CHEVROLET COLORADO · model year

2008 CHEVROLET COLORADO

130 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008CHEVROLETCOLORADO carries 130 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 16 fires, 4 injuries, and 3 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 COLORADO is electrical system with 31 filings, followed by air bags (13) and engine (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2008 COLORADO, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

130
Complaints
7
Crashes
16
Fires
4
Injuries
3
Deaths

Total Complaints

130 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31
AIR BAGS13
ENGINE8
EXTERIOR LIGHTING7
SERVICE BRAKES7
SEAT BELTS6
POWER TRAIN6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
STEERING3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM2

Recalls (2)

09V31000029/07/2009

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

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, MISSISSIP

10V57500018/11/2010

CHILD SEAT

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

Recent Complaints

20251124STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for a service appointment, the contact was informed that the sub frame underneath the vehicle was paper thin due to corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact was informed that the independent mechanic had four similar vehicles in the yard with the same failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently purchased. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

Mileage: 119,000

20220817SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Colorado. Upon inspection of his vehicle, the contact discovered a hole in his vehicle's subframe. The contact then had an independent mechanic perform a further inspection of the vehicle and two additional holes were discovered in the vehicle's subframe. The contact called the dealer who sold him the vehicle and was informed that the vehicle was sold as is. The contact was also given an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.

Mileage: 141,000

20220504STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that her son informed her that the frame was corroded. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that she needed to pay out-of-pocket for the diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and transferred the contact to the dealer. The failure mileage was 109,221.

Mileage: 109,221

20201126AIR BAGS

THE ELECTRIC INGNITION SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING ON THIS AND A MILLION TRUCKS IN THE COUNTRY PLEASE FIX THIS 10 MINUTE WAITING TIME TO START

20201126ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ELECTRIC INGNITION SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING ON THIS AND A MILLION TRUCKS IN THE COUNTRY PLEASE FIX THIS 10 MINUTE WAITING TIME TO START

20201126ENGINE

THE ELECTRIC INGNITION SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING ON THIS AND A MILLION TRUCKS IN THE COUNTRY PLEASE FIX THIS 10 MINUTE WAITING TIME TO START

20200614WHEELS

THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE OF TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR. THE SEAL AROUND WINDSHIELD IS LEAKING CAUSING WATER TO PILE UP IN DRIVER SIDE FLOOR. TALKED TO SOMEONE ELSE THAT HAS SAME YEAR MODEL TRUCK THEY HAVE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AS MINE.

20200428STRUCTURE:BODY

FRAME IS RUSTING HAVE HOLES IN FRAME LEFT HAND SIDE BEHIND FRONT WHEEL CAN SEE ALL THE WAY THRU FRAME SUPPORT THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU ALSO IF THIS FRAME BRAKES AT THE POINT BEHIND LEFT FRONT WHEEL WILL CAUSE A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING EMERGENCY BRAKE BRACKET ALSO MOUNTS HERE IT NO LONGER WORKS THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 12 YEARS OLD

Mileage: 157,935

20191029FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM WILL NOT LET THE TRUCK START HAS LEFT ME STRANDED MANY TIMES. HEATER BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING ON 1, 2, & 3 SETTINGS. BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AND PLUG WERE BURNT, STARTED A MINOR FIRE COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. WHEN I TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT MAKES A LARGE VIBRATION AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN CAN'T GET IT TO TURN BACK ON.

Mileage: 100,000

20191029FirePOWER TRAIN

THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM WILL NOT LET THE TRUCK START HAS LEFT ME STRANDED MANY TIMES. HEATER BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING ON 1, 2, & 3 SETTINGS. BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AND PLUG WERE BURNT, STARTED A MINOR FIRE COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. WHEN I TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT MAKES A LARGE VIBRATION AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN CAN'T GET IT TO TURN BACK ON.

Mileage: 100,000

20190816ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM WILL NOT LET THE TRUCK START, I HAVE HAD THIS SAME COMPLAINT/PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS, HAVE HAD IN MANY SHOPS FOR SAME ISSUE, YES EACH ONE REPLACED SOMETHING/FIXED IT FOR A SUM OF MONEY. IT HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY LEAVING ME STRANDED ONCE AGAIN. IF I CAN GET IT RUNNING IT APPEARS MY ONLY FIX IS TO SELL/TRADE IT AND PASS THIS VERY PROBLEMATIC TRUCK ON TO OTHER.ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Mileage: 134,000

20190730FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD AND SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL MY CABIN. THE SMOKE WAS STRONGER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE VENTS. SHORTLY AFTER FLAMES BEGAN TO APPEAR BETWEEN MY WIFE'S FEET THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD. WE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER IT WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WE WERE IN SHOCK BECAUSE NOTHING HAD EVER HAPPENED TO THIS VEHICLE UP UNTIL THIS POINT. IT WAS A GREAT VEHICLE OTHERWISE. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WHEN I GOOGLED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH SIMILAR MODELS FOR SOME TIME. IT'S A SHAME THAT SUNRISE CHEVY GMC IN BARLETT, TN HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AND STILL SOLD ME THE TRUCK. THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF LEGAL RECOURSE. THE WORKING MAN ALWAYS GETS BURNED NO PUN INTENDED! I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED.

Mileage: 101,000

20190523POWER TRAIN

THE VEHICLE WILL GO FROM 2 WHEEL DRIVE TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. I STOP AND PUSH THE BUTTON TO RETURN TO 2 WHEEL DRIVE AND IT GOES BACK TO 2 WHEEL. I DID NOT DO ANY INPUT WHEN IT CHANGES TO 4 WHEEL SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE MOVING AT 20 TO 30 MPH AND THEN TURNING A CORNER, THE WHEEL STUTTERS, I LOOK AT THE DASH AND IT'S IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE.

Mileage: 55,000

20190411ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH. ALL BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING; NO LONGER ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS INCLUDES THE TOP LAMP, ABOVE THE BACK WINDOW. THERE IS A RECALL NUMBER 09V310000 THAT DESCRIBES THIS SITUATION, BUT ONLY GOOD FOR CERTAIN STATES. IN PROCESS OF BRINGING TO CERTIFIED CHEVY DEALER FOR FORMAL DIAGNOSIS. REQUESTING CONSIDERATION ON EXPANDING THE CURRENT RECALL TO INCLUDE NJ, WHERE MY TRUCK IS REGISTERED. CRITICAL SAFETY HAZARD, AS CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 125,657

20190411EXTERIOR LIGHTING

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH. ALL BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING; NO LONGER ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS INCLUDES THE TOP LAMP, ABOVE THE BACK WINDOW. THERE IS A RECALL NUMBER 09V310000 THAT DESCRIBES THIS SITUATION, BUT ONLY GOOD FOR CERTAIN STATES. IN PROCESS OF BRINGING TO CERTIFIED CHEVY DEALER FOR FORMAL DIAGNOSIS. REQUESTING CONSIDERATION ON EXPANDING THE CURRENT RECALL TO INCLUDE NJ, WHERE MY TRUCK IS REGISTERED. CRITICAL SAFETY HAZARD, AS CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 125,657

20190220SERVICE BRAKES

A FEW YEARS AGO, NOTICED MY CRUISE CONTROL WASN'T WORKING. I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE PART WAS UNDER RECALL, AND THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WEREN'T WORKING EITHER. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, UNTIL THIS WEEK. I NOTICED TODAY THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE CRUISE ISN'T WORKING. WHEN I PARKED MY TRUCK, I TESTED MY BACK BRAKES IN A REFLECTION- NOT WORKING EITHER! AGAIN! IS THIS PART UNDER RECALL STILL?

Mileage: 115,000

20190220VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

A FEW YEARS AGO, NOTICED MY CRUISE CONTROL WASN'T WORKING. I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE PART WAS UNDER RECALL, AND THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WEREN'T WORKING EITHER. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, UNTIL THIS WEEK. I NOTICED TODAY THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE CRUISE ISN'T WORKING. WHEN I PARKED MY TRUCK, I TESTED MY BACK BRAKES IN A REFLECTION- NOT WORKING EITHER! AGAIN! IS THIS PART UNDER RECALL STILL?

Mileage: 115,000

20190216AIR BAGS

SITTING IN A PARKING LOT NONE WITHIN 100 FEET OF ME MY KEYS WERE ON PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THE AIR BAG EXPLOIDED THEN ON JANUARY 2019 BATTERY WENT DEAD PUT NEW BATTERY IN IT THEN ON FEBRUARY 13 LOST ALL POWER TO DASH STILL HAD ALL OTHER POWER BUT WHEN I TURNED IT OFF WILL NOT DO ANYTHING HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER SAID IT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE PUT IT IN AND STILL NOTHING I THINK IT ALL GOES BACK TO THE AIR BAG

Mileage: 91,000

20190216ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SITTING IN A PARKING LOT NONE WITHIN 100 FEET OF ME MY KEYS WERE ON PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THE AIR BAG EXPLOIDED THEN ON JANUARY 2019 BATTERY WENT DEAD PUT NEW BATTERY IN IT THEN ON FEBRUARY 13 LOST ALL POWER TO DASH STILL HAD ALL OTHER POWER BUT WHEN I TURNED IT OFF WILL NOT DO ANYTHING HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER SAID IT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE PUT IT IN AND STILL NOTHING I THINK IT ALL GOES BACK TO THE AIR BAG

Mileage: 91,000

20190216ENGINE

SITTING IN A PARKING LOT NONE WITHIN 100 FEET OF ME MY KEYS WERE ON PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THE AIR BAG EXPLOIDED THEN ON JANUARY 2019 BATTERY WENT DEAD PUT NEW BATTERY IN IT THEN ON FEBRUARY 13 LOST ALL POWER TO DASH STILL HAD ALL OTHER POWER BUT WHEN I TURNED IT OFF WILL NOT DO ANYTHING HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER SAID IT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE PUT IT IN AND STILL NOTHING I THINK IT ALL GOES BACK TO THE AIR BAG

Mileage: 91,000

Compare 2008CHEVROLETCOLORADO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 CHEVROLET COLORADO have?
The 2008 CHEVROLET COLORADO has 130 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 16 fires, 4 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 CHEVROLET COLORADO?
Yes, the 2008 CHEVROLET COLORADO has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 CHEVROLET COLORADO?
The most-complained component for the 2008 CHEVROLET COLORADO is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 31 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and ENGINE.
Is the 2008 CHEVROLET COLORADO safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.