2005 Chevrolet Colorado Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report a wide mix of problems, with braking complaints standing out: repeated ABS and brake-light warnings, pedals that vibrate or go soft, and noisy or dragging brakes. Many reports involve relatively low mileage for the truck's age, while blower-motor and heater-fan failures and air-bag warning lights tied to door-jamb wiring show up across a broad mileage range.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Stalling and rough running

   • 38 complaints (11%)
   • median 63,500 mi at 5.9 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2021

   Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning at speed or when slowing, sometimes with a security or anti-theft light, and restarting only after several attempts. Dealers attributed some cases to the ignition switch or ignition module, and others to a cam actuator solenoid or intake manifold valve; in several reports no fault code was stored and the dealer could not reproduce it. Some owners describe rough idling, sputtering and a check engine light beforehand. Reported from about 12,000 miles up to 90,000 miles, with several complaints around 45,000 to 70,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch, ignition module or cam actuator solenoid have been replaced, and have a scan tool check for stored codes before and after a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “About 1 yr. And 1 month after I bought a chevy Colorado, the thing shut off on me. The first time it left me on the side of I-55 and did not want to start. It did though, but the engine light was on, it soon went off. The dealer reprogrammed the computer. It has shut off on me 4 more times. The dealer will not fix the truck b/c it is not storing codes . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10145232, filed 2005-12, 25,000 miles

   “On or around march 21, I was driving my 05 Colorado to work. When I almost arrived I noticed that my truck was driving very forceful and jumpy. When I got back into my truck, it was having trouble starting, but eventually did. That night I was driving home and when I got about 2 miles from my house a message came up on my dashboard that said power failure and it stalled out. The next day, it started ok enough for me to take it to a nearby chevy dealership. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10166801, filed 2006-08, 36,855 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS light on, pedal vibration and weak braking

   • 52 complaints (15%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (50 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $650 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2005–2015

   Complaints describe the ABS light coming on at low speeds, the pedal vibrating or pushing back during ordinary braking, and grinding or springing noises. Some owners say stopping distance increased when the system engaged, and several report the dealer replaced sensors, calipers or control units without a lasting fix. Others mention rust-frozen calipers or a burst brake hose, and some owners were told the condition was common. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 125,000 miles, with many complaints filed between 18,000 and 90,000 miles and several in wet or humid conditions.

   What to check: Test the brakes at low speed on dry and wet pavement and watch whether the ABS light stays off after a battery disconnect. Ask whether ABS sensors, the brake control module or calipers have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had numerous braking problems sine the third year of ownership. Abs light and stopping problems to many to mention! Was told by dealership after $500.00 that calipers were frozen from rust! Also I have been getting ABS failures also. Please have GM make this dangerous situation right. Does someone need to die before action is taken?”

   NHTSA complaint #10450687, filed 2012-03, 86,000 miles

   “I am stationed overseas in england and road get very slippery. There are dealerships over here, but they don't mess with american trucks. Everytime I get going, my ABS keeps faulting out and there is no error code popping up, but yet my brakes keep going out and I am wondering what's going to happen when all the brakes go out and I can't stop or even injure someone else or even worse my kids.”

   NHTSA complaint #10354399, filed 2010-09, 56,000 miles
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Brake lights not working (brake lamp switch)

   • 49 complaints (14%)
   • median 49,000 mi at 4.3 yrs old (41 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2017

   Owners report brake lights that stop working intermittently or stay on constantly, in some cases with cruise control dropping out. Several complaints describe the switch plunger sticking or the part failing again after a recall repair, with the dealer citing back-ordered parts or declining to replace the assembly a second time. Complaints also describe wiring and turn-signal problems alongside the brake-light failure. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 90,000 miles, including on vehicles already serviced under the brake-lamp switch recalls.

   Recall 09V310000Recall 06V139000

   What to check: Have someone watch the brake lights while you press the pedal, and confirm with a dealer whether both brake-lamp switch recalls were completed and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brake lights intermittently did not work. I personally checked the bulbs and they were operative. I checked the brake light switch and noted that the plunger remained in although the brake pedal was depressed. I had to push on the plunger several times to get the plunger to push out. The brake lights then worked when the pedal was depressed. I took the vehicle to ferman Chevrolet, tampa fl, after discovering the recall notice on the NHTSA site on 09/17/08. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10242703, filed 2008-09, 36,890 miles

   “- the contact has a 2005 Chevrolet Colorado that he took into a dealership to replace the brake light switch which had failed. Two weeks after repair was done the contact received a recall notice ( NHTSA campaign id number : 06v139000 ) concerning the brake lights switch. Therefore contact called manufacturer to get reimbursement and the manufacture stated it would take 2 weeks in order for contact to received reimbursement form. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10179160, filed 2007-01, 50,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Heater and A/C blower only works on high

   • 29 complaints (8%)
   • median 73,100 mi at 5.9 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2020

   Complaints describe the blower fan working only on the highest setting, traced to a burnt resistor and connector in the wiring harness; some owners report melted plastic or smoke from under the dash. Owners who replaced the resistor and harness often found the fan still only worked on some settings. A related wiper complaint describes wipers failing to intermittent or high-speed-only operation. Typically reported between about 45,000 and 95,000 miles, in vehicles of varying age.

   What to check: Run the fan through every speed setting and check the resistor connector behind the glovebox area for browning or melted pins. Ask whether the blower resistor and harness have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ac blower fan works in high only. Upon checking the wiring I notices the resistor and the wire harness were burnt which caused the problem. I replaced the wire harness and resistor which fixed the problem. Upon further searching I found many others with the same problem and some that ended up in fires under the dash.”

   NHTSA complaint #10356082, filed 2010-09, 60,000 miles

   “My windshield wipers started working intermittently, working, not working, and only working on the high setting. This would happen while I was driving in the rain, almost forcing me to pull over. Finally, my wipers stopped working all together on all speeds accept for the highest speed. At the same time, my AC/heater fan stopped working on all speeds accept for the highest speed. I searched online to find out what the problem was, and I came across a lot of complaints on the same issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10944227, filed 2017-01, 45,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Air bag light on from rear door wiring

   • 36 complaints (10%)
   • median 91,550 mi at 8.2 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2020

   Owners report the air bag warning light staying on, and some traced it to wires in the rear door jamb that break from repeated door opening and closing. In other complaints the bags did not deploy in a collision, and one owner notes the light led to an inspection failure. Dealers generally did not offer a repair path in the reports, with several owners saying the manufacturer was notified. Reported from around 31,000 miles up to 250,000 miles, often on higher-mileage trucks.

   What to check: Turn the key to run and confirm the air bag light goes out after the bulb check; inspect the wiring at the rear door hinges for cracked or exposed wire.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was traveling on spruce road in exeter, ca at approx 55 MPH when I rear-ended a car that was stopped. I did not have time to hit my brakes or swerve at all. I hit the back of the car very square and hard. The chp officer said that my air bag sensors were hit and the bags did not go off.”

   NHTSA complaint #10137880, filed 2005-09, 39,000 miles

   “Air bag light comes on making it unclear if occupants are protected or if air bag will just go off on its own. Problem is wires in back door jamb become fatigued and break causing failure of air bags. Vehicle is also considered an inspection failure as well in massachusetts.”

   NHTSA complaint #11297341, filed 2020-01, 98,000 miles

Buying note. Check the brakes and ABS warning behavior carefully on a test drive, confirm both brake-lamp switch recalls were performed, and verify the blower fan works on all speeds plus the air bag light behavior. Ask for service records on the ignition switch and cam actuator work, since several complaints involve repeated diagnostic visits without a lasting repair.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.