Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Chevrolet Colorado year.
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using the VIN.
Issue: 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 BENCH SEAT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE AND THE OWNER MANUAL DOES NOT INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING HOW TO USE THE TOP TETHER.
Risk: BOTH NHTSA AND GM DISCOURAGE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A FRONT SEAT. NEVERTHELESS, THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY REQUIRE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A RESTRAINT IN THE FRONT CENTER SEATING POSITION OF THIS VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT OFFER A REAR SEAT. LACK OF ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR AND A LACK OF INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO USE IT, MAY RESULT IN IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAINT. IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAINT CAN RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN THE RESTRAINT'S PERFORMANCE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD SEATED IN THE RESTRAINT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT A HOLE INTO THE BACK PANEL TRIM COVER TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT POSITION AND WILL PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AS TO USE IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727 OR VISIT GM'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Campaign 10V575000
Issue: 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 INOPERATIVE. ANY TRAILER BRAKE LAMPS WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LAMP WIRING WILL MIMIC THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LAMPS WHEN EITHER CONDITION OCCURS.
Risk: A FOLLOWING DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, AND A REAR-END CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.
Campaign 06V139000
Issue: 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, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, PUERTO RICO, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND UTAH. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A BRAKE LAMP SWITCH THAT MAY NOT WORK AS DESIGNED DUE TO CONTAMINATION IN THE SWITCH.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE. GM ANTICIPATES THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BY JUNE 2010. A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALL OTHER STATES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME. IN THE INTERIM, OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE CAN OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR, HOWEVER THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO RETURN WHEN THE NEW DESIGN PART BECOMES AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Campaign 09V310000
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model (naming may differ or it predates EPA records).

NHTSA frontal crash test
2 open NHTSA investigations into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2005 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab
The parts named most often across 356 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
2 crashes
4 fires · 1 injured
1 crash
10 crashes · 8 injured · 1 death
1 fire
1 fire
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
1 complaint-reported fatality on this model.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud banging sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the side frame of the vehicle was fractured. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000
The FRAME rotten away
My truck bed is resting against my cab due to frame rot. There is big chunks missing from the frame.
Vehicle taillights failed to function when lights come on at night. I became aware of this when another motorist stopped beside me to tell me. Fuse and lightbulbs work when tested.
The driver side frame has rusted through in more than on location. Passenger side frame has rust but still solid. Dealership and private mechanic said this is a common problem with 2005 Colorado. Dealership will not buy vehicle for liability reasons. Frame could crack while driving and cause unsafe driving conditions. The body and engine is in good shape. 105000 miles on vehicle.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE CHASSIS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 169,000.
MOTOR COMPRESSION,
THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS QUIT AND I CANT FIGURE OUT WHY. I REPLACED THE BULBS.
I'M ON DISABILITY ,HARD OF HEARING, AND BAD SPINE,,,BUT I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK AT FIELDMANS IN LANSING MICH,,THE DEALER OR CARFAX DID NOT MENTION THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND BROKE ON DRIVER SIDE REAR LEAFSPINGS,,NOW WHAT DO I DO
FRAME IS ROTTED THROUGH, AND NOW UNABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. *TR
QUIET MORNING NO TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING EAST ON 28TH STREET IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI. BETWEEN 15-20 MILES I WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT.NO POTHOLES, SMALL DENTS ON THE ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY OUT OF NO WHERE THE AIR BAGS EXPLOITED AND DEPLOYED OUT. THE AIR BAG HIT MY RIGHT HAND AND ALSO BLOCK MY VISIBILITY. THIS INCIDENT CAUSE TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, IT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE.
HAD VEHICLE ON LIFT FOR SAFETY INSPECTION FOUND THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE ROTTED OUT BEHIND THE CAB NEAR THE LEFT LEAF SPRING MOUNT. THE SPRING MOUNT HAS SINCE COLLAPSED INTO THE FRAME MAKING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE AND A SAFETY HAZARD. NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR. THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED INSTANCES OF A PROBLEM WITH THESE FRAMES ROTTING OUT IN THE SAME AREA OR WORSE.
Showing 12 of 356 complaints.