Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 79 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 79, in the owner's own words
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.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL OR ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE ABS, STABILITY CONTROL, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
PROBLEM # 1: HAD TO REPLACE THE HVAC RESISTOR AND ITS WIRING HARNESS. RESISTOR PLUG AND THE HARNESS PLUG WAS BURNED AND MELTED...FIRE HAZARD! THIS SAFETY HAZARD COULD HAVE BURNED UP MY VEHICLE. PROBLEM #2: THE ABS WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS (EVERY DAY OR SO) THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT PARKED ON A LEVEL SURFACE. THE FAULT OCCURS ONCE THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD FROM THE PARKED POSITION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
MY CRUISE CONTROL AND MY REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TOP TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT A WEEK OR SO AGO. TODAY, MY STOP LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY, INCLUDING THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED AND ANOTHER DRIVER INFORMED ME THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEMS I'M EXPERIENCING ARE RELATED TO 2 SWITCHES ABOVE MY BRAKE PEDAL-THE STOP LAMP SWITCH AND THE BRAKE CRUISE RELEASE SWITCH.I CALLED THE CHEVY RECALL HOTLINE AND PROVIDED MY VIN #. THE GIRL LACY INFORMED ME THERE WASN'T A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO HELP ME GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE BEING DENIED AS WELL. THE REFERENCE # TO MY CALL IS [XXX]. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND WOULD LIKE CHEVY TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR AND ANY ACCIDENTS I MAY GET INTO AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM.THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR*JB*JB
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT WAS COVERED TWICE UNDER A RECALL. SWITCHES ONLY LAST 1.5-2 YEARS. THERE IS NO WARNING OR DASH LIGHT WHEN THEY GO OUT. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED TWICE. HAPPENED AGAIN APRIL 13, 2015. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER WHEN I FOUND OUT IN TRAFFIC. I KNEW IT WAS THE BRAKE SWITCH AGAIN AND THE DEALER CONFIRMED. THE DEALER CALLED GM TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE REPLACEMENT. THEY REFUSED. THE DEALER GAVE ME A DISCOUNT AS THEY KNOW IT IS AN ISSUE AND CHARGED ME $87 TO CHANGE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO PAY. HE GAVE ME THIS NUMBER TO CALL BUT THAT WAS NO USE AS THEY REFUSED LAST TIME. 800-222-1020. MOST CONCERNING TO ME IS THE LACK OF CONCERN BY GM TO FIX A KNOW SAFETY ISSUE IN THE BRAKE AND LIGHT SYSTEM. SOMEONE PROBABLY HAS OR WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THEY NEED TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE FIX AND AT A MINIMUM CONTINUE COVERING FAILURES UNDER WARRANTY. NOT FIXING THE DESIGN PROBLEM THEN MAKING MONEY CHARGING PEOPLE IS NOT RIGHT. THE DEALER WHO DID THE WORK LAST TIME IS FIVE STAR CHEVY IN DALLAS, TX. CRAIG GREENE WAS THE REPRESENTATIVE WHO TRIED TO HELP ME WITH GM IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT HIM. DEALER TRIED BUT GM DID NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR THEIR PRODUCT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER CONTINUOUSLY LEAKED ONTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE FLOOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK BEHIND THE FIREWALL OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000...UPDATED 09/30/14 *BF
FOR SEVERAL YEARS I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY ENGINE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON. WHEN THESE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WOULD SOMETIMES PREMATURELY ENGAGE, DANGEROUSLY VASTLY INCREASING THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REACTING AS IF THE WHEELS WERE LOCKING UP, SO IT WAS PREMATURELY ENGAGING THE ANTILOCK. THIS HAPPENED MOSTLY ON DRY PAVEMENT DURING LIGHT BREAKING. I COULD FEEL AND HEAR THE ANTILOCK PULSING THE PETAL RELEASING THE BRAKE PRESSURE. I COULDN'T GET GOOD BRAKING, EVEN WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. I TOOK MY CAR TO A GM AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER/DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. DESPITE SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE SERVICE CENTER, REPLACING MANY PARTS AND SPENDING ABOUT $2000, THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED. IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER I WROTE AN ANGRY LETTER TO THE DEALERSHIP MANAGEMENT THAT THEY REPLACED A VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. IT WAS AGGRAVATING BECAUSE I HAD TO PAY EXTRA FOR ANTILOCK FEATURES WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE ANTILOCK FEATURE WAS SUPPOSED TO IMPROVE SAFETY, BUT ENDED UP BEING VERY DANGEROUS. IF I WOULD'VE HAD A WRECK BECAUSE OF THE BAD BRAKES, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE LIKELY HELD ME LIABLE, FOR AN EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD CREATED. THE GOVERNMENT HAD PRESSURED THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY TO INCLUDE EXPENSIVE ANTILOCK BRAKES THAT WERE COMPLICATED, UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS. INTERMITTENTLY, IT WOULD TAKE 3 TO 5 TIMES MORE STOPPING DISTANCE THAN LEGACY BRAKES WITHOUT ANTILOCK. CONVENTIONAL LEGACY BRAKES I COULD HAVE FIXED MYSELF. WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES; PROPRIETY DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT WAS REQUIRED, SO I WAS DEPENDENT ON GM AUTHORIZED SERVICE; WHICH WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AND DID A LOUSY JOB. *TR
PERIODIC ABS SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRING WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. HAS BEEN A FAILURE FOR FOUR YEARS MADE EFFORTS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BY CALLING THEM AND NO SATISFACTION. I'VE ASKED OTHER COLORADO OWNERS AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN THE 05, 06.. I HIT INTO A SCHOOL BUS. *TR
I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW IN 2004. IT HAS NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR RUST. THE ISSUE IS THAT ABOUT 5-6 INCHES OF THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SPRING SHACKLE HAS BEEN RUSTED AWAY AND THE SHACKLE HAS BEEN PUSHED UP TOWARD THE BED. THE ABS FAULT LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON PERIODICALLY BECAUSE OF THE SHIFTING OF THE REAR AXLE. CHEVROLET SAID THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE TRUCK IS TOO OLD AND TOO MANY MILES. ONLY 10 YEARS OLD AND LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. IT HAS BEEN GARAGED AND I DON'T SEE WHY THERE IS SO MUCH RUST ON THE FRAME. I HAVE HAD TRUCKS WITH WAY MORE MILES AND A DECADE OLDER WITH LESS RUST THAN THIS ONE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHEVROLET STAND BEHIND THIS VEHICLE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I CAN'T DRIVE IT SAFELY ANYMORE. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT TRUCK AND I WOULD HATE TO LOSE IT. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE CHEVROLET DO SOMETHING? I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE SO. *TR
I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE REPLACED TWICE DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING. THE CABLE HAS A KLEW THAT TRANSFERS FROM ONE CABLE TO TWO CABLES AND THAT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, IN THE DIRECT LINE OF FIRE FROM ROAD DEBRIS THAT COMES OFF OF THE FRONT TIRE. I HAVE ALREADY HAD IT REPLACED TWICE. THE POORLY DESIGNED CABLE EASILY SEIZES UP FROM EXCESSIVE DIRT AND CORROSION GETTING INSIDE THE CABLE AND IT BECOMES NO LONGER SAFE TO OPERATE. IT IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE, SO NOT HAVING AN OPERATING CABLE BRAKE IS NOT A SMALL PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE RATCHETING MECHANISM WAS BROKEN ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE CONSUMER STATED A REPRESENTATIVE FROM FORD ADVISED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A PARKING BRAKE CONTROLLER. GM OFFERED TO COVER 20% OF THE COST OF REPAIRS AT A GM GM DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS AN INADEQUATE AMOUNT. UPDATED 1/2/2013 *JS
SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKING THE ABS WILL COME ON TILL THE VEHICLE STOPS,AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON TILL YOU TURN THE CAR OFF.WHEN THE CAR IS RESTARTED THE WARNING LIGHT IS OFF TILL THE ABS COMES ON AGAIN MOSTLY WHEN COMING TO A SLOW ROLLING STOP,IE.RED LIGHT ,STOP SIGN. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
ABS FAULT LIGHT WENT ON. TURNED OFF ENGINE, RESTART, LIGHT OFF. GOES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED AND WOULD REMAIN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTERWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 01/02/2013*LJ UPDATED 1/4/2013*JS
MY ABS FAULT LIGHT IS COMING ON AND THE BRAKES ARE GRINDING AS THOUGH I AM SLIDING ACROSS AN ICY ROAD. I JUST PUT ON NEW BRAKE PADS AT A DEALERSHIP IN MARCH AND NO ONE MENTIONED THAT I HAD A PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I HEARD THE PROBLEM CAN BE PULLING THE ABS PLUG OR SPENDING THOUSANDS AT A DISHONEST DEALERSHIP. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I HAVE READ ON FORUMS THAT THIS ABS FAULT ISSUE IS A WIDE SPREAD SERIOUS ONE. I LOVE MY TRUCK AND IT HAS LOT OF MILEAGE BUT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM ON MY CHEVY COLORADO NO MATTER WHAT SO IT SEEMS TO ME THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. *TR
ABS KICK IN WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD IN THE MORNING, THEN DISABLE ALONG WITH AN ABS FAULT LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THEN GOES AWAY IN THE AFTERNOON. THE ABS KICKS IN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL NOT GO DOWN. *TR
NUMEROUS BRAKE PROBLEMS -ABS BRAKE INTERMITTENT. - ABS KICKS IN FOR NO REASON (VEHICLE TO SUDDEN/ABRUPT STOP) - THEN AT OTHER TIMES HARD TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP - HUB(BEARING) AND ABS SENSORS PROBLEM - BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN PARKED - INTERMITTENT ABS FAULT CODES GM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEGE THE DEFECT IN THE SYSTEM. *JS
ABS TRIGGERED UNEXPECTEDLY, ABS AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. NO LOSS OF CONTROL. REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP 10/14/11 REPLACING RF WHEEL BEARING HUB AND SPEED SENSOR. SUBSEQUENTLY INCIDENT REPEATED ON TWO OCCASIONS, CA. 11/15/11 AND CA. 12/16/11 AFTER STARTING INTO A TURN AT LOW SPEED, PERHAPS WITH SLIGHT BRAKING. NO LOSS OF CONTROL. CHECKED AT DEALERSHIP 2/14/2012 WITH NO CAUSE DETERMINED. LATER SAME DAY, FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN, WITH SAME SYMPTOMS: LOW SPEED WITH TURN AND PERHAPS SLIGHT BRAKING. NO LOSS OF CONTROL. DIAGNOSIS SUGGESTED FAULTY HUBS AGAIN. RESOLUTION PENDING. *TR
FOR BEING MECHANICALLY INCLINED THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE PROBLEM I CANT FIX. I DID THE PADS AND ROTORS ON MY 2004 CHEVY COLORADO, ALL WENT WELL, NICE AND EASY. LATER THAT WEEK MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD MY BREAKS CHECKED AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT WASH SHOWING WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. I BOUGHT THE PART AND REPLACED IT NICE AND EASY AGAIN. THE LIGHT TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 2 MIN THEN CAME BACK ON. THE NEXT TIME I WENT TO DRIVE MY TRUCK I TURNED IT ON, THE SENSOR WAS OFF THEN THE ABS SYSTEM STARTED ENGAGING ON AND OFF MAKING A WEIRD PUMP SOUND AND MAKING MY BRAKES ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE. THIS HAPPENS FOR ABOUT 20 SEC THEN GOES AWAY AND THE ABS LIGHT COMES BACK ON. I THOUGHT NOTHING WORSE COULD HAPPEN AFTER HAVING THE COMPUTER REPLACED TWICE ON THE TRUCK. THIS IS WORSE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES FOR A RECURRING FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V310000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH). THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH UNDER THE RECALL BUT EVERY 20,000 MILES, THE SWITCH WOULD FAIL AGAIN. THE AC RESISTOR WIRES WERE MELTED, CAUSING THE AIR CONDITIONER TO ONLY OPERATE ON LOW. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE RESISTOR BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
THE ABS ON MY '04 COLORADO IS ACTIVATING AT LOW OR MEDIUM SPEEDS WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. IF TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEED, AS IN A PARKING LOT, ABS WILL BE ACTIVATED ALMOST CONSTANTLY. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AND CAN ACTUALLY BE A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A NORMAL STOP. *TR
ABS FAULT WARNING LIGHTS UP ON COMPLETELY DRY ROADS CAUSING TEMPORARY LACK OF STOPPING FORCE, ESPICALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. HAVE HAD NEAR MISS DUE TO THIS FAULT. *TR
BRAKES HAVE STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. BRAKES WILL BE APPLIED AND ABS LIGHT OR TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON DASH WILL GO ON. BRAKES WILL FUNCTION BUT SOMETIMES ABS WILL SOUND AT SLOW SPEEDS. OCCURS SPORADICALLY. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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