YearToAvoid

2018 Chevrolet Colorado Transmission & Powertrain Problems

Owners filed 78 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado, 43% of all 183 complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 18,000 miles. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
78
43% of 183
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
18,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle shudders or vibrates during light acceleration, often between 30 and 70 mph, feeling similar to driving over rumble strips.
  • Torque converter issues lead dealers to flush transmission fluid or replace the torque converter, sometimes repeatedly without fixing the shudder.
  • Hard or rough shifting occurs, with the transmission downshifting abruptly or hesitating between gears, sometimes producing a clunk sound.
  • Transfer case or 4WD system malfunctions, including auto 4WD engaging unexpectedly upon motion instead of only when needed.
  • A loud bang and full loss of tire control was reported during deceleration at low speed, linked to a faulty transfer case.

When 2018 Chevrolet Colorado transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 8, 2017, latest Aug 2, 2026.

2018 Chevrolet Colorado transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter62017 Q42019 Q12020 Q12021 Q12022 Q32023 Q32024 Q32025 Q4
78 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q3 (6).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Colorado model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200527 (8%)
  2. 200615 (6%)
  3. 20078 (6%)
  4. 20087 (9%)
  5. 20092 (3%)
  6. 20103 (11%)
  7. 20112 (5%)
  8. 20122 (5%)
  9. 20131 (100%)
  10. 20140 (0%)
  11. 201545 (9%)
  12. 201697 (14%)
  13. 2017107 (50%)
  14. 201878 (43%)
  15. 201965 (43%)
  16. 202033 (39%)
  17. 202111 (15%)
  18. 20223 (5%)
  19. 20239 (7%)
  20. 202413 (11%)
  21. 20253 (11%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado have?
NHTSA lists 78 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Colorado, which is 43% of all 183 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado transmission?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain issues reported on the 2018 Colorado.
At what mileage do 2018 Colorado transmission problems usually appear?
NHTSA complaint data shows a median failure mileage of 18,000 miles for Transmission & Powertrain issues on the 2018 Colorado.
What transmission symptoms do 2018 Colorado owners report most?
Owners most often describe shuddering or vibration during light acceleration between 30 and 70 mph, along with torque converter replacements and rough shifting.
How does the 2018 Colorado compare to other years for transmission complaints?
The 2018 Colorado's 43% share is lower than the 2017 model's 50% share but higher than most other model years, according to NHTSA complaint counts by year.

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.