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 ↗2019 Chevrolet Colorado powertrain problems
critical 60 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
60
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
7injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 60 powertrain complaints filed for the 2019 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 6 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 60 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 2019 Colorado trucks consistently report transmission shudder and vibration during acceleration, often described as feeling like driving over rumble strips. The problem can start as early as 600 miles or around 9,000–12,000 miles, is worst between 40–65 mph, and worsens progressively. Harsh 1st-to-2nd gear shifts, especially when cold, and delayed or hard downshifts that lurch the truck forward are also common—some owners experience these issues right off the dealer lot with only 3–4 miles on the odometer.
Transmission slipping, hesitation, and poor acceleration occur at highway speeds and during steep-grade starts. Multiple owners report torque converters failing and needing replacement with no permanent fix. A critical issue: replacement transmissions and parts are reportedly unavailable nationwide, leaving some owners stranded with inoperable vehicles.
Dealerships have consistently performed transmission fluid flushes and changes (sometimes with thicker fluid or to Mobil 1 spec per service bulletins), reprogrammed transmissions, and replaced torque converters—all with mixed or temporary results. Service managers have acknowledged problems but claimed them "normal" for the 8-speed, refused further diagnostics when they could not reproduce symptoms during short test drives, or stated parts availability prevents repair. Owners report spending $500–$700 on service bulletins alone, with additional costs for torque converter ($900) or full replacement ($5,500–$8,500) likely if internal damage is found.
Same Chevrolet Colorado powertrain reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission shudder and vibration during acceleration
Vehicle shakes, shudders, or vibrates noticeably when accelerating, particularly between 40–65 mph, often described as feeling like driving over rumble strips or speed grooves. Owners report the shaking worsens over time and occurs across various road conditions and temperatures. Multiple owners note the issue is most pronounced when accelerating on hills or under load.
When: Can occur as early as 600 miles; commonly reported around 9,000–12,000 miles; intensifies with vehicle age and mileage. Some owners report intermittent occurrence, others constant.
Symptoms owners cite: Shaking or vibration during acceleration and light acceleration; Shudder feels like driving over rumble strips or speed grooves; Vibration more noticeable on hills or under load; More pronounced in hot, humid conditions; Worsens progressively over time; Can occur at speeds between 40–65 mph, also reported at 60–75 mph highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealerships performing transmission fluid flushes, with some citing TSB 18-NA-355 and TSB 19417577. Results mixed; fluid change alone often does not resolve the issue. Some dealers recommend fluid replacement with Mobil 1 or thicker fluid. One owner had torque converter replaced at 54k miles with no permanent resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Service Bulletin 18-NA-355 and TSB 19417577 published for fluid service; TSB 16-NA-175 also referenced. Multiple owners report dealers stating 'they all do it' or that shudder is 'normal for an 8-speed transmission.' Dealers have refused to perform further diagnostics, claiming the condition cannot be reproduced during test drives.
Hard or delayed downshifts, lurching forward at stops
Transmission delays or shifts hard when coming to a stop or when downshifting, causing the truck to lunge or jerk forward unexpectedly. Some owners report the truck nearly overshoots their intended stopping point or driveway. Problem present from new in several cases. Accompanied by loud mechanical noise and forceful jerking that throws occupants backward.
When: Present from delivery with as few as 4 miles on odometer in multiple cases; also reported as early as first drive with 3 miles. Occurs on every stop in some vehicles, intermittently in others.
Symptoms owners cite: Hard, delayed, or aggressive downshift when coming to a stop; Vehicle lurches or jumps forward unexpectedly during downshift; Loud mechanical noise accompanying hard downshift; Occupants jerked backward by force of shift; Truck overshoots driveway or stop point; Feels like vehicle being hit from behind
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had transmission fluid replaced with thicker fluid, which reduced vibration but did not eliminate hard downshift. Dealerships have been unable or unwilling to identify the root cause; multiple owners report being told nothing is wrong after returning to dealers.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific TSB or recall referenced for this failure mode. Dealers have stated the hard downshift is 'normal characteristic' of the transmission despite owner assertions it is unsafe.
Harsh 1st-to-2nd gear shift, shudder between gears
Transmission shifts aggressively or roughly when moving from 1st to 2nd gear, particularly noticeable when cold or on initial startup. Owners report shuddering, hesitation, or failure to properly engage 2nd gear before the shift completes. Some describe it as the truck not engaging 2nd properly, resulting in a hard jolt when engagement finally occurs. Issues persist through multiple service attempts.
When: Begins as early as 12,000 miles; reported at 16,000 miles and throughout vehicle life. More pronounced in cold conditions and on first drive of the day.
Symptoms owners cite: Harsh, rough shift from 1st to 2nd gear; Shudder or hesitation between 1st and 2nd; Transmission appears to not engage 2nd gear before hard jolt; More severe in cold weather or on cold morning starts; Intermittent nature makes dealer reproduction difficult; Whole truck shakes during shift
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission fluid changes attempted at 12,000 miles with only temporary effect; same chatter returned after 11,000 additional miles. No long-term repair noted in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers acknowledge transmission chatter as a known issue related to wrong transmission fluid installed at manufacture. Recommendation to change to Mobil 1 transmission fluid published. Owners report dealers reluctant to investigate further under warranty.
Transmission slip, hesitation, and poor acceleration
Transmission slips or hesitates during acceleration, causing loss of power and inability to accelerate smoothly. Some owners report transmission slipping out of gear or failing to maintain power during acceleration at highway speeds (60–70 mph). Vehicle decelerates and shakes before slamming back into gear. Slipping also occurs when starting on steep grades.
When: Reported at 37,000 miles; one case as early as 5,100 miles. Some intermittent, others persistent.
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slips during acceleration; Hesitation between shifts; Loss of power and ability to accelerate; Vehicle decelerates and shakes before slamming into gear; Transmission slips out of gear at highway speeds (60–70 mph); After stopping, vehicle moves off in wrong gear then abruptly downshifts to 1st; Slipping on steep grade starts; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had transmission rebuilt due to pump failure that damaged clutch pack (covered under powertrain warranty); rebuilt transmission still slips out of 3rd and 4th gears. Another case resulted in torque converter replacement at 54k miles with no permanent fix.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified in at least one case; owner was added to a list and referred to NHTSA. No specific resolution offered.
Torque converter chatter and shudder
Torque converter produces a shuddering, chattering, or humming sensation that makes the vehicle shake or lunge. One owner specifically reported torque converter being 'shot' at 80,000 miles. Another experienced loud humming at 50–65 mph that stops when pressing gas or slowing below 50 mph.
When: Can begin early in vehicle life; reported as late as 80,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Torque converter chatter or shudder; Loud humming sound at 50–65 mph; Vehicle lurches or shakes due to converter shudder; On wet road or in curves, rear wheels can slide; Humming stops when accelerating or slowing below 50 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Torque converter replacement performed on at least two vehicles at 54k and 80k miles respectively; one replacement did not resolve slipping in higher gears. Parts availability is a significant issue; one owner was told there are no replacement torque converters or complete transmissions available in the entire country.
Complete transmission failure and unavailable replacement parts
Some vehicles experience catastrophic transmission failure requiring replacement. A critical issue is the complete unavailability of replacement transmissions and internal components nationwide. Owners are unable to obtain parts to repair or rebuild transmissions, leaving vehicles inoperable or unsafe to drive.
When: One vehicle failed at 60,000 miles after 5.5 years. Another required replacement at 70,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission ceases to operate after extended shuddering; Vehicle cannot be driven; No warning lights or advance indication in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report being told replacement transmissions are not available anywhere in the country. Parts to rebuild defective transmission sections unavailable. One vehicle with 70k miles required replacement but no parts could be sourced. Another 60k-mile vehicle experienced complete transmission failure after earlier shuddering.
Rough idle and lugging sensation
Vehicle experiences rough idle and lugging sensation during normal driving. Service manager acknowledged lugging sensation as genuine but claimed it was normal. Issue persists after torque converter replacement.
When: Reported at various driving speeds; one case had issue from shortly after purchase.
Symptoms owners cite: Rough idle at times; Lugging sensation during acceleration; Hesitation during acceleration; Sensation confirmed by dealership service manager but dismissed as normal
Repairs/costs cited: Torque converter replaced in one case with no resolution of lugging. Multiple shop visits yielded no repair attempts.
Synthesized from 60 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 11 most recent
Transmission slips when starting on steep grades, and transmission hesitation/shuttering between first and second gears.
Transmission slips when starting on steep grades when first shifting from Park to first gear. Transmission hesitates/shudders between first and second gears.
2019 Chevrolet colorado z71 4x4 vehicle shutters noticeably when in motion on flat roads or uphill. Problem always occurs in all road and environment temps and appears most often in moving operation of 45 to 65 MPH.
Transmission Issues — Shudder And Vibration; Stuttering; Vibration And Slams Into Gear At Low Speeds When Going Into Gear. Problem has been confirmed by a independent service center. No warning lights. No codes detected by service center. Bought in May of 2019. 47,000 miles. Noticed about two months ago,
Transmission does a slight kick before shifting at speeds between 20-45 MPH on streets and highways. Girlfriends sister-in-law experienced same problem with her vehicle. Her paperwork when she got her car back referenced Chevy's bulletin# 18-na-091
I purchased my 2019 Chevy Colorado Z71 new in Feb 2019 from a dealership. About two years ago I began having shifting issues from 1st to 2nd gear, it would shudder and seem almost stuck, this would only occur infrequently. Right after I hit 100,000 miles (about a year ago) I have had nothing but issues with the 8 speed transmission, my vehicle is unable to shift from 1st to 2nd without having the…
Transmission is shuddering when accelerating. This shuddering event began around 9,000 miles and has progressively worsened. Service bulletin 18-na-355 has been published but with mixed results. Requesting government agency continues to monitor this as the sudden lurching could potentially put drivers into a dangerous intersection or be unable to accelerate to avoid a hazard. This is a large…
The 2019 colorado z71 I have has been in the shop at the dealer 8 times since march. The transmission shutters while trying to maintain a consistent speed between 40-60 MPH. The transmission also slips and jerks when slowing down and reaccelerating. Dealer continues to tell me they can not recreate the issues. It has become so that I do not feel safe allowing my wife to travel in this vehicle. I…
Hard shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear specially when it is cold or on the first drive. The transmission seems to not engage the second gear and when it does it results in a hard jolt.
The transmission surges causing the truck to lunge forward when starting from a stop. The key will not turn completely off allowing the key to be removed. Both events occur occasionally so if the dealer says it did not happen to them then there is nothing they can do. Both things are being reported on the internet by numerous people. Both things are safety hazards.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2019 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 2019 Chevrolet Colorado?
It's a serious issue. 60 complaints have been filed, including 1 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 23 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 5,077 and 20,000 miles, with the median around 7,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 5,077; a quarter make it past 20,000. 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 $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/2019/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.