2012 Chevrolet Colorado Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado.

20112013
Complaints
59
per 10K Sold
14.6
US Sales
40,372
Crashes
7
Fires
2
Injuries
6
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2012 Chevrolet Colorado Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#19 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:69,188 mi
#27 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:47,671 mi
Fires:1
#37 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:49,373 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado.

Airbags
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
69,188
Electrical Faults
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
47,671
Engine Problems
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
49,373
Brakes
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
40,297
Electronic Stability Control
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
22,945
Steering Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
54,138
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering:Rack And Pinion
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 Chevrolet Colorado

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~124,393 vehicles.

12V594000Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
~118,800 affected

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured from November 9, 2009, through August 28, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 113, "Hood Latch System." The hood may be missing the secondary hood latch.

11V552000Seat Belts:front
~5,593 affected

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 9, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 19, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH DRIVER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TERMINALS THAT DO NOT FIT SNUGLY WITH THE CONNECTOR PINS, CAUSING THE CONNECTION TO BE INTERMITTENT.

Other Chevrolet Colorado Years

2012 Chevrolet Colorado — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2012 Chevrolet Colorado has 59 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 9 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado?
Top reported problems: Airbags (9 complaints, avg 69,188 mi); Electrical Faults (7 complaints, avg 47,671 mi); Engine Problems (7 complaints, avg 49,373 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 49,237 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado?
NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado include 7 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Colorado have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 124,393 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Colorado reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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