Most common 2018 Chevrolet Colorado problems
Share of the 183 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 →
2018 Chevrolet Colorado recalls (1)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018.
What 2018 Chevrolet Colorado owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 78 →
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while driving 40-60 MPH, the vehicle would shudder while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was test driven and diagnosed with transmission failure. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the transmission fluid was flushed and replaced with HD transmission fluid per GM Technical Service Bulletin Number: 18-NA-355. The dealer then advised the contact to drive 500-1,000 miles to allow the new HD transmission fluid to circulate the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,589.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and started shaking abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the transmission was flushed and the vehicle was diagnosed. The contact was informed that the torque convertor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 82,630.
Electrical system all 34 →
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the key was difficult to remove from the ignition. The dealer was contacted and informed that the shift interlock switch failed to recognize that the transmission was shifted to park(P). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but offered no assistance because the vehicle was not under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while attempting to service the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was approximately 47,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 162,000.
Engine & cooling all 24 →
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power and the driver observed a high pitch sound coming from the engine compartment. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off. The vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the high-pressure fuel pump had fractured and there was a fractured bolt inside the cylinder head that needed to be replaced. Additionally, diagnostic trouble codes: P0089, P228C, and P2c1F were retrieved using a DTC machine. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,369.
While driving at normal and safe highway speeds, without warning (no audible or visual warning from the vehicle information display) my vehicle experienced engine lockout, loss of all non-electric power, and no control over vehicle speed. A few seconds after loss, the information display did show a "check engine light" and that the engine was in "lockout." We (my spouse, young child, and self) were surrounded by multiple commercial semi-trucks and passenger vehicles and had to weave and serve to avoid collisions at highway speeds and get to the shoulder of the highway in a few seconds. The root cause as diagnosed by a Chevrolet Dealership Service Department was failure of the magnetic strip that is press fit to the reluctor (tone) wheel. A 1/2in piece of the magnetic strip was missing and over 10 cracks within the strip itself observed. …
2018 Chevrolet Colorado engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 2.8L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado a good car?
Based on 183 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Colorado rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Colorado at the same age. 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 2018 Chevrolet Colorado?
The transmission & drivetrain — 78 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission › torque converter. Next are the electrical system (34) and engine & cooling (24).
How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado have?
There is 1 recall for the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado, the most recent from May 31, 2018 (fuel pump). 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 2018 Chevrolet Colorado problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 14,000 miles; 87% 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.