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2011 Chevrolet Colorado problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2011 Chevrolet Colorado. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 31% of relevant complaints.
Better than 69% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 16 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 19%).
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Colorado have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 8 of 26 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Colorado concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (31%). For comparison, the 2010 scores 39% and the 2012 scores 35%. 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.
The rest of the picture on the 2011 Chevrolet Colorado
- Every owner quote, 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 8 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Chevrolet Colorado?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2011 Chevrolet Colorado involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 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 IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.9 OR 3.7 LITER ENGINE AND A FOUR-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT," AND FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114,…
Risk: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AS THE DRIVER OR OTHER OCCUPANTS EXIT THE VEHICLE OR HAVE EXITED, RESULTING IN THE POSSIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE STRIKING THEM OR SOMEONE…
Fix: GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ADJUSTMENT CLIP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 19, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT…
4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2011 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.
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Does the 2011 Chevrolet Colorado have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 8 of 26 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Colorado concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (31%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Chevrolet Colorado?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2011 Chevrolet Colorado involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 11V337000 (power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)). 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 2011 (31%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2011 Chevrolet Colorado?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2011 Chevrolet Colorado shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.
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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.