Chevrolet Colorado Reliability: Best and Worst Years

The Chevrolet Colorado is a pickup truck that replaced the S-10 in the U.S. for the 2004 model year, classed as a compact in its first generation and as a midsize truck since 2015. It is offered in several cab and bed configurations with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Chevrolet skipped the 2013 and 2014 model years in the U.S., and its twin is the GMC Canyon. Below, each Chevrolet Colorado model year from 2010 to 2024 sits on the same scale, which makes the noisy years and the quiet years easy to spot.

Why these years stand out

2015: most complaints. The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado scored 590 complaints per 100,000 sold, 2.7 times the model average. Of its 498 complaints, 81 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are steering (363), electronic stability control (esc) (56) and electrical system (51). NHTSA lists 7 recalls for this model year and 1 defect investigation.

2016: most complaints. The 2016 Chevrolet Colorado scored 658 complaints per 100,000 sold, 3 times the model average. Of its 715 complaints, 147 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are steering (462), electrical system (117) and power train (95). NHTSA lists 4 recalls for this model year.

2020, 2021 and 2022: fewest complaints. The 2020 drew 88 complaints, or 91 per 100,000 sold; The 2021 drew 80 complaints, or 110 per 100,000 sold; The 2022 drew 56 complaints, or 63 per 100,000 sold. These years have been on the road at least three years, which gives owners time to report problems, so a low count means something.

What Chevrolet Colorado owners report most

Steering complaints lead for the Chevrolet Colorado, at 40% of all complaints for 2010-2024. Engine and transmission reports together make up 31%. One complaint can name more than one system, so the bars can add up to more than the total.

When problems are reported: mileage

1,075 Chevrolet Colorado complaints list the odometer reading at the time of the problem. 61% were reported before 50,000 miles and 12% after 100,000. Most reports come early in ownership, which points to problems that show up while the vehicle is still fairly new.

Chevrolet Colorado compared with other midsize trucks

In 8 of 13 model years the Chevrolet Colorado drew fewer complaints per 100,000 sold than the average midsize truck we track for the same year. For 2024, the Chevrolet Colorado scored 128 against a class average of 108. The class average only uses models with clean, published sales figures.

Chevrolet Colorado generations

• 2004-2012
  First generation

  2.8L four, 3.5L five-cylinder (to 2006); 2.9L four, 3.7L five-cylinder (2007-2012); 5.3L V8 (2009-2012) · 5-speed manual; 4-speed automatic

  Larger four- and five-cylinder engines arrived for 2007, and a V8 option was added for 2009.

• 2015-2022
  Second generation

  2.5L four; 3.6L V6; 2.8L turbo-diesel four (from 2016) · 6-speed manual (2.5L, to 2019); 6-speed automatic; 8-speed automatic

  The off-road ZR2 version joined the lineup for 2017.

• 2023-2024
  Third generation

  2.7L turbo four · 8-speed automatic

  The redesign dropped the V6 and diesel in favor of one turbocharged four offered in several power levels.

There are no 2013 or 2014 Colorado model years in the U.S. From 2023 the Colorado is sold only as a crew cab with a short bed. The 2.8L Duramax diesel was available from 2016 through the end of the second generation.

Chevrolet Colorado fuel economy

The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado is rated at 16 to 21 MPG combined by the EPA, depending on the version. Every year and engine will be on its own MPG page.

Crash test stars

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave the Chevrolet Colorado these overall ratings (out of 5) for the model years it tested: 2015: 4, 2016: 4, 2017: 4, 2018: 4, 2019: 4, 2020: 4, 2021: 4, 2022: 4, 2023: 4, 2024: 4. Ratings can differ between body styles and drive types of the same year.

Questions