This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Headlamp, Tail Lamp, License Lamp or Fog/Driving Lamp Damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Chevrolet Colorado lighting problems
moderate 40 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
40
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 40 lighting complaints filed for the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 8 model years of Chevrolet Colorado we track for lighting problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 40.
Owners have filed 40 lighting 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 lighting 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.
This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leaks and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Water Leaks and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Exterior Lamp Condensation and Replacement Guidelines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Brake light switch failure dominates the complaint cluster. The switch gets stuck, fails to activate lights when the brake pedal is pressed, or works only after owners manually manipulate the switch plunger. Multiple owners report the same vehicle failing eight times over its service life, often recurring every 2–6 months, with failures documented at mileages from 2,000 to 164,000 miles.
GM issued two recalls—06V139000 (2006) and 09V310000 (2009)—to address this defect, yet owners describe the remedy as insufficient. After recall service, brake lights failed again within three months to four years. Critically, owners had no warning: no dashboard indicator alerts drivers when brake lights go out. Owners only learn of the failure when another motorist alerts them, sometimes after near-collisions or low-speed rear-end contact. One owner reports being hit from behind at a traffic light.
Dealerships refused repeat repairs on some vehicles, stating the recall was performed once and no further warranty applies. Some cited VIN exclusions from the recall scope.
Beyond brake lights, owners report headlamp condensation and seal failure at 4 years old, requiring several hundred dollars in replacement. A few cite airbag light faults tied to wire harness contamination, with GM denying coverage outside a narrow age/mileage window. One owner notes a turn signal wiring issue causing all four corner lights to blink when the left turn is activated.
Same Chevrolet Colorado lighting reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Brake Light Switch Failure / Intermittent Non-Function
The brake light switch becomes stuck, fails to activate brake lights when the pedal is depressed, or requires manual manipulation of the switch plunger to restore function. Owners report the switch sticking in the 'in' position even when the brake pedal is pressed. Multiple narratives document repeated failures of the same component on individual vehicles, sometimes within 2–6 months of each other.
When: Various mileages reported: 2,000 miles; 14,000 miles; 16,000 miles; 20,000 miles; 40,000 miles; 49,000 miles; 60,000 miles; 77,000 miles; 90,000 miles; 98,000 miles; 164,000 miles; and unknown. Failures occurred across the vehicle's service life.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights do not illuminate when brake pedal is depressed; Brake light switch plunger remains stuck in the extended position and does not retract; Switch requires manual pushing or manipulation of the plunger to restore function; Lights work intermittently or only after physical intervention; Cruise control fails to function or stops working (occurs with brake light failure on same vehicle); No warning light or indicator on dashboard to alert driver to brake light failure
Repairs/costs cited: Switch replacement under recalls 06V139000 and 09V310000. Multiple owners cite repeated replacements (three to eight replacements per vehicle). Part number cited: 25796381 6318B. Despite recall repairs, failures recurred. Owners report dealers refusing further warranty coverage after initial recall repair, citing recall was already performed once. Dealership labor and OEM switch cost not specified in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls 06V139000 (2006) and 09V310000 (2009) issued. NHTSA Campaign PE05065 mentioned. GM performed initial recalls; however, owners report the remedy was insufficient and failures continued post-repair. GM refused further repairs on some vehicles, stating recall repairs are performed only once per vehicle. Some dealers cited VIN exclusions from recall scope, refusing to perform the work.
Headlamp Seal Failure and Condensation
Plastic headlamp assemblies develop leaks, allowing moisture and condensation to accumulate inside the lens. Moss and algae growth noted inside the enclosure. The sealed lens degrades, reducing light projection capability and creating a potential visibility hazard.
When: Approximately 1 year after purchase; owner's vehicle was 4 years old at time of complaint.
Symptoms owners cite: Condensation visible inside front headlamp assemblies; Moss and algae accumulation inside headlamp housing; Reduced light projection capability from headlamps; Failure occurred on vehicle with no prior front-end collision damage and all original manufacturer equipment
Repairs/costs cited: Owner anticipated several hundred dollars for headlamp assembly replacement due to sealed design of plastic components.
Turn Signal / Multifunction Switch Malfunction
Left turn signal indicator illuminates when headlights are turned on. Activation of left turn signal causes both front turn lights and all four rear tail/turn lights to blink simultaneously, suggesting a wiring or switch control issue.
Symptoms owners cite: Left turn signal indicator lights up when headlights are on; Activation of left turn signal causes both front turn lights to blink; All four rear tail/turn lights blink when left turn signal is activated
Headlight Illumination Failure
Left and right side headlights fail to illuminate properly, causing poor visibility during nighttime driving. Dealership claimed vehicle was operating as designed, implying no defect found.
When: Incident occurred at night; no mileage provided.
Symptoms owners cite: Left and right side headlights fail to illuminate properly; Poor visibility while driving at night
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership claimed vehicle was operating as designed and did not perform repairs.
Airbag Warning Light and Wire Harness Issues
Airbag warning light illuminates and remains on continuously. Owner received recall notice (dated October 2015) regarding wire harness contamination that can cause check engine codes and airbag light illumination. GM warranty coverage limited to vehicles within 10 years old or under 120,000 miles at time of notice. Owner disputes GM's denial, citing safety concern: constant airbag light prevents driver from distinguishing between actual airbag fault and harness contamination.
When: October 2015; vehicle was 9 years old at time of owner's complaint.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light came on and stayed on continuously; Check engine light remained on despite dealer diagnosis and sensor replacement in 2014; Unable to distinguish between actual airbag failure and harness contamination issue
Codes mentioned: Code issues (unspecified)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced a safety sensor in September 2014 for unresolved check engine light. No repair performed for airbag light or wire harness.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued recall notice (dated October 2015) offering free repair for wire harness defect if vehicle was within 10 years old or under 120,000 miles. However, GM denied coverage to this owner's vehicle on basis of age, claiming the warranty offer expired October 29, 2014—despite owner not receiving the letter until October 2015.
Synthesized from 40 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet colorado. The contact received recall notice number 09v310000 (exterior lighting:brake lights:switch). The manufacturer refused to repair the vehicle due to recall number 06v1390000 (exterior lighting:brake lights:switch) that was previously repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 20,000. The current mileage was 93,000.
Tl* - the contact took vehicle to dealer for recall 06030 repairs. The contact made an appointment ,and when she went to the dealer, the part had not come in. The dealer told her he would call her when the part arrived, which should have been within seven days. The recalled partwas the brake lamp switch. The vehicle currently has 25,000. The contact did not know if the brake light was…
I was driving and someone told me that my brake lights were not working, I got home and checked all the bulbs and fuses, they were all ok. Then searching in the internet at a Chevy colorado site, I found out that there is a problem with the brake light switch. I had notice that the cruise control has not been working for at least 3 months, I had taken the truck in for a check up since, but I see…
Re: NHTSA action number : pe05065 brake light switch was replaced on my 2005 Chevy colorado after I reported, to the dealership, that none of the brake lights worked and the cruise control would not activate. *jb
My brake light switch failed. No telling how many days I was driving around like this. I don't use cruise control so I didn't notice anything wrong like other people mentioned. West side Chevrolet in katy, tx did the repairs. Not sure of the exact date though. The bad thing is that I drive in stop and go traffic to and from work. There was no way for me to know they were not working other than…
Had lighting 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 lighting problem on the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 40 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 31 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 16,267 and 66,845 miles, with the median around 39,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 16,267; a quarter make it past 66,845. 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 $250 for lighting 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 lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting 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.