2015 Chevrolet Colorado — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $14,000–$21,000. There are 2 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Deciding between model years? Compare the 3 Chevrolet Colorado years we've written up →
Kestrel Take
The first year of the reborn midsize Colorado, and it shows. The 3.6L V6 and the eight-speed automatic combination developed a shudder that GM chased through several fluid and software revisions. A 2017 or later is meaningfully better sorted.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11
NHTSA holds 490 owner complaints for the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado, across 7 recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 73% of them are about one thing — steering. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.
7 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Not written up yet: stability control (58 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
A shudder at light throttle around 25-50 mph, caused by fluid contamination and torque converter behavior. GM issued multiple bulletins and a revised fluid; some trucks needed converters or valve bodies. Class actions followed.
Repair cost (estimate): $300 fluid service to $4,000 rebuild
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (45), the engine (36), throttle and cruise control (9).
Chain stretch on neglected engines and cylinder deactivation on some builds.
Repair cost (estimate): $1,500-$3,000
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (36).
Beyond the shudder, the eight-speed hunts and clunks. Software updates helped.
Repair cost (estimate): $0-$300 reflash
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (53), the transmission and drivetrain (45).
Hard plastics and squeaks on a first-year build.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: not yet checked against public records.
A poor electrical connection inside the steering gear can corrode and fail, cutting power steering assist without warning - worst at low speed, like parking. GM recalled certain 2015 Colorado/Canyon trucks built in a narrow window (January-March 2015) for this, with a follow-up recall in 2021 for related units. Check the VIN for both recall campaigns before buying.
Repair cost: $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under steering (357).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Shudder at steady light throttle
- ✗No record of the updated transmission fluid
- ✗Cold-start chain rattle
- ✗Off-road damage on a Z71
Good Signs
- ✓Transmission fluid replaced with the updated Mobil 1 LV spec
- ✓All GM software updates performed
Found a specific Chevrolet Colorado?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
Get My Verdict — $7.99No account required. Delivered to your inbox, usually within minutes.
Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
Other Chevrolet Colorado years
More from Chevrolet
Similar trucks & pickups
No bullshit, no upsells, no affiliate links. One report, one price — we'll never charge you rent for your own thinking.
Think we got something wrong? Tell us — a real person reads every message.