Chevrolet Colorado Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 562 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Chevrolet Colorado across 22 model years. The 2017 model year has the most (107). The words owners use most often: “torque converter” (8% of reports).
- 562power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 13mention a crash
- 13mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 33%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Torque converter: mentioned in 44 of 562 complaints (8%)
- Transmission fluid: mentioned in 31 of 562 complaints (6%)
- Feels like: mentioned in 31 of 562 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Chevrolet Colorado at $1,800, and half of them between $700 and $6,650.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2020–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 326 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 562 complaints, 13 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 13 an injury.
Chevrolet Colorado power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Colorado | 2 | 11% | — |
| 2025 Colorado | 3 | 11% | 111,817 |
| 2024 Colorado | 13 | 11% | 8,285 |
| 2023 Colorado | 9 | 7% | 600 |
| 2022 Colorado | 3 | 5% | 7,950 |
| 2021 Colorado | 13 | 16% | 26,530 |
| 2020 Colorado | 33 | 39% | 25,500 |
| 2019 Colorado | 65 | 43% | 5,400 |
| 2018 Colorado | 78 | 43% | 18,000 |
| 2017 Colorado | 107 | 50% | 19,175 |
| 2016 Colorado | 97 | 14% | 10,000 |
| 2015 Colorado | 45 | 9% | 8,500 |
| 2013 Colorado | 1 | 100% | 26,000 |
| 2012 Colorado | 2 | 5% | 43,000 |
| 2011 Colorado | 2 | 5% | 94,500 |
| 2010 Colorado | 3 | 10% | — |
| 2009 Colorado | 2 | 3% | 30,158 |
| 2008 Colorado | 7 | 9% | 33,000 |
| 2007 Colorado | 8 | 6% | 13,000 |
| 2006 Colorado | 15 | 6% | 49,271 |
| 2005 Colorado | 27 | 8% | 32,150 |
| 2004 Colorado | 27 | 7% | 16,400 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Model years: 2011
Problem: 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."
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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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…
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 vehicle developed a rapid and moderate shudder followed by "Check Engine", "Service Traction Control", "Service ESC" messages and associated icons on the driver display. The shudder happened a second time within approximately 30 seconds and the engine lost power followed by "Reduced Power…
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…
Transmission fluid flushing. Hard gear shift at slow speeds. Transmission shudder at high speeds
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Colorados have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 562 owner complaints about power train for the Chevrolet Colorado. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Colorado power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Chevrolet Colorado?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,800 (half paid between $700 and $6,650), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Chevrolet Colorado?
The most frequent phrase is “torque converter”, in 44 of 562 complaints, followed by “transmission fluid” (31).
Other Chevrolet Colorado problems
- Steering problems (962)
- Electrical System problems (773)
- Engine problems (326)
- Service Brakes problems (251)
- Exterior Lighting problems (203)
- Air Bags problems (185)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (159)
- Structure problems (157)
See all Chevrolet Colorado problems.