2021 Chevrolet Colorado: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
73 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Chevrolet Colorado's years to avoid are 2015 (AVOID at 29 on 489 complaints, 356 of them Steering) and the redesigned 2023 and 2024 trucks (46 and 40 on 131 and 121). The years to buy are 2019 to 2022, which score 81, 90, 86 and 89 on 149, 82, 73 and 51 complaints. Read the full note on the model page. 2021 specifically: a year the record favours — 73 complaints, score 86/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used mid-size pickups: Colorado, Canyon and Ridgeline years to avoid, including 2021 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 73 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 14.6
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Iba sobre el freeway a 60 millas y de la nada el freno se puso duro no respondían me pasé a los carril de la orilla y fui metiendo freno de mano poco a poco bendito Dios me puse a salvo! La agencia me dijo que fue el booster ahora tienen que verificar que no halla fragmentos de metal en el motor!
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, the engine revved without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The contact stated that while turning onto an exit ramp, the brake pedal was depressed to slow the vehicle; however, there was resistance to the brake pedal, and an excessive amount of pressure was needed to depress brake pedal to stop the vehicle. Th…
Brake vacum pump experienced a catastrophic failure. I was unable to step on the break because the break pedal was hard. I ran thru a red light. I was told the brake vacume pump shattered & pieces of metal went into my engine
Recalls: 1 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 20V811000 | Seat Belts | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a pickup of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 22 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,800
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine18 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Service Brakes17 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Unknown Or Other16 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train11 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System11 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Steering10 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
Other Chevrolet Colorado years
Chevrolet Colorado years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (18 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 86/100, computed from 73 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado's most common problem?
18 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado cost to run per year?
About $4,447 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $22,235 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 Chevrolet Colorado, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 23/12/2020. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other pickups of about the same age.
What will a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 73 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 73 NHTSA complaints on record (14.6/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (17.9/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems