Chevrolet Colorado Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2016 draws 4.05 complaints per run and the 2018 1.85, a 2.2-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 67.4% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Steering, with 939 complaints, typically at 5.8 years.

Chevrolet Colorado years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Chevrolet Colorado — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2026	1.2	12	10	too new
2025	1.42	27	19	too new
2024	2.28	121	53	too new
2023	2.28	137	60	too new
2022	1.47	56	38	too new
2021	1.37	74	54	too new
2020	1.38	84	61	yes
2019	1.74	146	84	yes
2018	1.85	181	98	yes
2017	1.92	209	109	yes
2016	4.05	692	171	yes
2015	4.04	481	119	yes
2012	1.21	41	34	yes
2011	1.14	40	35	yes
2009	1.36	61	45	yes
2008	1.3	70	54	yes
2007	1.77	126	71	yes
2006	1.98	196	99	yes
2005	2.82	288	102	yes
2004	2.78	303	109	yes

ROWS 20·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2016 Colorado asks a median $15,995, against $16,950 for a 2017, the next model year: about 6% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.

Among the 7 Chevrolet Colorado years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2016, 2015, 2005; the three worth hunting are 2018, 2017, 2006.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Chevrolet Colorado — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	423	12.9%	covered
1 year	345	23.4%	covered
2 years	299	32.6%	covered
3 years	345	43.1%	you pay
4 years	345	53.6%	you pay
5 years	341	64%	you pay
6 years	271	72.3%	you pay
7 years	258	80.1%	you pay
8 years	197	86.2%	you pay
9 years	181	91.7%	you pay
10 years	114	95.1%	you pay
11 years	50	96.7%	you pay
12 years	26	97.5%	you pay
13 years	36	98.6%	you pay
14 years	29	99.5%	you pay
15 years	18	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 32.6% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 67.4% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 25% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Chevrolet Colorado, the early trouble is Power Train and Service Brakes — reported at around 3 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Steering at 5.8 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Chevrolet Colorado — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Steering	939	5.8 yrs	16	1
Electrical System	705	4.8 yrs	10	26
Power Train	529	3 yrs	12	4
Service Brakes	384	4 yrs	28	4
Engine	302	4.3 yrs	2	11
Unknown Or Other	270	4.2 yrs	7	7
Exterior Lighting	178	3.7 yrs	1	2
Air Bags	165	5.3 yrs	50	2

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Colorado's vehicle class. Per production run, the GMC Canyon draws 2.11, against 2.36 for the Colorado. That is the most complaints of the group.

FIG.05·Chevrolet Colorado — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Colorado	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
GMC Canyon	1,464	84	2004–2026
Dodge Rampage	1	2	1982–1984
Suzuki Equator	3	13	2009–2026
Isuzu Hombre	122	9	1996–2000
Isuzu i-290	15	2	2007–2008
Isuzu i-370	9	3	2007–2008

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Chevrolet Colorado

Recalls84 campaigns Fuel economy25 mpg best Common problems3,584 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Used prices3,873 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2004–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chevrolet Colorado reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 2.36 against 3.73 for the average car, and more than each of the 1 class rivals we compared.

Which Colorado years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2016, 2015, 2005. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2018, 2017, 2006. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Colorado problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Steering, typically at 5.8 years, followed by Electrical System.

Will the warranty cover Colorado problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 32.6% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 25% of the complaints here.

Is the Colorado more reliable than the GMC Canyon?

No: 2.36 complaints per production run for the Colorado against 2.11 for the GMC Canyon.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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