NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 4 complaints against the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2026 Chevrolet Colorado complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado has generated 4 NHTSA complaints and has 1 active recall. If your 2026 Chevrolet Colorado has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Chevrolet pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 1 NHTSA complaint have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle started, however the battery became drained. No warning lights were illuminated. After the battery was drained, the doors failed to unlatch, and the contact was stuck inside the vehicle. The tow truck driver arrived and assisted the contact with exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,800.” (NHTSA Complaint #11717797)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 1 NHTSA complaint on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “ECM Engine Control Module TCM Transmission Range Sensor TCM Transmission Control Module While driving in a 45 MPH speed zone in heavy traffic, the vehicle suddenly lost power and abruptly slowed down causing a number of other vehicles to have to break and swerve . Problem confirmed through ONSTAR Diagnosis As of this date, the GM dealer has not confirmed the problem. No other inspections have been confirmed. there were no warnings prior to the event.” (NHTSA Complaint #11706928)
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2026 Chevrolet Colorado has 1 NHTSA complaint for this defect type. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH with the adaptive cruise control engaged, while the vehicle was approaching another vehicle from the rear, the vehicle failed to automatically slow down. The contact depressed the brake pedal to get the vehicle to slow down as needed. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a defective module, and that there was no replacement part available to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 2,100.” (NHTSA Complaint #11704741)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 1 NHTSA complaint have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “[INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BLACK-OUT] While driving on I-15S, suddenly the Instrument Cluster went completely dark for 5-10 seconds. A scary and alarming development.” (NHTSA Complaint #11694016)
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2026 Chevrolet Colorado by the NHTSA or Chevrolet. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: Without an owner’s manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 13, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2026 Chevrolet Colorado:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Chevrolet to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Chevrolet must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2026 Chevrolet Colorado qualifies as a lemon under California law, Chevrolet may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Chevrolet a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Chevrolet dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Chevrolet pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Chevrolet a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Chevrolet is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2026 Chevrolet Colorado has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
Get a free case evaluation. Chevrolet pays our fees if you win — you pay nothing upfront.
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