CSR

Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2011 Chevrolet Colorado

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

42

Complaints

4

Crashes

0

Fires

4

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Chevrolet Colorado have filed 42 safety complaints with NHTSA between November 2011 and March 2025. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 14 of them (33%). The typical failure was reported at 54,000 miles, the median across the 35 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 5 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (5)

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

12V594000 · December 19, 2012

The defect
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured from November 9, 2009, through August 28, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 113, "Hood Latch System." The hood may be missing the secondary hood latch.
The risk
If the primary hood latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly. During vehicle operation, this could obstruct the view of the driver and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
General Motors will notify owners and instruct them to inspect their vehicle for the presence of a secondary hood latch. Dealers will replace the hood on any affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on January 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.

General Motors LLC · up to 118,800 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

11V337000 · June 28, 2011

The defect
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.9 OR 3.7 LITER ENGINE AND A FOUR-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT," AND FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ADJUSTMENT CLIP THAT MAY NOT RETAIN THE SHIFT CABLE IN THE CORRECT POSITION. IF THE SHIFT CABLE IS NOT IN THE CORRECT POSITION, THE PRNDL SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR. THE DRIVER COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO "PARK" AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN "PARK."
The risk
THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AS THE DRIVER OR OTHER OCCUPANTS EXIT THE VEHICLE OR HAVE EXITED, RESULTING IN THE POSSIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE STRIKING THEM OR SOMEONE AROUND THE VEHICLE, OR COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy
GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ADJUSTMENT CLIP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 19, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

GENERAL MOTORS LLC · up to 6,768 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

11V276000 · May 6, 2011

The defect
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 22, 2010, THROUGH NOVEMBER 5, 2010. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE THE CONDITION IN WHICH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CRANK ARM NUT MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. WHEN THE WIPERS ARE OPERATED WITH A BUILD-UP OF SNOW OR ICE, OR IF THE WIPERS ARE OPERATED ON A DRY WINDSHIELD, THE NUT COULD LOOSEN. IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT LOOSENING OF THE NUT, THE WIPERS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE.
The risk
DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL SECURE THE WIPER MOTOR CRANK ARM NUT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MAY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

GENERAL MOTORS LLC · up to 4,674 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE

11V007000 · January 6, 2011

The defect
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
The risk
THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

GENERAL MOTORS CORP. · up to 30,566 vehicles across all model years covered

CHILD SEAT

10V575000 · November 18, 2010

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

GENERAL MOTORS CORP. · up to 192,676 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 42.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14 33%
AIR BAGS 10 24%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 10%
ENGINE 3 7%
SEAT BELTS 3 7%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 7%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 5%
POWER TRAIN 2 5%
STRUCTURE 2 5%
TIRES 2 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2014 at 8.

2011 2014 2025
2011 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash

2011 CHEVY COLORADO. CONSUMER STATES THAT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. *LD *JS

NHTSA complaint 11349471. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 11,814 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EVENT DATA RECORDER INDICATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS SUPPRESSED, WHICH WAS WHY IT DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,814.

NHTSA complaint 10448624. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 73,500 miles

THE TRUCK STRUCK ANOTHER LARGER TRUCK IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, HEAD ON, AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING ADDITIONAL INJURY TO MYSELF. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10652402. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · 96,000 miles

VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH 4 BRAKE CONTROL MODULES, THREE OF WERE BURNT OUT BY THE DEALER INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE. MY CASE IS NOT ISOLATED AS MANY MANY CHEVY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. THE LACK OF ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL IS A RECIPE FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT DUE TO A LACK OF CONTROL AND BRAKING ABILITY. I HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING BUT DENIALS OF WRONG DOING OR GENERAL INCOMPETENCE FROM GM. I HAVE A FRIEND EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM ON A 2020 CHEVY SILVERADO. WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO BECOME SERIOUS MAIMED OR WORSE CASE LOSE THEIR LIFE FOR GM TO DO THE RIGHT THING?

NHTSA complaint 11308835. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
Excessive frame corrosion that has caused the bed of the truck to touch the cab which has made me apprehensive to drive it. The truck has ROT holes on the bottom sections of the frame where water collects. The truck is available for inspection upon request at any time. The problem has not been inspected by a dealer, independent service center, vehicle manufacturer, police or insurance representative. However, I have 40 years experience of being an automobile technician and am qualified to make the above claims. Thank you for your assistance.

NHTSA complaint 11647332. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle has an electronic issue where it does not recognize the original key to the car. It does not let you start the vehicle. There is a bad sensor in the ignition lock housing unit located where the key is inserted into the vehicle. This issue will nit let the driver start the car and the problem happens at random. For me it is 1 out of 20 times i try to start my vehicle it does not start due to this issue. This is a dangerous situation for me, as I live in a cold weather state in the US. I have been left stranded dozens of times because the car doesn’t recognize the key. If you search “chevy colorado passlock” hundreds of videos will come up, each video with thousands of views (from

NHTSA complaint 11517584, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS:SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHT
The drivers-side airbag indicator light remains on. The light warns that the airbag is not working. This is the third time it has happened, first at 89,000 miles, then at 111,000 miles, and now at 133,000 miles. Previous repairs were for broken wires in the wire harness to the extended cab rear door. Wiring in the harness for the airbag is related to the seat belt tensioner. This is a defect that was reported to NHTSA by several others, some of whom were injured in accidents. The repair is costly; the dealer charged around $400.

NHTSA complaint 11455060. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Frame is rusted through/broken in same spot on both sides. Bed of truck is flipping up and there is no gap left between the bed of the truck and the cab at the top but there is 1.5 inch gap at bottom of bed/cab. The truck only has 56,000 miles and I have only put 26,000 miles on it since I bought it in 2017.

NHTSA complaint 11424235. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Brake lights will not come on. There is no fuse and lights are new. Many people have reported this as a problem. Has something to do with some switch that the dealer must replace. I have driver nearly 2000 miles this month without any idea the brake lights were not working until I could not get the cruise control to work. After some research it was discovered the cruise control is associated with the switch

NHTSA complaint 11423842. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS

96,150 miles

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, DRIVER HAD JUST SAT DOWN AND CLOSED THE DOOR. A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE SMELL OF GUNPOWDER FILLED THE CAB. DRIVER STEPPED OUT AND OPENED THE REAR DOOR WHICH HOLDS THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. THE SEATBELT WAS FOUND TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL AND THE BELT WAS LOCKED UP TIGHT AND COULD NOT BE PULLED OUT. A NEW BELT ASSEMBLY WAS ORDERED THROUGH LOCAL DEALERSHIP AT A PRICE OF $261.35.

NHTSA complaint 11399817. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Colorado

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 12 1
2025 27 1
2024 114 3
2023 130 3
2022 50 1
2021 71 1 2
2020 81 0
2019 146 0 1
2018 181 1
2017 215 1
2016 695 4
2015 486 7
2012 42 2
2010 28 2

Other 2011 Chevrolet models

Every Chevrolet on this site — 298 vehicles, 747 recall campaigns and 5 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst