2005 Chevrolet COLORADO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
356 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
51,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 287 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 68 of 356 complaints (19.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 143 | 40.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 29 | 8.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 3.7% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 68 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 42 |
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch | 24 |
| Exterior Lighting | 22 |
| Service Brakes | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 |
| Power Train | 12 |
Electrical System: 68; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 42; Air Bags: 27; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch: 24; Exterior Lighting: 22; Service Brakes: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling: 13; Power Train: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 76 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 64 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 55 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 45 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 76; 25,000 to 49,999: 64; 50,000 to 74,999: 55; 75,000 to 99,999: 45; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 21
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (76). 69 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 40 |
| 2006 | 49 |
| 2007 | 27 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 21 |
| 2010 | 45 |
| 2011 | 36 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 30 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 40; 2006: 49; 2007: 27; 2008: 18; 2009: 21; 2010: 45; 2011: 36; 2012: 22; 2013: 11; 2014: 30; 2015: 13; 2016: 6; 2017: 7; 2018: 4; 2019: 12; 2020: 6; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 143 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 29 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10105918 · 2005-01-07 (January 7, 2005)
FRONT BRAKES SHOWED WEAR AT 7000 MILES OIL CHANGE, PARTS HAD TO BE SPECIAL ORDERED , TOLD TO DRIVE VEHICLE TIL THEY ARRIVED,, ON 1/4/2005 PART INSTALLED AND MECHANIC TEST DROVE, AND REAR DRUM DRUM BRAKES FAILED,(PISTONS "BLEW OUT" OF CYLINDERS) I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BRAKE SYSTEM THAT WAS DESIGNED SO IF THE SHOES WORE OUT AND "SCORED" THE DRUMS THE PISTONS WOULD LEAVE THE CYLINDERS ,, CAUSING THE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND EVEN WITH ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM , CAUSE VERY POOR BRAKING, (THINK IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED ON AN EXPRESSWAY,, WITH A FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,036 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105918 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119471 · 2005-05-03 (May 3, 2005)
CONTACT STATES: STEPPED ON BRAKES AND THEY FAILED, NEVER SLOWED DOWN ,AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF THIS SORT WITH THE VEHICLE. IT HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO FRONT END WITH NO REPAIRS, IS CURRENTLY IN SHOP AWAITING AN INSPECTION FROM GMC WITHIN THE NEXT 14 DAYS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145670 · 2005-12-20 (December 20, 2005)
LEFT POWER WINDOW, POWER DOOR LOCKS, CLOCK RADIO, DOME LIGHT QUIT WORKING RANDOMLY. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. ONSTAR DOESN'T WORK SOMETIMES. BATTERY SEEMS TO GO DEAD IF IT SITS MORE THAN 5 DAYS, REMOTE FOR DOOR LOCKS RANGE IS HORRIBLE BUT THEY SAY IT'S NORMAL TO HAVE TO STAND RIGHT NEXT TO THE TRUCK TO UNLOCK / LOCK IT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156965 · 2006-05-08 (May 8, 2006)
I WAS DRIVING AND MY TRUCK WAS SHAKING AND SPITTING AND SPUTTERING AND WASN'T WANTING TO RUN RIGHT. WHEN IT WAS IDLING IT WAS CHOPPY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THE TRUCK WAS POSSESSED. I GOT TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE AND I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS GETTING ENOUGH VOLTAGE FROM THE BATTERY LIKE MAYBE THE CABLES WERE LOOSE BUT THEY WEREN'T. I CRANKED THE TRUCK BACK UP AND IT WASN'T SHAKING AND GOING CRAZY BUT WHEN IT IDEALS IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT/ISN'T LIKE IT SHOULD BE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 22,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107780 · 2005-01-24 (January 24, 2005)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 CHEVY COLORADO IN NOVEMBER, 2004. I DID MY FIRST OIL CHANGE AT ABOUT 500 MILES. MY SECOND OIL CHANGE WAS DONE ABOUT 2,000 MILES. AT THAT TIME I NOTICED OIL DRIPPING FROM THE REAR PORTION OF THE ENGINE. I PULLED OFF A RUBBER COVER ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TRANSMISSION AND NOTICED DRIPS COMING FROM THE REAR MAIN SEAL AREA. I CALLED THE DEAL AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN, WHICH I DID. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I RECEIVED CALL TELLING ME THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE IT, SAYING IT WAS A FACTORY ASS…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107780 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122491 · 2005-05-31 (May 31, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH I STRUCK A PIECE OF ROAD DEBRIS ( APPROX 6" PIECE OF A MUFFLER). THE DEBRIS MUST HAVE HIT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE GEAR SHIFTER AND THE TRANSMISSION AND THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY DOWN SHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR FROM DRIVE. THE PIECE THAT BROKE WAS A PLASTIC CONECTION DEVICE THAT CONNECTED THE CABLES OF THE GEAR SHIFTER TO THE LEVERS OF THE TRANSMISSION. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS TWO ISSUES: THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID STATED THAT HE SEES THIS ALL THE TIME ON CHEVY'S AND HAD I BEEN DRIVING FASTER (HIGHWA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,721 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154214 · 2006-03-30 (March 30, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. UPDATED 05/10/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 11,752 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166801 · 2006-08-28 (August 28, 2006)
ON OR AROUND MARCH 21, I WAS DRIVING MY 05 COLORADO TO WORK. WHEN I ALMOST ARRIVED I NOTICED THAT MY TRUCK WAS DRIVING VERY FORCEFUL AND JUMPY. WHEN I GOT BACK INTO MY TRUCK, IT WAS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING, BUT EVENTUALLY DID. THAT NIGHT I WAS DRIVING HOME AND WHEN I GOT ABOUT 2 MILES FROM MY HOUSE A MESSAGE CAME UP ON MY DASHBOARD THAT SAID POWER FAILURE AND IT STALLED OUT. THE NEXT DAY, IT STARTED OK ENOUGH FOR ME TO TAKE IT TO A NEARBY CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE SOLENOID VALVE AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION ACTUATOR WAS REPLAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,855 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141680 · 2005-11-03 (November 3, 2005)
DT CONTACT STATED THE FRONT TIRES WORE OUT. THIS WAS THE THIRD SET OF TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY STATED IT WAS DUE TO THE POOR QUALITY TIRES. THE TIRES WERE SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS. WHEN THE TIRES WORE OUT TO A CERTAIN POINT ONE FELT VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141680 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146637 · 2005-12-31 (December 31, 2005)
NOTICED AFTER DRIVING ON FREEWAY FOR A WHILE THAT SMALL VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL OCCURRED WITH LOW CABIN RUMBLE. FIRST TIME THE VIBRATION WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE ME THINK I HAD A TIRE COMING APART. WHAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IS MY FRONT BRAKES HAD APPLIED THEMSELVES SLIGHTLY AND WERE GETTING VERY HOT. UPON BRAKING STEERING WHEEL SHOOK BACK AND FORTH VERY HARD. HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW. IS 13 MONTHS OLD NOW. DEALER HAS REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER, POWER BRAKE BOOSTER, BOTH ROTORS, BRAKE SHOES. HAS MADE NO DIFFERENCE, EVERYTIME I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10146637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244065 · 2008-09-30 (September 30, 2008)
CAR HAS 93,000 MILES. VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT OCCASIONALLY. RECENTLY, ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. TOOK ME ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF CRANKING UNTIL IT DID. IT RAN FINE, I TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALER GRAND PRIZE CHEVROLET HERE IN MIAMI AND THEY CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP. IN 3 WEEKS AFTER THE FUEL PUMP WAS CHANGED THE CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 3 ADDITIONAL TIMES. I JUST TOOK OFF AGAIN AND TOLD THEM THE FUEL PUMP CHANGE DID NOT HELP, IT LEFT ME STRANDED 3 TIMES, SAME PROBLEM, CAR DOES NOT START, AFTER ABOUT 5 TO 10 MIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10307261 · 2010-02-07 (February 7, 2010)
I HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT AS #10244065. MY 05 COLORADO AT TIMES WILL NOT START I'LL TRY IT OVER AND OVER, AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES. IT WILL START AND RUN AS IF THERE WERE NO PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL VILTER CHANGED. NO HELP. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK. NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE AN ANSWER. *TW
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307261 at NHTSA ↗