latches/locks/linkages — hood; Child seat. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2011 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- 54,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 42
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2011
- Electrical system14 reports
- Airbag system10 reports
- Exterior lighting4 reports
5 recall campaigns name the 2011: Latches/locks/linkages — hood; Power train — automatic transmission; Visibility — windshield wiper/washer. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2012 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- 43,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 42
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2012
- Airbag system9 reports
- Electrical system8 reports
- Engine8 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2012: Latches/locks/linkages — hood; Seat belts — front. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 2007 reports latest and the 2012 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2007 has had 5 more years on the road to accumulate mileage. 1 of these years carries fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and shows no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2004–2012 Chevrolet Colorado reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 53,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 128,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 1,107
- Recalls
- 11
Most reported
- Electrical system27.6% of complaints · median 62,000 mi
- Exterior lighting11.8% of complaints · median 50,000 mi
- Hydraulic brake circuit10.5% of complaints · median 43,000 mi
Documented problems
- Engine - Cylinder Head2004–2006
- Engine - Oil Consumption2004–2012
- Airbags2004–2012
- Hvac2004–2012
Owners filed 1,353 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004–2012 Chevrolet Colorado; the electrical system leads with 27.6% of them, and half of the 1,107 that record an odometer reading came by 53,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 27,000 and 90,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2004–2012 Chevrolet Colorado last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2004–2012 Chevrolet Colorado, half of the 1,107 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 53,000 miles and 90% by 128,000 miles.
68 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 12 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Colorado reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Chevrolet Colorado 2004–2012 · 1,107 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 10,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 142 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 12 complaints (1.1%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 6,200
- 25%
- 27,000
- Median
- 53,250
- 75%
- 90,000
- 90%
- 128,298
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 142 | 12.8% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 75 | 6.8% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 87 | 7.9% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 87 | 7.9% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 125 | 11.3% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 81 | 7.3% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 87 | 7.9% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 77 | 7.0% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 66 | 6.0% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 63 | 5.7% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 45 | 4.1% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 34 | 3.1% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 28 | 2.5% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 26 | 2.3% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 16 | 1.4% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 17 | 1.5% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 13 | 1.2% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 12 | 1.1% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 11 | 1.0% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 12 | 1.1% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Colorado problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Chevrolet Colorado 2004–2012
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Transmission and driveline93 reports29,0007,000–72,000Transmission and driveline: 93 reports, median 29,000 miles, middle half 7,000 to 72,000 miles.
- Engine and its cooling system96 reports42,00020,000–72,000Engine and its cooling system: 96 reports, median 42,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 72,000 miles.
- Hydraulic brake circuit142 reports43,00019,000–60,000Hydraulic brake circuit: 142 reports, median 43,000 miles, middle half 19,000 to 60,000 miles.
- Exterior lighting159 reports50,00035,000–80,000Exterior lighting: 159 reports, median 50,000 miles, middle half 35,000 to 80,000 miles.
- Electrical system373 reports62,00036,000–90,000Electrical system: 373 reports, median 62,000 miles, middle half 36,000 to 90,000 miles.
- Airbag system134 reports72,00043,000–116,000Airbag system: 134 reports, median 72,000 miles, middle half 43,000 to 116,000 miles.
- Body structure115 reports95,00050,000–132,000Body structure: 115 reports, median 95,000 miles, middle half 50,000 to 132,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 373 | 27.6% | 62,000 | 36,000–90,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 159 | 11.8% | 50,000 | 35,000–80,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 142 | 10.5% | 43,000 | 19,000–60,000 |
| Airbag system | 134 | 9.9% | 72,000 | 43,000–116,000 |
| Body structure | 115 | 8.5% | 95,000 | 50,000–132,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 96 | 7.1% | 42,000 | 20,000–72,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 93 | 6.9% | 29,000 | 7,000–72,000 |
| Engine | 85 | 6.3% | 85,000 | 43,000–105,000 |
| Brakes | 76 | 5.6% | 59,000 | 40,000–92,000 |
| Suspension | 76 | 5.6% | 38,000 | 13,000–100,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 53,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 27.6% of complaints (373 reports, 313 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 62,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 36,000 and 90,000 miles.
A single system taking 27.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The exterior lighting accounts for 11.8% of complaints (159 reports, 129 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 80,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 10.5% of complaints (142 reports, 121 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 43,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 19,000 and 60,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 9.9% of complaints (134 reports, 112 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 72,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 43,000 and 116,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 8.5% of complaints (115 reports, 87 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 95,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 132,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 7.1% of complaints (96 reports, 83 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 42,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 72,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2004–2012 Colorado
Engine - Cylinder Head 2004–2006
Intake valve seat and valve guide wear on the Atlas I4/I5 engines. Worn guides destroy the valve stem seals, oil is drawn past the guides, and the valve seats then recess or leak, producing combustion leakage, misfire and a Service Engine Soon lamp. GM extended coverage to 7 years / 100,000 miles for the affected early trucks. 2004-2006 units are materially worse than 2007-2008.
Engine - Oil Consumption 2004–2012
Excessive oil consumption on the 3.5L/3.7L I5, linked to the valve guide/seal wear above plus high crankcase pressure and PCV system failure that pulls oil into the intake tract and airbox.
Airbags 2004–2012
Sensing and Diagnostic Module fault that can prevent frontal airbag and seat-belt pretensioner deployment; covered by a GM safety recall spanning the generation.
Hvac 2004–2012
Blend door actuator failure producing stuck temperature control and clicking behind the dash.
Before you buy a 2004–2012 Colorado: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,107 mileage-tagged complaints, 11 recall campaigns, 4 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 11 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine - cylinder head on 2004–2006 (2.8L/3.5L), reduced but present 2007–2008 cars. Intake valve seat and valve guide wear on the Atlas I4/I5 engines. Worn guides destroy the valve stem seals, oil is drawn past the guides, and the valve seats then recess or leak, producing combustion leakage, misfire…
- Check engine - oil consumption on 2004–2012 cars. Excessive oil consumption on the 3.5L/3.7L I5, linked to the valve guide/seal wear above plus high crankcase pressure and PCV system failure that pulls oil into the intake tract and airbox.
- Check airbags on 2004–2012 cars. Sensing and Diagnostic Module fault that can prevent frontal airbag and seat-belt pretensioner deployment; covered by a GM safety recall spanning the generation.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 27,000 and 90,000 miles, with a median of 53,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the electrical system and the exterior lighting are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The exterior lighting in particular shows a median failure mileage of 50,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Colorado problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi54% below | At 90k mi75% below | At 120k mi88% below | At 150k mi94% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 36,000–90,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Exterior lighting | 35,000–80,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 19,000–60,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 43,000–116,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Body structure | 50,000–132,000 | in window | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 20,000–72,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 7,000–72,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Chevrolet Colorado 2004–2012 · 1,107 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 54% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 75% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 88% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 94% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 1.1% of reports (12) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2004–2012 Chevrolet Colorado recalls (11)
NHTSA records 11 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the exterior lighting (2), latches and locks (1), the seat belts (1). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Dec 2012 · 2010–2012 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesIf the primary hood latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly.
The defect. General Motors is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured from November 9, 2009, through August 28, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 113…
What can happen. If the primary hood latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly. During vehicle operation, this could obstruct the view of the driver and increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. General Motors will notify owners and instruct them to inspect their vehicle for the presence of a secondary hood latch. Dealers will replace the hood on any affected vehicles, free of charge. The…
Nov 2011 · 2012 · Seat BeltsThe loose connections may cause the driver to not receive a visual or audible warning that the driver seat…
The defect. General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC canyon vehicles, manufactured from september 9, 2011, through october 19, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number…
What can happen. The loose connections may cause the driver to not receive a visual or audible warning that the driver seat belt is not fastened, thereby increasing the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash.
The free fix. Gm will notify owners and dealers will replace the seat belt buckle electrical connector terminals free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before december 7, 2011. Owners may…
Jun 2011 · 2011 · Power TrainThe driver may not be able to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle could roll away as the driver or other…
The defect. General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC canyon passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.9 Or 3.7 Liter engine and a four-speed automatic transmission for failing to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety…
What can happen. The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle could roll away as the driver or other occupants exit the vehicle or have exited, resulting in the possibility of the vehicle…
The free fix. Gm dealers will install a new automatic transmission adjustment clip free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about july 19, 2011. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438…
May 2011 · 2011 · VisibilityDriver visibility could be reduced increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC canyon vehicles manufactured from september 22, 2010, through november 5, 2010. Some of these vehicles have the condition in which the windshield wiper motor crank arm nut may not…
What can happen. Driver visibility could be reduced increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will secure the wiper motor crank arm nut free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before may 11, 2011. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at…
Jan 2011 · 2011 · SuspensionThe driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without…
The defect. General motors is recalling certain model year 2011 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; Chevrolet avalanche, Colorado, express, silverado, suburban, tahoe; and GMC canyon, sierra, savana, yukon and yukon xl vehicles. The rear axle cross pins were…
What can happen. The driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without warning.
The free fix. Dealers will install a new rear axle cross pin free of charge. The safety recall began on january 11, 2011. Owners may contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at…
Nov 2010 · 2004–2011 · Child SeatBoth NHTSA and gm discourage placement of a child in a front seat.
The defect. Gm is recalling certain model year 2004-2011, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC canyon, model year 2006, isuzu i-280/i-350, and model year 2007-2008, i-290/i-370, regular cab vehicles and extended cab vehicles without a rear seat and equipped with a front 60/40 split…
What can happen. Both NHTSA and gm discourage placement of a child in a front seat. Nevertheless, there are individual circumstances that may require placement of a child in a restraint in the front center seating…
The free fix. Dealers will cut a hole into the back panel trim cover to allow access to the top tether anchor for the front center seat position and will provide supplemental information as to use in the owner's…
Jul 2009 · 2004–2009 · Exterior LightingThis condition could cause the simultaneous loss of all brake lamps or cause all of the brake lamps to stay…
The defect. Gm is recalling 185,903 model year 2004-2009 Colorado, GMC model year 2009-2004 canyon, model year 2006 i-280, i-350, model year 2007-2008 i-290, and i-370, passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of alabama, arizona…
What can happen. This condition could cause the simultaneous loss of all brake lamps or cause all of the brake lamps to stay on continuously. Both of these conditions could fail to warn others of the driver's…
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the necessary components as specified in the recall bulletin free of charge. Gm anticipates that parts will be available by june 2010. A special coverage for vehicles…
May 2009 · 2009 · Fuel System, GasolineWater in the module could cause a short or open circuit, illumination of the service engine soon lamp…
The defect. Gm is recalling 27,188 my 2009 Cadillac escalade, escalade hybrid, escalade esv, and escalade ext; Chevrolet avalanche, suburban, tahoe, tahoe hybrid, and Colorado; and GMC yukon, yukon hybrid, yukon xl, and canyon vehicles. The fuel system control modules…
What can happen. Water in the module could cause a short or open circuit, illumination of the service engine soon lamp, setting of diagnostic trouble codes or the engine may be hard to start, may not start or may…
The free fix. Dealers will install a new fuel system control module free of charge. The recall began on may 18, 2009. Owners may contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and GMC at…
Aug 2006 · 2007 · WheelsIf a customer replaces a wheel and only relies on the rim size designation that is indicated on the label, a…
The defect. Certain sport utility vehicles and trucks fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "Tire selection and rims." These vehicles have an incomplete tire rim designation on the certification/tire label located on the…
What can happen. If a customer replaces a wheel and only relies on the rim size designation that is indicated on the label, a wheel that is of a different rim contour designation may be installed. It may be difficult…
The free fix. A label that will correct the label originally installed will be mailed to consumers along with installation instructions. The customer will have the option for dealers to install the label. The…
Apr 2006 · 2004–2006 · Exterior LightingA following driver may not know when the brakes have been applied, and a rear-end crash could occur without…
The defect. Certain pickup trucks may experience the permanent loss of brake lamp function or brake lamps that are illuminated at all times. The center high-mounted stop lamp (chmsl) is affected in both instances. Also, if equipped, the cruise control will become…
What can happen. A following driver may not know when the brakes have been applied, and a rear-end crash could occur without prior warning.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch assembly. The recall began on december 5, 2006. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; GMC at 1-866-996-9463 or isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
Dec 2005 · 2006 · EquipmentA misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result…
The defect. Certain trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "Tire selection and rims." These vehicles were shipped with tire and loading information labels listing an inacccurate vehicle…
What can happen. A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Owners will be provided with corrected labels and installation instructions. At the customer's option, a dealer can install the label for them. The recall began on march 31, 2006. Owners may contact…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 1,353 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 68 (5.0%)
- Fires
- 45
- Injury reports
- 46
- Fatality reports
- 5
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Colorado problems by model year
The 2004 drew the most complaints of this generation, 361, most of them about the electrical system, and the 2010 the fewest, 28. A typical year drew about 81.
That makes the 2004 stand out at roughly 4.5 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 361 | 282 | 56,000 | Electrical system (88) | 3 |
| 2005 | 356 | 287 | 51,000 | Electrical system (69) | 3 |
| 2006 | 236 | 207 | 53,000 | Electrical system (69) | 4 |
| 2007 | 140 | 118 | 59,000 | Electrical system (45) | 3 |
| 2008 | 81 | 71 | 53,000 | Electrical system (32) | 2 |
| 2009 | 67 | 55 | 54,000 | Electrical system (36) | 3 |
| 2010 | 28 | 21 | under 30 reports | Electrical system (12) | 2 |
| 2011 | 42 | 35 | 54,000 | Electrical system (14) | 5 |
| 2012 | 42 | 31 | 43,000 | Airbag system (9) | 2 |
What Colorado owners reported
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado. While the contact’s husband was driving into the driveway at the residence, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn. The vehicle was parked, and the hood was opened to determine the cause of the failure. The contact’s husband discovered that the serpentine belt…
2012 · 106,000 miles · Engine
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for a service appointment, the contact was informed that the sub frame underneath the vehicle was paper thin due to corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact was informed that…
2008 · 119,000 miles · Body structure
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud banging sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the side frame of the vehicle was fractured. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not…
2005 · 130,000 miles · Body structure
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while the vehicle was being serviced, the mechanic became aware that the entire subframe was extremely rusted and notified the contact. Additionally, the leaf spring on the driver’s side was also extremely rusted. The subframe was not replaced, and the…
2009 · 88,000 miles · Body structure
Built from 1,107 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Colorado generations
- Colorado 2015–2022 950 reports with mileage, most about the steering