Home › Cars › Chevrolet › Colorado › 2018
2018 Chevrolet Colorado problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
59% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 80% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 11 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 56%).
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 102 of 172 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (59%), and the largest group is filed under power train (78). For comparison, the 2017 scores 67% and the 2019 scores 62%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2018 compares with other Chevrolet Colorado years
Of the 12 Chevrolet Colorado years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 4th-worst on engine and transmission share (59%). The worst is the 2017 (67%), the best the 2015 (16%). By volume, the 2018 drew 183 complaints (102 drivetrain), against 216 for the 2017 and 150 for the 2019.
Chevrolet Colorado years to avoid and best years →
2010 Colorado problems · 2011 Colorado problems · 2012 Colorado problems · 2015 Colorado problems · 2016 Colorado problems · 2017 Colorado problems · 2018 · 2019 Colorado problems · 2020 Colorado problems · 2021 Colorado problems · 2022 Colorado problems · 2023 Colorado problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 102 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Chevrolet Colorado fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300,…
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2018 Chevrolet Colorado? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 102 of 172 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (59%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado is power train: 78 of 183 complaints (43%) name it, followed by electrical system (34) and engine (24). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 59% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 80% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 12 Chevrolet Colorado years we score, it ranks 4th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total: 18V358000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Chevrolet Colorado years are better?
Among the Chevrolet Colorado years we track, the 2015 (16%), the 2022 (18%) and the 2016 (20%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (59%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/chevrolet-colorado
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.