Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

ProblemsByVin File / 2010-CHEVROLET-COLORADO NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Chevrolet

2010 Chevrolet Colorado problems

The 2010 Chevrolet Colorado has 1 critical safety recall on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 28 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.

The 2010 Chevrolet Colorado has 28 NHTSA owner complaints and 2 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is electrical at 11 complaints, typically surfacing around 55,303 miles (~$850 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Chevrolet Colorado owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2007 Colorado 140 3
2008 Colorado 81 2
2009 Colorado 67 3
2010 Colorado (this page) 28 2
2011 Colorado 42 5
2012 Colorado 42 2
2010 Chevrolet Colorado
Photo: MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the Chevrolet Colorado
0 5 10
Reliability score
7.6 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

1
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2010 Colorado?
Generally reliable

Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Buying a used 2010 Chevrolet Colorado? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 2 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 7.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2010 Chevrolet Colorado

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

Embed this reliability snapshot

Free to use on your site, post, or video — just keep the "Source" credit line below the chart. Preview the widget →

<iframe src="https://problemsbyvin.com/embed/reliability/2010-chevrolet-colorado/" width="100%" height="340" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" title="2010 Chevrolet Colorado reliability snapshot" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#64748b;max-width:640px;margin:6px 0 0">Source: <a href="https://problemsbyvin.com/2010-chevrolet-colorado/" style="color:#b8540a;font-weight:600">2010 Chevrolet Colorado reliability snapshot — ProblemsByVin</a></p>

Top trouble spots 2 categories with 3+ complaints

electrical
11 reports · fails ~55,303 mi · avg $850
moderate
engine
4 reports · fails ~116,000 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2010 Colorado's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2010 Colorado?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2010 Colorado · electrical
Airbag warning light stays on when engine is running. Google searched and found dozens of repeated explanations of the cause on vehicle & model years on each side of mine. The wiring from the body to the small rear extended cab door is too short and breaks as the door is used.…
12/16/2015 · at 65,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10810763.0 · see electrical pattern →
2010 Colorado · engine
2010 Chevrolet colorado. Consumer states there is an issue with the keyless remote lock and unlock for the vehicle. *kb the consumer stated she has been to the dealership six times for the keyless remote problem. It was determined the control module was bad and the part…
2010 Colorado · electrical
The passlock feature on the truck engages frequently without cause making me sit and wait out the 10-minute delay. This is always inconvenient, especially at the gas station with long lines behind me. This problem has the potential for being a safety hazard. The internet has a…
11/17/2017 · at 36,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11047031.0 · see electrical pattern →
2010 Colorado · electrical
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet colorado. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start at random times. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure, but the vehicle was repaired with unknown parts. When the contact retrieved the vehicle, it was unable to start…
11/15/2016 · at 47,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10926133.0 · see electrical pattern →
View all 28 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2010 Chevrolet Colorado? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 2 of 2

critical NHTSA 10V575000 November 18, 2010

Gm is recalling certain model year 2004-2011, Chevrolet colorado, GMC canyon, model year 2006, isuzu I-280/I-350, and model year 2007-2008, I-290/I-370, regular cab vehicles and extended cab vehicles without a rear seat and equipped with a front 60/40 split bench seat

Both NHTSA and gm discourage placement of a child in a front seat. Nevertheless, there are individual circumstances that may require placement of a child in a restraint in the front center seating position of this vehicle that does not offer a rear seat. Lack of access to the top tether anchor and a lack of instructions as to how to use it, may result in improper installation of a child restraint. Improper installation of a child restraint can result in a reduction in the restraint's performance in the event of a crash and an increased risk of injury or death to the child seated in the restraint.

Fix: Dealers will cut a hole into the back panel trim cover to allow access to the top tether anchor for the front center seat position and will provide supplemental information as to use in the owner's manual. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule for this campaign. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463, isuzu at 1-800-255-6727 or visit gm's website at www.gmownercenter.com.
severe NHTSA 12V594000 December 19, 2012

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured from November 9, 2009, through August 28, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No

If the primary hood latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly. During vehicle operation, this could obstruct the view of the driver and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: General Motors will notify owners and instruct them to inspect their vehicle for the presence of a secondary hood latch. Dealers will replace the hood on any affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on January 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.

Common questions

Is the 2010 Chevrolet Colorado reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Chevrolet Colorado is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

Should you avoid the 2010 Chevrolet Colorado?

On the NHTSA data, the 2010 Chevrolet Colorado does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2010 Chevrolet Colorado?

Inspect the electrical first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 11 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 55,303 miles. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2010 Chevrolet Colorado a good used car to buy?

It scores 7.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 28 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is electrical. Typical failure occurs around 55,303 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2010 Chevrolet Colorado?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is electrical, with 11 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 55,303 miles. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 55,303 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Chevrolet Colorado has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2010 Chevrolet Colorado?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 28 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Chevrolet/Colorado. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Chevrolet. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
Sponsored
Get a free warranty quote →