2012 Chevrolet Colorado Reliability
The 2012 Chevrolet Colorado has 42 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Compared with nearby Colorado model years (2010–2014), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Colorado's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
42
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
3
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2012 Chevrolet Colorado complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2012 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 9 | 21% |
| Engine | 8 | 19% |
| Electrical system | 8 | 19% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 17% |
| Steering | 5 | 12% |
| Stability control | 5 | 12% |
| Engine & cooling | 4 | 10% |
| Body structure | 3 | 7% |
2012 Chevrolet Colorado recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V552000 | Nov 17, 2011 | Seat belts — front | General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Colorado and gmc canyon vehicles, manufactured from September 9, 2011, through October 19, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number… |
| 12V594000 | Dec 19, 2012 | Latches, locks & linkages — hood / latch | General Motors is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured from November 9, 2009, through August 28, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 113,… |
How the 2012 compares with nearby Colorado years
Verdicts compare these Colorado model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 29 | 2 | Electrical system | Solid |
| 2011 | 42 | 5 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2012 (this page) | 42 | 2 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | Powertrain / transmission | Too few reports |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | Steering | Too few reports |
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 2012 Chevrolet Colorado
- 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.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 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 2012 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.
2012 Chevrolet Colorado reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado reliable?
The 2012 Chevrolet Colorado has 42 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Compared with nearby Colorado model years (2010–2014), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Colorado's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2012 Chevrolet Colorado problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado are air bags (9), engine (8), electrical system (8), service brakes (7). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado, including 11V552000 (seat belts — front) and 12V594000 (latches, locks & linkages — hood / latch). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 42 complaints and 5 recalls (caution); the 2013 has 1 complaint and 0 recalls (too few reports). The 2012 has 42 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 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
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 Colorado, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.