2008 Chevrolet Colorado Engine Problems
7 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (7)
Your engine stalled multiple times without warning, and your check engine light came on. Your air conditioning and heating also stopped working intermittently. The dealer found that the valve guides in your engine head needed replacement, which was completed. The fix involved replacing the engine valve guides.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your engine shook violently while idling, with RPMs jumping up to 2000 and then dropping to 500, and the problem also happened when shifting gears. No warning lights came on. After you pulled over and restarted the engine, the truck drove normally again. The dealer told you to schedule a diagnostic check when the engine warning light appears. A mechanic will likely need to scan the engine computer for fault codes and inspect spark plugs, ignition coils, and fuel injectors to find what's causing the rough idle and RPM fluctuations.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
THE TRUCK GOES DEAD EVERY TIME YOU APPLY THE BRAKES SO I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT IS BEEN PARKED SINCE LATE NOVEMBER WHEN I TOOK THE TRUCK INTO THE CHEVY DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THEY CHARGED $350 CHANGE THE PLUGS AND CLEAN THE INJECTORS AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. I DRIVE IT ONCE A WEEK ABOUT 5 MILES TO TAKE THE TRASH OFF. I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER TO ASK ABOUT A RECALL THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THAT TRUCK AND THE TRUCK WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT IF I WANTED TO BRING IT BACK THEY WOULD CHECK IT AGAIN AT A COST OF $300 TO $350 WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK I HAVE TO DRIVE EXTREMELY SLOW BECAUSE WHEN IT CUTS OFF YOU LOSE ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AND ARE SUBJECT TO RUNNING A RED LIGHT OR SIDE SWIPING ANOTHER CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COLORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE, IT WOULD HESISTATE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE ENGINE WIRES FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE WIRING IN THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.
FOR MORE THAN 10,000 MILES (STARTING AROUND 33-34,000 MILES) AND OVER A YEAR MY TRUCK HAS EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT ROUGH IDLE. WITHOUT WARNING THE IDLE WILL BECOME ROUGH AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE TRUCK HAS ALMOST STOPPED RUNNING. THESE EVENTS DO NOT TRIGGER A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHEN I TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THEY CANNOT EXPLAIN WHAT IS TAKING PLACE. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN AT LEAST 6 TIMES AND I AM LOSING MY PATIENCE. THE STANDARD EXPLANATION IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN THE PROBLEM IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DIAGNOSE. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ANY HELP. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT I WILL FIND MYSELF PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION OR CROSSING A STREET AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT RUN! I WAS ASKED TO CHANGE GAS STATIONS AND I DID TO NO EFFECT. I HAVE BEEN INCONVENIENCED BY THIS RECURRING PROBLEM AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE TRUCK. AFTER GOING TO A COLORADO TRUCK OWNERS FORUM ON THE INTERNET I NOW KNOW THAT I AM NOT ALONE. MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND ARE NOT ABLE TO GET IT RESOLVED THROUGH THE DEALER OR CHEVROLET. MY TRUCK HAS APPROXIMATELY 44,500 MILE ON IT AND IS PAID FOR. I LIKE THE TRUCK BUT IT IS NOT SAFE AND IT IS NOT DEPENDABLE. *TR
OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE TRUCK COMES TO A STOP OR COASTING, THE RPM GAGE STARTS TO FLUCTUATE, AND THE TRUCK STARTS TO SHAKE. MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL RESULT IN THE TRUCK COMPLETELY TURNING OFF. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY; OCCURRING ATLEAST 1-3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IT STARTED WAS IN THE SUMMER OF 2009. IT IS REALLY FRUSTRATING WHEN THIS HAPPENS AT AN INTERSECTION, A LIGHT OR MAYBE AS I AM TURNING, BUT IT IS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING WHEN IT HAPPENS WHILE I'M GOING DOWN HILL OR IF I AM ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN INTO CAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. MY TRUCK IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP ATLEAST 6 TIMES AND THEY RETURN MY VEHICLE USUALLY CLUELESS ABOUT WHAT TO DO. THEY USUALLY RECOMMEND FOR ME TO CHANGE MY GAS TO SHELL, WHICH I HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY HAVE RE-DONE MAINTENANCE JOBS ON IT, HOPING THAT THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY, BUT IT DOESN'T. THE ENGINE LIGHT NEVER GOES ON, WHICH IS A HUGE PROBLEM. RECENTLY THEY PLACED A DATA RECORDER TO RECORD WHEN IT HAPPENS, I RECORDED 5 INCIDENTS, AND THEY CAME BACK NORMAL!!! THE DATA RECORDER DOESN'T PICK IT UP! THE MECHANICS ARE BAFFLED AND RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, NOR DO I ANYMORE. DRIVING THIS TRUCK WITH THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILY AT RISK, BUT IT IS ALSO ENDANGERING THE PEOPLE DRIVING ALONG ME. *TR
NOTICED ROUGH IDLE AND HESITATION AT FIRST THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER FEW WEEKS. CAUSE IS SEPARATE FAULTY IGNITION COILS. HAPPENED AT 2,000, 3,000, AND 5,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BUT WITHOUT EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. *TR