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2012 Chevrolet Colorado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado are lower than the model-year median of 84.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Colorado years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

31 reports with mileage · 11 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

42 reports
50,000 miles · Sep 20, 2016
Unknown Or Other

SHUT OFF, DO NOT LOCK, TRY TO START AND THE CAR WITH THE PADLOCK IS LIT UP AND I CANNOT START THE PICKUP. HIT LOCK, UNLOCK, STILL WON'T GET RID OF CAR/PADLOCK LIGHT.. GET OUT HIT LOCK, UNLOCK. STILL WON'T GET RID OF CAR/PADLOCK LIGHT. I HAVE TO KEEP DOING THIS UNTIL THE LIGHT GOES OFF SO I CAN START THE PICKUP. HAS HAPPEDED T…

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SHUT OFF, DO NOT LOCK, TRY TO START AND THE CAR WITH THE PADLOCK IS LIT UP AND I CANNOT START THE PICKUP. HIT LOCK, UNLOCK, STILL WON'T GET RID OF CAR/PADLOCK LIGHT.. GET OUT HIT LOCK, UNLOCK. STILL WON'T GET RID OF CAR/PADLOCK LIGHT. I HAVE TO KEEP DOING THIS UNTIL THE LIGHT GOES OFF SO I CAN START THE PICKUP. HAS HAPPEDED TWICE IN THE LAST 4 WEEKS.

NHTSA ODI #10908151

90,000 miles · Jun 20, 2016
Air Bags

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE HARNESS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT POST AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED DUE TO THIS SHORT. THE VEHICLE HAD 90K MILES BUT IT IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. THE COST OF…

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AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE HARNESS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT POST AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED DUE TO THIS SHORT. THE VEHICLE HAD 90K MILES BUT IT IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS QUOTED AT $1200. WITH THE VEHICLE ONLY BEING 4 YEARS OLD, CHEVY NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND COVER THIS SAFETY ITEM UNDER WARRANTY OR CONSIDER A RECALL FOR ANY FAULTY CONNECTERS THAT ARE PART OF THEIR AIR BAG SAFETY SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #10875475

32,000 miles · May 24, 2016
Air Bags

2012 CHEV COLORADO EXTENDED CAB (PURCHASED NEW IN 2012). AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. 1ST INCIDENT AUG 2015 (32,000 MILES). DEALERSHIP RAN DIAG SCAN AND PULLED CODE B0092 AND REPAIRED WIRES UNDER PASSENGER SEAT AND CLEARED CODE. 2ND INCIDENT LESS THAN 4 MONTHS LATER (34,000 MILES) ' DEALERSHIP CLEARED CODE. 3RD INCIDENT APR. 2016 (…

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2012 CHEV COLORADO EXTENDED CAB (PURCHASED NEW IN 2012). AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. 1ST INCIDENT AUG 2015 (32,000 MILES). DEALERSHIP RAN DIAG SCAN AND PULLED CODE B0092 AND REPAIRED WIRES UNDER PASSENGER SEAT AND CLEARED CODE. 2ND INCIDENT LESS THAN 4 MONTHS LATER (34,000 MILES) ' DEALERSHIP CLEARED CODE. 3RD INCIDENT APR. 2016 (37,000 MILES). DEALERSHIP FOUND B0092 SET IN SDM. AN INSPECTION FOUND THREE WIRES BROKEN. REPAIRED WIRING UNDER PASSENGER SEAT AND CLEARED CODE. NOTHING IS BEING PUT UNDER THE SEAT. THE SEAT OCCASIONALLY GETS MOVED FORWARD AND BACKWARD AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR GETS OPEN AND CLOSED. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS SAME PROBLEM IN OLDER MODELS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRES (POOR QUALITY OR TOO SHORT CAUSING TENSION AND WEAR & TEAR?). A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND PROPER WIRING AND/OR CONNECTIONS CORRECTED. ALSO SEEMS THAT THE COST OF REPAIRS ($120 - $140 PER INCIDENT) SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10870693

76,126 miles · May 17, 2016
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESET THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND A LOUD POP SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE ODOR OF GUN POWDER. THE CONTACT DISC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESET THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND A LOUD POP SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE ODOR OF GUN POWDER. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR EXPLODED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STILL NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND BLEW A HOLE INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,126.

NHTSA ODI #10865353

23,300 miles · Mar 13, 2016
Service Brakes

THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE RUNNING FROM THE FOOT PEDAL TO THE MIDDLE OF THE TRUCK IS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT WORE A HOLE THOUGH THE RUBBER CASING. THIS CAUSED THE INTERIOR METAL CABLE TO RUST. THE INTERIOR METAL THEN WOULD NOT MOVE FREELY THROUGH THE RUBBER CASING. WHILE DRIVING THE BECAUSE OF BUMPY ROADS WOU…

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THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE RUNNING FROM THE FOOT PEDAL TO THE MIDDLE OF THE TRUCK IS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT WORE A HOLE THOUGH THE RUBBER CASING. THIS CAUSED THE INTERIOR METAL CABLE TO RUST. THE INTERIOR METAL THEN WOULD NOT MOVE FREELY THROUGH THE RUBBER CASING. WHILE DRIVING THE BECAUSE OF BUMPY ROADS WOULD CREEP UP AND ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING. THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED IN JULY OF 2012, BUT IT ONLY HAS 23000 MILE ON IT. I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER AND HE INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOT RECALL. I HAD MY MECHANIC REPAIR THE BRAKE. I HAVE INCLUDED THREE PHOTOS. THE FIRST IS THE BILL FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE CABLE. THE 2ND IS A LONG VIEW OF THE PART CHANGED. THE 3RD IS A MEDIUM VIEW OF THE PART REMOVED. THE 4TH IS A CLOSE UP OF THE PROBLEM AREA.

NHTSA ODI #10846301

43,000 miles · Oct 19, 2015
EnginePower TrainStructureCrashInjury

WAS TRAVELING SOUTH GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON A GREEN TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING NORTH IN A LEFT TURN YIELD ON GREEN, WHEN THE DESIGNATED GREEN ARROW IS NOT ILLUMINATED, TURNED IN FRONT OF ME AND WE COLLIDED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE. DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER IN VEHICLE TRAVELING SOU…

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WAS TRAVELING SOUTH GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON A GREEN TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING NORTH IN A LEFT TURN YIELD ON GREEN, WHEN THE DESIGNATED GREEN ARROW IS NOT ILLUMINATED, TURNED IN FRONT OF ME AND WE COLLIDED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE. DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER IN VEHICLE TRAVELING SOUTH SUSTAINED INJURIES AND TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL IN AMBULANCE.

NHTSA ODI #10783275

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2015
Air Bags

2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. CONSUMER REQUESTS FOR AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH. *SMD

NHTSA ODI #10664930

39,138 miles · Jan 16, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

ABS BRAKES AND STABILITRAC LIGHTS ON DASH UPON STARTING, TAKEN TO DEALER ON 11/27/2014, MILES 39138, FAILED AGAIN 12/19/2014, MILES 39780, AND 12/31/2014 FOR SAME PROBLEM. TRUCK IS STILL AT DEALER AS OF 01/16/2015. AFTER FIRST FAILURE BRAKING WAS NOT RIGHT, AND THE TRUCK NEEDS A PART THAT CAN NOT SEEM TO BE FOUND TO DATE. I BEL…

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ABS BRAKES AND STABILITRAC LIGHTS ON DASH UPON STARTING, TAKEN TO DEALER ON 11/27/2014, MILES 39138, FAILED AGAIN 12/19/2014, MILES 39780, AND 12/31/2014 FOR SAME PROBLEM. TRUCK IS STILL AT DEALER AS OF 01/16/2015. AFTER FIRST FAILURE BRAKING WAS NOT RIGHT, AND THE TRUCK NEEDS A PART THAT CAN NOT SEEM TO BE FOUND TO DATE. I BELIEVE THIS TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE BRAKE ISSUE, AND WILL NOT KEEP THE TRUCK UPON RETURN, BUT I AM FEARFUL THAT IT WILL BE SOLD TO ANOTHER CONSUMER, AND IT WILL BE INVOLVED IN A TRAGEDY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676150

43,000 miles · Nov 11, 2014
Air Bags

I NOTICED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON ONE MORNING IN LATE OCTOBER. AS I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN, I COULD NOT DEAL WITH IT UNTIL I GOT BACK, LAST WEEK. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, ON SATURDAY, THEY READ THE ERROR CODES FROM THE AIRBAG MODULE, BUT COULD NOT INTERPRET THEM, AS THE SPECIALIST WAS NOT ON DUTY. I RETURNED IT TUESDAY, …

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I NOTICED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON ONE MORNING IN LATE OCTOBER. AS I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN, I COULD NOT DEAL WITH IT UNTIL I GOT BACK, LAST WEEK. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, ON SATURDAY, THEY READ THE ERROR CODES FROM THE AIRBAG MODULE, BUT COULD NOT INTERPRET THEM, AS THE SPECIALIST WAS NOT ON DUTY. I RETURNED IT TUESDAY, (TODAY), AND THEY DIAGNOSED A BROKEN WIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE LEFT REAR DOOR. THEY REPLACED IT, AT A CHARGE OF 247.07. THEY DID NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY, THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 26 MONTHS OLD, BECAUSE IT IS OVER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE MILEAGE. I KNOW OTHERS WITH THIS SAME FAILURE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS SIMILAR REPORTS ON-LINE. I USE THIS DOOR EVERY DAY, TO LOAD MY WHEELCHAIR BEHIND THE SEAT, AND I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER FAILURE. USING THE DOOR SHOULD NOT CAUSE A SAFETY SYSTEM FAILURE. BROKEN AND BARE WIRES IN ANY WIRING IS NOT SAFE, AND AS PART OF A MAJOR SAFETY SYSTEM, SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN, AND CERTAINLY NOT ON SUCH A NEW VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654271

780 miles · Sep 27, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THE "SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN. IT DOES THAT REPEATEDLY. THE CHEVROLET DEALER, JIM COOK CHEVROLET IN MARION, NC, SAYS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE LIGHT OR DETECT A CODE AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT IS MEANINGLESS AND I SHOULD DIS…

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THE "SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN. IT DOES THAT REPEATEDLY. THE CHEVROLET DEALER, JIM COOK CHEVROLET IN MARION, NC, SAYS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE LIGHT OR DETECT A CODE AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT IS MEANINGLESS AND I SHOULD DISREGARD IT. THE USER MANUAL STATES THAT IF THIS LIGHT COMES ON THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY PARKED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY FOR THE YEAR I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, MAY OF 2014, THE SHOP TECH AT JIM COOK DID SEE THE LIGHT COME ON AND HE CHANGED THE "YAW SENOR". IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER DENIES THAT ANYONE EVER SAW THE LIGHT COME ON AT THEIR SHOP. ALSO, THE JIM COOK MANAGER SAYS THAT ALL RECORDS THEY HAVE OF SERVING THIS TRUCK WERE SENT TO GM ON ORDERS OF THE REGIONAL GM OFFICE AND THEY NO LONGER HAVE ANY RECORDS OF SERVING THE TRUCK. THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE OPENED THEN CLOSED A CASE ON THE ISSUE AND NOW TELLS ME I AM SIMPLY A DISSATISFIED OWNER AND THEY WILL NOT LONGER SERVICE THE TRUCK OR DEAL WITH ME. I EVEN ASKED THE DEALER IF THEY WOULD TAKE THE TRUCK BACK IN TRADE FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE, AS I REALLY NEED A RELIABLE TRUCK. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THE TRUCK IN TRADE OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER AND I NEEDED TO TAKE THE MATTER UP WITH CHEVROLET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639499

Official recalls

2

12V594000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Dec 19, 2012

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, "Hood Latch System." The hood may be missing the secondary hood latch.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the primary hood latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly. During vehicle operation, this could obstruct the view of the driver and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners and instruct them to inspect their vehicle for the presence of a secondary hood latch. Dealers will replace the hood on any affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on January 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.

11V552000 · Seat Belts:front

Nov 17, 2011

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 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH DRIVER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TERMINALS THAT DO NOT FIT SNUGLY WITH THE CONNECTOR PINS, CAUSING THE CONNECTION TO BE INTERMITTENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LOOSE CONNECTIONS MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER TO NOT RECEIVE A VISUAL OR AUDIBLE WARNING THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BELT IS NOT FASTENED, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TERMINALS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 7, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.