2021 Chevrolet Colorado Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Colorado years
- Fewer complaints than other years 14th of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. That ranks 14th out of 23 Colorado model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (18 complaints, 23%), typically at around 58,015 miles. Complaints mention 7 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 79owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 7complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 Chevrolet Colorado problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 18 | 23% | 58,015 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 22% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 17 | 22% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 13 | 16% | 26,530 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 11 | 14% | 21,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 10 | 13% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 8% | 47,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 4% | 11,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 4% | 70,029 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 4% | 60 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 4% | 1,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 3% | 54,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 3% | 46,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 1% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 Chevrolet Colorado recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:critical fasteners
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
Risk: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The rear differential is sounding very loud, like grinding roaring sound @ 72,000. This truck doesn't pull any loads or anything heavy.all service are on time. How can this young milage truck major part go bad just so. It's dangerous driving on the street. It can cause death if it blows up or…
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a crash after the contact fell asleep while driving 15 MPH. The vehicle came to a complete stop after crashing into a tree. The front of the vehicle was damaged. The contact stated that the air bags had…
In May 2025, I took my truck to the dealership due to a severe whining noise from the rear. They said the rear differential had failed and needed a full replacement, costing me $1,800 since the warranty didnât cover the entire amount. By late September 2026, while driving on the highway, the…
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard and the engine seized. The contact stood on the brake…
Both rear calipers have become frozen or stuck, causing the brakes to seize and not work correctly. This happened around 53,000 miles. There was a burning rubber smell as well as the tire/brake temp was 5 times the normal. This created a severe driving hazard.
Other Chevrolet Colorado years
← 2020 Colorado · 2022 Colorado →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Colorado | 18 | 1 |
| 2025 Colorado | 27 | 1 |
| 2024 Colorado | 123 | 3 |
| 2023 Colorado | 137 | 3 |
| 2022 Colorado | 56 | 1 |
| 2021 | 79 | 1 |
| 2020 Colorado | 85 | 0 |
| 2019 Colorado | 150 | 0 |
| 2018 Colorado | 183 | 1 |
| 2017 Colorado | 216 | 1 |
| 2016 Colorado | 712 | 4 |
| 2015 Colorado | 492 | 7 |
| 2014 Colorado | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 Colorado | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 Colorado | 42 | 2 |
| 2011 Colorado | 42 | 5 |
| 2010 Colorado | 29 | 2 |
| 2009 Colorado | 67 | 3 |
| 2008 Colorado | 81 | 2 |
| 2007 Colorado | 140 | 3 |
| 2006 Colorado | 236 | 4 |
| 2005 Colorado | 356 | 3 |
| 2004 Colorado | 361 | 3 |
See all Chevrolet Colorado problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
Similar Chevrolet models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado?
Owners most often report engine, service brakes, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 18 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Colorado model years, the 2021 has fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.