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Chevrolet Colorado grinding brakes problems

68 of the 3,667 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Colorado describe grinding or squealing brakes, most of them for the 2005 model year.

owner complaints
68
worst model year
2005
typical mileage
27,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2025
    1
  • 2024
    2
  • 2023
    3
  • 2022
    1
  • 2021
    4
  • 2020
    1
  • 2019
    2
  • 2017
    1
  • 2016
    3
  • 2015
    3
  • 2012
    1
  • 2008
    3
  • 2007
    6
  • 2006
    6
  • 2005
    18
  • 2004
    13

What owners say

Filed Oct 15, 2026 · Transmission · FL

The rear differential is sounding very loud, like grinding roaring sound @ 72,000. This truck doesn't pull any loads or anything heavy.all service are on time. How can this young milage truck major part go bad just so. It's dangerous driving on the street. It can cause death if it blows up or freeze. GM has a global service about their miss labeled rear differential. They now acting like they now hearing about this when many people is complaining about this faulted differential.

Filed May 21, 2026 · Brakes · NY

My 2023 Chevy Colorado developed a rear brake squeal when backing up at approximately 20,000 miles. The dealer found nothing wrong at my next appointment. By 30,000 miles, the rear pads and rotors required replacement, at partial cost to me. The new rear brakes are already squealing again after just a few thousand miles. This isn't an isolated issue. A Chevy Colorado forum I follow has documented multiple owners experiencing the same pattern: rear brake squealing beginning around 20,000 miles, followed by premature pad and rotor failure shortly after. Notably, front brake wear is normal across all reported cases, including my own, pointing directly to a rear-specific defect rather than general driving habits or conditions. The rear brakes on the 2023 Chevy Colorado appear to be failing well ahead of any reasonable service interval, and the consistency of this pattern across multiple owners strongly suggests a systemic problem.

Filed Apr 16, 2026 · Body · 10,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a grinding sound coming from the front of the vehicle while turning in either direction. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the front driver's side wheel well plastic cover was unsecured and had fallen and was rubbing on the front driver’s side tire while turning. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that there was a rattling sound coming from the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the driver’s- and passenger-side step rail bolts were missing or loose, leaving the step rails unsecured. The contact replaced the bolts. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 10,000.

Filed Jan 8, 2026 · Transmission · KS

Vehicle has 54,250 miles. Vehicle has a rear differential bearing going out by hearing and feeling the grinding at all speeds and the transmission jerks shafting gears. Both could cause an accident if totally fail. Chevrolet has a service bulletin out from what my local garage says. Mechanic also says Chevrolet will not warranty the product. Vehicle is now being looked at by a Chevrolet dealer. The vehicle is OUT OF WARRANTY. My son, who is [XXX] and not familiar with vehicles thought it was the tires causing the whining and vibration. Took the vehicle in several times to Chevy and they ignored the issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 22, 2025 · Brakes · OH

At engine start up there were two warnings that came up on info screen. "Service Front Brake Monitor" and "Front Brake Pads Low". Just before this incident the monitor showed front pads at 82% brake life and the rear pads at 84%. Upon my own inspection the driver side front brake pads are worn significantly more than the passenger side. Front brakes are also squealing when coming to a stop. Chevrolet dealership inspection/repair scheduled for 9/22/25.

Filed Aug 16, 2025 · Transmission · CA

I own a 2021 Chevrolet Colorado Lt Extended Cab 2WD. The rear differential has failed prematurely at 70000 miles. the failure caused loud whining/grinding noises, vibration, and unsafe driving conditions. After researching online, i found many other 2021 Colorado owners reporting the same issue with rear differential failure, often at relatively low mileage. This indicates a widespread defect in the differential assembly. There are existing GM Technical Service Bulletins (20-NA-034, 20-NA-156) related to axle/differential noise and machining defects, but GM has not issued a recall or extended warranty coverage. Differential failure can lead to loss of power to the wheels or lockup while driving, which poses a serious safety risk. I request that the federal safety agency investigate this issue and require GM to issue a recall or Special coverage adjustment for the affected vehicles.

Filed Jul 14, 2025 · Transmission · TX

Transmission Component: M5T: TRANSMISSION AUTO 8 SPD, 8L45 available for inspection. The vehicle shakes badly and shudders during acceleration and causes a brief inability to accelerate, often at higher speeds and with a great deal of rumbling and vibration. No other warning lamps, messages, or symptoms. The problem first appeared about 2 months ago. I recognized it as a persistent problem, and I was no longer comfortable driving the vehicle and feared that it would shut down while driving. I took my vehicle for diagnostic and maintenance at a local service center who also noticed that the transfer case "is making an unusual squeaking noise when driving". I was then notified that this is a known problem with this vehicle make and model for 2019 and referred here to file a complaint. Having less than 60K miles on this vehicle, I was referred to the dealership for possible next steps.

Filed May 15, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · NY

On [XXX] after only 400 miles on the odometer, I experienced complete transmission failure while on a highway and was nearly hit by the vehicle behind me, luckily that did not happen. On April 29th, a new replacement transmission was installed by the Chevy dealer, and now on [XXX] I had experienced a severe burning smell from under the hood of the vehicle accompanied with a grinding sound, which lead to me to take it back to the dealer. On 05/15/25, the customer care manager informed me that the new transmission from the factory has metal debris inside the pan, and the vehicle would again require a complete "tear down". This is very unsafe for major powertrain components from the GM factory to keep failing, another failed transmission on a brand new truck like this is very unsafe especially because I drive on major highways to commute for work and transport my young children. This is unsafe for the public and my family, GM needs to be held accountable, they also refuse to refund me my money back on this vehicle, and are disregarding Lemon Laws in NYS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 10, 2025 · Brakes, Suspension · MO

Brakes make an intermittent grinding sound when cold but make no abnormal sounds when it is warm out. As far as the suspension goes..... The truck sits higher on the passenger side than the driver side by almost 1 inch.

Filed Aug 7, 2024 · Acceleration, Airbags · KY

I just bought this truck. While driving it on the first day we were in stop and go traffic and I pressed the throttle and nothing happened, when I pressed it further it all of a sudden squealed tires and jumped forward causing me to almost rear end the car in front.

Related recalls

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliperReported May 12, 2015 · 24,380 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Colorado, and GMC Canyon trucks manufactured January 6, 2014, to December 24, 2014. The affected vehicles may experience the front brake calipers leaking brake fluid. This is due to air pockets, an imperfection in the metal caliper body.
Risk
If the vehicle experiences a brake fluid leak it can increase the stopping distance, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the front-brake calipers if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 9, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 (Chevrolet), or 1‑800‑462‑8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14888.

Recall number 15V278000 · Recall details

Questions about the Chevrolet Colorado grinding brakes

Which Chevrolet Colorado years have grinding or squealing brakes problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2005 (18 complaints), 2004 (13 complaints) and 2006 (6 complaints).

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