2020 Chevrolet Colorado Safety Report

The 2020 Chevrolet Colorado presents a mixed safety picture. While it achieved a respectable 4-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with a strong 5-star side crash rating, its 3-star rollover rating is a point of concern. The vehicle has accumulated 74 total complaints, including 1 crash, 3 fires, and 4 injuries, which are relatively low numbers for a vehicle of its age. However, the complete absence of recalls for a 2020 model year vehicle, especially with recurring issues reported, is notable and could indicate that some widespread problems have not yet been addressed at a manufacturer level. The most common complaint patterns revolve heavily around the POWER TRAIN, accounting for 27 complaints, and ENGINE issues, with 6 complaints, plus an additional 3 under 'POWER TRAIN,ENGINE'. Many of these complaints detail severe transmission shuddering, harsh shifting, delayed engagement, and even complete transmission or torque converter failures, often occurring at mileages between 30,000 and 90,000 miles. Several owners report being told about service bulletins (e.g., TSB: 21-NA-047) related to these transmission issues, suggesting a known design or manufacturing flaw. Other significant issues include steering problems (5 complaints), with reports of sudden power steering failure due to corroded electrical connections, and brake booster failures (1 complaint) leading to a complete loss of braking ability, posing immediate safety risks. The 3 reported fires and 4 injuries, while low in number, underscore the potential severity of some of these component failures. Despite the strong performance in side-impact crash tests, the recurring and severe nature of power train and steering complaints, coupled with the 3-star rollover rating, suggests that while the vehicle may perform adequately in controlled crash scenarios, its long-term operational safety is compromised by specific component reliability issues. The lack of recalls for these prevalent issues means owners are often left to bear the cost of significant repairs, some of which, like brake booster failure, have direct implications for crash avoidance. The overall safety picture is therefore one of moderate crash protection but significant reliability concerns that can impact safe operation.

Our recommendation: Given the significant and recurring power train and steering issues, potential buyers should thoroughly inspect the vehicle's service history for transmission flushes or replacements and consider an extended warranty, especially if purchasing a used model.