Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where coolant leaks from the radiator hose quick connect at the radiator inlet. This special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 5 years or 60,000 miles (100,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership. For vehicles covered by Vehicle Service Contracts, all eligible claims with repair orders on or after July 14, 2026, are covered by this special coverage and must be submitted using the labor operation codes provided with this bulletin. Claims with repair orders prior to July 14, 2026, must be submitted to the Service Contract provider. Vehicle
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2023 Chevrolet Colorado engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 Colorado | 10 |
| 2020 Colorado | 9 |
| 2021 Colorado | 6 |
| 2023 Colorado (this page) | 12 |
| 2024 Colorado | 15 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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 service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Check Engine Lamp Illuminated with HVAC Related DTC.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2023 Chevrolet Colorado cluster shows four distinct failure patterns. Oil pan leaks are the most serious: owners lost up to 5 quarts and found dipsticks bone dry, with dealerships unable to permanently fix the problem even after keeping trucks for multiple repair attempts. One truck leaked again within days of being returned from service.
Engine power loss at highway speeds created dangerous situations where vehicles entered limp mode or shut down entirely, forcing emergency pulls to the roadside or towing from traffic. One owner nearly caused a collision when the truck dropped below 62 mph on a highway merge without warning.
Upper radiator hose failures dominate the complaints. Multiple owners report the hose failing between 20,000 and 40,000 miles—most around 22,000 to 30,000—spraying hot coolant back onto the engine. Owners cite a defective rubber grommet or O-ring as the root cause and point to a TSB (PIT6494A) that costs over $500 and is not covered by warranty. Despite numerous online reports of the same failure on Colorado and Canyon models, GM has not issued a recall.
One early report shows cylinder misfire at 3,000 miles that caused unexpected deceleration and persisted through multiple dealer visits. Another truck needed a transmission replacement at 48,000 miles plus a wiring harness repair.
Owners had limited success with dealer claims and no manufacturer assistance beyond warranty coverage on specific repairs.
Same Chevrolet Colorado engine reports on nearby years: 2024
Failure modes owners describe
Oil pan leakage / loss of oil
Oil pan develops leaks causing rapid oil loss (up to 5 quarts reported) and eventually complete depletion of engine oil. Multiple incidents occurred even after dealership repair attempts. Owners report oil completely coating the oil pan exterior.
When: At 48,000 miles and again at 49,900 miles; one incident at an undisclosed early mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Oil visibly leaking from oil pan; Engine oil level dropping to empty (dipstick reading dry); Oil check engine light illuminating; Loss of acceleration and engine entering limp/safe mode at highway speeds
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (specific codes not stated)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership repair attempts made but failed to permanently stop leaks; truck repeatedly lost oil after each repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership attempted repairs; manufacturer contact made but no warranty coverage or Customer Satisfaction Program applied
Engine shutdown and loss of power during highway driving
Engine unexpectedly shuts down or severely limits power output while driving at highway speeds, creating immediate safety hazard and requiring towing. One incident caused limp mode with 62 mph speed restriction; another caused engine gears to downshift as engine shut down.
When: At 3,000 miles; fuel pump control module failure repaired after 5-day warranty repair
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of acceleration at highway speeds; Engine entering safe/limp mode with speed limit restriction (62 mph); Check engine light illumination; Traction control warning light illumination; Engine downshifting rapidly as if shutting down
Codes mentioned: Check engine light, Traction control warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump power control module replaced (5-day warranty repair); cylinder misfire diagnosed at 3,000 miles but persistent despite multiple dealer services
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage applied for fuel pump module replacement; dealer serviced repeatedly for misfire without resolving issue
Upper radiator hose failure
Upper radiator hose assembly fails due to defective rubber grommet or O-ring seal, causing coolant leakage. Owners report this as a systemic defect affecting many 2023 Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles at similar mileages. Severe coolant leak can spray hot fluid onto engine and create fire hazard.
When: 20,000 to 40,000 miles; most commonly reported around 22,000-30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant leak from upper radiator hose connection; Hot coolant spraying onto engine compartment; Loss of coolant; Potential engine overheating (risk stated)
Repairs/costs cited: TSB PIT6494A issued; repair cost over $500; parts replaced include upper radiator hose assembly with defective O-ring/grommet
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB PIT6494A available but repair not covered under warranty; not designated as recall despite widespread owner reports
Cylinder misfire and deceleration
Engine experiences cylinder misfire condition causing vehicle to decelerate unexpectedly from highway speed. Issue persisted despite multiple dealer service attempts and was reported as unsafe to drive.
When: At 3,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected deceleration from 70 mph to 30 mph; Check engine light illumination; Traction control warning light illumination
Codes mentioned: Engine cylinder misfire
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosed by dealer as cylinder misfire; multiple service visits completed but issue persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no resolution achieved
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Upper radiator hoses are failing. Failed at 40k miles due to manufacturer defect of the part. Seeing owners complain about them leaking off the dealer lot and know 10+ that have had theirs fail around 30k miles.
Had engine trouble with your 2023 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 engine problem on the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 26,450 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2023/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.