I purchased a new 2017 Chevrolet Colorado on XXX. On about XXX the truck started shuddering or not shifting correctly. I took my truck to the local dealer [XXX] GM. There the diagnosed the problem to be the torque converter. According to what they told me GM instructed them to drain and replace the transmission fluid. GM knew the 8-speed transmission had a design defect in the torque converter. The torque converter clutch fails to engage smoothly, creating the shudder vibration. A fluid flush treats the symptom, not the cause. GM was permitted to put a band aid on a problem to get the vehicle through any warranty and make it not their responsible. The vehicle was returned to me, even after I complained to the dealer that this was not fixing the problem. And the truck continued to have a pause in the shifting. On about XXX the shuddering became much more apparent. I made an appointment with this same dealer that had done all of my service. On about XXX they did confirm the the problem was the torque converter. At this point the truck was no longer under the warranty, so GM had succeeded in putting the replacement of the faulty torque converter on me the consumer. As a consumer I feel I have been failed by a system we have in place to protect consumers from dishonest Corporate transactions. This process cost me $4000.00 out of pocket, and 11 days without the use of my truck. All of this transpired, because GM decided to not do what was right and fix what they knew was defective. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2017 Chevrolet Colorado problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission108
- Electrical41
- Engine28
- Steering19
- Fuel system16
- Brakes12
- Airbags9
- Seat belts7
- Acceleration6
- Driver assistance4
- Suspension4
- Body3
- Lights3
- Visibility2
Specific symptoms reported on the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado
Shudder 39Harsh shifting 16Jerking 13Check engine light 11Loss of power 11Slipping 8Transmission failure 8Fuel pump 6ABS 5Fuel smell 5Headlights 5Steering lock-up 5
Trouble codes owners of the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado mention
P2138 2
Recalls 1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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, Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
Recall number 18V358000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado 1,509
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories
- Unknown or other
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
- This PI communicates the proper part numbers for transmission connectors and internal harness to prevent...
- Unknown or other
- This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
2017 Chevrolet Colorado fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8L 4‑cyl Diesel | RWD | 22 | 30 | 25 |
| 2.8L 4‑cyl Diesel | 4WD | 19-20 | 22-28 | 20-23 |
| 2.5L 4‑cyl | RWD | 19-20 | 26 | 22 |
| 2.5L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 19 | 24 | 21 |
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | RWD | 15-18 | 15-25 | 15-20 |
| 3.6L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 16-17 | 18-24 | 17-19 |
What 2017 Chevrolet Colorado owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Transmission fluid flushing. Hard gear shift at slow speeds. Transmission shudder at high speeds
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and vibrated abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the contact was made aware of a technical service bulletin which included replacing the transmission fluid. The transmission fluid was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that recently the transmission started slipping and the vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that the transmission torque converter and the transmission valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 39,200.
There is a major fuel line leak just before the high pressure fuel pump. It appears that the fuel line aggressively rubbed against an A/C line component (looks like a muffler/canister). This rubbing created a huge hole in the high pressure fuel line, causing diesel to spray everywhere on the driver side of the engine compartment. This causes a massive safety issue due to diesel fuel uncontrollably spraying onto hot engine components. In my own research, this seems to be a known problem for GM. I believe there is a TSB published for this exact problem, but I have yet to find the document online. This needs to be an official recalled item ASAP.
Thermostat is having problems. Fan runs over use and Thermostat will not open
On or about 02/09/2026, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic failure directly related to a known defect identified in Technical Service Bulletin 19-NA-066. The engine "sucked" in the oil filter due to a poor design on GM's part. The stand pipe was not present apparently, and must have broken off at some point. This bulletin acknowledges an issue affecting this vehicle platform. This should have been recalled to address this engineering flaw that GM acknowledged in their TSB. Despite multiple attempts and ongoing communication with authorized representatives to have the vehicles engine replaced under an extended warranty, the vehicle was inoperable and unusable, causing significant financial hardship. I owned the vehicle for approximately 5 months and had the vehicle in the shop multiple times for other repair issues that were known per forums from other owners of this model/year of vehicle. I have exhausted all reasonable efforts to resolve this matter through dealership, GM customer service channels, and GM's executive team without satisfactory resolution. As a direct result of this defect and resulting failure, I have incurred the following damages: Loss of use of the vehicle ($24,578 purchase price on 09/20/2025) Rental and alternative transportation expenses ($90.58 rental vehicle from 02/12/2026 - 02/14/2026) Diminished vehicle value ($24,578 - $12,000 (Selling Price) = $12,578) Out-of-pocket diagnostic and related expenses ($2,036.50) Total loss and seeking reimbursement: $14,705.08
On Wednesday, February 18th, I was driving on the freeway, usual heavy traffic right off of it at 5:00pm. When exiting and merging onto the street, I pressed on my break to slow down and meet the speed of traffic, but my breaks felt hard, I struggled pressing it down, and my car wasn’t slowing down. I was able to swerve off into a dirt patch next to the road. Then I panicked, unable to find where my emergency break was, I put my car in park and it eventually came to a stop. I then took the car to the dealership, and they’ve told me that the vacuum pump needs a replacement. The car has currently been at the dealership for a week and a half and there still seems to be no solution. I’ve reached out to General Motors and with the responses they’ve given me, it feels like they the know what’s going on but have thus far given me the run around. They say they’ve reached out to the dealership, but when I mention it to my dealership advisor, they say they haven’t heard anything.
The heating blend door broke making the heater unusable. I cant defrost/defog my windows to see in February in New york...its a very common problem with this vehicle and the cost to repair is over 3000
Infotainment system will start changing on the screen to navigation and also on the odometer screen to audio settings. After turning vehicle off it will seem like a reset then do it again. A big distraction. Has done this multiple times in the last 3 months.
Compare the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado
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Other model years
20042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
Questions about the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado reliable?
Owners have filed 217 complaints about the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado, 1.6 times a typical Colorado model year.
What is the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado year score?
The 2017 Chevrolet Colorado scores 59 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Colorado: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 108 complaints, typically around 19,350 miles. Next is electrical (41).
How many recalls does the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado have?
1 recall, covering fuel system, gasoline.
What year does the Chevrolet Colorado have bad transmission?
The Chevrolet Colorado model years with the most transmission complaints are 2017 (108 complaints), 2016 (97 complaints) and 2018 (78 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado get?
Official estimates for the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado range from 15 to 25 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.8L 4-cyl diesel, RWD) gets 22 city and 30 highway.
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