2004 Chevrolet Colorado Body & structure Problems

Frame rust

NHTSA ID

11526273

Incident

Jun 9, 2023

Mechanic had the truck on the lift raised up to check the brakes for squeaking and while under the truck the mechanic inspected the frame because he noticed a lot of rust and called me to come look at it and pointed out that the frame has rotted to the point that he should not be driven and could break in half and cause major problems for the safety of the occupants and other drivers on the road. I looked up online if other Colorado owners had the same issue and others have the same problem. I’m am forced to junk this vehicle even though the rest of the truck is in very good condition

NHTSA ID

11460332

Incident

Apr 6, 2022

I was checking on the common rear cab rust and noticed the frame looked rusted through just in front of the rear wheel suspension mount. I took it to my local mechanic (Bob's Repair of Mayer) and they said it was not safe to drive. It is a complete blindside to me and now I have to find a spare (safe) car to help drive around my newborn and toddler. I am going to attempt to repair the frame as I do not have any other options for vehicles. There were obviously no warnings are notices that about this issue, but it seems to be uncannily common for this generation of Chevrolet vehicles. The truck only has 160,000 miles on it and surface rust on the cab. The vehicle is not drivable and not safe as the frame could give away at any moment.

NHTSA ID

11458276

Incident

Mar 20, 2022

VEHICLE HAS 96,800 MILES, AND THE FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE REAR SUSPENSION TO DETACH FROM THE FRAME, AS WELL AS THE BED TO DETACH FROM THE FRAME. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER ABLE TO BE PUT ON LIFT TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED AS THE FRAME DISINTEGRATES UPON CONTACT. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, AND I AM CURIOUS WHY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NOT FORCED GM TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES LIKE TOYOTA WAS FORCED TO DO WITH THEIR IDENTICAL SITUATION. DO YOUR JOBS, AND HOLD THESE CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR CHEAP WORKMANSHIP.

NHTSA ID

11397449

Incident

Feb 19, 2021

Mileage

96,800 mi

THE FRAME UNDER THE CAB IS RUSTED OUT

NHTSA ID

11394982

Incident

Oct 14, 2020

Mileage

166,000 mi

2004 CHEVY COLORADO THE WHOLE FRAME UNDERNEATH IS ROTTED OUT AND UNSAFE. I DON'T HAVE MONEY OR INCOME OR CREDIT TO GET A NEW VEHICLE. I WANT TO KNOW HOW CHEVY COULD ALLOW SUCH A TRAGIC MISTAKE ON THE METAL USED FOR THIS VEHICLE? I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS HAD THIS ISSUE WITH THE FRAMES ON THESE VEHICLE?. IT IS ALL I HAVE TO DRIVE AND I AM PUTTING CHEVY UNDER WARNING!, THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE METAL YOU HAVE USED. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME OR ANYONE ELSE THEY ARE TO SUE CHEVY. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM NOT CAUSED BY BUYER. THIS IS CAUSED BY CHEAP METALS FOR VEHICLE. THIS IS MY FIRST SUPPOSEDLY MADE IN USA VEHICLE AND NOW IT HAS LEFT A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH. I AM NOT GOING TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR DEFECT. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF ASAP.

NHTSA ID

11388139

Incident

Dec 30, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE CORROSION CENTERED AROUND THE SUSPENSION AND SUBFRAME SPRING MOUNTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ID

11322958

Incident

Mar 20, 2019

Mileage

134,000 mi

FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT THAT IT IS UNREPAIRABLE, VEHICLE HAS 92000 MILES GOOD CONDITION EVERYWHERE ELSE. THIS IS QUITE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH COLORADOS. IT WILL NOT PASS SAFETY STANDARDS, QUITE HONESTLY IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING WITH THESE VEHICLES. IT SEEMS ODD THAT TOYOTA WAS FORCED TO REPLACE FRAMES DUE TO POOR QUALITY AND RUST ISSUES YET THESE COLORADOS ARE JUST AS BAD.

NHTSA ID

11292121

Incident

Dec 9, 2019

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND THE CORROSION EXTENDED TO THE VEHICLE'S SIDE WALL. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANFUACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11271511

Incident

Oct 25, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

AFTER TAKING MY 2004 COLORADO TO A MECHANIC FOR A BRAKE REPAIR HE INFORMED ME I HAD RUST SO BAD ON THE FRAME IT CREATED HOLE AND HE RECOMMENDED I NO LONGER DRIVE MY TRUCK ALSO HE CANNOT REPAIR THE BRAKES AND THE ABS SENSOR BECAUSE OF THE RUST. I PURCHASE THE TRUCK 2 1/2 YEARS AGO FROM A CHEVY DEALER AND STILL OWE MONEY ON A VEHICLE I CAN'T DRIVE. ONLY 135428 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11271366

Incident

Oct 14, 2019

THE FRAME HAS ALOT OF RUST PLUS THE FRAME IS CRACKED AND THE BACK,THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON YOU CAN NOT GET A RESPONSE FROM THE PLUGING UNIT. WHE YOU TO CHECK THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11244269

Incident

Apr 2, 2019

THE FRAME HAS RUST HOLES THROUGH IT THAT SUDDENLY APPEARED THE LAST THREE MONTHS. THE DEALER THAT HAVE ALWAYS GONE TO SAYS THE CAR CANNOT BE WORKED ON. EVERYTHING LOOKS LIKE PERFECT CONDITION EXCEPT THE FRAME HAS RUSTED AWAY.

NHTSA ID

11229857

Incident

Jul 3, 2019

Mileage

137,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME/UNDERCARRIAGE WAS RUSTED ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TORQUE BOX AND DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.

NHTSA ID

11207841

Incident

May 6, 2019

Mileage

189,000 mi

THE FRAME IS ROTTING OUT--I'VE HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED--WELDED--EACH OF THE LAST THREE YEARS AFTER FAILING INSPECTION OR BEING TOLD IT WOULD. SUSPENSION ATTACHMENT AREAS, UNDER AND AROUND SHACKLES, CAB MOUNTS, LONG SECTIONS OF PRIMARY FRAME FROM FRONT TO REAR.

NHTSA ID

11205031

Incident

Apr 29, 2017

Mileage

76,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TRUCK BED MADE CONTACT WITH THE REAR OF THE CABIN. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. *TT*JB

NHTSA ID

11183374

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

118,000 mi

MY GAS TANK FELL BECAUSE MY FRAME IS RUSTING AND WON'T HOLD IT THIS IS MY WORK TRUCK AND I REALLY NEED IT FIXED ITS VERY DANGEROUS MY FRAME HAS VERY BAD RUST PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11181023

Incident

Apr 15, 2018

TRUCK HAS 25,000 MILES. I DO NOT DRIVE IT OFTEN BECAUSE FUEL ECONOMY HAS NEVER BEEN AS ADVERTISED, NO BETTER THAN 15 MPG. WHEN IT WORKED, IT WAS FUN TO DRIVE. NOW FAILS INSPECTION BECAUSE THE FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTED, MY TRUCK IS NOW UNSAFE. NOT COST EFFECTIVE TO REPAIR, I HAVE TO SELL AS SCRAP. RADIO REPLACED ONCE. BLOWER WORKS BUT VERY NOISY. ABS SENSORS WERE REPLACED AFTER 10,000 MILES AND NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. I HAVE REPLACED INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS AFTER 21K MILES. I HAVE REPLACED GAS TANK GASKET AND EXTERIOR CAB BRAKE LIGHT. ALSO REPLACED TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE DUE TO RUST. TUBE ON RACK AND PINION RUSTED AND REPLACED. TINY COOLANT LEAK THAT I CANT FIND. ALL I CAN REMEMBER. MOST FAULTY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. NEVER BUY A FIRST YEAR MODEL OF ANY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11174634

Incident

Feb 5, 2019

VEHICLE IS IN GREAT CONDITION. FRAME IS ROTTED THROUGH WHERE THE CAB MEETS THE BED. SO MUCH THAT THE FRAME BENT AND THE BED IS UP AGAINST THE CAB

NHTSA ID

11166529

Incident

Oct 5, 2016

Mileage

171,000 mi

ENTIRE FRAME OF TRUCK RUSTED AND CRACKED THROUGH. WHEN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MULTIPLE 2004 COLORADOS. VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN I NOTICED THE FRAME HANGING IN THE BACK.

NHTSA ID

11153375

Incident

Nov 21, 2018

Mileage

128,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT TO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SPRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FRAME FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11110305

Incident

Jun 25, 2018

Mileage

138,000 mi

MY 2004 COLORADO FRAME IS RUST THROUGH NEAR THE DRIVE SIDE LEAF SPRING CAUSING THE SPRING TO ROLL INWARD TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE TRUCK.

NHTSA ID

11105220

Incident

Jun 29, 2018

Mileage

168,000 mi

A 2004 CHEVY COLORADO Z71 OFF-ROAD PACKAGE EXTENDED CAB WITH 76000 MILES AND THE UNDERNEATH OF THE TRUCK IS IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT MY FRAME BROKE RATE AT THE BACK OF THE EXTENDED CAB IN THE OTHER SIDE HAS A GAPING HOLE IN IT THE BODIES IN EXCELLENT SHAPE NO RUST ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11101881

Incident

Jun 10, 2018

Mileage

76,000 mi

THE FRAME CRACKED BETWEEN THE CAB AND THE BED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE TOP OF BED IS NOW HITTING AGAINST THE CAB AT THE TOP. I CALLED GM TWICE, AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT IN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. I TOLD THEM I DON'T FEEL IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE. THEY SAID TO TOW IT IN AT MY COST. I'M NOT PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUS. THE TRUCK NEEDS A NEW FRAME AND THEY KNOW IT. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, JUST READ ALL THE BLOGS ON THE INTERNET.

NHTSA ID

11097540

Incident

Apr 2, 2018

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO MILES ARE 107,650. MY TRUCK IS IN VERY GOOD TO EXCELLENT SHAPE, I TAKE PRIDE IN MY VEHICLES. THE ISSUE I HAVE IS MY FRAME IS ROTTEN AND CRACKED AT THE LEAF SPRING HANGERS, MUCH TO MY SURPRISE WHEN I JACKED MY TRUCK UP TO CHANGE OVER TIRES AND THE REAR AXLE STAYED ON THE GROUND. IM VERY GRATEFUL WE CAUGHT THIS BEFORE THE RIGHT SIDE BROKE AWAY LIKE THE LEFT SIDE DID. I DO LIVE IN MAINE AND THEY USE PRODUCTS ON THE ROADS FOR ICE, BUT MY FUEL AND BRAKE LINES ARE IN VERY GOOD SERVICEABLE CONDITION, AS IS MOST EVERYTHING UNDER THE TRUCK INCLUDING THE BED. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE AND STUMBLED ONTO SOME "FORUMS" THAT STATE FIRST GEN COLORADO THIS IS COMMON. I AM NOT A FORUM MEMBER, NOR DO I BELIEVE IN "INTERNET SHAMING" I AM LOYAL GM CUSTOMER, BUT I IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT I HAVE A RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE TRUCK WITH A GREAT DRIVE TRAIN, AND NO EXTERIOR RUST THAT IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE.IT SOUNDS LIKE A SIMILAR ISSUE THAT TOYOTA HAD IVE HAD AND DO CURRENTLY HAVE OLDER GM VEHICLES WITH MORE MILES AND THE FRAMES ARE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. IS GM/CHEVROLET DOING ANYTHING TO HELP CONSUMERS?

NHTSA ID

11064210

Incident

Jan 15, 2018

Mileage

107,650 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR AXLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MC CLINTON CHEVROLET (1325 7TH ST, PARKERSBURG, WV 26101, (304) 422-6501) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

NHTSA ID

11055437

Incident

Dec 13, 2017

Mileage

183,000 mi