RoadVitals

2005 Chevrolet Colorado Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
70
Latest Mar 20, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
20%
of 356 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 70 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.

Owner reports naming electrical

The 25 most recent of 70, in the owner's own words

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 20, 2022

Vehicle taillights failed to function when lights come on at night. I became aware of this when another motorist stopped beside me to tell me. Fuse and lightbulbs work when tested.

NHTSA ID
11457480
Incident
Mar 19, 2022
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical
Filed Jan 6, 2020

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON MAKING IT UNCLEAR IF OCCUPANTS ARE PROTECTED OR IF AIR BAG WILL JUST GO OFF ON ITS OWN. PROBLEM IS WIRES IN BACK DOOR JAMB BECOME FATIGUED AND BREAK CAUSING FAILURE OF AIR BAGS. VEHICLE IS ALSO CONSIDERED AN INSPECTION FAILURE AS WELL IN MASSACHUSETTS.

NHTSA ID
11297341
Incident
Dec 31, 2014
Mileage
98,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 1, 2020

I'VE TRIED TO HAVE A GARAGE REPAIR/FIX MY HEATER/FAN MOTOR THREE TIMES TO NO AVAIL. HEATER WORKS ON HIGH ONLY...AND NOT ON ANY OTHER SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID
11292472
Incident
May 1, 2019
Mileage
95,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 4, 2019

IGNITINION SWITCH TRIGGERS ANTI-THEFT SECURE ON TRUCK SO IT WOULD NOT START I WAIT FOR 10 MINUTES THEN IT STARTS, DEALERSHIP COULD NOT TELL ME A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I TOOK IT, AND MECHANICS TELL ME ITS A DEFECTED IGNITION SWITCH BUT ONLY DEALER CAN FIX IT, ITS A RECALL THING FROM WHAT MECHANICS ARE TELLING ME. ITS A SHAME MECHANICS OUTSIDE THE DEALERSHIP KNOW MORE THEN DEALERSHIP ON WHAT IT IS BEEN RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11266145
Incident
Oct 4, 2019
Mileage
6 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 18, 2019
Fire reported

WIRING FOR TURNSIGNALS MELTS DOWN. THERE IS A WIRE HARNESS WITH A CONNECTOR AT THE TURN FRONT SIGNALS, THE WIRE GAUGE IS IN ADEQAUTE AND CAUSEA EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP THIS CAUSES THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS TO THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS TO MELT DOWN AND THE TURN SIGNALS BECOME INOPERABLE. I HAVE REPLACED THESE COMPONENTS TWICE DUE TO THIA ISSUE. THE RESISTOR PACK FOR AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER FAN SPEED CONTROL MELTS AND CATCHES FIRE. I HAVE REPLACED THIS PART TWICE AND ULTIMATELY HAVE BYPASSED THE RESISTOR PACK LEAVING THE AC BLOWER WITH ONLY THE CHOICE OF HIGH SPEED OR OFF.

NHTSA ID
11232977
Incident
May 12, 2013
Mileage
35,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 11, 2019

I AM EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE WHERE THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE TO WAIT 15 MINUTES FOR IT TO TIME OUT. THERE ARE FORUMS WITH THIS MODEL OF TRUCK THAT STATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT I HAVE FOUND NO RECALL ON IT. I HAVE FOUND THAT THE IGNITION AND BODY CONTROL MODULES WERE TO BLAME AND CURRENTLY DEALERS ARE CHARGING UPWARD OF $1100 TO REPAIR. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE DUE TO THE WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT SPECIFIC TO THIS MODEL OF TRUCK.

NHTSA ID
11231006
Incident
Jul 3, 2019
Mileage
113,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 19, 2018

HELLO, I JUST PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE AND IT HAS THE SAME PASSCODE PROBLEM THAT MY 2000 EXPRESS VAN HAS. THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEM AND GM IS NOT OWNING UP TO THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE A FIX FOR IT. HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO IGNORE THAT ''TIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION HAVING TO WAIT 10 MIN. COULD BE LIFE THREATENING. ALL I WANT IS THE 05 COLORADO TO WORK, I'LL BE SELLING THE VAN AND PASSING THE PROBLEM TO SOMEONE ELSE. TIME TO STAND BEHIND YOUR VEHICLES, THIS WILL BE MY LAST GM VEHICLE IF YOU WON'T FIX IT. AFTER 30 YEARS OF LOYALTY YOU SHOULD HAVE MY BACK

NHTSA ID
11089033
Incident
Apr 17, 2018
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 11, 2018

MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AND THEN MY BREAK LIGHTS. PUT IN NEW BREAK BULBS AND THEY STILL DO NOT WORK! I WAS DRI ING WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT AND MY HUSBAND NOTICED MY BREAKS WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11084641
Incident
Jun 1, 2017
Mileage
175,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 25, 2017

AT DIFFERENT TIMES TURN SIGNALS, BRIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS WILL QUIT WORKING AND DASH LIGHT INDICATOR THAT AIR BAG IS NOT WORKING WILL ILLUMINATE. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN FIRST STARTING UP. AT TIMES YOU CAN PUSH STALK UP FOR A RIGHT HAND TURN AND LEFT TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR WILL LIGHT UP AND BLINK. IF YOU PUSH THE STALK DOWN FOR A LEFT TURN SIGNAL NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID
10968502
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
90,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 20, 2015

THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AND THE WIRING IS BROKEN FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS TIME THERE WERE BURN MARKS ON THE WIRES WHICH WORRIES ME ABOUT A POSSIBLE FIRE IN MY DASHBOARD. THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ON. THIS OVERHEATING/BURNING OF THE RESISTOR AND WIRES CAUSES THE BLOWER MOTOR TO NOT BLOW AIR WHICH IN PHOENIX, AZ IS A MUST DUE TO SEVERE HOT WEATHER.

NHTSA ID
10783764
Incident
Oct 12, 2015
Mileage
184,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 19, 2015

A/C & HEATER CONTROLS NOT WORKING. 1ST TIME TOOK PICK-UP IN AND WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AT HUDIBURG CHEVEROLET IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. THE SAME THING WAS HAPPENING AGAIN AROUND 1 1/2 YEARS LATER TOOK BACK TO HUDIBURGS AGAIN AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER IT BEGAN TO WORK FOR A LITTLE WHILE THEN STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER.

NHTSA ID
10765302
Incident
Jun 5, 2007
Electrical
Filed Aug 4, 2015

THE AC FAN ONLY WORKS ON HIGH (4). THE AC FAN SWITCH HAS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE RESISTOR SWITCH FOR THE FAN. THIS CAN CAUSE THE WIRING TO OVERHEAT AND START A FIRE. GM HAS ALREADY RECALLED THE HUMMER H3 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE 1ST GENERATION CHEVY COLORADO BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME FAN SWITCH RESISTOR.

NHTSA ID
10746139
Incident
Aug 1, 2015
Mileage
73,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 22, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, BURNING FUMES EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER AN INSPECTION, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE BURNED WIRES IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE WIRE HARNESS AND A TEMPERATURE CONTROL REGULATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID
10735801
Incident
Nov 19, 2014
Mileage
170,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 16, 2015

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, ALL THE SUDDEN STARTED TO GET A BURN SMELL. HAD TO PULL OVER AND HAVE THE TRUCK BEING TOWED TO THE SHOP. THE PROBLEM IS THE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE A/C- HEATING BLOWER WAS BURNING. LUCKILY I HAD DISCOVER THE PROBLEM ON TIME. THIS PROBLEM COULD BE A DANGEROUS FIRE. WE NEED THIS PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED AND FIXED SINCE ALL THE OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10734572
Incident
Jul 3, 2015
Mileage
160,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 10, 2015

NO SPEED REQUIRED. THE A/C & HEATER NOT WORKING. IT WAS FIXED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WORKED FOR A SERIES OF MONTHS AND THEN IT BEGAN ACTING UP AGAIN TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND IT HAD JUST GONE OUT OF WARRANTY. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE ISSUE WAS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY REFUSED TO COMPLETE THEIR WORK. IN THE WINTER OR DURING DAMP WEATHER IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE DUE TO WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP. IT PRESENTS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION.

NHTSA ID
10724590
Incident
Jun 10, 2013
Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS FLICKERING. THE CONTACT HAD A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT VISIBLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AFTER A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ID
10640868
Incident
Aug 1, 2014
Mileage
68,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Sep 24, 2014

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH INSTALLED BY CHEVROLET TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THAT THEY HAD RECALLED, HAD ALSO FAILED TO WORK. IT STOPPED WORKING SHORTLY AFTER THEY HAD INSTALLED THE NEW ONE, BUT I HADN'T REALIZED BECAUSE I THOUGHT MY BRAKE LIGHTS JUST KEPT GOING OUT. I WASN'T EVEN AWARE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND THAT THEY HAD REPLACED IT WHEN I HAD TAKEN IT IN FOR ANOTHER RECALL ISSUE. I EVEN TOLD MY MECHANIC AND HE JUST REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHTS. IT WASN'T UNTIL MUCH LATER THAT I REALIZED MY LIGHTS WERE ACTUALLY FINE BUT THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS NOT ACTIVATING THEM. I REPORTED THIS TO GMC AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT UNLESS I PAID FOR IT OUT OF POCKET ($137 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, $64 FOR THE ACTUAL REPLACEMENT). *TR

NHTSA ID
10638655
Incident
Sep 28, 2007
Mileage
70,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jul 24, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON BLACK ICE; CAR SPUN AND ROLLED AT LEAST ONE TIME. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY; PERSON HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF VEHICLE DUE TO THE DOORS NOT BEING ABLE TO UNLOCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10615985
Incident
Nov 25, 2013
Mileage
250,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 29, 2014

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. WAS ABLE TO RESTART BUT WOULD ONLY STAY RUNNING FOR A FEW SECONDS. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT RESTARTED AND STAYED RUNNING. SINCE THAT TIME THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING AND REQUIRES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART AND KEEP RUNNING. SECURITY SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON. DEALER SAID IT COULD BE THE KEY, OR THE KEY SWITCH, OR THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM), OR ALL THREE. RESEARCH ONLINE INDICATES THAT NUMEROUS CHEVY COLORADO OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN TOLD SIMILAR THINGS BY DEALERS. IN FACT NUMEROUS OWNERS OF CHEVYS WITH THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT STALLS AND WON'T RESTART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10594784
Incident
Mar 10, 2010
Mileage
51,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 11, 2014

WHEN I SLOW DOWN MY VEHICLE BEGINS TO SPUDDER AND SOMETIMES TURNS OFF. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE FUEL FILTER WHICH WAS CHANGED BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I SLOWED DOWN FOR TRAFFIC. I PLACE IT IN NEUTRAL WHILE STILL IN MOTION AND TURN IT ON AGAIN THEN IMMEDIATELY PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE TO AVOID GETTING HIT. I FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY VEHICLE UNTIL I CAME ON HER TODAY AND FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *JS

NHTSA ID
10579084
Incident
Sep 12, 2012
Mileage
185,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE INFORMATION THAT THE CONTACT PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID
10576501
Incident
Nov 1, 2013
Mileage
72,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 24, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO NEITHER REPLICATE NOR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60000. UPDATED 06/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED A MECHANIC STATED THE BATTERY WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. UPDATED 06/09/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10574382
Incident
Sep 1, 2010
Mileage
60,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 14, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS ALERTED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID
10569414
Incident
May 28, 2008
Mileage
35,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000. REMAILED 06/23/14. *LJ UPDATED 07/15/14 MA *TR UPDATED 07/17/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10568134
Incident
Dec 15, 2013
Mileage
12,300 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 7, 2013

2005 CHEVROLET COLORADO 102,000 MILES. VEHICLE FLASHES "REDUCED POWER" ON INFORMATION DISPLAY THEN SHUTS DOWN ENGINE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST IN TO A PARKING LOT OUT OF TRAFFIC. ENGINE REFUSES TO START FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES THEN FIRES UP. HAS DONE THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE. ENGINE CODE GIVEN IS P0601 "CHECK SUM ERROR", IE COMPUTER GLITCH. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION, INSTEAD OF REDUCING THE ENGINE SO THAT ONE MIGHT GET OUT OF THRAFFIC, THE FACT THAT IT KILLS THE ENGINE IS A MAJOR SAFEYT RISK. POOR PROGRAMMING TO SAY THE LEAST.

NHTSA ID
10542415
Incident
Aug 16, 2013
Mileage
102,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .