The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado has 1 safety recall and 80 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine (19 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints80filed by owners
Crashes · fires7 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths5 · 2reported in complaints
2021 Chevrolet Colorado in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Seat belts › Critical fasteners
NHTSA recall 20V811000 · Dec 23, 2020 · 470 vehicles
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
Risk: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash testNHTSA side pole crash test
2021 Chevrolet Colorado PU/CC 2WD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
21.9%
Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
2021 Chevrolet Colorado PU/EC 2WD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
22%
Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
2021 Chevrolet Colorado PU/CC 4WD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
21.2%
Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
2021 Chevrolet Colorado PU/EC 4WD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
21.4%
Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Colorado 2WD Diesel
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 30 mpg
Fuel
Diesel
2.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,150/year to fuel
Colorado 2WD
22mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
Colorado 4WD Diesel
22mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 28 mpg
Fuel
Diesel
2.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · 4-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
Colorado 2WD
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 8-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Colorado 4WD
21mpg combined
City / highway
19 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · 4-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Colorado 4WD
19mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 8-spd · 4-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
Colorado ZR2 4WD Diesel
19mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 22 mpg
Fuel
Diesel
2.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · 4-Wheel Drive · about $5,050/year to fuel
Colorado ZR2 4WD
17mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 18 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.6 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 8-spd · 4-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Oct 21, 2026Service brakes The brake booster vacuum pump broke and caused my brakes to stop working properly while driving on the highway. There were zero warnings from the vehicle I went to press on my brake and it was stuck i luckily was able to push it down enough to safely stop
Jul 8, 2026Unknown or other 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 freeze. GM has a global service about their miss labeled rear differential. They now acting like they now hearing about this when many people is complaining about this faulted differential.
Sep 19, 2026 · 90,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a crash after the contact fell asleep while driving 15 MPH. The vehicle came to a complete stop after crashing into a tree. The front of the vehicle was damaged. The contact stated that the air bags had not deployed. The contact sustained a fractured wrist and hand, burns to the neck from the seat belt and burns to the elbow from impact with the steering wheel. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to a body shop. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired. The failure mileage was 90,000.
Sep 18, 2026Power train 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 whining returnedâthis time with vibrations under my feet whenever I accelerated. Back at the dealership, I was told the rear differential had failed again. From July 2025 to July 2026, my truck was equipped with a Snapshot device from my insurance, both before and after the first repair, so I canât understand why the differential failed twice in just a year and a half. The dealership mentioned…
Sep 28, 2026 · 65,500 milesEngine and engine cooling The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard and the engine seized. The contact stood on the brake pedal. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a fractured camshaft. The contact was informed that the brake vacuum pump fractured the camshaft, and the camshaft was fractured in half. The contact was informed that the camshaft needed to be replaced. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,500.
Sep 12, 2026Service brakes Both rear calipers have become frozen or stuck, causing the brakes to seize and not work correctly. This happened around 53,000 miles. There was a burning rubber smell as well as the tire/brake temp was 5 times the normal. This created a severe driving hazard.
Aug 24, 2026Service brakes Brake boost vacuum pump failure. While approaching a traffic light that was red, I applied the brakes. The pedal was very hard to press and required me using both feet to bring the vehicle to a stop. Stopping distance was much longer than normal. I removed the vacuum pump and found it had seized and broke apart.
Oct 28, 2025Power train My 2021 Chevy Colorado experienced a distinct bucking and shuddering sensation under slow acceleration at lower RPMs, specifically when shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear. There were no dashboard warning lights or malfunction codes prior to the issue. The defect was officially reproduced, inspected, and confirmed by a GM technician at a certified Chevrolet dealership on October 28, 2025, at 46,437 miles. Diagnostic scanning using GMâs GDS software explicitly confirmed that the Torque Converter Clutch (TCC) slip speed was exceeding 100 RPM when the low-speed shudder occurred. The dealership determined the component was failing and replaced the entire torque converter assembly under…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.