YearToAvoid

2021 Chevrolet Colorado Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 19 brake complaints for the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado, 25% of all complaints filed for that model year. Owners commonly report loss of brake assist tied to a failed vacuum pump, with the median mileage at failure at 88,014. No related recall is listed.

Brakes complaints
19
25% of 75
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
88,015 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Sudden loss of brake assist causes the pedal to go extremely hard and hard to press, often forcing use of the parking or emergency brake to stop.
  • A failed vacuum pump/brake booster is repeatedly cited as the root cause, sometimes linked to damage to the exhaust camshaft.
  • Some owners describe brake failure happening without warning while driving on highways at speed, requiring downshifting or steering to the shoulder to slow down.
  • One owner reported an intermittent grinding sound from the brakes when cold that stopped once the truck warmed up.
  • A separate report describes the brake pedal being depressed while the vehicle shuddered and failed to decelerate, alongside an unrelated accelerator issue.

When 2021 Chevrolet Colorado brake complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 28, 2023, latest Sep 12, 2026.

2021 Chevrolet Colorado brakes complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2023Mar 2025Oct 2025Dec 2025May 2026Aug 2026
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Jul 2026 (3).

Brakes recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Colorado model year

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

  1. 20105 (18%)
  2. 20115 (12%)
  3. 201211 (26%)
  4. 20131 (100%)
  5. 20140 (0%)
  6. 201575 (15%)
  7. 201678 (11%)
  8. 201715 (7%)
  9. 20185 (3%)
  10. 20199 (6%)
  11. 202011 (13%)
  12. 202119 (25%)
  13. 20229 (16%)
  14. 202326 (19%)
  15. 202429 (24%)
  16. 202510 (37%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado have?
NHTSA lists 19 brake complaints for the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado, which is 25% of the 75 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado brake complaints.
What brake problem do 2021 Colorado owners report most?
Owners most often describe a failed vacuum pump or brake booster that causes the brake pedal to become extremely hard to press, sometimes tied to camshaft damage.
At what mileage do 2021 Colorado brake problems happen?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 88,014.5 miles for brake complaints on the 2021 Colorado.
Were there any crashes or injuries from these brake complaints?
NHTSA data lists 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries among the 19 brake complaints for the 2021 Colorado.

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.