IllustrationMOTOR COMPRESSION,
2005 Chevrolet Colorado
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Colorado years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado are substantially higher than the model-year median of 84.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Colorado years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
760–25K
6425–50K
5550–75K
4575–100K
26100–150K
22150K+
288 reports with mileage · 68 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
27 crash reports11 fire reports16 injury reports
Engine complaints
7 reportsI HAVE A 2005 CHEVY COLORADO STANDARD CAB 2.8 LITER AFTER 3 YEARS I NOTICED ENGINE INTERNAL NOISE START IT UP NOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL A LOT OF STUFF IS KNOCKING AROUND INSIDE THE MOTOR I HEARD IT WAS SOME TYPE OF RECALL ON THAT BUT I'M NOT SURE I DO REMEMBER I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE BODY HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AFTER TH…
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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY COLORADO STANDARD CAB 2.8 LITER AFTER 3 YEARS I NOTICED ENGINE INTERNAL NOISE START IT UP NOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL A LOT OF STUFF IS KNOCKING AROUND INSIDE THE MOTOR I HEARD IT WAS SOME TYPE OF RECALL ON THAT BUT I'M NOT SURE I DO REMEMBER I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE BODY HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AFTER THIS REPLACEMENT FROM A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN THAT'S WHEN THE PROBLEM OF REDUCED POWER FAILURE EMITTING FROM MY DASH COULD NOT GO OVER 40 MILES AN HOUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON SO I WAS TOLD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR TO LET COMPUTER REBOOT AND THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY JUST FOR A LITTLE WHILE WHEN THE MOTOR IS COLD THERE'S NO NOISE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NEW BUT WHEN IT HEATS UP THAT'S WHEN ALL THE NOISES BEGIN I ALWAYS CHANGE MY OIL OUT EVERY 3000 MILES OR 3 MONTHS I USED CASTLES 70,000 MI PLUS BECAUSE I HAVE 110000 MI ON THE VEHICLE I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE WHO'S HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS FAR AS THE KNOCKING IN THE MOTOR BUT I DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR THROTTLE BODIES MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSING THE TRUCK TO RUN ROUGH AND SLOW AND SLUGGISH NOW I DON'T DRIVE IT VERY FAR BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THAT POWER REDUCTION LIGHT WILL COME ON IN MY DASH THEREFORE I CAN'T GO OVER 40 MILES AN HOUR WHICH I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE ALL I CAN SAY IS AFTER THIS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY MOTOR HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION
MULTI CYLINDER COMPRESSION FAILURE
IN FEBRUARY 2015 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS WITH MY LOCAL MECHANIC HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO GREENWOOD CHEVROLET IN HUBBARD, OH, AND THEY RESET MY COMPUTER. HOWEVER, BEFORE I GOT OUT OF THE AUTO LOT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REAPPEARED. I RETURNED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY …
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IN FEBRUARY 2015 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS WITH MY LOCAL MECHANIC HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO GREENWOOD CHEVROLET IN HUBBARD, OH, AND THEY RESET MY COMPUTER. HOWEVER, BEFORE I GOT OUT OF THE AUTO LOT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REAPPEARED. I RETURNED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY THEN DIAGNOSED A BAD CYLINDER HEAD AND VALVES. THE SERVICE MANAGER REPORTED THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE AND MY ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALED THAT CHEVROLET RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 7 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD 87335 MILES, BUT HAD BEEN IN SERVICE FOR 9 YEARS, 7 MONTHS. I FELT CHEVROLET SHOULD HAVE COVERED MY REPAIRS UNDER THE 100,000 MILES EXTENSION EVEN THOUGH I WAS OVER THE 7 YEARS. MY REASONING IS THAT CHEVROLET WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE AS EVIDENCED BY CHEVROLET'S SERVICE BULLETIN #07123A. I CONTACTED THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GENERAL MOTORS AND PROVIDED THEM WITH ALL MY SERVICE RECORDS TO OFFER PROOF OF MAINTENANCE DURING MY OWNERSHIP. I HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I FELT GM SHOULD HAVE COVERED THE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE OF MY VEHICLE AND THE CARE I HAD DONE TO IT. IT COST ME OVER $2000 TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED.
THERE ARE SEVERAL FORUM ONLINE EACH PRETTY MUCH EXPRESSING THE SAME PROBLEM. AT THE 100,000 MILE MARK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ONE INDICATING THE #2 COIL IS BAD. THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE PROBLEM NOR IS IT IN THE INJECTORS. IT SEEMS WITH THE ONLINE FORUMS THAT ARE OUT THERE INDICATES THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD ON…
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THERE ARE SEVERAL FORUM ONLINE EACH PRETTY MUCH EXPRESSING THE SAME PROBLEM. AT THE 100,000 MILE MARK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ONE INDICATING THE #2 COIL IS BAD. THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE PROBLEM NOR IS IT IN THE INJECTORS. IT SEEMS WITH THE ONLINE FORUMS THAT ARE OUT THERE INDICATES THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD ON THE 2005 COLORADO BUT CHEVROLET OR GM IS NOT INVESTIGATING OR TALKING ABOUT IT. *TR
WHEN I SLOW DOWN MY VEHICLE BEGINS TO SPUDDER AND SOMETIMES TURNS OFF. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE FUEL FILTER WHICH WAS CHANGED BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I SLOWED DOWN FOR TRAFFIC. I PLACE IT IN NEUTRAL WHILE STILL IN MOTION AND TURN IT ON AGAIN THEN IMMEDIATELY PUT THE VEHICLE I…
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WHEN I SLOW DOWN MY VEHICLE BEGINS TO SPUDDER AND SOMETIMES TURNS OFF. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE FUEL FILTER WHICH WAS CHANGED BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I SLOWED DOWN FOR TRAFFIC. I PLACE IT IN NEUTRAL WHILE STILL IN MOTION AND TURN IT ON AGAIN THEN IMMEDIATELY PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE TO AVOID GETTING HIT. I FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY VEHICLE UNTIL I CAME ON HER TODAY AND FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *JS
THE CAM ACTUATOR FIRST FAILED AT 57,000 MILES IN 2009. IT NOW HAS FAILED AGAIN AT 94,000 MILES IN MARCH 2013, THE COST TO REPAIR THIS IS APPROX $900.00 EACH TIME. I CAN GET MILAGE FROM MY TIRES AT A LOWER COST. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT SHOULD NOT A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEM. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN A LEMON FROM DAY ONE. *TR
Official recalls
310V575000 · Child Seat
Nov 18, 2010
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 DOES NOT INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING HOW TO USE THE TOP TETHER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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 RESTRAINT. IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAINT CAN RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN THE RESTRAINT'S PERFORMANCE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD SEATED IN THE RESTRAINT.
Remedy: 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.
09V310000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Jul 29, 2009
GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, PUERTO RICO, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND UTAH. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A BRAKE LAMP SWITCH THAT MAY NOT WORK AS DESIGNED DUE TO CONTAMINATION IN THE SWITCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY JUNE 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME. IN THE INTERIM, OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE CAN OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR, HOWEVER THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO RETURN WHEN THE NEW DESIGN PART BECOMES AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
06V139000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Apr 27, 2006
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE THE PERMANENT LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP FUNCTION OR BRAKE LAMPS THAT ARE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP (CHMSL) IS AFFECTED IN BOTH INSTANCES. ALSO, IF EQUIPPED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE. ANY TRAILER BRAKE LAMPS WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LAMP WIRING WILL MIMIC THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LAMPS WHEN EITHER CONDITION OCCURS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FOLLOWING DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, AND A REAR-END CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2RQ09001 · Brake Lamp Switch Malfunction
Opened Feb 25, 2009 · Closed Jul 30, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
ON JULY 28,2009, GM INITIATED A REGIONAL RECALL CAMPAIGN ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004-2009 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON VEHICLES AND MY2006-2008 ISUZU I-SERIES VEHICLES.THE STATES AND U.S. TERRITORIES INVOLVED ARE AL, AZ, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, NV, NM, PR, SC, TX, VI AND UT.A TOTAL OF 185,903 VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED WITH 92,272 VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION.IN ADDITION, A SPECIAL COVERAGE/EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM WILL BE INITIATED FORVEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES. GM DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILURES ARE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN VEHICLES IN WHICH CUSTOMERS USED INTERIOR CLEANERS CONTAINING SILICON AND THAT RESIDE IN HOT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS.BRAKE LAMP SWITCH CONTAMINATION FAILURE CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE BRAKE LAMPS OR THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF REAR-END CRASHES.GM HAS REPORTED NO CRASHES OR INJURIES DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH.ODI INITIALLY REPORTED ONE CRASH INCIDENT, BUT LATER DOWNGRADED THE REPORT DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF ACTUAL PROPERTY DAMAGE OR COST INCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LIGHTLY TAPPED FROM BEHIND AT LOW SPEED.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 09V0310).
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
ON JULY 28,2009, GM INITIATED A REGIONAL RECALL CAMPAIGN ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004-2009 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON VEHICLES AND MY2006-2008 ISUZU I-SERIES VEHICLES.THE STATES AND U.S. TERRITORIES INVOLVED ARE AL, AZ, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, NV, NM, PR, SC, TX, VI AND UT.A TOTAL OF 185,903 VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED WITH 92,272 VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION.IN ADDITION, A SPECIAL COVERAGE/EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM WILL BE INITIATED FORVEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES. GM DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILURES ARE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN VEHICLES IN WHICH CUSTOMERS USED INTERIOR CLEANERS CONTAINING SILICON AND THAT RESIDE IN HOT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS.BRAKE LAMP SWITCH CONTAMINATION FAILURE CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE BRAKE LAMPS OR THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF REAR-END CRASHES.GM HAS REPORTED NO CRASHES OR INJURIES DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH.ODI INITIALLY REPORTED ONE CRASH INCIDENT, BUT LATER DOWNGRADED THE REPORT DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF ACTUAL PROPERTY DAMAGE OR COST INCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LIGHTLY TAPPED FROM BEHIND AT LOW SPEED.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 09V0310).
Exterior Lighting
ON JULY 28,2009, GM INITIATED A REGIONAL RECALL CAMPAIGN ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004-2009 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON VEHICLES AND MY2006-2008 ISUZU I-SERIES VEHICLES.THE STATES AND U.S. TERRITORIES INVOLVED ARE AL, AZ, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, NV, NM, PR, SC, TX, VI AND UT.A TOTAL OF 185,903 VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED WITH 92,272 VEHICLES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION.IN ADDITION, A SPECIAL COVERAGE/EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM WILL BE INITIATED FORVEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES. GM DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILURES ARE MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN VEHICLES IN WHICH CUSTOMERS USED INTERIOR CLEANERS CONTAINING SILICON AND THAT RESIDE IN HOT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS.BRAKE LAMP SWITCH CONTAMINATION FAILURE CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE BRAKE LAMPS OR THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF REAR-END CRASHES.GM HAS REPORTED NO CRASHES OR INJURIES DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH.ODI INITIALLY REPORTED ONE CRASH INCIDENT, BUT LATER DOWNGRADED THE REPORT DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF ACTUAL PROPERTY DAMAGE OR COST INCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LIGHTLY TAPPED FROM BEHIND AT LOW SPEED.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED (SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 09V0310).
PE05065 · Brake Lamp Switch Failure
Opened Dec 2, 2005 · Closed May 1, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
BY LETTER DATED APRIL 26, 2006, GM NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 06V139) INVOLVING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004-06 CHEVROLET COLORADO, GMC CANYON AND 2006 MY ISUZU I280/I350 VEHICLES.GM'S RECALL COVERS 404,733 VEHICLES.GM REPORTS THAT LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP ILLUMINATION WAS CAUSED BY INSUFFICIENT PLATING ON THE STATIONARY CONTACT IN THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH.GM WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WITH THE NEW SWITCH THAT HAS THE INCREASED PLATING ON THE STATIONARY CONTACT.BASED ON GM'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.