Chevrolet Colorado won't shift problems

Filed Jul 6, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · OR

My 2018 Chevrolet Colorado diesel has had repeated diesel emissions/DPF-related failures that cause the vehicle to enter reduced-power or limp mode. This is a safety issue because the truck suddenly loses power and cannot accelerate normally. The most serious incident occurred while driving over Santiam Pass in Oregon. The vehicle went into reduced-power/limp mode on a mountain highway, leaving me unable to maintain normal speed or accelerate safely. I lost power needed to pass traffic and had limited ability to respond to road conditions. The problem has happened several times. It has also occurred while I was towing my boat, which left me unable to continue the trip safely and created a hazardous situation because the truck could not maintain normal towing power. The issue appears related to the diesel particulate filter/emissions system and repeated DPF/regen or exhaust aftertreatment problems. I am concerned that a design, calibration, or emissions-system defect is causing sudden power reduction during normal driving and towing. This creates an unreasonable safety risk, especially on mountain passes, two-lane highways, and while towing. I am requesting that the federal safety agency review this as a potential safety defect involving the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado diesel DPF/emissions system and reduced-engine-power strategy. I am also requesting that this complaint be considered with any similar complaints, recalls, technical service bulletins, or emissions campaigns related to DPF regeneration, particulate matter sensor diagnostics, reduced engine power, or limp mode on the 2.8L Duramax Chevrolet Colorado.

Filed Jun 14, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · MI

My 2023 Chevrolet Colorado (2.7L, approx. 49,000 miles) experiences sudden, intermittent loss of motive power involving the 8-speed automatic transmission. The transmission sets codes and the vehicle drops into limp mode, capped at roughly 45 mph, without warning. The most dangerous symptom is a total loss of acceleration from a stop, especially on inclines — pressing the accelerator produces no response. On one occasion, stopped on a slight incline, the vehicle rolled backward toward the car behind me when it failed to move forward on accelerator input. I narrowly avoided a collision. On a separate occasion, after pressing the accelerator with no response, the vehicle then suddenly lurched forward into cross traffic; repeated presses produced inconsistent, delayed engagement, nearly causing a collision. To climb inclines I now have to hold the brake while applying throttle and slowly release the brake to prevent rollback. These are unpredictable loss-of-control events that create a serious crash risk in traffic. I believe this relates to a known issue affecting the GM 8-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle is currently at a GM dealer and I have an open GM Customer Care case. No crash, fire, or injury has occurred yet, but two near-collisions have.

Filed Apr 19, 2026 · Transmission · MO

Check engine light with codes p0700 and p2796 has been happening for months with multiple failed repair attempts. Vehicle was returned to me by the dealer supposedly fixed. I drove it 15 minutes to the high school for an art fair my daughter was in. They (my family) rode with me home. Check engine light was on again. On the way home, the transmission was acting strange, not shifting properly. About half way home, it got stuck in a gear at 3500 or so rpms and would not shift. I tried the manual shifter, and it didn’t work. Stuck in gear. Concern was that we were approaching a hill when it did this, and I could not get the vehicle to shift to deliver the appropriate level of power I needed to ascend the hill. It thankfully did eventually shift, but it was scary for a few seconds, especially since I had my wife and all three of my kids in the vehicle. I dropped the vehicle off the next morning. It got stuck in gear at 3500 RPMS again on the way to the dealership. Two dealerships have made multiple failed attempts to fix the transmission issues. Several attempts to contact GM have gone without a response. No one in my family feels safe in the vehicle after what happened.

Filed Jul 10, 2025 · Electrical · NM

I believe there should be a recall for the KNOWN chafing issues for the engine wire harness. This happened to my truck this past year around September/November of 2024 and didn't get a fix until June 25. There are TSB's out for other models as well as mine regarding the wire chaffing. it shorts out intermittently and cause all kinds of warning lights to go off, (check stabilitrak, check 4x4, etc) the vehicle usually did a bunch of stop and go jerks when it would do this then go into limp mode. I even had it stall completely on me and the steering wheel locked up. I think they had to disconnect the battery or something to get the key out. I've been on several different forum pages trying to find the issue and I have seen it happen on relatively new vehicles as well. Lucky for them they are under warranty but dealers still giving them a hard time on this issue. I believe this poses a safety issue and there should be a recall on this. Besides that, no one should have a perfectly good vehicle and have to pay 4000-7000 dollars to replace a wire harness because of a manufacturer design defect which seems will eventually cause this issue though it had happened on newer models as well. the bulletin #specific to my vehicle is PIT5626D but there are other bulletins for other engines/models

Filed May 8, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · GA

P2738 Pressure Control Solenoid Valve 6 Control Circuit Low Voltage. Whenever you drive, the transmission will go into limp mode every now and then. It will say low oil pressure and throw another code of P0700 MIL Request From TCM. This is a common issue that I have researched and would like to know a way forward. I've only had the vehicle for 6 months. Within city limits as long as you don't push the accelerator too much (50mph within 2 minutes) it runs ok until the vehicle comes to a stop. Also, when you get on and off of the freeway, same issues make it go into limp mode in which you will have to shut the truck off and start up after a few minutes to reset.

Filed Apr 16, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NY

On [XXX] at approximately [XXX{}, my new 2025 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss which I purchased from the dealer brand new on [XXX], experienced a sudden catastrophic transmission failure which led to myself nearly being severely injured/possibly killed while driving on a main road in New York; on the way to pick up my two small children. The vehicle while on a main road (state highway) with other vehicles traveling at speeds of 40mph or greater, experienced a sudden mechanical failure that resulted in a complete loss of acceleration, and my vehicle was nearly rear ended by high-speed oncoming traffic behind me. As a medical professional, this is extremely frightening, because a mechanical issue like this could have led to the significant traumatic injuries to myself, my children and others. Upon the vehicle coming to a complete stop in the middle of this main road/state highway, the vehicle was turned back on and then went into a "Limp Mode" and was able to slowly crawl to the dealership which it was purchased from nearby. Luckily with the limp mode and hazard lights, I was able to safely make it to the dealer service department. There was a check engine light that then appeared on the dashboard after the vehicle had come to complete stop on the road, there were no indicators or symptoms that were occurring prior to this event. The vehicle was inspected by the service department of the dealership on 04/15/25, with the result as per the service manager and general manager being a major Transmission component failing- (Valve Body Failure). The service manager and general manager did not tell me if they would send the defective part to the manufacturer for inspection, they seemed more focused on having me leave the dealership and being satisfied with a repaired defective un-safe vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 24, 2024 · Brakes · CA

Component/system issue: Intermittent loss of power assist to brakes after auto start-stop startup. Safety Risk: Unable to use brakes normally. Requires hard brake pedal pumping to get vehicle to stop. Reproduced by others: No. Doesn't happen every time. It has happened a total of three times (so far). Inspected by manufacturer: Yes. The first time, the dealer found low voltage DTC set. Replaced battery. Second time, dealer found low voltage DTC (P 0562) set. They contacted GM TAC who provided a file to patch the radio software. Third time, other (possibly related) electronics issues were also present which caused the vehicle to enter limp mode every time it's driven. They've replaced the ECU and the accelerator pedal, neither of which fixed that issue. They are now awaiting a wiring harness from GM to see if that is the root cause. Hopefully it also fixes the intermittent loss of power brakes after auto start-stop startup. Warning lamps/messages/other symptoms prior to failure: No symptoms prior to the failure. Upon startup caused by auto start-stop feature, the symptoms are as follows: All warning lamps illuminate and several messages display on the instrument cluster screen about loss of ESC, ABS, traction control, collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, and others. One by one, the warning lights go out within 1 minute, except ABS. Power assist for the brakes is not available while this light is illuminated. Within approx. 2 minutes, the ABS light goes out and brakes function normally again.

Filed Mar 30, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · IL

The High Pressure Fuel Pump detached from engine and snapped off flange and bolt in the head of engine . The part is available for inspection and was removed by dealership. Vehicle was being driven at highway speed at time of failure. Narrowly avoided an accident as truck lost power and went into limp mode. There was no prior warning leading up to failure.

Filed Nov 14, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · FL

Stabilitrack system alerts then will cut off power steering. Clicking on the shift module occured resulting the computer to go into limp mode making unsafe to drive when it happens spontaneously as I drive. Took it to a local mechanic and ecu codes came up however the dealership is scheduled this weekend. No warnings. The mechanic was able to see the codes pop as I drove

Filed Apr 13, 2023 · Airbags, Engine · 140,000 miles · TX · crash

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle would have a sudden loss of power steering. The failure occurred intermittently. The contact believed the check engine light, traction control, abs, and stability track warning lights and or messages become illuminated. The vehicle goes into limp mode causing the contact to have to turn the vehicle on and off several times. The contact stated that while their son was driving approximately 5 mph, on icy road conditions, the power steering suddenly failed to cause the driver to lose control of their vehicle. The vehicle ended up veering off the side of the road into a ditch about 6 feet deep. The air bags did not deploy. The driver had no injuries and no medical attention was needed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle had to be lifted out of the ditch and then towed. There was no damage. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 140,000.