Most common 2012 Chevrolet Colorado problems
Share of the 42 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Colorado complaints by model year
Best Colorado years: 2011, 2012, 2020. Years to avoid: 2016, 2015, 2024, 2023, 2017. Compare all years →
2012 Chevrolet Colorado recalls (2)
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
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. 113, "Hood Latch System." The hood may be missing the secondary hood latch.
Remedy: 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.
Seat belts › Front
General motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet colorado and GMC canyon vehicles, manufactured from September 9, 2011, through October 19, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 208, "occupant crash protection." these vehicles May have been produced…
Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the seat belt buckle electrical connector terminals free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before December 7, 2011.
What 2012 Chevrolet Colorado owners say
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado. While the contact's husband was driving into the driveway at the residence, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn. The vehicle was parked, and the hood was opened to determine the cause of the failure. The contact's husband discovered that the serpentine belt had slipped off the pulley because the pulley was fractured. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.
Was traveling south going through an intersection on a green traffic light when another vehicle traveling north in a left turn yield on green, when the designated green arrow is not illuminated, turned in front of me and we collided. The air bags did not deploy on either side. Driver and front passenger in vehicle traveling south sustained injuries and transported to hospital in ambulance.
Air bags
The wiring for the airbags runs through a hinge in the extended cab doors. I don't use my rear doors much, but I would say that I use them a normal amount. Regular opening and closing of the door will cause the wires to break, thus making the airbags inoperable. Normal use of doors should not cause your airbags to not work.
2012 chev Colorado extended cab (purchased new in 2012). Air bag light is on. 1st incident aug 2015 (32,000 miles). Dealership ran diag scan and pulled code b0092 and repaired wires under passenger seat and cleared code. 2nd incident less than 4 months later (34,000 miles) ' dealership cleared code. 3rd incident apr. 2016 (37,000 miles). Dealership found b0092 set in sdm. An inspection found three wires broken. Repaired wiring under passenger seat and cleared code. Nothing is being put under the seat. The seat occasionally gets moved forward and backward and the rear passenger door gets open and closed. An internet search reveals same problem in older models. This is definitely a safety issue. The air bag will not inflate if there is an accident. There is obviously a problem with the wires (poor quality or too short causing tension and wear & tear?). …
Electrical system
That truck started on fire. Burnt up. Total . It started on the front passenger side near the motor where the ground plug is located. It had drizzled that day and the ground plug is not water proof. Burnt down a huge 120 long barn with other farm equipment inside. About $250,000 in losses.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado. When the vehicle was started, an unknown warning indicator flashed. The contact had to remove the battery cable, wait a few minutes, reinstall the battery cable, wait an additional few minutes, and then start the vehicle for it to resume normal operation. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or mechanic to have the vehicle serviced. The manufacturer was not aware of the defect. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 47,000. The consumer stated he needs a paper copy of evoq.
2012 Chevrolet Colorado engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 24 / 21 |
| 2.9L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.9L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD | 17 / 23 / 20 |
| 2.9L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.7L 5-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.7L 5-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 16 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado a good car?
Based on 42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Colorado rates better than average: 81% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Colorado at the same age. It is one of the best Colorado years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado?
The engine & cooling — 10 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system. Next are the air bags (9) and electrical system (8).
How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado, the most recent from December 19, 2012 (latch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Colorado?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2012 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016, 2015, 2024, 2023 and 2017. See the full Chevrolet Colorado years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Chevrolet Colorado problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 43,000 miles; 58% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.