Chevrolet Colorado Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Chevrolet Colorado years to avoid are 2018, 2015, 2016: the 2018 alone has 182 NHTSA owner complaints and 1,258 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by power train issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2025 and 2022 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-09-04 · By CarWhere Research
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015AVOID | 0 | 1,823 | 7 | — |
| 2016AVOID | 0 | 1,593 | 4 | — |
| 2017 | 0 | 1,503 | 1 | — |
| 2018AVOID | 182 | 1,258 | 1 | — |
| 2019 | 149 | 983 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 82 | 876 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 74 | 741 | 1 | — |
| 2022BEST | 51 | 641 | 1 | — |
| 2023 | 131 | 614 | 3 | — |
| 2024 | 121 | 511 | 3 | — |
| 2025BEST | 27 | 268 | 1 | $47,919 (6 deals) |
| 2026 | 28 | 102 | 1 | $41,892 (6 deals) |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Common Chevrolet Colorado problems by year
Across NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported problem areas on the Chevrolet Colorado are equipment, electrical system, engine and engine cooling, power train. The years below carry the highest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
2018 Chevrolet Colorado: 182 owner complaints, 1,258 service bulletins, 1 recall campaign — most-reported areas: power train, unknown or other, electrical system.
2015 Chevrolet Colorado: 0 owner complaints, 1,823 service bulletins, 7 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: equipment, electrical system, engine and engine cooling.
2016 Chevrolet Colorado: 0 owner complaints, 1,593 service bulletins, 4 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: equipment, electrical system, engine and engine cooling.
2025 Chevrolet Colorado: cleanest recent federal record (27 complaints, 268 bulletins) — verified buyers paid an average of $47,919.
2022 Chevrolet Colorado: cleanest recent federal record (51 complaints, 641 bulletins).
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FAQ
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Colorado?
Based on federal records, the Chevrolet Colorado years to avoid are 2018, 2015, 2016: the 2018 alone has 182 NHTSA owner complaints and 1,258 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by power train issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2025 and 2022 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Colorado?
Among recent model years, the 2025 and 2022 Chevrolet Colorado show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record. Verified buyers paid an average of $47,919 for the 2025.
Is the Chevrolet Colorado reliable?
The Chevrolet Colorado's reliability varies by model year. Across 845 NHTSA owner complaints on federal record, 2018, 2015, 2016 stand out as the years to avoid, while the 2025 and 2022 model years show the cleanest records — see the year-by-year table above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Colorado?
The most-reported problem areas for the Chevrolet Colorado are equipment, electrical system, engine and engine cooling, based on NHTSA owner complaints. See the year-by-year table above for how these cluster by model year.
How do I check a specific Chevrolet Colorado before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.