This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Chevrolet Colorado electrical problems
severe 24 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 24 electrical complaints filed for the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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
Electrical accounts for 30% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 11 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 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 electrical 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 Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, and/or B3935. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. If unable to duplicate the concern ask if the customer uses any Radio Frequency Identification Devices when the concern is present. Dealer should also direct their customers to the appropriate section in the Owner manuals that references that the device complies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information on identifying Non-GM Engine Calibrations for Gasoline Engines using the Tech 2 or GDS 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a truck with persistent electrical problems that defeat diagnosis. The dominant complaint is Passlock anti-theft system lockout: the engine won't crank despite lights, radio, and A/C functioning normally, but starting works after a 10-20 minute wait. This happens unpredictably—sometimes three times weekly, then absent for months—and multiple mechanics plus dealerships cannot find or fix the fault. Owners report being stranded at gas stations and missing work repeatedly.
Heater blower motor connectors melt under the dashboard, creating smoke and burning odor at highway speeds. Even after harness replacement, the connector fails again within 2,000 miles. Brake lights stop illuminating entirely; a recall exists but covers only certain states, leaving owners in non-covered areas with no remedy.
Door wiring harnesses break inside protective boots, disabling airbag and seat belt systems until repaired—and the same failures recur. Battery drain kills a new battery overnight despite a normal alternator. Dashboard power cuts out while other systems stay live. Airbag lights stay on regardless of fuse swaps. Headlamps fail in low-beam mode. TPMS sensors fail and flashing lights resist all repair attempts. Throttle body faults trigger reduced power mode intermittently in cool weather.
Same Chevrolet Colorado electrical reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Passlock anti-theft ignition lockout
Security system prevents engine cranking even though all electrical systems (lights, radio, A/C) function normally. Vehicle starts after 10-20 minute wait. Occurs intermittently, sometimes 3 times per week, then absent for months. Multiple mechanics and dealerships unable to diagnose or repair the condition permanently.
When: Random intervals; some owners report it began immediately after purchase or within first few weeks of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Engine won't crank despite full electrical power; All accessories operate normally (lights, radio, A/C, fan); Resolves after 10-20 minute waiting period; Intermittent pattern—recurs unpredictably
Repairs/costs cited: No successful permanent repairs documented in complaints; repeated shop visits and attempted fixes by multiple technicians yielded temporary results only
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued despite acknowledged problem affecting Colorado, Canyon, Hummer, Impala, HHR, and Cobalt models
Heater blower motor relay and connector failure
Heater fan relay burns out and melts connector contacts, causing smoke and burning odor under passenger-side dashboard. Blower motor connector melts repeatedly even after replacement. At 83,000 miles, connector failed again within 2,000 miles of repair.
When: First occurrence at 144,000 miles; repeated at 83,000 miles approximately 2,000 miles after connector replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Burning odor and smoke under passenger dashboard; Blower motor stops operating; Visible melting of connector and harness; Occurs while A/C system running at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Heater fan relay replaced; blower motor connector and harness replaced. Failure recurred after 2,000 miles despite repair.
Brake light switch failure
All brake lights cease illumination when pedal is pressed, including top-mounted lamp above rear window. Recall 09V310000 exists but is limited to certain states; owners in non-covered states (e.g., New Jersey) have no remedy.
When: No specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights do not illuminate when pedal pressed; Affects all brake lights including upper rear lamp; Complete functional failure
Codes mentioned: 09V310000
Repairs/costs cited: Recall 09V310000 available in some states only; parts and labor covered under recall where applicable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 09V310000 issued but with geographic limitations; GM has not expanded coverage to all states
Door wiring harness breakage
Driver-side rear door wiring harness breaks inside protective boot where harness routes between door and frame. Second occurrence within vehicle's ownership period; first failure lasted 3 years before recurrence.
When: First failure approximately 3 years into ownership; second failure after repair
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on dash; Seat belt tensioner inoperative; Airbag will not deploy until corrected; Visible broken wires inside harness boot
Repairs/costs cited: Wiring harness replaced; GM part number 15214393. Owner has documentation and photographs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued despite repeated harness failures and safety implications for airbag and seat belt operation
Engine control module failure
Computerized system control module fails, preventing engine from operating when ignition engaged.
When: Approximately 26,700 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine fails to operate upon starting ignition
Repairs/costs cited: Control module replaced at authorized dealer
Driver-side low-beam headlamp failure
Driver-side headlamp does not illuminate in normal driving mode despite replacement of bulb and fuse. Lamp functions only in high-beam mode, indicating switch or wiring defect rather than bulb issue.
When: No specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Left headlamp inoperative in normal driving mode; Left headlamp works in high-beam mode; Condition persists after bulb replacement; Condition persists after fuse replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Headlamp bulb replaced; left headlamp fuse replaced. No diagnosis of underlying switch or wiring fault provided.
Battery drain (parasitic draw)
Battery discharges overnight or with vehicle sitting unused for one day. New battery installed but drain persists. Alternator tested normal, indicating electrical system load problem rather than charging deficit.
When: No specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Battery dead after one day of non-use; Condition occurs with new battery installed; Airbag light illuminated (concurrent symptom)
Repairs/costs cited: New battery installed; alternator tested and confirmed normal output
Body control module electrical failure
Loss of power to instrument cluster and dashboard systems while other vehicle systems retain power. Condition triggered by battery depletion event. Body control module replacement did not restore function.
When: After battery went dead in January 2019; subsequent loss of dash power in February 2019
Symptoms owners cite: All power lost to dashboard; All other vehicle power systems functional; Condition triggered after airbag deployment event in parking lot; Persists after body control module replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Body control module replaced at dealer; problem not resolved
Airbag light illumination
Airbag warning light illuminates and will not turn off. Multiple complaints indicate this occurs concurrently with other electrical faults (battery drain, door harness breakage, body control module failure). Single owner attempt to replace fuse unsuccessful.
When: Timing varies; in some cases concurrent with other electrical failures; in others timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on dash—continuous illumination; Light does not extinguish when ignition cycled; Often concurrent with other electrical system faults
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse replacement attempted without success. Owner mentioned reluctance to pay diagnostic fee ($100 for Tech 2 scan).
Throttle body and reduced power mode fault
Vehicle enters reduced power mode randomly while driving at any speed. Occurs predominantly in cool weather conditions. Idle RPM fluctuates by approximately 100 RPM on affected days. Owner suspects throttle body defect but notes TPS (throttle position sensor) cannot be changed separately.
When: Problem began August 2016 per one narrative; ongoing at time of complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle enters reduced power mode while driving; Occurs at any vehicle speed; Predominant in cool weather; Idle RPM fluctuates ~100 RPM on affected days; Unintended acceleration in parking lots (related complaint suggests electrical root cause)
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body cleaning attempted without permanent resolution
Door ajar warning light malfunction
Door ajar warning light illuminates on dashboard and remains lit even when all doors verified closed. Radio continues operating with ignition off and key removed, suggesting door switch circuit failure.
When: No specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Door ajar warning light illuminated continuously; Light remains on after all doors visually inspected and closed; Radio does not shut off with ignition off and key removed; Radio remains on after driver door opened and closed
TPMS sensor failure
Tire pressure monitoring system sensor fails and TPMS warning light flashes continuously. Dealer and independent shops unable to resolve the fault.
When: No specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: TPMS warning light flashing continuously
Repairs/costs cited: No successful repair documented
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
TPMS failed and flashes continually. Chevrolet can't fix it and neither can anyone else. *tr
Electrical connector for blower motor caught on fire. *tr
The electric ingnition system is not working on this and a million trucks in the country please fix this 10 minute waiting time to start
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet colorado. While driving 65 MPH, the contact smelled a burning odor. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road and noticed smoke appearing under the passenger side dashboard. The failure recurred three times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the heater fan relay was burning and needed to be…
This vehicle seems to have a mind of its own. You get in the vehicle to go somewhere and it wont start. Everything comes on, lights, radio, a/c but it wont crank. Let it sit 10-20 minutes and it cranks right up. And it doesn't do it all the time. It may happen 3 times in a week then go 2 months or longer without happening again. It has caused me to be late for work, sitting a the gas station…
Had electrical trouble with your 2008 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 electrical problem on the 2008 Chevrolet Colorado?
It's a meaningful issue. 24 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 57,600 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 83,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 57,600; a quarter make it past 120,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2008/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.