SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Chevrolet Colorado airbags problems
critical 26 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
26
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
12crashes
9injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 26 airbags complaints filed for the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 13 model years of Chevrolet Colorado we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 26.
Owners have filed 26 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT/SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (SIR) LIGHT ON, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE(S) (DTC) B0057, B0058, B0059, B0064, B0065, B0066.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado describe two main categories of airbag trouble: persistent warning lights and actual deployment failures.
The warning light stays on or blinks intermittently during normal driving. Investigation by dealers and independent shops traced some cases to failed rear airbag sensors or camshaft/crankshaft sensors, though repairs didn't always stick. Multiple owners point to broken wiring in the extended cab rear door harness as a culprit—the wire fractures from repeated door operation, disconnecting the seatbelt pretensioner and airbag sensors. Repair costs reported include one dealer's initial $1,200 quote (later covered by GM after escalation).
More serious: airbags failed to deploy in multiple crashes. Owners report frontal collisions into utility poles, ditches, trees, and rollover events where airbags never fired. One crash was investigated by a traffic accident reconstructionist who found the data event recorder (Deltron P/N 15106281) defective from the factory. Another owner had spontaneous airbag deployment while driving on a normal road at low speed, obscuring vision and causing a secondary crash into a guard rail.
Seatbelt pretensioners also failed: one warning chime did not sound when the seatbelt was unfastened, and in a rollover, the seatbelt broke during impact. Injuries sustained in non-deploying crashes include chest trauma, concussion, broken bones, and head injuries requiring medical attention.
Same Chevrolet Colorado airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag warning light remains on continuously
The airbag warning light illuminates and stays on, or blinks at startup then remains on. Owners report the light staying lit during normal driving. Diagnostic investigation in some cases revealed camshaft/crankshaft sensor replacement or rear airbag sensor failure, though root cause was often not conclusively identified.
When: Between 31,000 and 200,000 miles; one case over 36,000 miles where dealer refused service
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated on instrument panel; Warning light blinks at startup then turns off, then comes back on and stays on; Light remains on after engine start; Failure is intermittent or constant during normal driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer and independent repair shops diagnosed camshaft sensor replacement, crankshaft sensor replacement, and rear airbag sensor replacement. One dealer initially charged over $1,200; GM ultimately covered repair at no cost after customer escalation. Repairs performed did not always resolve recurrence.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM customer service escalated one complaint to cover cost after initial denial. Some dealers refused to service vehicles over 36,000 miles.
Broken wiring in extended cab rear door structure
Wiring harnesses running through the extended cab rear door structure fracture or break, interrupting electrical continuity to airbag and seatbelt pretensioner sensors. Owners report the problem occurs with repeated door operation.
When: Mileage variable; one report at unknown mileage, issue noted as recurring with door use
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated; Wiring in extended cab rear door broken; Wire from door opening/closing broken in half; Seatbelt pretensioner airbag sensor unable to communicate with system
Repairs/costs cited: Broken wires in extended cab rear door harnesses required repair. Cost not stated.
Airbags fail to deploy in frontal and rollover crashes
In multiple crash scenarios—head-on collisions, frontal impacts with utility poles, and rollover events—the airbag system did not deploy despite impact forces that should have triggered deployment. One case involved a data event recorder (Deltron P/N 15106281) that was found non-functional by a traffic accident investigator and BOSCH technician.
When: Failures occurred at 31,000 miles (tree crash), 200,000 miles (ditch crash), unknown mileage (other crashes). No indicator light prior to crashes in some instances.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy in frontal collision with telephone pole; Airbags did not deploy in ditch crashes at 45–50 mph; Airbags did not deploy during rollover event; Airbags did not deploy in tree impact at unknown speed after driver seizure; Airbags did not deploy in rear-end collision at 40 mph; No warning lights illuminated prior to crash (in some cases)
Repairs/costs cited: One crash inspection found the data event recorder (Deltron P/N 15106281, Service #12249529) defective from manufacturer and unable to output data. Other crash vehicles were not diagnosed or repaired. Injuries reported include concussion, crushed chest trauma, broken seatbelts, knee/chest/head/facial injuries, and nose and leg injuries.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified in most cases. One claim was filed with GM after hospital referral from Chevrolet dealer.
Spontaneous airbag deployment without crash
Airbags deployed while the vehicle was being driven on normal roads at highway speeds without any collision or impact. Deployment occurred suddenly and without warning, obscuring the driver's vision and causing a secondary crash.
When: While driving at approximately 15–20 mph approaching a traffic light on a normal road (no potholes or obstacles noted)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags deployed unexpectedly and suddenly; Two loud bangs heard immediately before deployment; Vision obscured by airbag clouds; Secondary impact with guard rail and telephone wire reported; vehicle became airborne then landed on four wheels
Repairs/costs cited: One complaint mentioned Takata inflators but no repair information was provided.
Seatbelt pretensioner warning and non-deployment
The seatbelt warning indicator failed to chime when the front driver seat was occupied and the seatbelt was not engaged. In one crash, the seatbelt broke/failed during impact. Dealer diagnostic found seatbelt pretensioner needed replacement.
When: At unknown mileage for warning chime failure; seatbelt failure occurred during rollover at 35 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt warning chime failed to sound when seatbelt not engaged; Seatbelt pretensioner failure indicated by airbag light; Seatbelt broke during rollover crash
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer informed owner that seatbelt pretensioner and airbag needed replacement; vehicle was not repaired by owner.
Braking difficulty coinciding with airbag warning light
One owner reported that while the airbag warning light illuminated, the vehicle's brakes became difficult to engage. The failure persisted over a three-week period.
When: Mileage unknown; occurred over a continuous three-week period
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag indicator illuminated; Brakes difficult to engage; Failure persistent
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Was driving my 2005 Chevy colorado and very tired veered off the county road, hit a utility pole on left side front and truck rolled over air bags never deployed
Had airbags trouble with your 2005 Chevrolet Colorado?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado?
It's a serious issue. 26 complaints have been filed, including 12 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 51,000 and 140,000 miles, with the median around 94,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 51,000; a quarter make it past 140,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Chevrolet/Colorado.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.