Chevrolet Colorado transmission and drivetrain problems, 2016–2026
421 of the 1,771 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Colorado 2016–2026 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). The loudest years: 2017 (108), 2016 (97), 2018 (78). Filed under the same heading across these years: no document yet. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Chevrolet Colorado transmission and drivetrain problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 7% | — | 3 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 | 3 | 11% | — | 11 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 13 | 11% | — | 38 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 9 | 7% | — | 67 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 3 | 5% | — | 81 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 | 11 | 15% | — | 103 TSBs | the year → |
| 2020 | 33 | 39% | — | 118 TSBs | the year → |
| 2019 in depth | 65 | 43% | 6k | 137 TSBs | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 78 | 43% | 19k | 160 TSBs | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 108 | 50% | 21k | 167 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 97 | 14% | 13k | 152 TSBs | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the transmission and drivetrain. Nothing here is a rate.
When the transmission and drivetrain complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 24 · 2017: 22 · 2018: 26 · 2019: 68 · 2020: 50 · 2021: 48 · 2022: 26 · 2023: 38 · 2024: 39 · 2025: 39 · 2026: 41
Across the model years, half of the 202 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 6,000 and 36,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
When automatic transmission downshifts into 1st gear coming to a stop, it does so harshly and lunges forward. When nosing into a parking space with a concrete wall at the front of the parking space, if I had not allowed enough space for the lunge, the vehicle would have impacted the wall .
When driving at low speeds my 8 speed auto transmission - clunks or thuds - specially from 1st - 2nd - its sounds like a bang - took it to dealer - said chevy knows about it - but there is no fix yet.....great!
Chevy said there are no fixes for the following complaints. Transmission is acceptable and smooth shifting under light loads. Under a need for downshifting for acceleration the down shifting is delayed or hesitates momentarily and then the truck jerks forward to a excessively lower gear & the upshifts to the gear it should have in the…
Delayed or no downshift. Traveling about 2 MPH and turning either right or left and applying throttle the truck does not respond until the throttle is increased steeply . The transmission does then shift to a much lower gear and acceleration is dramatic
Transmission has horrible shifting. Hard shifting at low speeds and when decelerating (feels like I was rear ended). Torque converter was replaced. From low speed, it doesn't downshift to accelerate unless the pedal is floored.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNothing filed under this heading on these model years.
Other systems with a record on the Chevrolet Colorado
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Chevrolet Colorado problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Chevrolet Colorado years have the most transmission and drivetrain complaints?
2017, 108; 2016, 97; 2018, 78. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2017 (50%).
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the Chevrolet Colorado?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the Chevrolet Colorado?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 17,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 6,000 and 36,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.