2007 Chevrolet Colorado Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Chevrolet Colorado most often report no-start conditions tied to the PassLock anti-theft system, where the truck cranks but refuses to fire for several minutes. Electrical complaints also cover blower motor resistors and connectors that overheat, and brake lamps that fail or stay lit. Many of these reports come in at moderate mileage, and some owners describe repeat dealer visits without a lasting fix.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   PassLock anti-theft no-start / delay

   • 25 complaints (18%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2025

   Owners describe turning the key and getting a crank but no start, sometimes with the security light on; after waiting roughly 10 to 15 minutes the truck often starts as if nothing happened. Some report the condition recurring on every other start, and repairs have included replacing the ignition switch, the key, or the PassLock components with mixed results. Several complaints mention the dealer could not reproduce or explain the problem. Reported broadly from about 28,000 to 180,000 miles, most often between roughly 50,000 and 100,000 miles, and sometimes after short trips or a brief park.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the truck several times cold and after a short drive, and watch for the security light. Ask whether the ignition switch or PassLock module has been replaced and whether any related codes were stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Often my truck will not start up, I have had it checked and I am told the battery and cables are fine.. So I am guessing it could be the starter (ignition) switch.. Is my type of truck on the recall list? This happens quite often and it happens at a very inconvenient time. Maybe you can tell me what is wrong and what to do to get it fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10577900, filed 2014-04, 72,000 miles

   “Vehicle would not start after parked and shut off engine. Found that the passlock anti-theft system had activated somehow. The engine would not turn over, only a few audible tones and the red lock light on. Also it showed an ABS fault. Note- I do not have an aftermarket alarm or locks on my truck, I actually don't have any aftermarket anything on my truck besides tinted windows. I checked the battery with my multimeter, voltage was at 12.7vdc. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10432377, filed 2011-10, 62,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Brake lights out or stuck on, cruise control affected

   • 21 complaints (15%)
   • median 66,143 mi at 4.3 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2024

   Owners report brake lamps that either fail to light when the pedal is pressed or stay illuminated after parking. In several cases the cruise control stops working at the same time, and dealers traced it to a burnt or failed brake pedal switch or wiring. Some owners say the repair was done under the brake light switch recall while others were told their vehicle was not covered. Most reports fall between about 12,000 and 90,000 miles, appearing at any age and sometimes soon after a recall repair.

   Recall 09V310000

   What to check: Have someone watch the brake lamps while you press and release the pedal, and test the cruise control. Ask whether the brake light switch recall work was completed and whether the switch has been replaced since.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the highway and noticed my cruise control wouldn't come on. I figured it was a fuse and would get to it after work. When I pulled into work a coworker who was behind me told me I had no brake lights. Checked all fuses, all were fine. Took the truck to a Chevrolet dealership and was told the brake switch and/or wires had burnt up and needed to be replaced. I paid over $500 for the repair. Later found out there was a recall for this incident, but it did not cover my VIN. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10563831, filed 2014-02, 42,500 miles

   “Have a 2007 Colorado and noticed when replacing a burnt bulb that my taillights would not come on everytime I pressed the brake petal. Searched online, found the recall, called my local chevy dealer. They told me to bring it in and they would fix it. Dropped my truck off, they called me 2 hours later, informing me the work was done, but was not covered under any recall and owed them 70+ dollars. I brought a copy of the recall in and still was informed that no search recall had been issued. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10319975, filed 2010-03, 66,787 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag light on from seat belt retractor / wiring

   • 11 complaints (8%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2015

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying on, often traced by dealers to the seat belt retractor, tensioner, or the wiring harness that runs through the door into the extended cab. Some describe broken wires inside the flexible door boot from normal door use, and repairs were quoted at significant cost. A few owners also describe airbags not deploying in a collision. Reported from about 70,000 to 150,000 miles, often noticed when the lamp comes on during normal driving.

   What to check: Confirm the airbag light comes on at key-on and goes out. Check the wiring in the door jamb boots on extended cab models, and ask whether retractor or harness repairs have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Son was driving the car on the expressway. Roads were wet and slippery. He rear-ended another vehicle. The damage to the other vehicle was minimal, but was extensive to our vehicle (in excess of $6,000.00). Again, the airbag did not deploy, although the impact caused the front hood of the truck to fly-up and hit the windshield.”

   NHTSA complaint #10572636, filed 2014-03, 70,000 miles

   “The wiring harness between the truck body and the rear driver side half-door (extended cab) passes through a flexible rubber housing. The pair of wires to the seat belt tensioner (part of the airbag system) were broken completely in half mid-way through the rubber housing from normal use of opening and closing the door. Airbag light on dash stayed on permanently which prompted me to locate the problem. Only found it because the radio speaker in that same door had stopped working as well. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10564713, filed 2014-02, 108,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Blower motor only works on high / melted resistor

   • 9 complaints (6%)
   • median 43,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2016

   Owners describe the heater and A/C blower working only on the highest speed setting, or stopping intermittently, with the fix being a blower motor resistor. In some cases the resistor connector and wiring were found melted or burnt, and one owner reported an electrical burning smell inside the cab traced to excessive current at the blower motor. Reported from about 18,000 to 130,000 miles, with repeat failures noted over several years on the same vehicle.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Run the blower through every fan speed. Look for a scorched or discolored resistor connector behind the glovebox area, and ask whether the resistor or blower motor has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Heater/blower electrical system defect in original design..... 18,234 miles(10/26/2007):heater/blower motor only worked on high...dealer replaced under warranty the resistor and connector to the blower since it was melted 51,612 miles(6/4/2010): same problem: heater/blower motor only worked on high...dealer replaced the resistor and connector to the blower since it was melted. We paid for this one 73,853 miles(11/26/2012): more issues with heater blower. Blower intermittently works. Replaced the resistor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10492011, filed 2013-01, 18,234 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated the air conditioner would not function. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic. The mechanic noticed the wires connected to the blower resistor had melted. The mechanic stated the blower resistor and blower resistor pigtail needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. Updated 9/13/11 updated 09/28/11”

   NHTSA complaint #10416541, filed 2011-08, 130,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks from top of fuel pump / tank

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report a strong gasoline smell, especially when parked, and in some cases visible fuel dripping from the top of the fuel tank. Inspection often finds the top of the fuel pump assembly or the metal fitting heavily rusted, or a ruptured plastic fuel line, with the fuel pump replaced as the repair. Mostly reported between about 37,000 and 150,000 miles, often noticed while the vehicle sits after being driven.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: After driving, park and smell around the rear of the truck; look under the bed for wet or rusted lines at the tank. Ask whether the fuel pump assembly has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I would like to alert you to a design flaw causing a very serious safety issue with the chevy Colorado trucks. On the pre-dawn morning of may 9, 2013, I was driving my 15 miles to work when I began smelling a very strong raw gasoline odor in the cab. I pulled off the road and found gasoline dripping heavily between the cab and bed of the truck. I immediately shut down the truck and left it where it was. Upon later examination, I found where the pressurized plastic fuel line had ruptured. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10513411, filed 2013-05, 37,684 miles

   “Fuel leaking from top of fuel tank. Smelled gas while vehicle was parked. Observed fuel dripping from front of fuel tank. Appears to be leaking from top of tank and flowing off front of tank.”

   NHTSA complaint #10902000, filed 2016-08, 99,000 miles

Buying note. Check that the truck starts reliably from cold and after short stops, that the brake lamps and cruise control work, and that the airbag light behaves normally. Ask for service records on the ignition switch, brake light switch, blower resistor, and fuel pump before deciding.

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.