2009 Chevrolet Colorado Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2009 Chevrolet Colorado has a complaint index of 25, ranking 16th worst out of 21 model years, and carries a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 67 complaints, 3 recalls, and 4 fire reports, with the Electrical System as the top problem area at 55% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 25/100
- #16 of 21 Colorado years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 67
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16.5 city / 22.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2009 Chevy Colorado problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System37 (55%)
- Fuel System12 (18%)
- Engine10 (15%)
- Other7 (10%)
- Airbags6 (9%)
- Structure & Body4 (6%)
- Brakes3 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (3%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe electrical fires starting under the glove box, often traced to the AC blower fan resistor and producing smoke and flames on the passenger side.
- Ignition switches sometimes fail to turn over, with the dash falsely showing the key in the lock position even after trying a spare key.
- Some vehicles fail to start or crank at all, requiring a wait of about 10 minutes before the ignition will clear and let the engine start again.
- Fuel system complaints include engine revving or jerking in park along with a strong fuel odor and visible leaking after shutdown.
- A transmission oil cooler line reportedly rubbed against the frame until it wore a hole, spraying leaking fluid under the moving vehicle.
- One driver reported a rear hood weather strip detaching onto the exhaust manifold, catching fire and melting nearby plastic hoses and a fuel line.
2009 Chevrolet Colorado recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 10V575000Nov 18, 2010Other192,676 vehicles
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 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.
- NHTSA 09V310000Jul 29, 2009Electrical System185,903 vehicles
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, 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.
- NHTSA 09V154000May 6, 2009Fuel System27,188 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline
Gm is recalling 27,188 my 2009 cadillac escalade, escalade hybrid, escalade esv, and escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, suburban, tahoe, tahoe hybrid, and colorado; and gmc yukon, yukon hybrid, yukon xl, and canyon vehicles. The fuel system control modules may have a condition in which an adhesive separation of the room temperature vulcanizing (rtv) seal between the seal and the housing may allow water to seep into the module.
Risk: Water in the module could cause a short or open circuit, illumination of the service engine soon lamp, setting of diagnostic trouble codes or the engine may be hard to start, may not start or may stall increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new fuel system control module free of charge. The recall began on may 18, 2009. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and gmc at 1-866-996-9463 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
2009 Chevrolet Colorado fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16.5 MPG
- Highway
- 22.5 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2009 compared with other Colorado years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Chevrolet Colorado reliable?
- Compared to other Colorado model years, 2009 ranks 16th worst out of 21 with a complaint index of 25 and a Good verdict. It has fewer complaints (67) than earlier years like 2005 (356) or later years like 2016 (707).
- What is the biggest problem with the 2009 Chevrolet Colorado?
- The Electrical System accounts for 55% of complaints (37 of 67), including reports of ignition switch failures and fires near the glove box, with a median failure mileage of 60,000.
- Does the 2009 Chevrolet Colorado have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2009 Colorado, covering a rear seat tether anchor issue, an electrical system defect (campaign 09V310000), and a fuel system control module replacement (campaign 09V154000).
- How does the 2009 Colorado compare to the 2010 and 2011 model years?
- The 2010 (complaint index 10) and 2011 (complaint index 20) model years both earn a Best verdict, while 2009 sits between the older, worse-rated 2005-2006 trucks and these later, lower-complaint years.
- Are there fire risks with the 2009 Chevrolet Colorado?
- NHTSA has 4 fire reports for the 2009 Colorado, mostly tied to the Electrical System, including an AC blower fan resistor issue that owners describe as producing smoke and flames under the dash.