2019 Chevrolet Colorado Brakes Problems

VIN: [XXX]. 2019 Chevy Colorado, ~115,000 mi. FAILED COMPONENT: Vacuum pump failed internally; debris damaged the exhaust camshaft. Pump is cam-driven with no shear pin, so seizure cuts brake assist AND sends metal debris into the engine. Truck/parts are at Chapman Chevrolet, Tempe AZ, available for inspection. SAFETY RISK: On XXX, brake pedal suddenly lost assist while my son merged onto XXX from [XXX]. Pedal effort/stopping distance increased with no warning - high risk of collision merging into highway traffic. CONFIRMED BY DEALER: Yes. Chapman Chevrolet confirmed vacuum pump failure and camshaft damage, consistent with GM TSB 21-NA-268 (drive-lug failure). OTHER INSPECTIONS: Dealer only so far; not yet by GM, police, or insurance. Available if needed. PRIOR SYMPTOMS: None. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the sudden brake assist failure on 7/1/26. This is a known failure mode on GM's cam-driven vacuum pump (TSB 21-NA-268; Special Coverage XXX covers 2014-2017 trucks/SUVs but not this 2019 Colorado despite same design). Requesting investigation into whether this is an unaddressed defect on 2018-2019+ Colorado/Canyon 2.5L trucks, and whether recall/extended coverage is warranted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11748346

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact's husband stated that while driving 20 MPH, while attempting to turn into a parking lot, and another vehicle was attempting to exit the same parking lot, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's husband depressed the brake pedal, the brake pedal seized, and the contact had to veer and downshift to first gear to avoid crashing into the other vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with vacuum pump failure and a fractured part from the vacuum camshaft. The vehicle was not fully repaired. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired by the dealer because the vehicle was not under recall and parts were on back order, as per the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11649821

Incident

Mar 19, 2025

Mileage

130,000 mi

I was driving around 60mph on a highway with cruise control. Heavy traffic resulted in a major accident in front of me. I slammed my brakes, which prevented me from getting involved in the altercation. However, the vacuum pump on the Colorado shattered, and I was forced to drive on the highway with a limited ability to brake. I recall the brake pedal being flushed against the floor. Luckily, I am young and strong. However, if any elderly person were driving, they would not be able to brake the car due to the excessive force I had to apply. Furthermore, after pulling off the highway, my engine leaked oil. To empathize, after slamming my brakes, my brakes stopped working.

NHTSA ID

11637615

Incident

Nov 13, 2024

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was stiff. The contact pulled to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The message "Brake Assist - Service Required'' was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the brake assist vacuum pump and the carburetor cap needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000.

NHTSA ID

11618037

Incident

Sep 19, 2024

Mileage

87,000 mi

Truck worked perfectly fine, then it was parked for a week because I had to have emergency eye surgery. After a week, started truck. Truck started spewing errors U0121 and U0131. Managed to get it to dealership with no steering and am told it is a power steering module failure and the cost to fix is $1800. The truck is barely out of warranty and I have seen numerous posts on forums across the Internet of others that have also experienced problems with their 2019 Colorados and the recalls on the 2015s for the same issue. - Component: Power Steering Module - Safety: Absolutely no power steering, extremely difficult to almost impossible to steer. - Reproduction: Yes, truck is at dealership. Confirmed errors and confirmed power steering module needs to be replaced. - Warnings: No warnings prior to truck being parked for a week. As soon as truck was started, received warnings and no power steering or traction control. Absolutely no symptoms prior.

NHTSA ID

11422278

Incident

Jun 23, 2021

AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT DROP INTO 1ST GEAR. WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION KICKS INTO GEAR VERY HARD, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE AND CAUSING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS TO HAVE THEIR NECKS JERKED BACK, VERY HARD. THIS PROBLEM WAS PRESENT FROM THE TIME I PULLED IT OFF THE LOT WITH 4 MILES ON IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER, ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY TIME THE TRUCK IS DRIVEN AT NEARLY EVER STOP I MAKE. THE REAR BRAKES PADS ARE WEARING OUT 3 TIMES FASTER, THAN THE FRONT PADS. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO CHANGE REAR BRAKES IN A VEHICLE, BUT THE CHEVY COLORADO HAS AN ISSUE WITH REAR BRAKES WEARING VERY QUICKLY.

NHTSA ID

11389608

Incident

Jan 30, 2019

Mileage

4 mi

2019 CHEVY COLORADO WITH 13125 MILES DRIVING ST RT 45 LISBON OHIO 40 - 45 MPH UP SLIGHT GRADE, NOTICED / SMELLED SMOKE IN CONSOLE AREA BETWEEN SEATS, TRIED TO DO MINOR ACCELERATION TO GET OVER SLIGHT GRADE AND THE ENGINE DIED. PULLED INTO PARKING LOT TO STOP AND NO BRAKES NO POWER STEERING ,TRIED EMERGENCY BRAKE STILL DID NOT STOP. SPLIT DECISION TO EITHER CRASH INTO CONCRETE BARRIER OR GET BACK ONTO HIGHWAY. LIGHT TRAFFIC SO MUSCLED TRUCK BACK ON HIGHWAY AND BUMPED CURB TO TRY AND SLOW VEHICLE. FINALLY SLOWED ENOUGH TO TRY EMERGENCY BRAKE AGAIN AND IT WORKED TO STOP TRUCK. PUT TRUCK IN PARK AND EXITED VEHICLE, WITH FLAMED SHOOTING OUT DRIVER SIDE UNDERNEATH BETWEEN DRIVER DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR. RUNNING BOARD HOT ENOUGH TO BURN MY JEANS AS I EXITED. VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER TRIED TO PUT OUT FIRE WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER AS DID HIGHWAY PATROL. FLAMES STILL ACTIVE. VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND AFTER ABOUT 15 MIN HAD FIRE PUT OUT. NO WARNING CHIMES, NO FLASHING LIGHTS, NOTHING TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. INSURANCE COMPANY HAD INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR LOOK AT VEHICLE, HE/SHE BELIEVES IS A GENERAL MOTORS ISSUE AND HAS CONTACTED THEM TO ALSO INVESTIGATE CAUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11329551

Incident

May 15, 2020

Mileage

13,125 mi

THE BRAKES AND ROTORS IN THE REAR OF THE TRUCK WERE GRINDING AT 21K MILES. BROUGHT IT TO DEALERSHIP AT 23K MILES AND HAD TO REPLACE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS.

NHTSA ID

11266483

Incident

Oct 4, 2019

Mileage

21,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS GOING DOWN HILL ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN WE TAPPED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WE SKID ABOUT 300 YARDS BEFORE BEING ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO COME TO A STOP. WE KEPT TAPPING BRAKES TRYING TO GET THEM TO GRAB AND STOP US LUCKILY, THE CAR A HEAD OF US TURNED RIGHT AT THE LIGHT SO WE DID NOT CRASH INTO THEM. THEN WHEN IT DID STOP THE RPM STARTED REEVING UP AND THE TRUCK LUNGED FORWARD THEN THE RPM WENT DOWN. WE WERE VERY LUCKY WE DID NOT GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND WRECK.

NHTSA ID

11207508

Incident

Apr 22, 2019

Mileage

1,500 mi