2012 Chevrolet COLORADO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Chevrolet COLORADO has 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet colorado. while driving approximately 5 mph the contact heard a popping sound coming from the exhaust system. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics. the technician advised that the muffler would have to be replaced. the muffler was replaced but the. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 6 crash reports 6 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

11 complaints

19%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE MUFFLER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED BUT THE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE MUFFLER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED BUT THE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED BUT THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER ADVISED T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE MUFFLER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED BUT THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

9 complaints

15%

• I NOTICED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON ONE MORNING IN LATE OCTOBER. AS I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN, I COULD NOT DEAL WITH IT UNTIL I GOT BACK, LAST WEEK. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, ON SATURDAY, THEY READ THE ERROR CODES FROM THE AIRBAG MODULE, BUT COULD NOT INTERPRET THEM, AS THE SPECIALIST WAS NOT ON
• 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. CONSUMER REQUESTS FOR AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH. *SMD
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESET THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND A LOUD POP SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE ODOR O

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

“I NOTICED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON ONE MORNING IN LATE OCTOBER. AS I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN, I COULD NOT DEAL WITH IT UNTIL I GOT BACK, LAST WEEK. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, ON SATURDAY, THEY READ THE ERROR CODES FROM THE AIRBAG MODULE, BUT COULD NOT INTERPRET THEM, AS THE SPECIALIST WAS NOT ON”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

8 complaints

14%

• 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, HE WAS INFORMED THE ISSUE WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE NEXT WEEK, THE CON
• I HAVE A 12 MONTH OLD CHEVY COLORADO, BOUGHT NEW. FOR 9 MONTHS, NO ISSUES. THEN IN OCTOBER, IT SIMPLY WON'T START. DEAD BATTERY. I DROVE IT REGULARLY TO AND FROM WORK EACH DAY, SO IT'S NOT FROM NON-USE. I TOOK IT TO SERVICE AND THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD BATTERY. THEY REPLACED IT. ABOUT A MONTH L
• AT FIRST, TRUCK SHOWED TPS ALARM ,THEN STABILITY ALARM ,NEXT IT HAD THE HEADLIGHTS CUT OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT @ 70 MPH FOR 15-30 SECONDS. IT HAS SHOWN THESE PROBLEMS SEPARATELY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY AT DIFFERENT TIMES. FINALLY IT MANIFESTED A NEW SYMPTOM I WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT CRANK THE ENGI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, HE WAS INFORMED THE ISSUE WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE NEXT WEEK, THE CON”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

7 complaints

12%

• I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING TO WORK AT 5:00 AM WITH ALMOST NO TRAFFIC. A PICKUP TRUCK IN THE NEXT LANE LEFT OF ME HAD A PIECE OF PLYWOOD EJECTED FROM THE BED AND WAS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR TOWARDS THE FRONT OF MY PICKUP. I SAW IT COMING AT ME AND I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ONCE BUT MY TRUCK DID NO
• THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON OUR 2012 CHEVY COLORADO. FROM REVIEW, CHEVY HAS RECALLED COLORADOS OF DIFFERENT YEARS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO OTHER YEARS AS THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN LATER MODELS THAN THE MOST CURRENT RECA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE M

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING TO WORK AT 5:00 AM WITH ALMOST NO TRAFFIC. A PICKUP TRUCK IN THE NEXT LANE LEFT OF ME HAD A PIECE OF PLYWOOD EJECTED FROM THE BED AND WAS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR TOWARDS THE FRONT OF MY PICKUP. I SAW IT COMING AT ME AND I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ONCE BUT MY TRUCK DID NO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

6 complaints

10%

• 2012 CHEVY COLORADO EXTENDED CAB 2X4 I4 ENGINE LT1. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE STEERING. THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY HARD TURNING. THE STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER AT MORE THAN 30 DEGREASE WHEN AFTER MAKING A TURN. WHEN STARTING OUT, TURN WHEEL 90 DEGREASE AND THEN PROCEED FORWARD AND THE STEERING
• 2012 CHEVY COLORADO EXTENDED CAB 2X4 I4 ENGINE LT1. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE STEERING. THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY HARD TURNING. THE STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER AT MORE THAN 30 DEGREASE WHEN AFTER MAKING A TURN. WHEN STARTING OUT, TURN WHEEL 90 DEGREASE AND THEN PROCEED FORWARD AND THE STEERING
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER AFTER COMPLETING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION SHAFT TWICE AND THE POWER STEERIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“2012 CHEVY COLORADO EXTENDED CAB 2X4 I4 ENGINE LT1. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE STEERING. THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY HARD TURNING. THE STEERING DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER AT MORE THAN 30 DEGREASE WHEN AFTER MAKING A TURN. WHEN STARTING OUT, TURN WHEEL 90 DEGREASE AND THEN PROCEED FORWARD AND THE STEERING ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 59 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE MUFFLER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED BUT THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: I NOTICED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON ONE MORNING IN LATE OCTOBER. AS I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN, I COULD NOT DEAL WITH IT UNTIL I GOT BACK, LAST WEEK. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, ON SATURDAY, THEY READ THE ERROR CODES FROM THE AIRBAG MODULE, BUT COULD NOT INTERPRET THEM, AS THE SPECIALIST WAS NOT ON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, HE WAS INFORMED THE ISSUE WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE NEXT WEEK, THE CON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING TO WORK AT 5:00 AM WITH ALMOST NO TRAFFIC. A PICKUP TRUCK IN THE NEXT LANE LEFT OF ME HAD A PIECE OF PLYWOOD EJECTED FROM THE BED AND WAS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR TOWARDS THE FRONT OF MY PICKUP. I SAW IT COMING AT ME AND I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ONCE BUT MY TRUCK DID NO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)