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2021 Chevrolet Colorado

GasDiesel
Small Pickup Trucks 4WD
8 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
A
Safety Signal
92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns1
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA74
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA23 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel pickup truck with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Colorado 2WD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 74 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Colorado 2WDGasRWD2.5L 4-cyl192522$2,850
Colorado 2WDGasRWD3.6L 6-cyl182521$2,950
Colorado 4WDGas4WD2.5L 4-cyl192421$2,950
Colorado 4WDGas4WD3.6L 6-cyl172419$3,300
Colorado ZR2 4WDGas4WD3.6L 6-cyl161817$3,650
Colorado 2WDDieselRWD2.8L 4-cyl turbo203023$3,900
Colorado 4WDDiesel4WD2.8L 4-cyl turbo192822$4,050
Colorado ZR2 4WDDiesel4WD2.8L 4-cyl turbo182219$4,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42545, 42546, 42549, 42550, 42551, 42811, 42749, 42750.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Seat Belts

N202322230
470 vehicles
ProblemGeneral 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.RiskIf 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.FixGM 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.
NHTSA campaign 20V811000reported Dec 23, 2020General Motors, LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
74complaints filed

6 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 4 injuries · 2 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2020: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 13 · 2025: 18 · 2026: 18

Most-cited components

Engine18
Unspecified16
Service Brakes16
Power Train11
Electrical System11
Steering10

What owners describe

“Vehicle pulls to the left and noise in front end. Excessive play in left upper ball joint and control arm. Reported to Chevrolet dealership, parts replaced under factory warranty Told dealership I was going to report to NHSTA Do not know what became of the parts”Feb 3, 2024 · Suspension · NHTSA owner report
“The brakes went out on the vehicle while my service technician was driving and he barely missed getting in an accident. We had it towed to the Chevy dealer and the brake Pump shattered causing damage to the exhaust clamp and they are telling me it’s not under warranty or recall but I see this is happened with million…”Nov 28, 2023 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report
“Just prior to 8/1/22, check engine light came on. They found P0014 set, lack of power, rough idle. They found oil pushed through bank 1 cam solenoid actuator and had to replace on 8/1/22. Check engine light came on again in mid August 2023. Found P0024 code and had had to replace the cam actuator again. This time GM ha…”Aug 25, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
PU/CC 2WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆22%
PU/CC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆21%
PU/EC 2WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆22%
PU/EC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆21%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Compare the 2021 Colorado with

2021 Ram 1500 →2021 Toyota Tacoma →

Other Colorado model years

A

2026 Chevrolet Colorado

1 recalls · 14 complaints

A

2025 Chevrolet Colorado

1 recalls · 27 complaints

D

2024 Chevrolet Colorado

3 recalls · 121 complaints

C

2023 Chevrolet Colorado

3 recalls · 132 complaints

A

2022 Chevrolet Colorado

1 recalls · 51 complaints

A

2020 Chevrolet Colorado

0 recalls · 83 complaints

A

2019 Chevrolet Colorado

0 recalls · 149 complaints

B

2018 Chevrolet Colorado

1 recalls · 182 complaints

B

2017 Chevrolet Colorado

1 recalls · 216 complaints

D

2016 Chevrolet Colorado

4 recalls · 699 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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