2021 Chevrolet COLORADO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
74 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
36,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 74 complaints (24.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 28.4% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 14.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 10.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 18 |
| Service Brakes | 16 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
Engine: 18; Service Brakes: 16; Unknown Or Other: 16; Power Train: 11; Electrical System: 10; Steering: 10; Air Bags: 5; Seat Belts: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 58 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 18 |
2020: 3; 2021: 7; 2022: 3; 2023: 12; 2024: 13; 2025: 18; 2026: 18
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11365452 · 2020-10-20 (October 20, 2020)
WAVY WINDOWS IN ALL 4 DOORS ON A BRAND NEW 2021 CHEVY COLORADO. DEALER WON'T REPLACE GLASS, WINDOWS ARE ALL MISSHAPEN AND HAVE SPECKS THROUGHOUT ALL THE WINDOWS. MAKES IT HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11365452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11378155 · 2020-12-06 (December 6, 2020)
THE WINDSHIELD IS DEFECTIVE - WITHIN A MONTH OF OWNING THIS NEW TRUCK ONE STRIKE AGAINST IT (WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY) (OUR FIRST WINDSHIELD STRIKE) BROKE IT VERY SIGNIFICANTLY - CRACKED THROUGHOUT. I AM ABOUT 60 YEARS OLD AND HAVE OWNED MANY, MANY VEHICLES - WE HAVE NEVER SEEN A WINDSHIELD BREAK SO FAST AND SO SEVERELY. WE DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER CHEVY COLORADO OWNERS THAT HAVE MADE THE SAME OBSERVATION - MANY ARE SAYING IT IS CHEAP, UNUSUALLY THIN GLASS FOR FUEL ECONOMY OR FOR LESS EXPENSE, OTHERS SAY CHEVY HAS NOT INSTA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11378155 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11383543 · 2020-12-15 (December 15, 2020)
TRUCK HAS VIBRATION WHEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND DURING DECELERATION. ALSO SQUEAKING NOISES COMING FROM SUSPENSION. TRUCK HAS 4642 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 11383543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11413847 · 2021-04-25 (April 25, 2021)
WE PURCHASED A NEW TRUCK AND WERE SHOCKED TO SEE THE LACK OF BASIC SAFETY FEATURES. WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING IN IT BECAUSE OF A LACK OF STEP BAR AND GRAB HANDLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL IS IN THE WRONG SPOT AND TRIPS US. THE CRUISE LIGHT CANNOT BE SEEN WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS A LACK OF SHIELDING IN THE WHEEL WELLS EXPOSING THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST. IT IS FULLY EXPOSED ALL ALONG THE BOTTOM (NO SHIELDS AS NORMAL). THE FUEL SYSTEM DOESN'T LOCK AND IS VULNERABLE TO TAMPERING. THE INTERIOR MATERIALS ARE ALL EXTREMELY …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11413847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11414238 · 2021-04-28 (April 28, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS CLIENT'S FATHER WHO OWNED A 2021 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE CLIENT'S FATHER WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN AROUND ON A NARROW ROAD, THE VEHICLE FELL OFF A CLIFF AND CRASHED INTO A CREEK BED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER PASSED AWAY DUE TO A BROKEN NECK AND FRACTURED SPINE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INSPECTED…
Owner-reported narrative. 950 miles reported. Look up ODI 11414238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11422982 · 2021-06-30 (June 30, 2021)
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while towing a 2020 Forest River ePro 20BHS, the service DEF system malfunctioned, not allowing the contact to view the temperature and the towing controller. The contact stated the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the DEF system needing to be regenerated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11422982 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11428819 · 2021-08-12 (August 12, 2021)
I purchased a brand new Colorado earlier this year. The vehicle currently has about 9,000 miles on the odometer. On two recent occasions within 1 1/2 weeks of each other while driving at highway speeds, there was a clunk noise and the transmission acted as if it had been shifted into neutral. The truck would not accelerate, and the RPMs were very high as I was pushing the accelerator and the vehicle was not responding but the engine was revving. This was an extremely scary and unsafe situation as cars were behind me and I narrowly avoided b…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11428819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11432474 · 2021-09-10 (September 10, 2021)
This is to inform you of a safety-related vehicle service which may appear as a safety-related defect. Not only does it have the potential to affect each (1) vehicle which is serviced at such a facility but it also has the potential to affect (2) multiple vehicles across the federal interstate highway system as well as (3) properties and (4) human life. Every vehicle traveling on a roadway, bridge, overpass, through a tunnel, through mountain passes, construction zones, etc may be at increased risk in encountering any vehicle serviced at such a…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11432474 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V811000 · Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners | Seat Belts
Reported: 2020-12-23 (December 23, 2020)
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, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.
NHTSA campaign record ↗