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Research · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD

2006 Chevrolet ColoradoRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 236 owner complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Colorado. Most complaints involve electrical system (69) and engine and engine cooling (31). The EPA rates it 17–21 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
17–21mpg
EPA · 12 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest Nov 2010
Owner complaints
236
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$3,050est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Child seat

Free remedy

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2011, CHEVROLET COLORADO, GMC CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006, ISUZU I-280/I-350, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008, I-290/I-370, REGULAR CAB VEHICLES AND EXTENDED CAB VEHICLES WITHOUT A REAR SEAT AND EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT 60/40 SPLIT BENCH SEAT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE AND THE OWNER MANUAL DOES NOT INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING HOW TO USE THE TOP TETHER.

Child seatReported Nov 18, 2010NHTSA 10V575000

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
See all 4 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 4, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

236 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2006 – Jul 2025
  1. Electrical system69
  2. Engine and engine cooling31
  3. Exterior lighting30
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic24
  5. Engine19
  6. Air bags17
  7. Structure15
  8. Power train15
  9. Fuel system, gasoline11

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

By model year

Complaints for each Colorado model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2004361
2005356
2006236
2007140
200881
200967
201029
201142
201242
2015498
2016716
2017216
2018183
2019150
202088
202180
202256
2023138
2024126
202528
202620
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
4
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 4, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

69 reports1 fire
“rear brake lights flash or sometimes don't come on while pressing the brake pedal. while driving at night dash cluster goes black cant see speedometer, or anything on instrument cluster.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2024Electrical systemODI 11608634

Engine and engine cooling

31 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE PASS LOCK AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AFTER THE PASS LOCK RESET, IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESTART. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANK SENSOR AND IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10630103

Exterior lighting

30 reports
“The high mounted stop lights and the cruise control do not work. A recall for this was issued (NHTSA 06V13900 and NHTSA 09V310000) but when I enter my VIN it says I'm not included in the recall. Also, a dealer said my vehicle was not in the recall. If I have the problem stated in the recall why am I not included? I am the original owner. First noticed problem about six months ago. Did not know about the recall until yesterday.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2025Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed controlODI 11671995
All 2006 Colorado problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

12 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engines
2.8L 4-cyl · 3.5L 5-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 4, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Colorado 2WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
182521$3,050423
Colorado 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
172219$3,400468
Colorado 2WD
Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
172319$3,400468
Colorado 4WD
Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172219$3,400468
Colorado Crew Cab 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
172219$3,400468
Colorado 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152218$3,550494
Colorado 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
162018$3,550494
Colorado 4WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
162118$3,550494
Colorado 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
152117$3,800523
Colorado Cab Chassis inc 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152117$3,800523
Colorado Cab Chassis inc 2WD
Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 3.5 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152017$3,800523
Colorado Crew Cab 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.8 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152217$3,800523
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 4, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

3 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Chevrolet Colorado as of Nov 4, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 4, 2026Vehicle 2349Vehicle 1695Vehicle 1694
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2006 Colorado questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Chevrolet Colorado have?

4 safety recalls as of Nov 4, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2006 Chevrolet Colorado problems?

Owners filed 236 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (69), engine and engine cooling (31), exterior lighting (30). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2006 Chevrolet Colorado get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Chevrolet Colorado at 17–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (12 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 4, 2026