2004 Chevrolet Colorado Exterior lighting Problems

One day, after I turned my truck off, I noticed that my taillights and overhead cargo light remained on. Key was out, truck was off, but the lights stayed on. So for the time being, I disconnected the battery. I brought it to a mechanic, who ran the codes that came back that the rear driver turn signal was high, the rear passenger turn signal was high, and the overhead cargo light was high. He checked the entire truck for a short, replaced the taillights, replaced the fuse box, replaced the body control module, and numerous other attempts at a repair, with no success. I was without a vehicle for many months, since I can't afford the absurd prices of the current vehicle market and was hopeful it could be fixed. Reading through some other complaints/online threads, this seems like a fairly common problem with these vehicles. Electrical issues that affect my ability to use a turn signal are a huge safety concern and this needs to be addressed.

NHTSA ID

11541503

Incident

Sep 15, 2022

WIRES IN THE HARNESS WHICH PASS FROM CAB TO LEFT REAR DOOR BREAK. THE BREAK DISABLES THE SEAT BELT LOCK UP MECHANISM. A BROKEN WIRE CAUSES THE AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE DOOR OPEN AND CLOSE SWITCH IS INOPERABLE. THE LEFT REAR STEREO SPEAKER DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID

10865742

Incident

May 6, 2016

Mileage

143,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10717730

Incident

May 21, 2015

Mileage

25,530 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10705749

Incident

Mar 19, 2008

Mileage

39,994 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED MY SPEED CONTROL WASN'T WORKING. ONCE I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THAT OTHERS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. SO, I WENT OUT TO CHECK MY BRAKE LIGHTS AND THEY ARE NON RESPONSIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10654529

Incident

Nov 3, 2014

Mileage

98,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL STOP WORKING IF YOUR DRIVING AT NIGHT AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. THEY WILL NOT WORK UNTIL THE CAR SITS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THIS STARTED SOON AFTER BUYING THE CAR BRAND NEW, BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SECOND COMPLAINT, THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER FAN HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AT WHERE THE HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE FAN MOTOR. THE FAN WILL ONLY WORK ON HIGH. WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE AT OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, I UNPLUGGED THE FAN AND NOTICED THE PLUG WAS BURNT. I HAVE PHOTOS THAT I CAN SEND. IT APPEARED THE ELECTRICAL FIRE CONTINUED DOWN THE PLASTIC PLUG TO WHERE THE WIRES ARE EXPOSED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR INCIDENT IF I DIDN'T NOTICE IT. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS WITH COLORADO TRUCKS ONLINE. ALSO WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, MY DASH LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS FLICKER AS IF THERE IS ANOTHER ELECTRICAL SHORT SOMEWHERE IN THE WIRING HARNESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10640178

Incident

Jul 25, 2008

Mileage

73,060 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WAS PERFORMED TWO YEARS AGO UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V310000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH). THE CONTACT STATED THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE REMEDY WAS PERFORMED, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED UPON STARTING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA ID

10467237

Incident

May 18, 2012

Mileage

140,000 mi

DASHBOARD LIGHTS RANDOMLY GO OFF OR FLICKER. THE A/C AND HEATER/DEFROSTER BLOWER STOPS WORKING RANDOMLY OR FOR AN ENTIRE DAY AT A TIME ONLY TO WORK THE NEXT DAY AND THEN QUIT AGAIN. THE A/C HEATING FAN BLOWER DOES NOT WORK ON SPEEDS 1,2, OR 3, ONLY ON SPEED 4. I HAVE HAD THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CONTINUE AGAIN. THE MECHANICS NEVER CAN SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL WE GET TO THE HARNESS WHERE THERE IS ALWAYS A BURNED WIRE. THEY REPLACE IT AND JUST LIKE THIS LAST REPLACEMENT, WITHIN THE WEEK THE PROBLEMS RETURNED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10458907

Incident

Mar 17, 2011

Mileage

48,000 mi

INTERMITTENT NON WORKING POWER DOOR LOCKS WIPERS HEADLIGHTS AND WINDOWS! THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE INCIDENTS POSTED ONLINE. THERE LOOKS TO BE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS WITH NO SOLUTION! *KB

NHTSA ID

10441978

Incident

Dec 22, 2011

Mileage

104,000 mi

THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM IS KNOCKING OUT THE BRAKE LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL ON ALL 2004 AND UP CHEVROLET COLORADOS. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK JUST TO BE PULLED OVER BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS WEREN'T WORKING HE TOLD ME THE GUY BEHIND ME ALMOST NAILED ME BECAUSE OF IT. I DIDN'T KNOW! BUT I DID KNOW OF THE COLORADOS HAVING A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM KNOCKING OUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL. SO I GOT ON LINE TO SEE JUST HOW BAD IT WAS AND FOUND OUT IT'S NO LAUGHING MATTER ALL MOST EVERY CHEVROLET COLORADO TRUCK HAS THIS PROBLEM. JUST THANK OF COMING TO A STOP FROM 65 MILES AN HOUR AND NOT HAVING BRAKE LIGHTS, I AND SOME PEOPLE ON THE ROAD WITH ME GOT LUCKY TODAY. I CALLED TWO OF MY CLOSEST GM DEALERS TO TRY TO GET IT FIXED TODAY AND ASKED DID THEY KNOW OF A PROBLEM LIKE THIS AND THEY DID BUT GM HAS NO RECALL IT'S AT THE OWNERS EXSPENSE TO GET IT FIXED, WHILE I TOLD THEM BOTH WHAT I FOUND OUT ONLINE. THE ANSWER FROM THEM WAS NO ONE HAS DIED YET. **** THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO GET SOME THINGS FIXED NOW DAYS FOR SOME ONE TO DIE BEFORE THE COMPANIES FIX A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. PLEASE CAN SOMEONE FORCE GM TO FIX THE PROBLEMS WITH THE COLORADO TRUCKS PLEASE HELP OUT US OWNERS OF THESE TRUCKS WE CAN'T KEEP SPENDING MONEY LIKE THIS I ALSO HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS ON OTHER PROBLEMS THROUGH OUT THE SEVEN YEARS I OWNED THE TRUCK. TIMES ARE TIGHT CAN'T JUST GO OUT AND BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE. LOOK ONLINE THESE TRUCKS ARE PRONE FOR TROUBLE AND PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IT UNTIL THEY HAVE BOUGHT THE TRUCK. *KB

NHTSA ID

10437768

Incident

Nov 27, 2011

Mileage

116,065 mi

FRONT TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS DON'T WORK FIXED TWICE NOW SAYING THE FUSE BOX IS THE PROBLEM. BLOWER MOTOR DOES NOT WORK AFTER 3 BLOWER MOTOR RESISTORS A NEW BLOWER MOTORS AND CONNECTORS. SOMETIMES THE RADIO DOES NOT WORK. THE TRUCK HAS STALLED DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 3 TIMES ALL LOSS OF POWER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10362134

Incident

Jul 15, 2007

ALL BRAKE LAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. RECALL # 06V139000, GM REPLACED BRAKE LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY. FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10339584

Incident

May 1, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO EXTENDED CAB THAT CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON UNEXPECTEDLY, THE FAN BLOWER INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING ON SETTINGS 1-3, AND THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULBS GO OUT EVERY 5000-6000 MILES. I CAN USUALLY BRUSH THE COMPONENTS UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT TO GET THE BLOWER WORKING, AND THE AIRBAG SENSOR USUAL GOES OUT AFTER A WEEK OR SO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10316355

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

BRAKE LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS RECALLED IN 2006 AND REPLACED. 28,000 MILES LATER THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY HAS AGAIN FAILED. THIS HAS CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL TO AGAIN MALFUNCTION. ADDITIONALLY, THE REVERSE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED AND THE FUSE CONTINUES TO FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298815

Incident

Jan 8, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED TODAY AND THE DRIVER BEHIND ME CAME UP TO MY WINDOW AND TOLD ME THAT I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS, NOT EVEN THE CENTER LIGHT. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT I HAVE NO CRUISE CONTROL. THE BULBS ARE NEW. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM IF THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY HAVEN'T SEEN IT ON THE COLORADO. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY DIRECTED ME TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE WHERE I FOUND THE OTHER COMPLAINTS. I TOLD THEM THAT THERE IS AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION ON THE MATTER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE TRUCK FOR $95 BUT THEY WOULD ONLY FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE IS THERE IS A RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151650

Incident

Mar 2, 2006

Mileage

36,500 mi

ODI 10150645, ODI 10150645: 3RD RECURRING PROBLEM. CUSTOMER INVOICE: DRIVERS WINDOW INOPERATIVE, SCREWS BACKED OUT OF WINDOW MOTOR CAUSING IT TO BIND R & R WINDOW MOTOR AND REINSTALLED BOLTS. NOISE GONE AFTER REPAIRS. UPON ENGAGE DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL, FAILURE TO OPERATE VISIBLE TURN INDICATION. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT ALSO INOPERABLE, BULB NOT WORKING. CUSTOMER INVOICE: DRIVER SIDE DAYTIME RUN LIGHT INOPERATIVE. LF TURN SIGNAL BULB BURNT OUT. REPLACED BULB UPON ENGAGING BRAKE SYSTEM, BRAKES EXHIBIT HIGH FREQUENCY SQUEAKING, MORE ON LEFT THAN RIGHT. EXTREME TIRE WEAR IS APPARENT ON THE INSIDES OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. CUSTOMER INVOICE: BRAKES NOISY AT STOPS ALL THE TIME. UNABLE TO VERIFY CUSTOMER CONCERN AT THIS TIME. VEHICLE HAS A LOT OF MUD UNDERNEATH. ENGAGING 4WD HIGH, VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN 4WD. CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE IN CONDITION UNTIL SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPENED FOR THE WEEK. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE BECAME OPERATIONAL INTERMITTENTLY. CUSTOMER INVOICE: AXLE/DIFFERENTIAL, VEHICLE STUCK IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ONCE. UNABLE TO VERIFY CUSTOMER CONCERN AT THIS TIME. NO CODES & WORKING AS DESIGNED. ENGAGING A/C & HEATING OPERATION THE AC DIMINISHES BLOWER POWER AND BEGINS BLOWING SMOKE-LIKE COOLANT FROM DASH VENTS. DASHBOARD CONDENSATES EXTENSIVELY. CONDENSATION MUST BE WIPED DRY TO DETER INTERIOR DAMAGE. AFTER RUNNING A/C AT MAXIMUM POWER FOR 20 MINUTES OR LONGER, OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS DISCONTINUE UNTIL VEHICLE IS STARTED 'COLD'. CUSTOMER INVOICE: A/C CUTS OFF AND BLOWS SMOKE OUT OF VENTS ALL THE TIME. WHILE DRIVING. UNABLE TO VERIFY CUSTOMER CONCERN. CHECKED PRESSURES. ALL OK, WORKING AS DESIGNED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150646

Incident

Jul 20, 2005

Mileage

25,615 mi

I BOUGHT A 2004 COLORADO IN MARCH OF THAT YEAR,ON DEC. 31ST 2004 I HAD TO REPLACE THE TWO FRONT TIRES AT MY EXPENSE. THEY HAD WORN FROM THE INSIDE OUT THE TIRES HAD 23,000 +MILES ON THEM. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING WRONG. IN MARCH 2005 I HAD TO BRING IT IN FOR THE SAME THING WITH LESS MILES ON THOSE TIRES 17,000 MILES AND THEY STILL INSIST THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I SOON WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THESE TIRES BEFORE WINTER. THE DEALER TELLS ME TIRES NEED TO BE ROTATED MORE OFTEN. I'VE OWNED OTHER S-10 MODELS WITH OVER 250,000 AND HAVEN'T HAD THE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEMS. I DID HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM DOOR WIRING, REPLACEMENT OF O2 SENSOR,FRONT AXLE SEAL DRIVER SIDE REPLACE,HEADLIGHTS,FOG LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ALL HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST 20,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10139783

Incident

Dec 31, 2004

Mileage

23,282 mi