YearToAvoid

2012 Chevrolet Colorado Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

15/100

#18 most-complained of 21 Colorado years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2012 Chevrolet Colorado has 42 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 15 out of 100 — #18 highest of 21 Colorado model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is brakes (11 complaints, 26% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes, 2 fires, and 2 injuries.

Complaints
42
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
3 / 2
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19
17 city / 22.5 hwy

Top 2012 Chevy Colorado problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes11 (26%)
  2. Engine11 (26%)
  3. Airbags9 (21%)
  4. Electrical System9 (21%)
  5. Steering5 (12%)
  6. Structure & Body3 (7%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (5%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain2 (5%)
  9. Fuel System1 (2%)
  10. Other1 (2%)
2012 Chevrolet Colorado complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2012Jul 2013Sep 2014Mar 2016Apr 2018Sep 2019Feb 2021Dec 2022
55 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2012 to Jul 2026; peak Jul 2013 (3).

2012 Chevrolet Colorado recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 12V594000Dec 19, 2012Structure & Body118,800 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

    General Motors is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured from November 9, 2009, through August 28, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 113, "Hood Latch System." The hood may be missing the secondary hood latch.

    Risk: If the primary hood latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly. During vehicle operation, this could obstruct the view of the driver and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: General Motors will notify owners and instruct them to inspect their vehicle for the presence of a secondary hood latch. Dealers will replace the hood on any affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on January 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.

  2. NHTSA 11V552000Nov 17, 2011Seat Belts5,593 vehicles

    Seat belts:front

    General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2012 chevrolet colorado and gmc canyon vehicles, manufactured from september 9, 2011, through october 19, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 208, "occupant crash protection." these vehicles may have been produced with driver safety belt buckle electrical connector terminals that do not fit snugly with the connector pins, causing the connection to be intermittent.

    Risk: The loose connections may cause the driver to not receive a visual or audible warning that the driver seat belt is not fastened, thereby increasing the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Gm will notify owners and dealers will replace the seat belt buckle electrical connector terminals free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before december 7, 2011. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and gmc at 1-866-996-9463.

2012 Chevrolet Colorado fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 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.

2012 compared with other Colorado years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best1028219
2011Best2042519
2012Best1542219
2013No verdict010—
2014No verdict510—

All Chevrolet Colorado years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado ranks #18 of 21 among Colorado model years (Complaint Index 15/100, verdict: Best). It has 42 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado?
The most reported problem areas are brakes (11 complaints), engine (11 complaints), and airbags (9 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 43,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado, most recently reported 2012, covering structure & body and seat belts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado?
EPA rates the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado at 19 MPG combined (17 city / 22.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.