2021 Chevrolet Colorado: What to check before buying

Power steering assist cuts out, often with a service power steering message, and the wheel turns heavy or locks. Some failures happen mid-turn. Most reports fall between 36,000 and 49,000 miles. Owners point to an earlier steering recall that does not cover their trucks. Repair bills top $2,000, and in one case the wiring harness was on backorder. Other drivers describe steering that sticks after about 20 minutes at highway speed, which leads to overcorrection. Several filings here actually describe the stuck-key fault.

With no warning light, the brake pedal turns rock hard and the truck barely slows. Drivers stop it with the parking brake, by downshifting, or by steering onto the shoulder at highway speed. Most reports blame vacuum pump failure on the 2.5-liter engine. The failed pump can break the exhaust camshaft or leave metal shavings in the engine, and some trucks need a full engine replacement. One dealer called it a known issue and a service bulletin exists, but some owners are told the repair is not covered.

Dash, radio, and navigation screens go blank or stop responding while driving. In some trucks the radio volume jumps to maximum without input. One truck lost power at 45 MPH, and repeated dealer repairs did not cure it. The stuck-key problem shows up here too and gets more frequent with mileage. A thermostat stuck open keeps the temperature gauge low and the fans running at full speed. Some owners pay about $1,200 because their VIN falls outside a special coverage bulletin.

At highway speed the transmission can suddenly act as if it is in neutral. The engine revs but the truck will not accelerate, which leaves the driver exposed to traffic behind. Other trucks clunk when shifted into reverse, even after a software update, and dealers sometimes cannot reproduce the noise. Rear differential failure at higher mileage brings whining, grinding, and vibration. Other reports include a crankshaft failure that stranded a truck on the highway, the stuck-key fault, and odd shifting.

The 3.6L V6 can quit without warning and stall in traffic. In one such failure, dealers found piston-to-valve contact and metal debris, and GM replaced the engine. Other trucks shake with warning lights on and need a new engine, with quotes up to $10k. Cam actuator trouble triggers a check engine light, rough idle, and lost power, and the problem can return within 12 months while parts are backordered. Owners also report coolant leaking from the thermostat housing hoses, and one more stuck-key shifter case.

Every complaint in this category describes air bags that did not deploy, or may not have, in a serious crash. The crashes include a high-speed frontal collision that caused spine, head, and leg injuries, a tree impact followed by fire, a slide into a ditch in heavy rain, and a fall from a cliff at 950 miles that killed the driver. One owner adds that the SOS system failed after impact. All four filings involve crashes, and three people were injured.

Vibration at highway speed and while slowing down shows up early, along with squeaks from the suspension. One report puts it at 4642 miles. Other trucks pull left because of play in the left upper ball joint and control arm, and those parts were replaced under factory warranty. One truck sits almost 1 inch higher on the passenger side. These reports describe noise and wear rather than crashes or loss of control.

The infotainment screen and dash electronics shut off while driving and take a few minutes to reboot. The engine keeps running throughout. The volume can also rise to high levels without driver input. Dealers say they cannot replicate the fault, and the manufacturer refers owners back to the dealer. One filing pairs the reboots with a check engine light, rough idle, and an exhaust camshaft fault that returned after repair. Neither complaint involves a crash.