The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 21 of 80 complaints (26%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more deaths (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 88 in 2020 to 80 in 2021.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 80
- Recall campaigns
- 1
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,850–$4,950
- Combined MPG
- 17–23
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 gas-powered vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850–4,950 | 2,850–4,950 | 2,850–4,950 | 2,850–4,950 | 2,850–3,900 | |
| Combined MPG | 15–23 | 17–23 | 17–23 | 17–23 | 16–22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–20 / 15–30 | 16–20 / 18–30 | 16–20 / 18–30 | 16–20 / 18–30 | 16–20 / 16–25 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 403–572 | 406–532 | 413–525 | 413–529 | 406–539 | |
| Complaints filed | 151 | 88 | 80 | 57 | 139 | |
| Recalls issued | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 6 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 12 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado?
Engine: 21 of 80 NHTSA complaints (26%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado get?
EPA rates it 17–23 MPG combined across 8 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado?
EPA estimates $2,850–$4,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (8)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 2WD | 19 mpg | 25 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 (low) | 413 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 8-spd | 6 | 3.6L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 2WD | 18 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 424 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 2.5L | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD | 19 mpg | 24 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 431 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 8-spd | 6 | 3.6L | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD | 17 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 465 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic 8-spd | 6 | 3.6L | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD | 16 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $3,650 | 510 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 2.8L | 4-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD | 19 mpg | 28 mpg | 22 mpg | $4,300 | 455 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 2.8L | 4-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Small Pickup Trucks 4WD | 18 mpg | 22 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,950 (high) | 525 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 2.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Small Pickup Trucks 2WD | 20 mpg (high) | 30 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $4,100 | 435 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 8 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 19 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
SEAT BELTS; SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
- Defect
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
- Consequence
- If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.