2011 Chevrolet Colorado problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (10) · Air Bags (5) · Service Brakes (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Colorado model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
35 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch 2012-12-19 · campaign 12V594000 · 118,800 vehicles
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, "Hood Latch System." The hood may be missing the secondary hood latch.
Risk: 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.
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 recall is expected to begin on January 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (Prndl) 2011-06-28 · campaign 11V337000 · 6,768 vehicles
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 STANDARD NO 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT," AND FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISS
Risk: 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 STRIKING THEM OR SOMEONE AROUND THE VEHICLE, OR COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
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 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:motor 2011-05-06 · campaign 11V276000 · 4,674 vehicles
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 BE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. WHEN THE WIPERS ARE OPERATED WITH A BUILD-UP OF SNOW OR ICE, OR IF THE WIPERS ARE OPERATED ON A DRY WINDSHIELD, THE NUT COULD LOOSEN. IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT LOOSENING OF THE NUT, THE WIPERS COULD BECOME INOP
Risk: DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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 1-866-996-9463 OR WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Suspension:rear:axle:spindle 2011-01-06 · campaign 11V007000 · 30,566 vehicles
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 NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
Risk: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
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 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Child Seat 2010-11-18 · campaign 10V575000 · 192,676 vehicles
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 BENCH SEAT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE AND THE OWNER MANUAL DOE
Risk: 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 POSITION OF THIS VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT OFFER A REAR SEAT. LACK OF ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR AND A LACK OF INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO USE IT, MAY RESULT IN IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAI
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 MANUAL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727 OR VISIT GM'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Service bulletins (1,259)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2025-11-20 · PIT5214G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of general motors technical assistance center. if va
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,259 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-03-10 · Suspension“excessive frame corrosion that has caused the bed of the truck to touch the cab which has made me apprehensive to drive it. the truck has rot holes on the bottom sections of the frame where water collects. the truck is available for inspection upon request at any time. the problem has not been inspected by a dealer, independent service center, veh…”
2023-04-18 · Electrical System“the vehicle has an electronic issue where it does not recognize the original key to the car. it does not let you start the vehicle. there is a bad sensor in the ignition lock housing unit located where the key is inserted into the vehicle. this issue will nit let the driver start the car and the problem happens at random. for me it is 1 out of 20…”
2022-03-03 · Air Bags:srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light“the drivers-side airbag indicator light remains on. the light warns that the airbag is not working. this is the third time it has happened, first at 89,000 miles, then at 111,000 miles, and now at 133,000 miles. previous repairs were for broken wires in the wire harness to the extended cab rear door. wiring in the harness for the airbag is related …”
2021-07-10 · Unknown Or Other“frame is rusted through/broken in same spot on both sides. bed of truck is flipping up and there is no gap left between the bed of the truck and the cab at the top but there is 1.5 inch gap at bottom of bed/cab. the truck only has 56,000 miles and i have only put 26,000 miles on it since i bought it in 2017.…”
2021-07-07 · Service Brakes“brake lights will not come on. there is no fuse and lights are new. many people have reported this as a problem. has something to do with some switch that the dealer must replace. i have driver nearly 2000 miles this month without any idea the brake lights were not working until i could not get the cruise control to work. after some research it was…”
2021-03-08 · Seat Belts · 96,150 mi“vehicle was parked, driver had just sat down and closed the door. a loud bang was heard from the driver's side and the smell of gunpowder filled the cab. driver stepped out and opened the rear door which holds the seat belt assembly. the seatbelt was found to be the source of the smell and the belt was locked up tight and could not be pulled out. a…”
2020-09-01 · Electrical System · 65,000 mi“the vehicle will intermittently not start. sometimes there's power but won't crank. sometimes there is no power to the vehicle at all. it has been to numerous mechanics, including the dealer, and no problems can be found. the vehicle is utterly unreliable.…”
2020-08-19 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“2011 chevy colorado. consumer states that airbags did not deploy during automobile accident. *ld *js…”
2020-05-17 · Unknown Or Other · 144,000 mi“one day my vehicle started getting a little shake. so i pulled in to an old welding shop i used to work at. i asked my old boss if he would get in the truck, to do a little diagnostic check. basically guess what could be wrong. he said something wasn't right, and told me to jack up the back of the truck. before i even did, i noticed oil all ov…”
2020-02-12 · Service Brakes · 96,000 mi · 💥 crash“vehicle has been through 4 brake control modules, three of were burnt out by the dealer installing the software. my case is not isolated as many many chevy owners are experiencing the same issue. the lack of abs and traction control is a recipe for a serious accident due to a lack of control and braking ability. i have received nothing but denials …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.