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Chevrolet ColoradoModel year report

2015 Chevrolet Colorado Problems

Compared with other Chevrolet Colorado years

More complaints than typical for this model

100/100 6.7× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2012

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
498filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
52,200miles, 345 complaints with mileage
Recalls
7campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl RWD · 19 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado report one dominant problem: the electric power steering assist cuts out, often at highway speed, and a restart usually brings it back temporarily. Many add that the same event triggers "Service StabiliTrak" messages and that dealers sometimes could not reproduce the fault or said the truck was not covered by the steering recalls. The remaining complaints are scattered and include hard transmission shifts at very low mileage, a stuck ignition key, and air bag non-deployment in crashes.

  1. Steering

    Power steering assist cuts out while driving

    • 353 complaints (71%)
    • median 60,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (246 state mileage)
    • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 33 quotes)
    • filed 2015–2026

    Owners describe a "Service Power Steering - Drive with Care" message followed within seconds by a steering wheel that takes heavy effort to turn, sometimes with StabiliTrak or stability control warnings as well. It happens at highway and around-town speeds and occasionally at start-up; switching the truck off and back on often restores assist for a while before it returns. Some dealers replaced the steering gear or rack-and-pinion assembly, others found no fault or said the vehicle could not be duplicated, and several owners report their VIN was not covered by the steering recalls. Spread across the mileage range, from a few hundred miles to over 150,000, with most reports between roughly 40,000 and 110,000 miles.

    Recall 21V213000Recall 16V0540001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Check whether the steering recalls (21V213000 and 16V054000) have been completed for that VIN, and drive the truck long enough to see whether the power steering message appears. Ask whether the steering gear has been replaced and keep the receipt for any prior power steering repair.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Been having power steering problems.. Its constantly going out while driving and when I turn off vehicle and turn back on its fine but days later its fine. Seen where this has been common with this model. I took to dealership and they said they wasnt no recalls on power steering and it was gonna take $1500. Im scared for my life and its their fault.”

    NHTSA complaint #11319739, filed 2020-03, 51,000 miles

    “While driving my 2015 Chevrolet Colorado on the 2 fwy in glendale ca when the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist while driving, it became very difficult to steer. A warning appeared on the dash reading power steering service required drive safely. Also a traction control warning. I pulled over and turned off the ignition and the error cleared but came back within 2 minutes. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11292580, filed 2020-01, 90,000 miles
  2. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission hesitation and rough shifting

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe the truck failing to respond when the accelerator is pressed, refusing to shift correctly at moderate speed, and in some cases delayed engagement into drive, shudder at launch or slipping when shifting. Owners who took the vehicle in were sometimes told the behavior was normal for the vehicle and nothing was repaired. Reported from delivery mileage up to roughly 50,000 miles, with the median around 8,500 miles.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test drive from a cold start and note any pause or shudder when pulling away or shifting through the low gears; ask whether the latest transmission calibration has been applied.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle would not shift correctly. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 51,400.”

    NHTSA complaint #11430303, filed 2021-08, 51,400 miles

    “The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission would intermittently hesitate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer and was informed that there were no defects with the vehicle and that the hesitation was normal vehicle operation. The manufacturer had also been notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 15.”

    NHTSA complaint #11435880, filed 2021-10, 15 miles
  3. Air bags

    Air bags not deploying or deploying unexpectedly

    Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

    A few complaints describe air bags that did not deploy in a collision, and one describes all side air bags deploying at very low speed in four-wheel drive on uneven ground. The owners did not report warning lights before the events. Reported between roughly 47,000 and 157,000 miles in the sample, in crash and off-road situations rather than at a consistent mileage.

    Recall 17V621000Recall 14V645000Recall 15V157000

    What to check: Confirm with a dealer that the frontal air bag recalls (14V645000, 15V157000, 17V621000) were completed for the VIN, and check that no air bag warning light stays on after the bulb check at start-up.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Truck slid into a ditch. While driving out in 4-wheel drive, all four side airbags deployed. The truck was not in danger of rolling over. I was driving only 1-3 MPH, and the truck was leaning, but not anywhere near tipping. After airbag deployment, I finished getting out of the ditch and returned home while dealing with limited visibility (1-1/2 miles).”

    NHTSA complaint #11383165, filed 2020-12, 47,800 miles

    “The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving approximately 38 mph and making a right turn into traffic the warning messages brake assist, ABS, Stabilitrak, steering lost had suddenly displayed and when pressing the brake pedal the vehicle did not stop and crashed into the rear of a second vehicle which crashed into the rear of a third vehicle. During the crash, the airbags did not deploy and the contact sustained an injured left shoulder which did not require medical treatment. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11448584, filed 2022-01, 97,153 miles

Buying note. History matters more than mileage on this year: confirm in writing that the steering and air bag recalls were completed for the specific VIN, since many owners report the steering symptom returning even after a recall repair. A long test drive at highway speed, plus a cold-start drive to check transmission behavior, will surface the two most common complaints before you commit.

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.

NHTSA recorded 498 consumer complaints for the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado. 345 of the complaints include a mileage, and 46% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 52,200 miles. Of all complaints, 17 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 9 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 1,827 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 13 Chevrolet Colorado model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 100 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Fuel system (6), Suspension (5), Exterior lighting (4), Forward collision avoidance (3), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (2), Engine cooling (2), Wheels (2), Lane departure (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seat belts (1), Seats (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “I bought the vehicle for my son. On september 13, the power steering failed on a turn on a city street, and he was unable to control the vehicle and hit a parked car on the opposite side of the street. The insurance company paid for a portion of our vehicle expense, but not the entire note which included taxes, license, fees, extended warranty and interest.”

NHTSA complaint #11394658, filed 2021-02, 140,000 miles

Electronic stability control: “I was on my why home coming up to a red light. I was at a crawl when service stabilitrak came up on my screen. I lost all power steering, so it was difficult to turn the vehicle at any speed. I have looked up to see if anyone else has had this problem. I have found that it isn't super common but seems like way too many vehicles are having this issue.”

NHTSA complaint #11266009, filed 2019-10, 53,000 miles

Electrical system: “Electrical power failure while driving. Vehicle power shut off (2 seconds or so) as I was approaching stop light then came back on. This issue caused me to loose steering and reset all electrical memory systems in my truck. Concern is if this happens when going faster speeds could prove dangerous to family and others. Less that 30k miles on vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #11144047, filed 2018-10, 27,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Key has been sticking in ignition, unable to remove. Ive kept the key in the ignition and the battery has needed jumped. Dealer tells me this is a very common problem on chevy colorados from 2015 and 2016 as I have now discovered on multiple chevy forums.”

NHTSA complaint #11399376, filed 2021-03, 45,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

46% of the 345 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 29,800 and 82,073 miles.

14%0–106%10–2526%25–5023%50–7516%75–10010%100–1505%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (345 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 52,200 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’14’16’18’2085’22’24’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Colorado · extended cab 4WD★★★★☆5 / 4553 · 21.4% risk
Colorado · extended cab RWD★★★★☆5 / 4553 · 22.0% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2015 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2016: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2015 Chevrolet Colorado version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Colorado 2WD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed manual192522$3,050
Colorado 2WD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automatic202622$3,050
Colorado 2WD3.6L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182521$3,200
Colorado 4WD2.5L 4-cyl6-speed automatic192421$3,200
Colorado 4WD3.6L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172420$3,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 7 recalls for the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1,827 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,827 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chevrolet Colorado

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2026185,8001421—Too new
20252856,1061420Too new to compareToo new
20241254,5003422Too new to compareToo new
20231386,7503422100 · MoreToo new
20225620,275142246 · TypicalRising
20218044,250142253 · TypicalRising
20208824,000042247 · TypicalRising
20191507,600042273 · MoreStable
201818314,000142286 · MoreRising
201721625,547142284 · MoreFalling
201671543,0004422100 · MoreRising
201549852,2007422100 · MoreFalling
20124243,0002—2126 · FewerFalling
20114254,0005—2126 · FewerFalling
20102947,0002—210 · FewerStable
20096754,0003—2026 · FewerStable
20088153,0002—2044 · TypicalFalling
200714058,7503—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200623652,6004—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200535651,0003—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200436156,5003—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Chevrolet Colorado model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado?

Owners of the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado report one dominant problem: the electric power steering assist cuts out, often at highway speed, and a restart usually brings it back temporarily. The issues reported most often: Power steering assist cuts out while driving; Transmission hesitation and rough shifting; Air bags not deploying or deploying unexpectedly.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado have?

NHTSA recorded 498 consumer complaints for the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 365 complaints (73% of the total), followed by electronic stability control with 56.

Has the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado get?

The EPA rates the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado (Colorado 2WD, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado reported?

Among the 345 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 52,200 miles and the middle half falls between 29,800 and 82,073 miles; 46% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.