In December 2024, at under 50,000 miles, my 2021 Chevrolet Colorado suffered complete brake failure caused by vacuum pump failure. The vacuum pump failure led to irreparable internal engine damage, requiring complete engine replacement under warranty. Sudden, complete brake failure in traffic could have led to a serious accident causing injuries or death to myself and/or others. The component was …
2021 chevrolet Colorado brakes problems
moderate 9 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$450
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
The brakes went out on the vehicle while my service technician was driving and he barely missed getting in an accident. We had it towed to the Chevy dealer and the brake Pump shattered causing damage to the exhaust clamp and they are telling me it’s not under warranty or recall but I see this is happened with millions of other Chevy vehicles?
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and failed to decelerate as intended while the brake pedal was depressed. An unknown message was displayed. In addition, the contact stated the vehicle failed to respond properly while the accelerator pedal was depressed. Upon inspection, the contact noticed an abnormal …
This is the fifth vehicle with the 2.5l engine that has experienced vacuum pump failure resulting in a broken exhaust camshaft. Without warning, drivers have experienced a complete loss of brake function as a result of the vacuum pump failure.
Today while driving my brakes got super hard. Had to use my entire weight to get it to stop and still was moving forward. Had to use the emergency brakes and a prayer. Luckily I wasn’t on the highway or it would’ve been a deadly accident. When I opened the hood the camshaft sensor was broken loose. Mind you I had taken the truck to the dealer a while back for a rattling noise at 1500 RPM and they…
I was on my way home from work and I was on Highway 16 in Washington state near Port Orchard and I was driving 64mph and all vehicles in front of me were all breaking slowing down pretty fast and when I pressed down on my brakes the brakes were totally stiff I could not stop and had to drive on the side of the road and passed 20 plus cars and was finally able to come to a stop. If I had no where t…
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2021 chevrolet Colorado?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 9 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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