2022 Chevrolet Colorado — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $22,000–$36,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.
Deciding between model years? Compare the 3 Chevrolet Colorado years we've written up →
Kestrel Take
The last year of the 2nd-gen Colorado before the redesign. The 3.6L V6 and 2.8L Duramax diesel are both proven and reliable. A known commodity and potentially great value.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11
NHTSA holds 51 owner complaints for the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado, across 1 recall campaign.
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. 37% of them are about one thing — electrics and electronics. 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.
One recall campaign covers 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: electrics and electronics (19 complaints), steering (12 complaints), the brakes (7 complaints). Those groups are in the public record and are not covered by the issues below. Treat them 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 2022 Chevrolet Colorado
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
The 6-speed automatic shudders at light throttle. Fluid flush with Dexron VI resolves most cases.
Repair cost (estimate): $150 to $2,000
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (3), the body and structure (2).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Transmission shudder that persists after fluid change
- ✗ZR2 with heavy offroad use and no differential fluid service
Good Signs
- ✓2.8L Duramax diesel — excellent reliability and fuel economy
- ✓3.6L V6 with regular service
- ✓ZR2 with documented maintenance
Found a specific Chevrolet Colorado?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2022 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.
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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.
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