2006 Chevrolet Colorado Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2006 Chevrolet Colorado most often report electrical problems — above all a Passlock/theft-deterrent no-start condition that leaves the truck cranking but not firing until it sits for about 10 minutes. Brake-light failures and aging brake and cooling components also come up repeatedly, and several complaints describe frame or subframe corrosion on higher-mileage trucks, especially in rust-belt states.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Truck cranks but will not start (Passlock/security)

   • 40 complaints (17%)
   • median 51,921 mi at 7.2 yrs old (40 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2021

   Owners describe turning the key, having the engine crank normally, but the truck refusing to start while the security/lock indicator blinks. Waiting roughly 10 to 20 minutes with the key on usually lets it start, and the problem returns intermittently, sometimes several times a week. Some complaints say a dealer replaced the ignition switch or Passlock component and the symptom came back; others report the dealer could not reproduce or find the fault. Reported from very low mileage up past 150,000 miles, most often in everyday stop-and-restart situations such as after refueling.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the truck several times during a test drive, including a hot restart after shutting it off at a gas station, and ask whether the ignition switch or Passlock module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am going to get gas and go in side to pay and it wont start cranks no advise I had the same 5 times before the midway Chevrolet fix it a bad ignition switch part #63779 o a bill for the parts $416.74 the theft system would work and it would stop working it is a switch for the gas I think I need to be pay back.”

   NHTSA complaint #10662415, filed 2014-12, 63,774 miles

   “Passlock truck willnot start only sitting for fifteen minutes ,had it replaced once 12/27/2013 now its doing it again I need this truck because my wife is verry sick but I cant depend on it it has under 34,000 miles on it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10944319, filed 2017-01, 31,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Brake lights quit or stay on

   • 28 complaints (12%)
   • median 57,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2025

   Complaints describe rear brake lamps that stop working, blow fuses repeatedly, or stay lit constantly, and in some cases the cruise control quits at the same time. Several owners say the brake-light switch was replaced under a past safety campaign and failed again, and that dealers declined a second repair because of vehicle age or mileage. A few also mention melted bulb sockets and repeated bulb replacement. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 40,000 to over 150,000 miles, and often recurring after an earlier switch replacement.

   Recall 09V310000Recall 06V1390001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have someone watch the rear lamps while you press the brake pedal, confirm the cruise control engages, and ask whether the brake-light switch campaign 06V139000 or 09V310000 was performed and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My brake lights all went out at the same time. I was driving on the interstate and had to stop suddenly. The tractor trailer behind me nearly rear ended me. The cruise control also went out. I had this issue repaired under recall number 06030 five years ago. It is identically the same, yet Chevrolet says they will not repair it due to mileage and vehicle age. This is extremely dangerous.”

   NHTSA complaint #10861075, filed 2016-04, 178,000 miles

   “Problem started with both right and left top brake light bulb sockets melting from heat. Then I replaced both brake light assemblies to the tune of $198.00. Now when I apply brakes it blows the brake light fuse and I never know when its going to happen so the possibility of me being hit from behind at any time is very real. When I purchased the replacement tail light and brake light assemblies from the local dealer I asked if he knew of any problems or recalls on my model of vehicle he said no.”

   NHTSA complaint #10284443, filed 2009-09, 40,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Rough running, misfire and stalling (camshaft actuator)

   • 44 complaints (19%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • filed 2006–2022

   Complaints describe rough idle, hesitation or resistance to acceleration, a check engine light, and stalling at speed; some owners say they were told the camshaft position actuator solenoid or its filter screens needed replacement, and a few report valve or cylinder-head work. Others describe the engine shutting off while driving and restarting after a short wait, with no fault found by the dealer. Reported from about 24,000 up to 200,000+ miles, with many cases in the 45,000 to 75,000 mile range.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look for a stored check engine light by scanning it before purchase, listen for rough idle or ticking at cold start, and ask whether the camshaft actuator solenoid or intake cleaning has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Like all the other reports and complaints I have read online about this type of vehicle. I have the same problem with my 2006 chevy Colorado. I bought the truck 4 years ago almost brand new and I'm still paying for it but can't move it because it would not pass the state emissions test. I have spent about $1,000 trying to fix my truck, buying parts and replacing them because the check engine light came on. At the end I was told it had several misfires and had to do with the camshaft solenoid position. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10440986, filed 2011-12, 130,000 miles

   “2006 Chevrolet Colorado has a known defect with the camshaft actuator solenoid filtering screens dislodging from the part, that causes the engine timing to be affected and makes the engine idle rough and stall. This can create an incident or accident if the involved vehicle is in operation at the time of failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #10259998, filed 2009-02, 47,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   ABS light and irregular brake pedal feel

   • 35 complaints (15%)
   • median 42,675 mi at 5.0 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2024

   Owners report the ABS warning light coming on intermittently and the brake pedal vibrating or feeling as if the ABS is engaging during ordinary stops. Some describe a pedal that felt overly sensitive or dropped toward the floor, and dealers sometimes could not duplicate the complaint; other complaints say a wheel hub or sensor assembly was replaced at significant cost. A few mention squealing or grabbing brakes after rain or when wet. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 80,000 miles, sometimes appearing soon after purchase.

   What to check: Check that the ABS lamp comes on at key-on and goes out, listen for squeal or grinding, and ask whether wheel hubs, ABS sensors or brake hardware have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “For the past couple of years there has been a problem with my anti-lock brakes. When applying the brakes, the brake pedal vibrates excessively as if the anti-lock brakes are activating. After a short time driving, an ABS warning light activates indicating a fault. I am very concerned because first, the brakes do not act in the way a driver would expect and when applying the brakes I get concerned every time that the brakes will not work. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10592071, filed 2014-05, 80,000 miles

   “Have a 2006 chevy Colorado I am the only owner and at about 30,000 miles the ABS fault light started to come on and off .took to dealer and they could not find anything wrong. At 37,000 miles light stays on and brakeing feels interupted at times . Took back to dealer and they said that whole hub needed replaced on the left side at a cost of nearly $700.00 and that the right side would probably need replaced soon to. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10355635, filed 2010-09, 30,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Frame and subframe rust-through

   • 7 complaints (3%)
   • median 108,500 mi at 13.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2023

   Owners describe frame rails or the front subframe found severely corroded during inspections or routine service, in some cases with holes through the rail. Several complaints say an independent mechanic considered the truck not repairable, and that the dealer offered no assistance beyond referring the owner to NHTSA. A tailgate that sits unevenly and loosens on one side also appears. Reported mostly above 70,000 miles on older trucks, typically in states that use road salt.

   What to check: Get underneath and inspect the frame rails and front subframe for flaking scale or holes, especially on trucks from salt-belt states, and have an independent shop look before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact opened the tailgate and noticed that one side was completely tight and the other side was loose. He feels that one side will fail soon since all of the pressure is on one side. Chevrolet advised him not to repair it because it was normal with his type of vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 15,000. Updated 09/05/07.”

   NHTSA complaint #10196603, filed 2007-07, 15,000 miles

   “The contact called on behalf of a customer looking to purchase a 2006 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that he is a certified mechanic. While performing a vehicle safety check, the contact noticed that the subframe was completely rusted and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repairable. The contact had not contacted the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,172.”

   NHTSA complaint #11434879, filed 2021-09, 73,172 miles

Buying note. Check the electrical starting behavior, brake lights and ABS function closely on a test drive, and inspect the frame for corrosion before purchase; service records showing what has already been replaced will tell you more than the odometer alone.

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.