Chevrolet Colorado 2015–2022 problems by year and mileage
2nd generation · GMT 31XX
NHTSA data through 18 October 20261,973 complaints, 954 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
- 201552kmedian
- 201643k†median
- 201726k†median
- 201814k†median
- 20197k†median
- 2020—too few
- 2021—too few
- 2022—too few
The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- 52,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 492
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2015
- Steering359 reports · median 60,000 mi
- Electronic stability control (esc)56 reports · median 57,000 mi
- Electrical system53 reports · median 63,000 mi
Recall areas Steering — electric power assist system · Air bags — frontal · Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2016 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- 43,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 712
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2016
- Steering462 reports · median 68,000 mi
- Electrical system119 reports · median 35,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline97 reports · median 10,000 mi
Recall areas Fuel system, gasoline — delivery · Air bags — frontal · Latches/locks/linkages
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2017 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- 26,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 216
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2017
- Transmission and driveline107 reports · median 19,000 mi
- Electrical system41 reports
- Engine26 reports
Recall areas Fuel system, gasoline — delivery
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2018 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- 14,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 183
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2018
- Transmission and driveline78 reports · median 18,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise36 reports
- Electrical system34 reports
Recall areas Fuel system, gasoline — delivery
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2019 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- 7,500 mi
- Complaints filed
- 150
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2019
- Transmission and driveline65 reports · median 5,500 mi
- Electrical system24 reports
- Steering22 reports
The 2020 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 85
- Recalls naming this year
- 0
Most reported on the 2020
- Transmission and driveline33 reports
- Engine17 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise15 reports
The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 79
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2021
- Engine18 reports
- Brakes17 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise17 reports
Recall areas Seat belts — critical fasteners
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2022 Chevrolet Colorado
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 56
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2022
- Electrical system20 reports
- Steering12 reports
- Brakes9 reports
Recall areas Seats — critical fasteners
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. † Median likely runs low (complaints filed after 2020). Latest: the 2015; earliest: the 2019, and the 2015 is 4 years older (part of the gap is age). 3 of these years carry fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and show no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2015–2022 Chevrolet Colorado reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 38,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 104,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 954
- Recalls
- 12
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints came after 2020, so its median likely runs low (why).
Most reported
- Steering46.2% of complaints · median 60,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline22.4% of complaints · median 12,000 mi
- Electrical system15.6% of complaints · median 38,000 mi
Documented problems
- Transmission2017–2019
- Engine - Diesel Emissions2016–2022
- Engine - V62015–2022
Owners filed 1,973 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015–2022 Chevrolet Colorado; the steering leads with 46.2% of them, and half of the 954 that record an odometer reading came by 38,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
No single peak: the middle half runs 11,000 to 68,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2015–2022 Chevrolet Colorado last?
On the 2015–2022 Chevrolet Colorado, half of the 954 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 38,000 miles and 90% by 104,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
29 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 4 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Colorado reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Chevrolet Colorado 2015–2022 · 954 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
10,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 219 complaints
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 4 complaints (0.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 1,500
- 25%
- 11,000
- Median
- 38,000
- 75%
- 68,000
- 90%
- 104,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 219 | 23.0% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 95 | 10.0% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 79 | 8.3% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 98 | 10.3% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 95 | 10.0% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 79 | 8.3% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 62 | 6.5% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 38 | 4.0% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 41 | 4.3% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 32 | 3.4% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 27 | 2.8% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 25 | 2.6% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 14 | 1.5% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 12 | 1.3% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 9 | 0.9% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 9 | 0.9% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 6 | 0.6% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 3 | 0.3% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 4 | 0.4% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 4 | 0.4% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Colorado problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Chevrolet Colorado 2015–2022
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Transmission and driveline441 reportsmedian 12,000middle half 3,000–33,000
- Problems owners could not categorise190 reportsmedian 17,000middle half 3,000–38,000
- Brakes111 reportsmedian 28,000middle half 8,000–51,000
- Engine193 reportsmedian 30,000middle half 6,500–50,000
- Electrical system308 reportsmedian 38,000middle half 18,000–59,000
- Electronic stability control (esc)97 reportsmedian 54,000middle half 35,000–86,000
- Steering912 reportsmedian 60,000middle half 40,000–90,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 912 | 46.2% | 60,000 | 40,000–90,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 441 | 22.4% | 12,000 | 3,000–33,000 |
| Electrical system | 308 | 15.6% | 38,000 | 18,000–59,000 |
| Engine | 193 | 9.8% | 30,000 | 6,500–50,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 190 | 9.6% | 17,000 | 3,000–38,000 |
| Brakes | 111 | 5.6% | 28,000 | 8,000–51,000 |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 97 | 4.9% | 54,000 | 35,000–86,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 63 | 3.2% | 24,000 | 5,000–43,000 |
| Airbag system | 49 | 2.5% | 32,000 | 4,000–97,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 48 | 2.4% | 20,000 | 4,500–41,000 |
Known problems with the 2015–2022 Colorado
Transmission 2017–2019
8L45/8L90 8-speed torque converter shudder and harsh 2-3 / 3-4 shifts. Mechanism: the original Dexron-HP fluid degrades and the torque converter clutch chatters at light throttle around 25-50 mph. GM's remedy was a fluid flush to the revised Mobil 1 Dexron-HP specification plus control module reprogramming, and the issue is the subject of consumer litigation across GM's 8-speed applications.
Engine - Diesel Emissions 2016–2022
2.8L LWN Duramax NOx sensor, EGR and DEF-system faults triggering limp mode and reduced-power warnings.
Engine - V6 2015–2022
3.6L LFX/LGZ timing chain and VVT-related codes at higher mileage, materially less frequent than on the earlier LY7/LLT versions of the 3.6L.
Before you buy a 2015–2022 Colorado: the 3-minute check
Generated from 954 mileage-tagged complaints, 12 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 12 campaigns cover this generation.
- Check transmission on 2017–2019 primarily cars. What each looks like: Known problems.
- Check engine - diesel emissions on 2016–2022 (diesel) cars.
- Check engine - V6 on 2015–2022 (V6) cars.
- Years differ here: from 56 to 712 complaints a year — compare them by model year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Colorado problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi70% below | At 90k mi84% below | At 120k mi93% below | At 150k mi97% below | At 200k mi100% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 40,000–90,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 3,000–33,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 18,000–59,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 6,500–50,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 3,000–38,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Brakes | 8,000–51,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 35,000–86,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Chevrolet Colorado 2015–2022 · 954 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 70% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 84% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 93% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 97% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 100% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2015–2022 Chevrolet Colorado recalls (12)
NHTSA records 12 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (4), seats (2), the steering (2) (why one area can repeat).
May 2022 · 2022 · SeatsAn improperly welded seat frame may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in…
The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado vehicles equipped with a manual passenger seat. The front passenger seat may have a hook attachment that was not properly welded, allowing it to separate from the inboard…
What can happen. An improperly welded seat frame may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the front passenger seat and replace the cushion frame, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 6, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service…
Mar 2021 · 2015 · SteeringA loss of power steering, particularly at lower speeds increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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.
What can happen. A loss of power steering, particularly at lower speeds increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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…
Dec 2020 · 2021 · Seat BeltsIf a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an…
The defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500…
What can happen. If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer…
May 2018 · 2016–2018 · Fuel System, GasolineA damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel…
What can happen. A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at…
Oct 2017 · 2015–2016 · Air BagsAn improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
What can happen. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at…
Mar 2016 · 2016 · Air BagsAn improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles manufactured January 19, 2016, to February 2, 2016, Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured January 9, 2016, to January 26, 2016, and 2016 GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured…
What can happen. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at…
Feb 2016 · 2015 · SteeringA loss or reduction in power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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…
What can happen. A loss or reduction in power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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…
Dec 2015 · 2016 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesIf the console compartment door does not remain closed in a crash, the contents stored in the console may…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Colorado trucks manufactured August 25, 2015 to September 24, 2015, and GMC Canyon trucks manufactured August 28, 2015 to September 24, 2015. The affected vehicles have a console…
What can happen. If the console compartment door does not remain closed in a crash, the contents stored in the console may strike the vehicle occupants, increasing their risk of injury.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the console compartment door latch assembly, free of charge. The recall began on January 5, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at…
May 2015 · 2015 · Service Brakes, HydraulicIf the vehicle experiences a brake fluid leak it can increase the stopping distance, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado, and GMC Canyon trucks manufactured January 6, 2014, to December 24, 2014. The affected vehicles may experience the front brake calipers leaking brake fluid. This is due to air…
What can happen. If the vehicle experiences a brake fluid leak it can increase the stopping distance, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the front-brake calipers if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 9, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at…
May 2015 · 2015 · SeatsIf the seat-frame attachment hooks are not secured properly, the seat may not be adequately anchored to the…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon trucks manufactured January 6, 2014, to April 1, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the hooks that secure the driver's and/or front passenger's seat frame may not have…
What can happen. If the seat-frame attachment hooks are not secured properly, the seat may not be adequately anchored to the vehicle, and in the event of a crash, the seat occupant could be at an increased risk of an…
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seats, correcting their installation as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 2, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service…
Mar 2015 · 2015 · Air BagsIf the inflator separates from the back plate in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles manufactured September 15, 2014, to January 21, 2015, and 2015 GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured October 3, 2014, to December 9, 2014. The affected vehicles have a front…
What can happen. If the inflator separates from the back plate in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, this may cause the air bag or steering wheel components to separate and…
The free fix. GM has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the driver air bag module inflator for proper alignment, replacing the air bag, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2015. Owners…
Oct 2014 · 2015 · Air BagsIf the driver air bag does not deploy as designed, there is an increased risk of driver injury in the event…
The defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 6, 2014, to October 1, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver air bag connections may have been wired incorrectly. This could…
What can happen. If the driver air bag does not deploy as designed, there is an increased risk of driver injury in the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module (SDM), free of charge. The recall began on October 6, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 1,973 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 54 (2.7%)
- Fires
- 18
- Injury reports
- 32
- Fatality reports
- 3
Colorado problems by model year
The 2016 drew the most complaints of this generation, 712, most of them about the steering, and the 2022 the fewest, 56. A typical year drew about 166.
That makes the 2016 stand out at roughly 4.3 times a typical year (what a yearly count can and cannot say).
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 492 | 344 | 52,000 | Steering (359) | 7 |
| 2016 | 712 | 295 | 43,000† | Steering (462) | 4 |
| 2017 | 216 | 123 | 26,000† | Transmission and driveline (107) | 1 |
| 2018 | 183 | 79 | 14,000† | Transmission and driveline (78) | 1 |
| 2019 | 150 | 62 | 7,500† | Transmission and driveline (65) | 0 |
| 2020 | 85 | 23 | under 30 reports | Transmission and driveline (33) | 0 |
| 2021 | 79 | 18 | under 30 reports | Engine (18) | 1 |
| 2022 | 56 | 10 | under 30 reports | Electrical system (20) | 1 |
What Colorado owners reported
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a crash after the contact fell asleep while driving 15 MPH. The vehicle came to a complete stop after crashing into a tree. The front of the vehicle was damaged. The contact stated that the air bags had not deployed. The…
2021 · 90,000 miles · Airbag system
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…
2016 · 79,000 miles · Steering
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard and the engine seized. The contact stood on the brake pedal. The vehicle was…
2021 · 66,000 miles · Engine and its cooling system
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Colorado. The stated that after shifting to park(P), the contact was unable to immediately remove the key from the ignition switch. After several attempts, the contact was able to turn the ignition switch to the off position and remove the key. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer…
2022 · 54,000 miles · Electrical system
Built from 954 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Colorado generations
- Colorado 2004–2012 1,107 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system