RoadVitals

2012 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.
8
Latest Jan 19, 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.
19%
of 42 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

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 2012 Chevrolet Colorado submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Jan 19, 2022
Fire reported

That truck started on fire. Burnt up. Total . It started on the front passenger side near the motor where the ground plug is located. It had drizzled that day and the ground plug is not water proof. Burnt down a huge 120 long barn with other farm equipment inside. About $250,000 in losses.

NHTSA ID
11448074
Incident
Jan 18, 2021
Electrical
Filed Feb 12, 2021

VEHICLE RANDOMLY DOES NOT START AND HAVE TO SIT 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT STARTS UP AGAIN. IS CONSIDERED A NON RUNNING VEHICLE!

NHTSA ID
11395914
Incident
Oct 15, 2019
Electrical
Filed Sep 16, 2020

THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 58,000 MILES AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT. I GOOGLED IT AND SEEN THERE ARE TONS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. WENT TO START TRUCK AND IT WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA ID
11355382
Incident
Sep 16, 2020
Mileage
58,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE BATTERY CABLE, WAIT A FEW MINUTES, REINSTALL THE BATTERY CABLE, WAIT AN ADDITIONAL FEW MINUTES, AND THEN START THE VEHICLE FOR IT TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. *DT THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEEDS A PAPER COPY OF EVOQ. *TR

NHTSA ID
11265489
Incident
Jun 4, 2018
Mileage
47,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 11, 2019

WILL NOT START HAVE TO TAKE OFF - POST FROM BATTERY THEN 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT STARTS. THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHES FOR THE 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT STARTS.. EMS NEEDS REPLACED. IF I LOCK THE TRUCK AFTER THE 3 TIME IT STARTS THIS S(XXX). 2012 CHEVY. COLORADO. IT'S NOT THE KEY OR SWITCH.

NHTSA ID
11254863
Incident
Sep 9, 2019
Mileage
85,356 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 26, 2013

AT FIRST, TRUCK SHOWED TPS ALARM ,THEN STABILITY ALARM ,NEXT IT HAD THE HEADLIGHTS CUT OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT @ 70 MPH FOR 15-30 SECONDS. IT HAS SHOWN THESE PROBLEMS SEPARATELY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY AT DIFFERENT TIMES. FINALLY IT MANIFESTED A NEW SYMPTOM I WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT CRANK THE ENGINE OVER EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY WAS AT FULL CHARGE. AFTER REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALER(THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM) WITH NO EFFECT OR IMPROVEMENT, A CALL TO CHEVROLET NETTED A CASE NUMBER #71-1257538002. AS A RESULT OF THIS CALL( I FEEL) WORK WAS RESTARTED ON THE VEHICLE. AS OF TODAY 12/26/13 THE CHEVROLET DEALER HAS NOW CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITCH. WE SHALL SEE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10557270
Incident
Aug 15, 2013
Mileage
38,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 23, 2013

I HAVE A 12 MONTH OLD CHEVY COLORADO, BOUGHT NEW. FOR 9 MONTHS, NO ISSUES. THEN IN OCTOBER, IT SIMPLY WON'T START. DEAD BATTERY. I DROVE IT REGULARLY TO AND FROM WORK EACH DAY, SO IT'S NOT FROM NON-USE. I TOOK IT TO SERVICE AND THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD BATTERY. THEY REPLACED IT. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, SAME THING. DEAD BATTERY AND CAR WON'T START, BUT LIGHTS WORK, RADIO WORKS. I TAKE IT IN AGAIN, AND THEY CAN'T FIND A REASON. THEY KEEP IT A WEEK (STATIC) AND SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. BUT IT WORKS WHEN I LEAVE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THREE WEEKS LATER, SAME THING. CAR WON'T START AND I'M TIRED OF GETTING STRANDED. AND I DRIVE IT REGULARLY. THEY TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERS SERVICE AND THEY RUN TESTS BUT CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY CALL CHEVY WHO GIVES THEM DIRECTION, BUT CHEVY DOESN'T LET ON THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM. BUT I GO ONLINE AND FIND MANY ISSUES WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. SINCE THIS IS THE 3RD ATTEMPT TO FIX IT, I'M GOING TO PURSUE THE LEMON LAW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10557107
Incident
Oct 1, 2013
Mileage
10,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 9, 2013

2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, HE WAS INFORMED THE ISSUE WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE NEXT WEEK, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PARTS REPLACED IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE NOT ISSUE, AND AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE ISSUE WAS A LOOSE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. LATER IN THE WEEK, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A SPUN BEARING THAT CAUSED THE ISSUES. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO REPLACED, BUT IT WOULD TAKE COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET AN APPROVAL FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE AUTHORIZATION FINALLY CAME THROUGH AND THE DEALER PROCEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE COULD PICK THE VEHICLE UP ON JUNE 1ST. HOWEVER, THEY WANTED TO PUT SOME ADDITIONAL MILES ON THE TRUCK TO CONFIRM EVERYTHING WAS IN SPECIFICATION. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. HE STATED THE TRUCK WOULD IDLE IN A ROUGH MANNER , AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE CHECKED THE CODES ON THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THEY WERE TRANSMISSION RELATED. THE CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A WIRING HARNESS ISSUE AND SOME CRIMPED SEALS FROM THE FIRST DEALERSHIPS WORKMANSHIP. THE VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA ID
10522375
Incident
May 15, 2013

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .