2005 Chevrolet Colorado Reliability
The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado has 356 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Compared with nearby Colorado model years (2004–2007), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Colorado's typical year, while the 2007 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
356
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
27
Complaints citing a crash
11
Complaints citing a fire
2005 Chevrolet Colorado complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 model year, filed between 2004 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 90 | 25% |
| Electrical system | 69 | 19% |
| Exterior lighting | 49 | 14% |
| Air bags | 33 | 9% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 27 | 8% |
| Suspension | 23 | 6% |
| Engine & cooling | 23 | 6% |
| Body structure | 19 | 5% |
2005 Chevrolet Colorado recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2005 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06V139000 | Apr 27, 2006 | Exterior lighting — brake lights / switch | Certain pickup trucks may experience the permanent loss of brake lamp function or brake lamps that are illuminated at all times. The center high-mounted stop lamp (chmsl) is affected in both instances. Also, if equipped, the cruise control will become… |
| 09V310000 | Jul 29, 2009 | Exterior lighting — brake lights / switch | Gm is recalling 185,903 model year 2004-2009 Colorado, gmc model year 2009-2004 canyon, model year 2006 i-280, i-350, model year 2007-2008 i-290, and i-370, passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of alabama, arizona,… |
| 10V575000 | Nov 18, 2010 | Child seat | Gm is recalling certain model year 2004-2011, Chevrolet Colorado, gmc canyon, model year 2006, isuzu i-280/i-350, and model year 2007-2008, i-290/i-370, regular cab vehicles and extended cab vehicles without a rear seat and equipped with a front 60/40 split… |
How the 2005 compares with nearby Colorado years
Verdicts compare these Colorado model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 361 | 3 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2005 (this page) | 356 | 3 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2006 | 236 | 4 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2007 | 140 | 3 | Electrical system | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2005 Chevrolet Colorado can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2005 Chevrolet Colorado reliability FAQ
Is the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado reliable?
The 2005 Chevrolet Colorado has 356 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Compared with nearby Colorado model years (2004–2007), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Colorado's typical year, while the 2007 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2005 Chevrolet Colorado problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado are service brakes (90), electrical system (69), exterior lighting (49), air bags (33). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado, including 06V139000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch) and 09V310000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado compare with the 2004 and 2006 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2004 has 361 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid); the 2006 has 236 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid). The 2005 has 356 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2005 Chevrolet Colorado?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Chevrolet Colorado research
Other Chevrolet Colorado model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2005 Colorado, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.