Reliable Auto DB

2021 Chevrolet Colorado reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado has 75 complaints with NHTSA after 6 years, or 8 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Colorado years here — under the median of the other years, which is 24. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Seat belts.

2012 Chevrolet Colorado
Photo by RL GNZLZ, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0
Complaints

75

Per year

8

Recalls

1

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (18 of 75), then Service brakes (17) and Electrical system (11). Those filings include 6 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, 2 that report an injury, and 2 that report a death.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 Colorado has 84 complaints, 7 per year, and the 2022 has 55 complaints, 8 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall Seat belts 2020-12-23 · NHTSA campaign 20V811000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (75 total)

Engine
18
Service brakes
17
Electrical system
11
Powertrain
11
Steering
10
Air bags
5
Seat belts
3
Suspension
3
Visibility and wipers
3
Equipment
2
Hydraulic brakes
2
Diesel fuel system
1
Engine and engine cooling
1
Exterior lighting
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Lane departure
1
Speed control
1
Structure
1
Show 11 more Show less
Crash-flagged

6

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

2

Death reports

2

Complaints filed per year

320207202132022122023132024182025192026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "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…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-09-12
  • "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…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-09-02
  • "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…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-08-25
  • "Iba sobre el freeway a 60 millas y de la nada el freno se puso duro no respondían me pasé a los carril de la orilla y fui metiendo freno de mano poco a poco bendito Dios me puse a salvo! La agencia me dijo que fue el…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-08-21
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, the engine revved without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The contact stated that while turning onto an exit…"
    Hydraulic brakes, Engine · filed 2026-08-05

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Chevrolet Colorado PU/CC 2WD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 3 stars
2021 Chevrolet Colorado PU/CC 4WD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 3 stars
2021 Chevrolet Colorado PU/EC 2WD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 3 stars
2021 Chevrolet Colorado PU/EC 4WD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 3 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Colorado two-wheel drive 2.8L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 20 30 23 MPG $4100
Colorado two-wheel drive 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic 8-speed Rear-wheel drive 18 25 21 MPG $3100
Colorado two-wheel drive 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 19 25 22 MPG $2950
Colorado four-wheel drive 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic 8-speed Four-wheel drive 17 24 19 MPG $3400
Colorado four-wheel drive 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 19 24 21 MPG $3100
Colorado four-wheel drive 2.8L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 19 28 22 MPG $4300
Colorado ZR2 four-wheel drive 2.8L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 18 22 19 MPG $4950
Colorado ZR2 four-wheel drive 3.6L, 6-cyl Automatic 8-speed Four-wheel drive 16 18 17 MPG $3800

Specs and fitment

1st generation (US return), 2015–2022
Body styles Pickup truck
Oil 0W-20 or 5W-30 (gasoline); 5W-30 (2.8L Duramax diesel) , 6 qt capacity
Tire size 245/70R16 to 265/55R20 (trim-dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V-358 covers certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles among other GM models: the high-pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange and damage the high-pressure fuel line. Recall 20V-811 covers certain 2021 Colorado vehicles among other GM models: incorrect bolts may have been used to secure the seat belts, which can prevent the belts from holding the occupant in a crash.

Compare

Previous year 2020 Chevrolet Colorado Next year 2022 Chevrolet Colorado See every Chevrolet Colorado model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado reliable?

The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado has 75 complaints with NHTSA after 6 years, or 8 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Colorado years here — under the median of the other years, which is 24. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Seat belts.

What are common problems with a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (18 of 75), then Service brakes (17) and Electrical system (11). Those filings include 6 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, 2 that report an injury, and 2 that report a death.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 Colorado has 84 complaints, 7 per year, and the 2022 has 55 complaints, 8 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2022.

Has the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado been recalled?

The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado?

Owners have filed 75 complaints about the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado is 20.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

When did the Chevrolet Colorado return to the US market?

The mid-size Colorado relaunched in the US for the 2015 model year after a gap in the early 2010s catalog years.

What engine oil does a Chevrolet Colorado use?

5W-30 (2.9L, 3.7L, and 5.3L where equipped)

What does NHTSA recall 11V-552 cover on the Chevrolet Colorado?

Recall 11V-552 covers certain 2012 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles that do not comply with FMVSS 208 occupant crash protection requirements related to driver safety belt buckle electrical connector terminals.