2021 Chevrolet Colorado Complaints

POWER TRAIN — Filed 09/18/2026

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 didn’t cover the entire amount. By late September 2026, while driving on the highway, the whining returned—this 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 can’t understand why the differential failed twice in just a year and a half. The dealership mentioned that many owners of the same vehicle, and others with the same differential, are experiencing the exact same issue. I believe this is a serious safety concern, as repeated failures could lead to a dangerous acc

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — Filed 09/28/2026

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.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 09/12/2026

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.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 08/24/2026

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.

POWER TRAIN — Filed 10/28/2025

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 GM’s 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 warranty. This documentation is submitted to prove that the TCC defect remains uncorrected in post-2019 vehicles. My sister’s identical 2021 Colorado is now experiencing the same defect at 59,000 miles, but her symptoms have progressed significantly worse to include a severe high-speed drivetrain shudder alongside the low-speed acceleration bucking.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 08/15/2026

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 booster ahora tienen que verificar que no halla fragmentos de metal en el motor!

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS — Filed 05/15/2026

We bought this truck from a dealer (used) and before delivery the driver seat belt recall was repaired as it was still open. Now, months later, the airbag light is on with a warning and it appears that the airbags are disabled. This started as an intermittent issue and now remains constant. Not only does the warning chime when the truck is started, it will chime at random while driving which is a distraction and a significant safety concern for our young adult driver. Our local Chevy dealer will not assess the issue for less than $300. Our mechanic told us that replacing the airbag is a minimum of $800 depending on the extent of the work. Given the prior airbag recalls impacting Chevy/GMC, I thought this is important to report in case others are seeing airbag warning issues in a more widespread issue. As airbags are such a large part of automotive safety these days, I truly believe that these issues should be checked out at no cost to the consumer. Airbags should not be something that breaks down with normal wear and tear and should be a longstanding safety feature of the vehicle. Malfunction is likely a defect, not a result of normal use.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE — Filed 08/05/2026

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 ramp, the brake pedal was depressed to slow the vehicle; however, there was resistance to the brake pedal, and an excessive amount of pressure was needed to depress brake pedal to stop the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was informed of the failure. The dealer informed the contact that failure might cause the complete engine failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE — Filed 07/13/2026

Brake vacum pump experienced a catastrophic failure. I was unable to step on the break because the break pedal was hard. I ran thru a red light. I was told the brake vacume pump shattered & pieces of metal went into my engine

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 06/29/2026

While driving downhill nearing a stop sign my wife went to apply the brakes to stop and all she had was an extremely hard brake pedal. She panicked that she “no brakes.” She was only going about 20 MPH, and was able to stop the vehicle but it took an extraordinary amount of effort to do so. Had she had to make a sudden stop for a child, another person, or something else, she would not have been able to stop without negative consequences including possible death. There were no warning signs, vehicle pulled out of driveway and brakes were normal. Less than 10 seconds later no more power brakes. The vehicle had the vacuum pump seize which eliminated the power boost and the pump is operated by the exhaust camshaft which also got damaged and needs replaced. Chevy dealership estimated the repair at $2,600. Upon researching the vacuum pump, this is a common failure on multiple GM vehicles resulting in sudden brake loss. The vacuum pump should have been designed with a shear pin, so that if it fails the camshaft does not get damaged. Had the vacuum pump been properly designed and it was the only failing part, the repair cost would be $500 versus $2,600. Also, there should have been a temporary backup system so you would not lose power boost.

POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE — Filed 06/27/2026

While driving on the parkway, the engine revved, and then the brakes became hard as a brick. The truck was unable to be stopped. There were no warning lamps or indications there was a problem, it happened suddenly and immediately. Other drivers' and my own safety was at risk because I could not stop the truck. Here is the diagnosis from the GM service center where it was towed to: "After the removal of the valve cover, the tech found the pump in pieces, and the end of the exhaust camshaft was damaged, as presented in the photos. The quote attached depicts all that is being replaced with this repair." The is a know and acknowledged GM defect that has affected well over 3 million vehicles to date. There was a recall issued for some models, but not the Chevrolet Colorado. There are many reports online of other Colorado owners having the exact brake vacuum pump failure, resulting in damage to the camshaft.There is also a class action lawsuit filed in Michigan in early 2026, involving the same brake vacuum pump failure, for some of the models that were not included in the recall. This is an extremely dangerous mechanical failure that GM is aware of.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — Filed 06/23/2026

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the camshaft actuator valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with Special Coverage Program: N232430470 (Camshaft Position Actuator Valve Solenoid - Bank 2 (Left Side) Exhaust ); however, the VIN was not included in the program. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 43,500.

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 04/24/2025

I am reporting a serious safety defect involving my 2021 Chevrolet vehicle. While driving, multiple warnings appeared including “Service Power Steering,” “Steering Assist is Reduced,” “Service ESC,” and “Service Battery Charging System.” The vehicle then lost steering assist, braking performance became unreliable, and it created a serious risk of crash. The vehicle later shut down completely and has remained inoperable. The failure appears electrical and affected multiple critical systems at once, suggesting a cascading system malfunction. Since the incident, the vehicle has not restarted or operated normally. I have replaced the battery, alternator, starter, ignition switch, brake vacuum pump, ECM, spark plugs, fuses, and relays, but the issue persists. The vehicle still shows charging system faults and severe battery drain, indicating an unresolved underlying electrical defect. I have found numerous reports from other 2021 Chevrolet owners describing nearly identical failures, including sudden loss of power steering assist, ESC warnings, charging system failures, battery drain, and complete vehicle shutdowns. This suggests a possible widespread defect affecting this model year. Given the loss of steering assist, braking irregularities, and full vehicle shutdown while driving, I request NHTSA investigate this issue for a potential safety-related defect and determine whether a recall or manufacturer action is necessary.

POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 05/18/2026

Brake vacuum pump appeared to fail creating brake system malfunction. Appears determined by mechanics to have seized and caused damage to cam shaft. Driver’s safety issue caused when trying to brake vehicle not functioning. Vehicle was towed to mechanic shop. There were no warning signs of impending failure of system. Note that earlier years for this model may have had recalls for safety issue and malfunction.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 02/14/2026

2021 CPO Colorado, bought used with 27,000 miles. KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. After 9 months of occasional use the key is, more times than not, getting stuck in the ignition when the truck is turned off. You cannot leave it this way because some systems are still energized. You have to repeatedly put it in and out of park till the key comes out. An associated problem is lock/unlock. The fob and switches will not operate the lock unlock function. It is suspected the park problem makes the vehicle think the vehicle is being operated. It will also not let the remote start function work either. The dealer cleared a code and the problem is temporarily solved. They will not cover it under CPO because they cannot duplicate the problem despite the lock unlock not working at their facility. They ordered a new Gear Shift Mechanism for $800 and I am waiting for it to come in. It has been a few weeks of waiting thus far. It is theoretically possible to have the key get stuck and the doors staying locked thereby trapping all the occupants in the truck. I now carry the spare key if I must use the truck. I can turn the truck back on, lower the window, turn the key till it gets stuck, unlock the door by leaning out the window and then escaping but all the other occupants are still stuck inside till you can get the key out.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE — Filed 03/12/2026

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle started hesitating, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle immediately started to decelerate and failed to exceed 25 MPH. The contact moved over to the right lane and continued to drive until arriving at an independent mechanic shop. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the fuel pump was detaching due to a fractured bolt connecting to the mounting flange. The mechanic informed the contact of an undisclosed recall with a similar failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and it was confirmed from the diagnostic result; however, it was also confirmed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The dealer replaced the fuel pump and the fractured bolt. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall and did not provide a reimbursement for the repair. The manufacturer opened a case for the issue. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

SERVICE BRAKES — Filed 02/21/2026

While driving a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado on Interstate 95 in Florida, the vehicle suddenly experienced a loss of brake assist. The brake pedal became extremely hard and very difficult to press. The driver had difficulty slowing the vehicle and had to use the emergency brake to help bring the vehicle to a stop. This occurred on Interstate 95, which is a very busy highway with high-speed traffic. The sudden loss of braking assistance created a serious safety hazard and could have resulted in a crash. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where the mechanic diagnosed the problem as a failed vacuum pump that broke and damaged the exhaust camshaft and related components. The repair required replacement of the vacuum pump, exhaust camshaft assembly, camshaft actuator and solenoid, and valve cover gasket. The total repair cost was approximately $2,329. The vehicle had approximately 64,348 miles at the time of the failure. No warning lights or prior symptoms were noticed before the failure occurred.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — Filed 02/17/2026

Transmission hesitates and/ or slams into gear.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 08/02/2024

Backup camera has failed at 38,000 miles. Backed into a tree damaging the rear bumper.

AIR BAGS — Filed 09/04/2024

I was involved in accident where a driver ran a red light traveling approximately 60-70MPH and collided with the front of my 2021 Chevy Colorado ZR2 (22700 Miles). The hood was torn off, the entire front end of the truck was crushed with significant damage to the engine. The OnStar / SOS system also failed to work after the crash. The truck was deemed a total loss. I have spinal injuries, head and neck injuries, as well as leg injuries due to my knees taking the brunt of the impact into the dash. The airbags did not deploy.

AIR BAGS — Filed 01/31/2024

Very heavy rain, hit standing water on roadway lost control in to the ditch. Truck totaled, air bags did not deploy.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 11/10/2023

The truck has only 40K miles on it. I was checking under the hood when without notice the heed dropped hitting me in the head and pinning my hand under the hood thus trapping me there. A rescuer released the hood release lever so I could escape. I had a lump on my head and my hand was /wrist was bruised. I am on blood thinners so I consider myself lucky. The stanchions that hold the hood open suddenly failed and will not hold the hood open.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — Filed 10/10/2023

I was sitting at a traffic light stopped when all of a sudden the truck tried to accelerate, I stood on the brakes to get it to stop then all of a sudden it was like i was giving it gas again and I hit the car in front of me again but harder the second time.

AIR BAGS — Filed 12/05/2021

The contact's son owned a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while her son was driving on a county road at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently crashed into a tree 4-6 feet away from the road, and caught fire. No further information was available on the occurrence of the crash. The contact stated that the air bags may have failed to deploy. The fire was extinguished with the assistance of the fire department. The contact's son may have been pronounced dead at the scene. The contact's son was transported out of the vehicle with the assistance of emergency units and was airdropped to the hospital, where it was diagnosed that he sustained brain hemorrhage and third-degree burn on 65% of his body. The contact was unsure whether a fire department report was filed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop where it was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

AIR BAGS — Filed 10/15/2020

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS CLIENT'S FATHER WHO OWNED A 2021 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE CLIENT'S FATHER WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN AROUND ON A NARROW ROAD, THE VEHICLE FELL OFF A CLIFF AND CRASHED INTO A CREEK BED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER PASSED AWAY DUE TO A BROKEN NECK AND FRACTURED SPINE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 950.