Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Chevrolet Colorado problems

Owners filed 67 complaints about the 2009 Chevrolet Colorado with NHTSA between Oct 2009 and Nov 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (36).

Complaints
67
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system36
  2. Engine10
  3. Fuel/propulsion system9
  4. Air bags6
  5. Structure3
  6. Exterior lighting3
  7. Fuel system, gasoline3
  8. Suspension2
  9. Service brakes2
  10. Power train2
  11. Latches/locks/linkages1
  12. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  13. Equipment adaptive/mobility1
  14. Other / unknown6

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20091
20101
20112
20121
20130
201415
201512
20167
20178
20187
20195
20201
20212
20221
20234

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

36 reports3 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE ANTI-THEFT SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE DECELERATED AND LOSS MOTIVE POWER. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED. AFTER 20 MINUTES THE ANTI-THEFT FEATURE WAS RESET AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER JOHN ELWAY CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 5200 S. BROADWAY, INGLEWOOD, CO 80113 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2021Electrical systemODI 11389393

Engine

10 reports2 fires
“RUBBER HOOD WEATHER STRIP AT REAR OF HOOD CLOSURE AREA DETACHED, DROPPED DOWN FROM INSUFFICIENT RETENTION CLIP DESIGN, ATOP OF DRIVER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CATALYST, AND CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE GREW QUICKLY AND TRAVELED UP VERTICAL LAYING WEATHER STRIP, MELTED THROUGH PLASTIC PCV HOSES AND CONVOLUTE OVER PRESSURIZED FUEL LINE SOFT FLEX HOSE PORTION. WAS ABLE TO SMELL BURNING, SEE SMOKE, OPEN HOOD, AND EXTINGUISH FIRE WITH PORTABLE EXTINGUISHER BEFORE FIRE PENETRATED PRESSURIZED FUEL FLEX HOSE AREA. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED AFTER PULLING UP TO MY WORKPLACE. THIS IS A STOCK VEHICLE KEPT IN EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE WITH NO MODIFICATIONS. I KEPT THE WEATHER STRIP AND RETENTION CLIPS AS PROOF.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 31, 2019EngineFire reportedODI 11240904

Fuel/propulsion system

9 reports1 fire
“TRUCK INTERMITTENTLY LOSES POWER WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDDLE CAUSING BUCKING, STALLING THEN WILL SUDDENLY RUNS FINE AGAIN CAUSING RAPID ACCELERATION CREATING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS DRIVING. APPEARS TO BE THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE BECAUSE IT OCCURS IN DAMP, RAIN WEATHER. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED AS PER RECALL BEFORE PURCHASE. IN ADDITION, THE THROTTLE BODY WAS ALSO REPLACED AS PART OF ANOTHER RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SAME INTERMITTENT PROBLEM STILL EXIST BUT GM IS UNABLE TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2019Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11288200

Air bags

6 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 114,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2023Air bagsODI 11526829

Structure

3 reports
“The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while the vehicle was being serviced, the mechanic became aware that the entire subframe was extremely rusted and notified the contact. Additionally, the leaf spring on the driver’s side was also extremely rusted. The subframe was not replaced, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 7, 2023StructureODI 11553952

Exterior lighting

3 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR DURING THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Unknown or otherODI 11079816
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.