Problems · by component

2005 Chevrolet Colorado exterior lighting problems

49 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado cite exterior lighting, 14% of all 356 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
49
14% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 20, 2022Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11457480
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2019Electrical system, Exterior lightingFire reportedODI 11232977
“MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AND THEN MY BREAK LIGHTS. PUT IN NEW BREAK BULBS AND THEY STILL DO NOT WORK! I WAS DRI ING WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT AND MY HUSBAND NOTICED MY BREAKS WHILE I WAS DRIVING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 11, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed controlODI 11084641
“AT DIFFERENT TIMES TURN SIGNALS, BRIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS WILL QUIT WORKING AND DASH LIGHT INDICATOR THAT AIR BAG IS NOT WORKING WILL ILLUMINATE. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN FIRST STARTING UP. AT TIMES YOU CAN PUSH STALK UP FOR A RIGHT HAND TURN AND LEFT TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR WILL LIGHT UP AND BLINK. IF YOU PUSH THE STALK DOWN FOR A LEFT TURN SIGNAL NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 25, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bagsODI 10968502
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED IN 2007 PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V139000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2017Exterior lightingODI 10959114
“SEPT OF 2014 OUR CHEVROLET COLORADO HAD ISSUES WITH NOT STARTING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS "CODE ISSUES" AND REPLACED A SAFETY SENSOR. THE ISSUE WAS NEVER RESOLVED AS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. OCT OF 2015 WHILE DRIVING, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NEVER WENT OFF. ALSO OCT 2015, ABOUT THE TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, WE RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT A WIRE HARNESS IN THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE COULD CAUSE CODE PROBLEMS AND OR THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND THAT GM WOULD FIX IT AT NO COST TO US, IF THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN 10 YRS OLD OR HAD 120,000 OR LESS MILES. LAST YEAR WHEN THIS STARTED OUR VEHICLE WAS 9 YRS OLD, YET GM WILL NOT PAY FOR IT SAYING IT'S NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. I COMPLETELY DISAGREE AS THE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME, HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO KNOW IF IT'S REALLY NOT AIRBAG FAILURE AS OPPOSED TO THE FAULTY WIRE AND HARNESS? THIS LETTER WAS DATED OCT 2015 YET GM IS SAYING THE OFFER ON THIS EXPIRED OCT 29 2014 YET WE DIDN'T RECEIVE A LETTER UNTIL 2015”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2015Exterior lighting, Air bagsODI 10790026

Showing 6 of 49 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Exterior lighting: switch

Remedy pending

GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, PUERTO RICO, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND UTAH. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A BRAKE LAMP SWITCH THAT MAY NOT WORK AS DESIGNED DUE TO CONTAMINATION IN THE SWITCH.

Exterior lightingReported Jul 29, 2009NHTSA 09V310000

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE THE PERMANENT LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP FUNCTION OR BRAKE LAMPS THAT ARE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP (CHMSL) IS AFFECTED IN BOTH INSTANCES. ALSO, IF EQUIPPED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE. ANY TRAILER BRAKE LAMPS WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LAMP WIRING WILL MIMIC THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LAMPS WHEN EITHER CONDITION OCCURS.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 27, 2006NHTSA 06V139000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 4, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.