IllustrationI WAS HIT FROM BEHIND IN MY NEW CHEV.COLORADO 2005 PICKUP. I WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE AT 40 MILES PER HOUR AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MY DEALER SAID THERE ARE NO AIR BAG SENSORS ON THE BACK OF THIS VEHICLE. IS THIS TRUE? I WAS BADLY TRAUMATIZED PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND MENTALLY. I AM UNDER A DOCTOR'S TREATMENT
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
What owners actually said
356 reportsREAR DRIVE SHAFT BROKE OFF AT UNIVERSAL JOINT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON 5/31/05
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN 90 DAY OLD VEHICLE - CHEVROLET WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND FIXED IT. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE EXPRESSWAY TO READ MY OWNERS MANUAL TO DETERMINE IF I COULD PROCEED - VERY DANGEROUS. CHEVROLET SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX ALL COLORADOS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED ON THE HIG…
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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN 90 DAY OLD VEHICLE - CHEVROLET WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND FIXED IT. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE EXPRESSWAY TO READ MY OWNERS MANUAL TO DETERMINE IF I COULD PROCEED - VERY DANGEROUS. CHEVROLET SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX ALL COLORADOS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY.
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 CO…
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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 (HIGHWAY SPEEDS) AND THE VEHICLE DID SUCH A SUDDEN DOWN SHIFT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIIDENT. MY FINAL COMMENT/QUESTION, WHY WOULD SUCH AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT BE PLACED IN SUCH A VULNERABLE POSITION AND WHY WOULD IS BE MADE OF PLASTIC AND NOT SHIELDED IN SOME MANNER.
THE HANDLE WAS SET INTO THE DOOR. WHEN THE HANDLE WAS LIFTED TO EXIT THE DOOR,THE DOOR LOCK BUTTON WAS BARELY GRAZED WHICH ENGAGED THE DOOR LOCKS. THE OWNER HAD SEVERAL SPARE KEYS MADE BUT WAS CONCERNED IF INVOLVED IN A PANIC SITUATION. THE DOOR LOCK BUTTONS WERE TOO CLOSE TO DOOR HANDLE. THE OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE…
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THE HANDLE WAS SET INTO THE DOOR. WHEN THE HANDLE WAS LIFTED TO EXIT THE DOOR,THE DOOR LOCK BUTTON WAS BARELY GRAZED WHICH ENGAGED THE DOOR LOCKS. THE OWNER HAD SEVERAL SPARE KEYS MADE BUT WAS CONCERNED IF INVOLVED IN A PANIC SITUATION. THE DOOR LOCK BUTTONS WERE TOO CLOSE TO DOOR HANDLE. THE OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE OTHER CHEVROLET MODELS WITH SAME DESIGN. *AK THE DOOR LOCKED UP OVER 20 TIMES, 7 TIMES FROM THE INSIDE AND THE REMAINDER AS THE CONSUMER OPENED THE DOOR. THE PASSENGER DOOR HAD NO OUTSIDE ENTRY AND OR NO KEY ENTRY. *SC *JB
CHEVROLET COLORADO COMPUTER SHORTED OUT DUE TO FAULTY WINDSHIELD SEAL.*MR THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS NOT SEALED PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED LEAKS DURING HARD RAINSTORMS. WHEN THE SHORT OCCURRED IT CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHT, HEADLIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO FAIL. *NM
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 GM…
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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
ATTEMPTED O TO START VEHICLE AND IT WILL NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 5 TIMES, AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. WAITED ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES THEN WILL START. NO MATTER WHAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS OUTSIDE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE CONSUMER WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE MECHANIC CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *AK THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT. *SC *JB
PURCHASED NEW 2005 COLORADO. TERRIBLE GAS MILEAGE. TOOK INTO DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO ALLOW ENGINE TIME TO BREAK IN. ALSO, THE DEALER ALSO MENTIONED BY ACCIDENT THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. *AK THE TRUCK NOW HAS 3000 MILES AND STILL GETTING 12 MILE PER GALLON. I WAS ALSO TOLD TO TRY DIFFERENT GAS STATIO…
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PURCHASED NEW 2005 COLORADO. TERRIBLE GAS MILEAGE. TOOK INTO DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO ALLOW ENGINE TIME TO BREAK IN. ALSO, THE DEALER ALSO MENTIONED BY ACCIDENT THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. *AK THE TRUCK NOW HAS 3000 MILES AND STILL GETTING 12 MILE PER GALLON. I WAS ALSO TOLD TO TRY DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS FUELS. STILL NOTHING HAS CHANGED. I DO NOT HAVE A HEAVY FOOT NOR DO I HAVE THE CASH NEEDED TO KEEP FILLING MY TANK.
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.