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2009 Chevrolet Colorado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Colorado do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 84.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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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

55 reports with mileage · 12 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 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports4 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

67 reports
60,000 miles · Dec 19, 2017
Electrical System

VEHICHLE WILL NOT START WHEN PADLOCK DASH INDICATOR IS BLINKING, IF YOU WAIT 10-15 MINUTES PADLOCK DASH INDICATOR WILL STAY STEADY AND VEHICHLE WILL START. THIS HAS HAPPENED OFF AND ON GOING ON 6-8 YEARS NOW. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE WILL DO THIS, WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS WORKING FINE AND THEY DEALER WOULD …

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VEHICHLE WILL NOT START WHEN PADLOCK DASH INDICATOR IS BLINKING, IF YOU WAIT 10-15 MINUTES PADLOCK DASH INDICATOR WILL STAY STEADY AND VEHICHLE WILL START. THIS HAS HAPPENED OFF AND ON GOING ON 6-8 YEARS NOW. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE WILL DO THIS, WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS WORKING FINE AND THEY DEALER WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT. A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ACCORDING TO SOME OF THE ONLINE FORUMS I HAVE VISITED. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS BAD BUT GM WON'T AKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EXISTS. BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW AND IT HAS HAPPENED ON AND OFF AGAIN FOR 6-8 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #11055604

62,000 miles · Dec 19, 2017
Electrical System

WILL NOT START WHEN DASH PADLOCK INDICATOR IS BLINKING. AFTER WAITING 10-15 MINUTES THE INDICATOR WILL STAY SOLID AND VEHICLE WILL START. DOES THIS OFF AND ON EVERY WEEK OR SO. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT CHECK IT OUT AS IT DID NOT OCCUR WHEN I WAS THERE. THEY DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS BEING A PROB…

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WILL NOT START WHEN DASH PADLOCK INDICATOR IS BLINKING. AFTER WAITING 10-15 MINUTES THE INDICATOR WILL STAY SOLID AND VEHICLE WILL START. DOES THIS OFF AND ON EVERY WEEK OR SO. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT CHECK IT OUT AS IT DID NOT OCCUR WHEN I WAS THERE. THEY DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS BEING A PROBLEM BUT CHECKING ONLINE FORUMS A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11055602

37,000 miles · Nov 30, 2017
Unknown Or Other

FROM TIME TO TIME TRUCK WILL NOT CRANK. DASH LIGHTS UP WITH A BLINKING LOCK FLASHING. IF YOU WAIT 10 MINUTES WILL START. HAVE HAD IT AT CHEVROLET DEALER AND 3 OTHER REPAIR SHOPS SPENT $600 NEVER FIXED. HAD 50000 MILES ON IT. OTHERWISE RUNS GREAT

NHTSA ODI #11051543

48,352 miles · Oct 26, 2017
Unknown Or Other

MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT NUMBER IS 10967682. THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP ON THE COMPLAINT I FILED EARLIER WITH THE COLORADO NOT STARTING. I HAVE TIME NOW BECAUSE I MISSED ANOTHER DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THE TRUCK WON'T START. I HAVE NARROWED THE PROBLEM DOWN TO THE TRUCK'S V-PASS OR PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM. ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE TO …

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MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT NUMBER IS 10967682. THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP ON THE COMPLAINT I FILED EARLIER WITH THE COLORADO NOT STARTING. I HAVE TIME NOW BECAUSE I MISSED ANOTHER DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THE TRUCK WON'T START. I HAVE NARROWED THE PROBLEM DOWN TO THE TRUCK'S V-PASS OR PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM. ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE TO WAIT AT 10 MINUTE INTERVALS FOR THE TRUCK TO START. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON BUT THE TRUCK WON'T CRANK. SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES A 10 MINUTE WAIT, SOMETIMES A 20 MINUTE WAIT, SOMETIMES A 30 MINUTE WAIT. ALL THE DEALER CAN SAY IS TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WILL LOOK AT IT. I HAVE ALREADY BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. NO FIX TO DATE HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I WOULD TRADE THIS TRUCK IN, BUT I WOULD FEEL GUILTY PASSING THIS PROBLEM ONTO ANOTHER PERSON

NHTSA ODI #11039955

48,000 miles · Sep 6, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COLORADO. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE FOR TEN MINUTES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSLOCK SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COLORADO. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERABLE FOR TEN MINUTES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSLOCK SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.

NHTSA ODI #11021808

56,525 miles · Jul 28, 2017
Electrical System

SPORADICALLY WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WILL NOT START. THEN AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WILL START. THIS IS NOT A CONSISTENT ISSUE. THIS OCCURS ANYTIME AND ANYPLACE. FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, THIS APPEARS TO BE AN IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT. HERE IS A VIDEO OF THIS ISSUE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V…

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SPORADICALLY WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WILL NOT START. THEN AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WILL START. THIS IS NOT A CONSISTENT ISSUE. THIS OCCURS ANYTIME AND ANYPLACE. FROM RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, THIS APPEARS TO BE AN IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT. HERE IS A VIDEO OF THIS ISSUE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=USZGLHTHDWO

NHTSA ODI #11011286

48,000 miles · Mar 22, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

TRUCK STARTS FINE EXCEPT ABOUT EVERY MONTH ON AVERAGE I WILL GO TO START TRUCK AND NOTHING HAPPENS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I HAD A DEAD BATTERY. AFTER THE THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. IF I WAIT TEN MINUTES TRUCK STARTS. THIS FIRST STARTED TO HAPPEN AROUND TWO YEARS AGO.

NHTSA ODI #10967821

22,000 miles · Mar 22, 2017
Electrical System

MY TRUCK WILL NOT START SOMETIMES. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY. IT MIGHT START FINE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THEN IT WILL NOT START EVERY OTHER DAY OR WEEK FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. I HAVE FOUND THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR AND INTERNET RESEARCH, THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY START AFTER WAITING EITHER 10, 20 OR 30 MINUTES. I NEVER KNOW WHICH ONE. THIS…

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

NHTSA ODI #10967682

60,000 miles · Dec 8, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AFTER TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MUST REMAIN PARKED FOR TEN MINUTES IN ORDER TO BECOME OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INITIALLY BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS DUE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AFTER TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MUST REMAIN PARKED FOR TEN MINUTES IN ORDER TO BECOME OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INITIALLY BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEAD BATTERY. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10933897

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2016
Electrical System

MY COLORADO WOULD NOT START SOMETIMES WHEN WE STOPPED FOR SOMETHING OR WOULD NOT START IN THE MORNINGS AND I MISSED WORK BECAUSE OF IT,AND IT WOULD START LATER ON ,IT WAS GETTING FRIGHTENING AND DISCOURAGING.I TAUGHT TO TRADE IT BUT I LIKE TO KEEP IT BECAUSE I LOVE IT .I WAS CHARGED 400.00 TO GET IT FIXED(I HOPE)THAT,NOT FAIR P…

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MY COLORADO WOULD NOT START SOMETIMES WHEN WE STOPPED FOR SOMETHING OR WOULD NOT START IN THE MORNINGS AND I MISSED WORK BECAUSE OF IT,AND IT WOULD START LATER ON ,IT WAS GETTING FRIGHTENING AND DISCOURAGING.I TAUGHT TO TRADE IT BUT I LIKE TO KEEP IT BECAUSE I LOVE IT .I WAS CHARGED 400.00 TO GET IT FIXED(I HOPE)THAT,NOT FAIR PLEASE SEE IF I CAN GET A REFUND ,CAUSE I AM HAVING A ROUGH TIME RIGHT NOW.THANKS.

NHTSA ODI #10926038

Official recalls

3

10V575000 · 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.

09V154000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

May 6, 2009

GM IS RECALLING 27,188 MY 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE HYBRID, ESCALADE ESV, AND ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SUBURBAN, TAHOE, TAHOE HYBRID, AND COLORADO; AND GMC YUKON, YUKON HYBRID, YUKON XL, AND CANYON VEHICLES. THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULES MAY HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH AN ADHESIVE SEPARATION OF THE ROOM TEMPERATURE VULCANIZING (RTV) SEAL BETWEEN THE SEAL AND THE HOUSING MAY ALLOW WATER TO SEEP INTO THE MODULE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: WATER IN THE MODULE COULD CAUSE A SHORT OR OPEN CIRCUIT, ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP, SETTING OF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES OR THE ENGINE MAY BE HARD TO START, MAY NOT START OR MAY STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 18, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.