2018 Chevrolet Colorado Powertrain (other) Problems

While driving at normal and safe highway speeds, without warning (no audible or visual warning from the vehicle information display) my vehicle experienced engine lockout, loss of all non-electric power, and no control over vehicle speed. A few seconds after loss, the information display did show a "check engine light" and that the engine was in "lockout." We (my spouse, young child, and self) were surrounded by multiple commercial semi-trucks and passenger vehicles and had to weave and serve to avoid collisions at highway speeds and get to the shoulder of the highway in a few seconds. The root cause as diagnosed by a Chevrolet Dealership Service Department was failure of the magnetic strip that is press fit to the reluctor (tone) wheel. A 1/2in piece of the magnetic strip was missing and over 10 cracks within the strip itself observed. This magnetic strip is used by the Engine Control Module to measure engine RPMs. The strip's failure caused the EMC to shutdown the engine without warning which is a significant hazard for controlled vehicle movement at highway speeds. My vehicle's engine (LWN) is one of the few GM designs that have the press fit magnetic strip reluctor wheels. The rest use integrated wheels with the crankshaft or traditionally stamped steel with machined teeth. The vehicle and reluctor wheel has not been inspected by GM or any other representatives. I offered to send images to GM for records but they declined.

NHTSA ID

11754282

Incident

Jul 8, 2026

I purchased the truck at the end of March 2025. Within a few weeks I was noticing different issues in the transmission. It would occasionally shudder, have jerky or long shifts, would jump gears and lose power. The shudder was random but mostly on the highway, the jerky or long shifts would mostly occur when the egjne was cold and more often in cold weather. The lose of power and jumping gears would occur when towing and when I was in the mountains, once losing power as I was turning onto a major highway. I took the truck in three times to get diagnosed but they couldnt replicate the issue or find a code. I finally decided to pay for a flush with the fluid that was recommended by a TSB. After the flush the issues were then replicated by the service techs. I have an extended warranty. The representative then inspected the truck and found the same issues and approved a transmission replacement. I took the truck in on June 22nd 2026. As of July 21 the dealership is still waiting for the replacement transmission to be shipped from GM.

NHTSA ID

11751922

Incident

Apr 20, 2026

66,500 miles transmission shudder. Scenic Chevrolet advised the torque converter failed and damaged the transmission.

NHTSA ID

11750843

Incident

Jul 11, 2026

Engine fails it violenty thumps and studders and drops from highway speed with no warning. This is a mfg. defect and also an EXTREME SAFETY CONCERN. The engine studders and thumps and we were almost rear ended by a truck when our truck could not go into gear properly. It is very scary! Dealership confirmed that they have many vehicles with same issue and recommended a Super Flush of transmission but not sure this will correct problem or cause more problems. There is no warning when these incidents occur and the driver has no control to avoid it. It is commonly referred to as the Chevy thump and studder and a known mfg defect in which GM refuses to pay for repairs causing consumers an extreme hardship! This is an ongoing issue affecting thousands of vehicles and someone is going to die! There is no negligence of operator of vehicle, it is a manufacturing defect that affects thousands of GM vehicles and they are doing NOTHING about it except expecting customers to keep incurring cost to try to remedy a repair at our own expense which is unfair! The government needs to force a recall at GM's expense!

NHTSA ID

11741750

Incident

May 23, 2026

Luggage and shudders at cruise speed, seems like auto transmission is coming apart. Paid $500 for the trans flush the service bulletin suggests but didn’t help, shop quoted a $8000 replacement on a vehicle with 60k miles. This should be a recall

NHTSA ID

11714360

Incident

Dec 5, 2025

Highlighting a materials defect with the rear crankshaft reluctor ring on the 2.8 LWN Duramax, installed in the Army Infantry Squad Vehicle and the 2015-2023 Chevrolet Colorado, from which it is based. When the ring delaminates, due to age, the vehicle engine shuts off and no start, rendered dead lined, as the ECU can no longer "see" the crank position. Requiring the transmission to be removed to rectify the issue.  I was pulling a trailer up a hill on the freeway when my truck down shifted, in an effort to slow down for a bus that was merging unexpectedly and the truck died at speed. The increase in RPM initiated an unplanned, instant disassembly of the ring due to cracking on the material and increased centrifugal force, shutting off the engine without warning, at speed. Again, just dead stick to the shoulder, towing a trailer, on the freeway. That could have been bad... Had truck towed to GM dealer, for a month-long repair.

NHTSA ID

11699149

Incident

Oct 11, 2025

transmission is not shfting properly.Truck losses speed and shutters when trying to accelerate.Difficulty climbing hills.Especially dangerous when merging with traffic.Only 33,000 miles on my truck.GM should recall to address this much complained about issue.

NHTSA ID

11698704

Incident

Nov 10, 2025

Transmission oil leak with only 60,000 miles just bought from a dealership as is 3 days ago and was not informed of the issue

NHTSA ID

11677977

Incident

Jul 28, 2025

Clunking sound coming from rear end upon normal acceleration. When I take my foot off of the brake pedal, and depress the gas pedal, A loud clunk appears to come from the differential. If I coast first and then depress the gas pedal, it is not as pronounced. When you slow down to make a corner, and resume speed exiting the corner it is also pronounced. It should be noted that I am a safe adult driver (safe driver module installed in truck) and have 35,800 miles. My truck has always been serviced by my Chevrolet dealership; I am an older gentlemen and never drive recklessly. I'd like to think the rear differential should not be making a clunking sound at this point in its history

NHTSA ID

11671441

Incident

Jul 6, 2025

Suddenly losing power, shifting hard, slipping between gears, causing shuddering while driving, and surging forward while accelerating.

NHTSA ID

11639793

Incident

Mar 15, 2023

Key can't be removed when the truck is in park. Locks go up and down when vehicle is moving. Transmission stuck in 3rd gear. Stabilitrack and traction control indicator lights appear on dashboard. Exhaust brake and traction control switches don't work.

NHTSA ID

11638431

Incident

Jan 20, 2025

At around the 105k mile range the truck would make a gear whine sound and shudder between gears at around the 50mph range, speeding up or slowing down a bit would fix the issue. By 110k miles the truck was making the gear whine sound at speeds over 10 miles an hour studdering at every gear change. I took it to a mechanic who said there were no TSB's for the truck and suggested doing a trans oil dump and filter replacement. The trans filter was replaced, and 7 quarts Mobil1 LV ATF blue label oil was put into the transmission. The studdering has reduced to just at the 50mph range but the gear whine sound has if anything gotten louder.

NHTSA ID

11637008

Incident

Jan 11, 2025

In [XXX] I took my truck in for oil change, inspection and 3rd complaint of shaking, and shuddering, lurching at a stop, they told me my transmission was broken, they would have to order the part and their was no ETA on when they would get it. I was told there were NONE in the tri-state area from another dealership. We are a one (1) car family and Jim Trenary Chevy said they don’t give out loaners, therefore we had to rent a car at 370.00 a week. Here it is January 15 and we are STILL renting a car. They finally got the part sometime last week, but WE NEED HELP! We have spent over 5,000 in rental car fees and GM will not reimburse us until we return the rental car, even though we have paid cash every week, and we’re have had to borrow from my husbands future paychecks. WE ARE BROKE. We have to pay the deductible of 500.00 when it is finally fixed, plus, during the snow storm last week someone side swiped my rental car, and I have to give Enterprise 1500.00 when I turn in the car for my deductible from insurance. I read there is a 65 million$ law suit pending to GM for these faulty transmissions, yet they don’t feel responsible to pay our expenses for something that IS THEIR PROBLEM, NOT OURS, but they have made it my problem, and I am shouldering all the financial burden of this, their faulty transmission. WE NEED HELP, We are now broke and now can not afford to pay for the rental, or our repair deductible, or our car payment. We don’t make that kind of money. My husband is the only one that works full time. WE NEED HELP, and no one wants to listen or seems to care. WE ARE BROKE! Thank you for listening. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11636012

Incident

Oct 23, 2024

transmission shudders from 20 to 60 under light acceleration. took to dealer and said that needed different oil. dealer stated that a common issue with these vehicles. Cost $500 to replace oil to proper oil.

NHTSA ID

11624742

Incident

Oct 1, 2024

shutter or vibration issue regardless of speed even when cruise control is active. took it to the dealer and they said the wrong fluid was installed at the manufacturer. also told me my extended warranty would not cover it since it was not a mechanical issue. i saw that GM has issued a service bulletin 18-NA-355. however, i have yet to discover from any online account that this fixed the problem. why is there no recall for this common issue.

NHTSA ID

11611945

Incident

Jun 1, 2024

The vehicle stuttered upon acceleration between 20mph and 35mph. After the 2018 Chevy Colorado was taken into the Chevy dealership for inspection, the torque converter failed at roughly 76,000 miles. A bad torque converter can potentially cause an accident. It can lead to engine revving issues, sudden speed changes, which can be dangerous while driving. The torque converter failed and left metal shavings in the transmission causing the transmission to need replaced as well. This was diagnosed by the Chevy dealership and has a repair ticket of over thirteen thousand dollars. ( $13,000.00 ) which most people can't afford to absorb. After a quick Google search, this appears to be a common problem. There should be a recall to fix this issue.

NHTSA ID

11592343

Incident

May 27, 2024

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? It appears to be a piston failure, as there is compression and diesel in the crankcase. Engine is still in the vehicle but once removed it will be available for inspection if needed. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Power loss on a busy highway requiring lane changes without available engine power is dangerous. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Not yet Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? P0266 code and engine light set immediately after the failure. But there were no warnings prior

NHTSA ID

11592134

Incident

Jun 1, 2024

“Service trailer brake system” won’t turn over but will crank Transmission shifting very hard around 3rd and 4th gear

NHTSA ID

11589155

Incident

May 16, 2024

The key will not come out of the ignition when the vehicle is in park. This presents a safety issue where the driver cannot leave the vehicle because the key is stuck in the ignition. The problem has been reproduced by the dealer and found to be a faulty transmission control assembly. The faulty transmission control assembly has now been replaced twice on my vehicle, once at 19,000 miles and again at 33,000 miles. There were not any warnings or messages, just one day the key won't come out of the ignition.

NHTSA ID

11567753

Incident

Jan 24, 2024

When accelerating there is a shake. From diagnostic it seems there is an issue with the torque converter.

NHTSA ID

11565607

Incident

Jan 3, 2024

Transmission is slipping and vibrates while driving. Delayed acceleration.

NHTSA ID

11548212

Incident

Oct 4, 2023

While driving, there is noticeable “shudder” that seems to feel like an issue with the transmission when it is shifting (automatic transmission). Research online shows this to be a consistent issue and concern with many owners of the 2018 Chevy Colorado. Having this shudder has not had a solution by the several mechanic shops I’ve been to. Nobody seems to know what is causing this issue, but with many owners having this same problem there must be something that Chevrolet can do to resolve this issue. We bought the vehicle brand new in 2018, and it is now paid off, but this shudder while driving has happened since we have owned the vehicle. It seems to be more prevalent while driving between 30 mph to 60 mph. The shudder happens during ever drive we take. We have the vehicle maintenance performed on all of the recommended intervals for oil, fluids, tires, brakes, etc. This is definitely something that should be a recall.

NHTSA ID

11540462

Incident

Aug 8, 2023

Transmission is shuddering, some jerking starts and stops.

NHTSA ID

11521208

Incident

May 6, 2023

clunking in the transmission, when slowing down it feels like you got rear-ended. Then when accelerating from a stop the transmission seems to slip and then catch and then engages and shoots you forward, feels like it surges forward. TSB to replace the transmission fluid was done at about 18k miles, it didn't fix its still doing it now. It did it since day one from the factory and the TSB didn't correct it.

NHTSA ID

11520031

Incident

May 2, 2023

Car begins to shudder intermetiently if driven over 50 MP due to faulty factor installed transmission fluid, can cause panic when unaware of what is happening. Also can marginally effect handling.

NHTSA ID

11517995

Incident

Mar 15, 2023