This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Headlamp, Tail Lamp, License Lamp or Fog/Driving Lamp Damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Chevrolet Colorado lighting problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 15 lighting complaints filed for the 2007 Chevrolet Colorado, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Among the 8 model years of Chevrolet Colorado in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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 lights on 2007 Colorados fail in two ways: they stay on continuously and will not shut off, or they fail to illuminate when you press the pedal. The defect sits in the brake light switch mounted on the brake pedal assembly. Chevrolet issued recall campaign 09V310000 in 2010 to address this, but here's the rub: owners report taking their trucks to dealerships only to be told their VIN numbers don't match the recall criteria—despite owning the same year and model. Some dealerships charged $70 to $195 for the switch replacement anyway. One owner paid for four replacements before learning a recall existed, and another reports the replacement switch failed shortly after service, causing a rear-end crash when brake lights didn't illuminate.
Headlamps are another chronic issue. Fleet owners report bulbs burning out every few weeks even on vehicles with only 20,000–30,000 miles. One owner saw 5–6 bulb replacements within six weeks, then failures every 5–6 days. Chevrolet acknowledged awareness of an underlying electrical problem in an internal engineering bulletin dated June 4, 2007, but told owners engineers were still working on a fix with no timeline.
Cruise control cuts out whenever the brake light switch fails, suggesting a shared electrical root cause. Tail lights and reverse lights also burn out prematurely and randomly. The pattern points to a systemic electrical or wiring issue that Chevrolet has known about for years but has not fully resolved.
Same Chevrolet Colorado lighting reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006
Failure modes owners describe
Brake light switch failure — continuous illumination
Brake lights remain on continuously and will not turn off, or fail to illuminate when brake pedal is pressed. The defect is in the brake pedal assembly brake light switch. Multiple owners report the switch as the root cause; some dealers replaced it per recall 09V310000, but owners report VINs not matching recall eligibility criteria despite having identical year/make/model vehicles. One owner reports the replacement switch failed within an unspecified period, leading to a rear-impact crash.
When: Occurs at various mileages; one owner noted 77,000 miles; another 74,000 miles; another 59,045 miles. Failure can occur early (6 weeks of ownership with bulb replacements every 5–6 days) or later. One owner reports replacement failure shortly after recall service.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights continuously illuminated and will not turn off; Brake lights fail to illuminate when brake pedal pressed; Brake lamp switch inoperable; Loss of brake light function causing visibility hazard to following vehicles
Codes mentioned: 09V310000
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report brake light switch replacement cost $70–$195. One owner replaced it himself after purchasing the part from a dealership. One owner had switch replaced four times. Another reports dealership replacement followed by immediate switch failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 09V310000 (Exterior Lighting: Brake Lights: Switch) issued 2010. Multiple owners report dealerships claiming their VINs are not included in the recall despite matching year/make/model criteria. One owner was charged $70+ when dealer denied recall coverage. Another owner was charged $195 when dealer found no recall match. One owner received reimbursement request after paying for fourth replacement on 8/2/2012 following July 2010 recall. One complaint references GM Engineering Bulletin Document ID:1980024 stating company awareness since June 4, 2007 with no resolution.
Headlamp bulb premature failure and burnout
Right and left headlamps burn out repeatedly at short intervals. Multiple owners report chronic bulb failures. One fleet owner reports four 2007 Colorados, each with only 20,000–30,000 miles, requiring headlamp bulb replacement four to five times per vehicle. Another owner reports headlamps burning out randomly along with brake lights, reverse lights, and fuses within a 6-week period (5–6 replacements), then every 5–6 days thereafter.
When: Fleet vehicles with 20,000–30,000 miles; another owner experienced failure within 6 weeks of ownership reporting. Failures recurring every 5–6 days in one case.
Symptoms owners cite: Right headlamp blown out repeatedly; Headlamps burn out at random intervals; Multiple bulb replacements required in short timespan
Repairs/costs cited: One fleet owner reports four to five headlamp bulb replacements per vehicle. Another owner reports dealership replaced 5–6 bulbs in 6 weeks; dealer was unable to identify underlying cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner obtained GM Engineering Bulletin Document ID:1980024 indicating company awareness since June 4, 2007. Chevrolet told this owner engineers were working on the issue with no estimated resolution date and advised keeping contact with dealership for updates. No recall identified for headlamp failures.
Cruise control malfunction linked to brake light failure
Cruise control system disables or malfunctions when brake light switch fails. Multiple owners report both failures occurring simultaneously, suggesting common root cause in the brake light switch assembly or associated wiring. One owner notes cruise control stopped working at the same time brake lights failed.
When: Failure mileage 74,000 noted in one case. Timing coincides with brake light switch failure.
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control malfunctions or stops working; Cruise control will not engage; Loss of cruise control concurrent with brake light failure
Codes mentioned: 09V310000
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced brake light switch himself; cruise control function restored. Dealers unable to separately diagnose cruise control as part of the switch assembly issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Same as brake light switch campaign 09V310000. No separate cruise control recall issued. Owners report forums identify the correlation between the two failures.
Tail light and reverse light failures
Tail lights and reverse lights fail to illuminate or burn out at random intervals, sometimes in conjunction with headlamp and brake light failures. One owner reports tail lights not coming on every time brake pedal is pressed; another reports reverse lights burning out randomly.
When: One owner reports bulb replacements every 5–6 days. Another notes failure occurring during vehicle operation.
Symptoms owners cite: Tail lights will not illuminate; Reverse lights burn out randomly; Tail light switches not functioning
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced bulbs; independent mechanic replaced bulbs but failure persisted. One owner reports dealership unable to repair tail light switch malfunction.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific recall identified for tail/reverse light failures. One owner informed vehicle not included in 09V310000 campaign and no repair was made.
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet colorado. The contact stated that the cruise control system malfunctioned while driving 45 MPH. In addition, the brake lights remained illuminated while driving. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number 09v310000 (exterior lighting) and called the manufacture regarding the recall. The manufacture stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The…
Had lighting trouble with your 2007 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 2007 Chevrolet Colorado?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 42,000 and 87,697 miles, with the median around 66,787. A quarter of owners report trouble before 42,000; a quarter make it past 87,697. 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/2007/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.