Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Chevrolet Colorado problems
Owners filed 356 complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado with NHTSA between Dec 2004 and Sep 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (69).
Complaints
356
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
27
Reported by owners
Fires
11
Reported by owners
Injuries
19
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system69
- Service brakes, hydraulic61
- Exterior lighting49
- Air bags33
- Power train27
- Suspension23
- Engine and engine cooling23
- Service brakes20
- Structure19
- Tires19
- Vehicle speed control14
- Equipment13
- Visibility11
- Seat belts9
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
40
49
27
18
21
45
36
22
11
30
13
6
7
4
12
6
3
2
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 40 |
| 2006 | 49 |
| 2007 | 27 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 21 |
| 2010 | 45 |
| 2011 | 36 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 30 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
69 reports1 crash6 fires
“Vehicle taillights failed to function when lights come on at night. I became aware of this when another motorist stopped beside me to tell me. Fuse and lightbulbs work when tested.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
61 reports4 crashes
“MY 2005 CHEVROLET COLORADO WILL ACTIVATE THE ABS SYSTEM DURING BRAKING ON WARM DRY PAVEMENT AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. DURING THESE EVENTS THE ABS FAILURE WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED AT 4 MPH AND AT 25 MPH. OTHER TIMES, THE ABS FAILURE WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES WORK FINE. NO CONSISTENCY AND WILL NOT REPEAT FOR MECHANIC. *TR”
Exterior lighting
49 reports1 crash1 fire2 related recalls
“WIRING FOR TURNSIGNALS MELTS DOWN. THERE IS A WIRE HARNESS WITH A CONNECTOR AT THE TURN FRONT SIGNALS, THE WIRE GAUGE IS IN ADEQAUTE AND CAUSEA EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP THIS CAUSES THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS TO THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS TO MELT DOWN AND THE TURN SIGNALS BECOME INOPERABLE. I HAVE REPLACED THESE COMPONENTS TWICE DUE TO THIA ISSUE. THE RESISTOR PACK FOR AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER FAN SPEED CONTROL MELTS AND CATCHES FIRE. I HAVE REPLACED THIS PART TWICE AND ULTIMATELY HAVE BYPASSED THE RESISTOR PACK LEAVING THE AC BLOWER WITH ONLY THE CHOICE OF HIGH SPEED OR OFF.”
Air bags
33 reports15 crashes
“QUIET MORNING NO TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING EAST ON 28TH STREET IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI. BETWEEN 15-20 MILES I WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT.NO POTHOLES, SMALL DENTS ON THE ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY OUT OF NO WHERE THE AIR BAGS EXPLOITED AND DEPLOYED OUT. THE AIR BAG HIT MY RIGHT HAND AND ALSO BLOCK MY VISIBILITY. THIS INCIDENT CAUSE TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, IT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE.”
Power train
27 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE CHASSIS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 169,000.”
Suspension
23 reports1 crash
“I'M ON DISABILITY ,HARD OF HEARING, AND BAD SPINE,,,BUT I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK AT FIELDMANS IN LANSING MICH,,THE DEALER OR CARFAX DID NOT MENTION THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND BROKE ON DRIVER SIDE REAR LEAFSPINGS,,NOW WHAT DO I DO”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.