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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2015 Chevy Colorado has a significant trend of transmission problems.

Most owners reporting transmission problems with their 2015 Colorado report sluggish shifting or other similar problems with the truck not shifting properly. Although most of these 2015 Colorado trucks are still under warranty, it's not a good sign.

The Chevy Colorado is mechanically identical to the GMC Canyon.

6.4

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
14,200 miles
Total Complaints:
10 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
  2. no fix according to gm. designed to run this way (3 reports)
  3. replace clutch pack, piston and seals (1 reports)
2015 Chevrolet Colorado transmission problems

transmission problem

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2015 Chevrolet Colorado Owner Comments

problem #10

Sep 112018

Colorado LT 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

LOVE THE TRUCK, LOTS POWER, GOOD GAS MILEAGE. WHEN IT CHUGS I PULL IT IN MANUEL SHIFT TO #6. WORKS GOOD THEN. IT JUST STAYS IN HIGHER GEARS TOO LONG. GM WANTS TO BRAG ABOUT GAS MILEAGE. I HAVE GOTTEN AS HIGH AS 34.7. IN RAIN COULD NOT GO OVER 45 MPH WHETHER I PULL AN 18 FT. LOW BOY TRAILER WITH A TRACTOR AT 60 MPH I CAN GET 16 MPG. DON'T USE TOW HAUL, USES TOO MUCH GAS.

- derail1, Deer Park Tx., US

problem #9

Oct 312016

Colorado LT 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,600 miles

I have noticed a lot of guys complaining about the shifting of the automatic transmission. My issue is no different. It shifts terribly! It is sluggish on acceleration or climbing a hill and you need to almost put the pedal to the floor to get it to upshift. And when it finally does, the RPMs are through the roof. Downshifting is the same way. Just slightly touch the brake coming off an incline and it almost seems to skip a gear in the downshift process, again the RPMs are pushing 5,000.

I bought this truck used in 2016. It had 17,400 miles on it when I bought it as a Certified Pre-Owned. I now have 39,600 on it. In that time, I have had the inner tie rod ends replaced, I've had a part replaced in the lower steering column (RECALL), I've had the steering rack replaced (RECALL) and I now have a "Check Engine" light on because of an issue with fuel vapors accumulating in the combustion chamber (NOT A RECALL YET). And of course, there is the ongoing annoyance of the transmission. I've heard a number of guys say that the dealer told them that the transmission is just trying to learn the drivers' habits. I call BULLSHIT! With almost 40,000 miles on my truck, my transmission must be dumber than a box of doorknobs because it still hasn't learned my driving habits. And my habits do not include revving the hell out of the engine. I actually spend most of my time driving the truck in manual mode just so I can keep the RPMs under control.

Being a Certified Pre-Owned, my warranty is good for up to 48,000 miles. I hate to spend $300 for an aftermarket kit to reprogram the ECM, because that will void the warranty. And at the rate I'm going, I am going to need every mile of this warranty. I noticed one guy post about having the Torque Converter checked. That may be my next move. If anybosy else has any possible solutions, I'm all ears!

- rescue26, Dover, US

problem #8

Dec 092016

Colorado LT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,330 miles

Starts shifting between gears really rough and jerking. Lasts about 2 hours of solid drive time and then seems to go away until the next time. Has happened three times now.

- Cory M., Colfax, CA, US

problem #7

Aug 102016

Colorado Z71 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,455 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased my 2015 Colorado in June 2016 used, loved the style but one day going down a hill truck down shifted 2 gears RPM spiked over 3500 RPM. also at 40 MPH when I step on accelerator truck bucks and hesitates like tranny is trying to decide what to do. this has happen on 3 different occasions and dealer says it is nature of the beast and GM knows about this. I believe that the first owner had this problem and traded truck. I also noticed the other day when going down hill and pressed on the brake the tranny down shifted. I will take to dealer to document. Should have kept my FORD.

- twelty, Spencer, IN, US

problem #6

Dec 292015

Colorado LT 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,700 miles

Purchased the truck in August 2015. In late December 2015 I noted a really loud solid bang noise when the transmission shifted into 2 nd. gear. The vehicle was at a side street intersection on a moderate incline (~ 25 deg.). I had approx 4700 miles on the truck. Took it to the dealership, who had it test driven- unable to duplicate the problem.

Later I noted that the transmission shifted a little rough when shifting into 2 nd. and once while coasting down to a red light. Then on approx. 8 Feb 2016 I heard another loud bang noise as noted above at the same intersection (~ 7400 miles on truck) and took the truck back to the dealership. After a couple more test drives the dealership decided to pull the transmission and go into it to inspect for damage. They also noted there was a directive out on the transmission. Action taken- they " replaced the 1234 clutch pack, piston and seals. Reconditioned trans per GM SI to include valve body. Flushed trans cooler code."

Can only say anything except positive comments on my dealership, excellent service and it appears that they fixed the problem. Hope that this helps anyone with shifting transmission problems in their 2015 Colorado truck.

- gtravis, Stella, NC, US

problem #5

Aug 312015

Colorado Z71 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20 miles

After I purchased the truck I had an issue as the transmission downshifted to a lower gear. It hesitates and is sluggish. Chevrolet has had it in three times, and one time they hooked up the computer and downloaded a short trip with the service manager. The first time it did it, the vehicle stalled, and jerked like using a standard transmission and getting it to slow in a higher gear. I was told that Chevrolet has put out a bulletin to the dealers on this issue. My service manager was aware of it and said Chevrolet did not have a fix. Its just annoying to pay so much for the vehicle an have this issue. The dealer knows of the issue and has contacted and sent in the results of the drive test. Now it is up the Chevrolet to fix it.

- Tony J., Manassas, VA, US

problem #4

Aug 262015

Colorado Z71 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Purchased Colorado Aug. 2015, while driving I noticed there is a problem with the way the transmission shifts. It does not down shift properly. Will lug, buck and hesitate, when you give it gas slowly to try and speed up. If you step harder on accelerator it lunges forward. When in traffic this is dangerous . I took it back to Chevy garage and they admitted this is a problem with these trucks but there was an engine control module reprogramming update that could be done. Ok lets try it. Well don't let them. My truck is just as bad at shifting now, and worse at shifting going up hill. At times don't know if it will make it up and the fuel mileage after the update has gotten very bad. Lost about 3 mpg. with update. After driving another 1800 miles I asked garage to reset to factory specs and they said they couldn't. Now I have a truck that Hesitates, lugs, and has terrible gas mileage. Should have keep my old Silveraldo.

Update from Jun 16, 2016: Have 7500 miles on truck now. It still does not shift properly. I have talked to a couple of friends who purchased Colorado's and they also are having problems but are trading for another brand instead of complaining to dealers or manufactures Have contacted GM several times and they say there is no fix but are working on one. It seems that after over a year of customers complaining something should have been resolved. I believe that customer satisfaction is being ignored and they just kick the can down the road. Been to two dealers and they also say a problem exist but have not gone out of their way to get correction from manufacture. This should not be a acceptable for a company as large as GM.

Update from Aug 21, 2016: Have contacted GM Proactive Outreach hotline 4 different times and spoken to 3 customer representatives over the past year. They all have verified that trucks have this problem and have numerous complaints being reported but no correction for problem. Problem has also carried over to the 2016 model. The answer they gave me was I needed to learn to drive the truck the way it is. I was driving farm trucks and equipment at age 12 and have driven everything from Semi-trucks to cycles in my lifetime. they need to fix. If you have a problem with your truck PLEASE REPORT it. GM will not correct until we complain.

- Dale K. M., Orrtanna, PA, US

problem #3

Oct 112015

Colorado Z71 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,200 miles

shifting pattern is wrong in transmission and heater doesn t work

- Terry S., Midland, TX, US

problem #2

Feb 242015

Colorado 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100 miles

I HAVE HAD A SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH MY COLORADO FROM THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR AN EXHAUST SENSOR REPLACEMENT AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SHIFTING PROBLEM. THEY CLAIMED TO DO A COMPUTER UPDATE AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. NOT SO, SAME OLD PROBLEM. I GIVE IT GAS AT A SLOW SPEED WHEN IT IS IN HIGH GEAR AND IT BUCKS LIKE IT IS MISSING. GIVE IT MORE GAS AND IT WILL FINALLY SHIFT. I JUST READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE POWER AND GAS MILEAGE IS ALSO VERY DISAPPOINTING. THOUGHT GM WOULD GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM BUT NOW I AM WONDERING. IF THEY DO NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM SOON, I AM GOING TO A SMALL TACOMA. IF ANYONE FINDS A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, I WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING WHAT IT IS.

Update from Oct 25, 2016: Still have the shifting problem after 14000 miles. Yesterday i was pulling a trailer up a hill at slow speed. Truck would not downshift until I put the gas pedal to the floor. Really sluggish. Dealer recognizes the problem but says GM has no fix. frustrating!

- portderbymf, Derby, IN, US

problem #1

Jul 012015

Colorado Z-71

  • Automatic transmission
  • 6,800 miles

When I accelerate really hard to pickup speed or to pass someone. The trans will not shift unless I let off of gas pedal. I ran it up to 7,000 rpm and would not shift. I do not like this problem.

- Mickey W., Pelham, GA, US

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