YearToAvoid

2020 Chevrolet Colorado Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 Colorado years

The 2020 Chevrolet Colorado has a Complaint Index of 40, ranking 10th worst out of 16 model years, with a "Good" verdict relative to other Colorado years. It has 84 complaints, no recalls, and the top problem area is Transmission & Powertrain at 39% of complaints.

Complaints
84
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 3
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20.5
18.5 city / 24.5 hwy

Top 2020 Chevrolet Colorado problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain33 (39%)
  2. Engine19 (23%)
  3. Other15 (18%)
  4. Brakes11 (13%)
  5. Steering10 (12%)
  6. Electrical System9 (11%)
  7. Fuel System2 (2%)
  8. Seat Belts2 (2%)
  9. Airbags1 (1%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (1%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the truck shakes or shudders during light throttle acceleration between 25 and 80 mph, similar to driving over rumble strips.
  • Some describe a vibration between 30 and 60 mph, especially when cruise control transitions from downhill to uphill and the engine re-engages.
  • Power steering has reportedly stopped functioning suddenly while towing, triggering a "Service Power Steering Drive With Care" warning.
  • Owners describe a sloshing sound from the front passenger side moving toward the back during acceleration, along with recurring alignment problems traced to a factory rear thrust angle issue.
  • Some report the dash information screen going black temporarily, with one case followed by a fire and airbag discharge while the vehicle was parked.
  • Brake-related incidents include reduced stopping ability accompanied by smoke or flames near the vehicle's underside, and unexpected traction/ESC warning lights appearing shortly after purchase.
2020 Chevrolet Colorado complaints: complaints filed per month9Jun 2020Feb 2021Oct 2022Aug 2023May 2024Dec 2024Jul 2025Apr 2026
105 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2020 to Sep 2026; peak Dec 2020 (9).

2020 Chevrolet Colorado recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2020 Chevrolet Colorado fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18.5 MPG
Highway
24.5 MPG
Combined
20.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,600
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.

2020 compared with other Colorado years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Caution60183120.5
2019Caution73150020.5
2020Good4084020.5
2021Caution5375121
2022Good3355121

All Chevrolet Colorado years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado reliable?
Relative to other Colorado model years, the 2020 is rated "Good" with a Complaint Index of 40, ranking 10th worst among 16 model years covered.
What is the top problem area for the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado?
Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 39% of complaints (33 of 84), with a median mileage at failure of 25,500 miles.
Does the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado.
How does the 2020 Colorado compare to other years?
The 2020 model (Complaint Index 40) ranks much better than 2015 and 2016, which have Complaint Indexes of 93 and 100 and are rated "Avoid."
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado?
EPA rates the 2020 Colorado at 20.5 mpg combined (18.5 city / 24.5 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $3,600.

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.