This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Chevrolet Colorado powertrain problems
moderate 74 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
74
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 74 powertrain complaints filed for the 2018 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
Powertrain accounts for 42% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 74 powertrain 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 powertrain 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 Diagnostic aids for a no start or DTC'S following a transmission replacement
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary information communicates Diagnostic aids for a no start or DTC'S following a transmission replacement
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips, or Flares.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a delayed engagement into drive, shudder at a launch, or the transmission is slipping when shifting into 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th gears. This may be due to loose stator support to pump cover bolts causing a leak at the stator support to pump cover gasket. Technician will check for the bolts to be loose. If any of the bolts are loose or the gasket is misaligned or leaking, the transmission pump cover must be replaced and the 1234 clutch plates should be inspected for being distressed and repaired as needed.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2018 Chevrolet Colorados describe pervasive transmission issues beginning early in ownership. Most commonly, a shudder or vibration occurs during normal driving, particularly between 30–70 mph and while accelerating or climbing inclines. Many report the shudder worsens on cold starts and improves once the engine warms up. Some owners say hard shifts or clunking occur when downshifting to a stop, while others experience hesitation or jerking on acceleration. A subset reports complete power loss or engine shutdown while driving at highway speeds, sometimes accompanied by loss of brakes and inability to restart. Dealerships frequently flush and refill transmission fluid per GM Technical Service Bulletin 18-NA-355, but many owners report the shudder persists afterward. Some dealers claim they cannot duplicate the problem during test drives, despite the complaint happening every drive. Owners also report torque converter failure requiring replacement and occasional transmission control assembly failure affecting the ignition key. A minority mention rear differential clunking, crankshaft reluctor ring delamination causing no-start conditions, and misfire/electrical issues on cold starts. Dealers are reportedly handling 9 or more similar cases per week at some locations.
Same Chevrolet Colorado powertrain reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission shudder/vibration during normal driving
Owners report a shudder, vibration, or rumble-strip feeling in the transmission that occurs during cruising, acceleration, or hill climbing, most commonly between 30–70 mph.
When: Varies; can occur from low mileage (1200 miles) through high mileage (90,000+); more prevalent on cold starts and improves when engine warms
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering or shaking during acceleration and cruising; Vibration similar to driving over rumble strips; Shudder worse at 45–60 mph when climbing hills or inclines; Intermittent, cyclic shuddering lasting 4–12 seconds with 45–90 second intervals; Occurs on both smooth and rough roads; Shudder intensifies when towing or under load; reduces when Tow/Haul mode is activated
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission fluid flush and refill with Dexron VI or HD transmission fluid per GM TSB 18-NA-355. Dealers often report inability to duplicate the problem during test drives. Many owners report shudder persists after fluid service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM TSB 18-NA-355 (transmission fluid service); owners mention pending class-action lawsuit regarding these transmissions
Hard shifting and downshift jolts
Owners report harsh, abrupt downshifts when coming to a stop that feel like being rear-ended, and hard upshifts at low speeds or when accelerating from rest.
When: Occurs throughout ownership; some owners report issue from first drive
Symptoms owners cite: Downshift feels like vehicle has been hit from behind; Hard 1st-to-2nd gear shift, especially when engine is cold; Hesitation or lag from standstill before accelerating; Rough shifting between gears, jerking or surging; Transmission slips then catches before engaging; Clunking noise during downshifts
Repairs/costs cited: TSB 18-NA-355 fluid service attempted. Some dealers report no fix available and claim hard downshifts are normal behavior. Torque converter replacement performed in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 18-NA-355; some dealers tell customers no fix exists
Torque converter failure
Transmission stutters and later develops severe shudder; diagnosis reveals torque converter failure, sometimes leaving metal shavings in the transmission requiring full transmission replacement.
When: Reported at 15,000 miles, 76,000 miles, 82,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Stuttering on acceleration between 20–35 mph; Severe shudder following stuttering phase; Metal shavings in transmission fluid
Repairs/costs cited: Torque converter replacement; one owner reported $13,000 repair bill including transmission replacement due to contamination from torque converter failure
Complete engine shutdown or power loss while driving
Engine shuts off without warning during normal driving, sometimes at highway speeds, losing all power and brake assist. Vehicle may or may not restart immediately.
When: Reported at 18,000–21,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden, unwarned engine shutdown while driving at speed (35–70 mph); Loss of power steering and brake function; Loss of dashboard lights and brake lights; Engine restarts after 10–15 minute timeout, or restarts intermittently; Whining or screaming noise from transmission/engine after restart at low speeds
Codes mentioned: U0700 (Lost Communication with Transmission Control Module), U0100 (Lost Communication with Engine Control Module)
Repairs/costs cited: First dealer cleared codes without diagnosis; problem recurred. Second dealer noted inability to duplicate. Owners report needing towing due to unsafe condition.
Crankshaft reluctor ring delamination (Duramax 2.8 LWN)
Rear crankshaft reluctor ring delaminates or cracks, causing complete engine shutdown because ECU loses crank position signal. Transmission must be removed to access and replace the ring.
When: Reported at highway speed while towing; cracking initiates from increased RPM/centrifugal force during downshift
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden engine shutdown at speed (dead stick)
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission removal required for repair. Owner reported month-long repair timeline.
Transmission control assembly failure—key stuck in ignition
Transmission control assembly fails, preventing ignition key from being removed when vehicle is in park. Issue occurs despite engine shutoff.
When: Reported at 19,000 miles and again at 33,000 miles on same vehicle; also at other mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Key will not remove from ignition when shifted to park; No warning lights; issue appears randomly; Micro switch mounting post broken, causing misalignment
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission control assembly replacement; one owner had repair at cost of $642.15; same component replaced twice within 14,000 miles on another vehicle
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet document #4811390 documents fleet-wide problem; no recall issued. GM TSB PI1429B referenced by owners.
Misfire and electrical issues on cold start
Engine misfires on cold start with check engine light flashing, VSA light, traction control light, and Stabilitrak disabled message. Vehicle shakes severely. Codes clear after vehicle sits and is restarted hours later.
When: Multiple occurrences on cold starts at low mileage (18,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine misfire on cold start; Check engine light flashing then solid; VSA and traction control lights illuminate; Stabilitrak disabled notification on dash; Severe shaking; Codes clear after warm start several hours later
Codes mentioned: P0266 (cylinder misfire)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer cleaned terminals and connectors at multiple connectors; problem recurred the next day. Owner notes that continuous misfire allows unburned fuel into catalytic converter, causing premature catalyst damage.
Rear differential clunking on acceleration
Loud clunking sound from rear differential when depressing accelerator after releasing brake, especially during normal acceleration and when exiting turns.
When: Reported at 35,800 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clunk from rear end during acceleration; Less pronounced if vehicle is coasting before acceleration; Pronounced when slowing for a corner and resuming speed
Brake/traction system failure during deceleration
Loud bang and all four tires lock up during deceleration with loss of vehicle control.
When: Reported at 20 mph deceleration
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang during deceleration; All four tires lock up simultaneously; Complete loss of vehicle control
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership states faulty transfer case; vehicle in shop nearly one month with no resolution
Automatic 4WD engagement malfunction
Auto 4WD mode engages immediately upon any motion instead of engaging only when needed, making the Auto 4WD feature ineffective.
When: First noticed in October 2018 when Auto 4WD mode first used
Symptoms owners cite: 4WD engages immediately upon motion rather than as needed
Vehicle rolls down slight incline while parked in Park with 4Low engaged
Vehicle rolled down a slight dirt road incline while parked in Park (4Low engaged) with engine off, despite no parking brake being engaged. No external load or extreme conditions present.
When: Reported on relatively new vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolled down slight incline while in Park (4Low)
Ignition key cannot turn to off position
Ignition key will not fully turn to the off position, trapping the key in the ignition even though the engine shuts down. Workaround sometimes involves shifting into Drive or Reverse and moving the vehicle.
When: Occurs frequently; owners report it may stop working eventually
Symptoms owners cite: Key cannot be turned to off position; Engine shuts down but key remains stuck; Occurs frequently and intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Workaround: shift to Drive or Reverse, move slightly, return to Park, then try key removal
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Service Bulletin #PI1429B exists; issue is a known safety concern to Chevrolet
Random downshift from ignition turn without brake applied
Vehicle downshifts randomly when ignition key is turned to run position unless brake pedal is depressed, creating unpredictable behavior.
When: Occurs on cold starts and after remote start usage
Symptoms owners cite: Random downshift when turning key to on/run; Downshift does not occur if brake pedal is pressed
Synthesized from 74 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
About a year ago, I started getting a slight shudder in my transmission so I took it to the dealer for repair. They couldn't get it to shudder. Several times I'll be driving down the road at or around 45mph and the truck will start shuddering so bad I feel like I have to pull off the road. Every time I take it to the dealer for repair I end up losing my truck for a day and they tell me they…
My 2018 Colorado Z71 (40,000 miles) suffers from transmission shudder intermittently. Dealer took it for a 14 mile test drive and was unable to duplicate. Blamed it on the tires. Refused to flush transmission fluid in accordance with GM TSB 18-NA-355. Shudder becomes worse when trailering boat. Known issue to GM, however, dealers refuse to perform the solution provided by GM in the absence of…
While driving on city street and highway, transmission shifting at speeds of 25mph,45mph,55mph start vibrating also coming to a stop feel like a rear end bump.
I have a 2018 Chevrolet colorado lt 4wd crew cab. Multiple times on a cold start the engine is misfiring. The check engine like comes on, the vsa, and t/c lights all come on and a notification on the dash saying stabilitrak is disabled. The vehicle shakes terribly. The check engine light will flash and then go solid. I am an automotive technician. I know that a misfire should set a hard…
The truck's drivetrain/transmission constantly shakes, shutters while driving. It happens periodically throughout the RPM ranges.
Highlighting a materials defect with the rear crankshaft reluctor ring on the 2.8 LWN Duramax, installed in the Army Infantry Squad Vehicle and the 2015-2023 Chevrolet Colorado, from which it is based. When the ring delaminates, due to age, the vehicle engine shuts off and no start, rendered dead lined, as the ECU can no longer "see" the crank position. Requiring the transmission to be removed to…
transmission shudders from 20 to 60 under light acceleration. took to dealer and said that needed different oil. dealer stated that a common issue with these vehicles. Cost $500 to replace oil to proper oil.
transmission is not shfting properly.Truck losses speed and shutters when trying to accelerate.Difficulty climbing hills.Especially dangerous when merging with traffic.Only 33,000 miles on my truck.GM should recall to address this much complained about issue.
I had truck stationary parked on a slight incline on a dirt road for about 5 minutes when I heard a odd sound like "arrrrr clunk" and my car rolled down a hill. I had my car on park while on 4low with the engine off. I did not have my parking brake on though but the incline was so slight I feel I did not need it. My truck was not loaded with any extra weight or anything to cause it to roll down…
The truck vibrates , stutters some times when driving. Went to dealer he said it has been happening in trucks. He said thicker trans oil should fix it. Is this just a band aid for a bigger problem. Would like your view. Thanks.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2018 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 powertrain problem on the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 74 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 32 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 10,200 and 35,958 miles, with the median around 21,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,200; a quarter make it past 35,958. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2018/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.