2011 Chevrolet COLORADO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Chevrolet COLORADO has 54 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: on february 14, 2012 i was driving on a clean, dry, straight, and level road at 35mph. i was not accelerating, braking, or cornering. the alarm bell rang and the dash board display indicated "traction fault, reduced power, service stability system". the vehicle dramatically reduced it's engine po.

4 crash reports 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

14 complaints

26%

• ON FEBRUARY 14, 2012 I WAS DRIVING ON A CLEAN, DRY, STRAIGHT, AND LEVEL ROAD AT 35MPH. I WAS NOT ACCELERATING, BRAKING, OR CORNERING. THE ALARM BELL RANG AND THE DASH BOARD DISPLAY INDICATED "TRACTION FAULT, REDUCED POWER, SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM". THE VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED IT'S ENGINE PO
• FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE. THIS SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON 05/02/2013. THESE FAILURES COULD CAUSE A REAR END CRASH DUE TO NO BRAKE LIGHTS. *TR
• THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE TRUCK WILL NOT START. IT IS GENERALLY WHEN YOU HAVE DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE OR MADE SEVERAL STOPS. WHEN COLD THE ENGINE WILL FIRE RIGHT UP. AFTER A COUPLE SHORT TRIPS, WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE UPON TURNING THE KEY THE DASH WILL GO DEAD. THE ENGINE WILL NOT T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ON FEBRUARY 14, 2012 I WAS DRIVING ON A CLEAN, DRY, STRAIGHT, AND LEVEL ROAD AT 35MPH. I WAS NOT ACCELERATING, BRAKING, OR CORNERING. THE ALARM BELL RANG AND THE DASH BOARD DISPLAY INDICATED "TRACTION FAULT, REDUCED POWER, SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM". THE VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED IT'S ENGINE PO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

10 complaints

19%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT S
• NO PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAG BUT AFTER AN OIL CHANGE IT HAS COME ON AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE WIRING. UNSAFE AND WILL BE A COSTLY FIX FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO USAGE OF THE REAR DOOR. IT IS AN EXTENDED CAB FOR A REASON! BRAKES ON DRIVERS SIDE GRAB IN THE FRONT. IT SEE
• I STARTED THE TRUCK AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IT'S BEEN ON EVER SINCE. NO PRIOR ISSUE WITH IT. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

4 complaints

• ON FEBRUARY 14, 2012 I WAS DRIVING ON A CLEAN, DRY, STRAIGHT, AND LEVEL ROAD AT 35MPH. I WAS NOT ACCELERATING, BRAKING, OR CORNERING. THE ALARM BELL RANG AND THE DASH BOARD DISPLAY INDICATED "TRACTION FAULT, REDUCED POWER, SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM". THE VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED IT'S ENGINE PO
• 15% OF THE TIME MY 2011 CHEVY COLORADO WILL NOT TURN OVER. IT IS COMPLETELY SPORADIC. SOMETIMES IT WON'T START FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, MAKING ME LATE TO WORK. SOMETIMES, I GET ALL THE WAY TO MY DESTINATION, OR TO A GAS STATION AND WHEN I TURN THE TRUCK OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON IT WON'T TURN OVER.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NORTHSTAR CHEVROLET (400 CENTER ROAD, CLIFTON PARK, NY 12065, (518) 371-5400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT STRETCHED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. A NEW ST

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

4 complaints

• THE STOP LIGHTS WORK INTERMITINLY DUE TO A FAULTY SWITCH. GM HAS TSB'S ON MODELS UP TO 2009 FOR THIS ISSUE. WITHOUT OPPERATABLE BRAKE LIGHTS A REAREND CRASH IS LIKLEY. THIS 2011 VEHICLE IS NOT THE FIRST WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
• FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE. THIS SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON 05/02/2013. THESE FAILURES COULD CAUSE A REAR END CRASH DUE TO NO BRAKE LIGHTS. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE STOP LIGHTS WORK INTERMITINLY DUE TO A FAULTY SWITCH. GM HAS TSB'S ON MODELS UP TO 2009 FOR THIS ISSUE. WITHOUT OPPERATABLE BRAKE LIGHTS A REAREND CRASH IS LIKLEY. THIS 2011 VEHICLE IS NOT THE FIRST WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

4 complaints

• I THINK THEY NEED CHECK FOR RECALLS ON IGNITION SWITCH FOR 2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND 2006-2008 HUMMER
• THEY NEED BE INVESTIGATION ON 2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO FOR IGNITION SWITCH AND ALSO ON 2006 HUMMER H3. BOTH VEHICLE WON'T START THEN 20 MIN LATER IT WILL START. HAD BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED OUT AND NOTHING ELSE IS SHOWING UP.
• ONE DAY MY VEHICLE STARTED GETTING A LITTLE SHAKE. SO I PULLED IN TO AN OLD WELDING SHOP I USED TO WORK AT. I ASKED MY OLD BOSS IF HE WOULD GET IN THE TRUCK, TO DO A LITTLE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. BASICALLY GUESS WHAT COULD BE WRONG. HE SAID SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT, AND TOLD ME TO JACK UP THE BACK OF T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I THINK THEY NEED CHECK FOR RECALLS ON IGNITION SWITCH FOR 2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND 2006-2008 HUMMER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 54 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: ON FEBRUARY 14, 2012 I WAS DRIVING ON A CLEAN, DRY, STRAIGHT, AND LEVEL ROAD AT 35MPH. I WAS NOT ACCELERATING, BRAKING, OR CORNERING. THE ALARM BELL RANG AND THE DASH BOARD DISPLAY INDICATED "TRACTION FAULT, REDUCED POWER, SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM". THE VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED IT'S ENGINE PO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: ON FEBRUARY 14, 2012 I WAS DRIVING ON A CLEAN, DRY, STRAIGHT, AND LEVEL ROAD AT 35MPH. I WAS NOT ACCELERATING, BRAKING, OR CORNERING. THE ALARM BELL RANG AND THE DASH BOARD DISPLAY INDICATED "TRACTION FAULT, REDUCED POWER, SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM". THE VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED IT'S ENGINE PO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: THE STOP LIGHTS WORK INTERMITINLY DUE TO A FAULTY SWITCH. GM HAS TSB'S ON MODELS UP TO 2009 FOR THIS ISSUE. WITHOUT OPPERATABLE BRAKE LIGHTS A REAREND CRASH IS LIKLEY. THIS 2011 VEHICLE IS NOT THE FIRST WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)