Chevrolet Colorado Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. 486 of the 2,552 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Chevrolet Colorado (19%) name the transmission, 1.5× the median share across the 139 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2017, 2016 and 2018.
Transmission complaints
486
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
19%
of 2,552 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Chevrolet Colorado transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 7 | 8.6% | 2 | — | 75 |
| 2009 | 2 | 3% | 0 | — | 81 |
| 2010 | 3 | 10.3% | 0 | — | 107 |
| 2011 | 2 | 4.8% | 0 | 11V337000 | 105 |
| 2012 | 2 | 4.7% | 1 | — | 116 |
| 2013 | 1 | 100% | 0 | — | 43 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 52 |
| 2015 | 45 | 9% | 3 | — | 170 |
| 2016WORST | 97 | 13.5% | 4 | — | 155 |
| 2017WORST | 108 | 49.8% | 2 | — | 167 |
| 2018WORST | 78 | 42.6% | 2 | — | 159 |
| 2019 | 66 | 43.7% | 3 | — | 138 |
| 2020 | 33 | 37.5% | 0 | — | 117 |
| 2021 | 13 | 16.3% | 0 | — | 102 |
| 2022 | 4 | 7% | 2 | — | 80 |
| 2023 | 9 | 6.3% | 0 | — | 66 |
| 2024 | 13 | 10.2% | 0 | — | 38 |
| 2025 | 3 | 10.7% | 1 | — | 11 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Chevrolet Colorado transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 486 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Chevrolet Colorado years to avoid for the transmission
2017 Chevrolet Colorado
108 transmission complaints (49.8% of the year's 217). Most often described: shudder or vibration.
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
97 transmission complaints (13.5% of the year's 716). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts.
2018 Chevrolet Colorado
78 transmission complaints (42.6% of the year's 183). Most often described: shudder or vibration.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Chevrolet Colorado years to avoid.
Chevrolet Colorado transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Chevrolet Colorado model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 11V337000 · 2011-06-28 · 2011 models
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.9 OR 3.7 LITER ENGINE AND A FOUR-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE…
Which transmission does the Chevrolet Colorado use?
- GM 8-speed automatic — 2017–2019
Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 108 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado, 49.8% of all 217 complaints for that year. The most common description is "shudder or vibration" (47 complaints). 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 97 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado, 13.5% of all 716 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (22 complaints). 4 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 78 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado, 42.6% of all 183 complaints for that year. The most common description is "shudder or vibration" (36 complaints). 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Chevrolet Colorado years have the most transmission complaints?
2017 (108), 2016 (97) and 2018 (78), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Chevrolet Colorado transmission problems?
In the 486 transmission complaints, owners most often describe shudder or vibration (30.2%), jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (22.8%) and hesitation or delayed engagement (10.3%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Chevrolet Colorado model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration