Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 84 safety complaints
about the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash, 3 mention a fire, 4 people were injured and no death is recorded. No recall campaign has been matched to this year, make and model.
The most complained-about system is the power train,
named in 33 complaints, 39% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 24,000 miles,
the median across the 23
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers June 2020 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
84 complaints on file
84
Complaints
1
Describe a crash
3
Mention fire
4
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
Complaints fell 29% year on year: 17 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 24 in the twelve before.
No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not
the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production
ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
POWER TRAIN 33 · 39%
33 39%
ENGINE 17 · 20%
17 20%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15 · 18%
15 18%
STEERING 10 · 12%
10 12%
SERVICE BRAKES 9 · 11%
9 11%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 · 7%
6 7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 3 · 4%
3 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 3 · 4%
3 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 · 2%
2 2%
SEAT BELTS 2 · 2%
2 2%
AIR BAGS 1 · 1%
1 1%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 · 1%
1 1%
01531
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 84.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2024 at 22.
24 18 12 6
202020212021222022232023242024252025262026
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2020 Chevrolet COLORADO, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
PU/CC 2WD
PU/CC 4WD
PU/EC 2WD
PU/EC 4WD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
21.9%
21.2%
22.0%
21.4%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed.
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
SERVICE BRAKES
2 injured · fire · 100,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2020 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE WARNING "FAILED SEAT BELT" SUDDENLY DISPLAYED AND WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND SMOKE WAS PRESENT IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP THE OCCUPANTS EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT COMING FROM THE UNDER THE VEHICLE. A BYSTANDER EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS CAME TO THE SCENE AND FILED REPORTS. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED AWAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BUT NO INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. *BF*JB
NHTSA complaint 11378647. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
1 injured · fire · towed
The contact owned a 2020 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the contact's wife advised the contact to pull the vehicle over because black smoke was exiting the rear vents. Simultaneously, the contact noticed white smoke exiting the front vents. The contact drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle did not stop as intended. The contact had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. In addition, the contact noticed that the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact's wife and [XXX] granddaughter were seated in the rear passenger seats. The contact's wife and granddaughter …
NHTSA complaint 11590982, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
1 injured
Power Steering suddenly stopped functioning as I was towing a trailer approx 5000 lbs. ‘Service Power Steering Drive With Care’ popped up on dash. No dealership visit as this just happened. Truck is unfit for driving safely.
NHTSA complaint 11417547. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
fire · 9,100 miles
THE RADIO/INFO SCREEN WENT BLACK WHILE IN USE. WOULDN'T COME BACK ON TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON AND IT STARTED WORKING. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND OFF THE DASH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND DISCHARGED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG
NHTSA complaint 11342638. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
My 2020 Colorado at 14k miles, the dealer did the transmission oil flush and it helped till the warranty ran out. Now I have the same problem again at 32k miles. I bought the truck because GM said the problem with 8L/45 trans was fixed in 2019. To my knowledge there has been no update to the slipping clutch in GM's torque convertor. If I were to replace the convertor with another one just like it I could have the same problem. My Dealer ([XXX])says my lifetime warranty (that I got with my new Colorado) doesn't cover the transmission? And that if they do another $600 oil flush they don't guarantee it will fix anything. I think when the flush is done, they don't change the trans filter. I'm …
NHTSA complaint 11764099, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
On September 4, 2026, I experienced an extremely serious and frightening braking failure while driving my 2020 Chevrolet Colorado 2.5L. I was driving my granddaughter to school and was pulling into the school's carpool/drop-off area at approximately 20 mph. This was an especially dangerous location because children, parents, vehicles, and school personnel were in the immediate area. As I attempted to slow and stop the vehicle, the brake pedal suddenly became extremely hard and the vehicle would not stop normally. The dashboard displayed “Service Brake Assist,” and the check-engine light illuminated. I pressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle continued moving. Realizing that the normal …
NHTSA complaint 11762094, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
While driving my 2020 Chevrolet Colorado through [XXX], the truck began having difficulty accelerating. As I exited the highway and turned into a gas station, the truck suddenly lost power. The steering became extremely difficult, and I lost normal brake assist. The brake pedal became extremely hard, and I had to apply extreme force to stop the truck and avoid crashing into a wall at the gas station. Fortunately, no collision occurred. The truck was towed to Ed Corley Ford in [XXX] because I was stranded in a remote area with very limited options. They diagnosed a failed/broken vacuum pump and told me replacing it should make the truck operable so I could drive it home to [XXX]. I …
NHTSA complaint 11761467, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
a/c control knocks out tempter senor and gauge goes to zero and check engine light comes on, gas mileage goings to hell, turn off engine clutch fan runs for several minutes, can still touch water hoses by hand and not even hot. This is a big safety problem because I'm looking at the gauge and now causing more smog! Chevrolet Merele Stone in Porterville CA had it all day reporting A GM Strat sticking ,it was a brand new gm delco and senor and still doing it . It's a $1000.00 to repair itThey had to jump start my truck went picking it up. tried to charge the battery over night but dead battery, had to replace it $250.00 expense, and $189.00 to denoised. Called GM for a appointment in Visalia …
NHTSA complaint 11756785, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
36,500 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while reversing out of the driveway, the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure recurred while driving 65 MPH. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where DTCs P0024 and P0014 were retrieved, indicating exhaust camshaft position system performance issues for Bank 2 and Bank 1. The contact associated the failure with GM Special Coverage Number: N232430470 (Camshaft Position Actuator Valve Solenoid - Bank 2 (Left Side) Exhaust). The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the diagnostic result was confirmed. The dealer swapped the camshaft position sensor actuators between both banks and cleared the codes. The …
NHTSA complaint 11755484, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
Vacuum pump seized, causing loss of power assist on brakes. This happened as I was approaching an intersection to make a right-hand turn. When I press down on the brake pedal it felt hard, like it was locked up. After pressing down on it with both feet, I was able to slow the vehicle down enough to turn out of the intersection. If this event happened when there was another vehicle in the intersection or approaching the intersection on the side street that I was turning onto, it would have led to a collision. Not being able to slow down adequately, I had to swing wide in the turn. This incident happened at a relatively slow speed. If it had happened at highway speeds it could have been …
NHTSA complaint 11741310, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
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. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, no campaign on file for this vehicle.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
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.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst