Last updated: 2026-03-04
Chevrolet Colorado vs Toyota Tacoma: Reliability Compared
Chevrolet Colorado
Toyota Tacoma
Choosing between the Chevrolet Colorado and the Toyota Tacoma? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize trucks.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Chevrolet Colorado currently leads with an average score of 78/100 compared to 63/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Chevrolet Colorado is more reliable than the Toyota Tacoma, scoring 78/100 vs 63/100.
The Chevrolet Colorado outperforms the Toyota Tacoma in reliability, boasting a higher average reliability score of 82/100 compared to Tacoma's 71/100. The Colorado also has fewer recalls with 9 over nine years, significantly less than the Tacoma's 23. Although the Tacoma has a lower estimated annual repair cost of $478 versus the Colorado's $599, the higher complaint rate of 30.1 per 10,000 sold for the Tacoma suggests more frequent issues. With its stronger reliability score and fewer recalls, the Colorado demonstrates a more dependable option among midsize trucks.
Key Differences
- 1Toyota Tacoma costs $121 less per year to repair
- 2Chevrolet Colorado has 21.3 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 3Chevrolet Colorado scores 15 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Chevrolet Colorado vs Toyota Tacoma: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Chevrolet Colorado | Toyota Tacoma |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 78/100 | 63/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 9 | 23 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 8.8 | 30.1 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $599/yr | $478/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.2/yr | 0.3/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 13% | 17% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 8 | 0 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma?
The Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado both exhibit significant issues with their power train systems, with the Colorado having a slightly higher number of complaints at 185 compared to Tacoma's 153. The Tacoma, however, shows a notable concern with its service brakes, having 121 complaints with 13 linked to crashes, which is substantially higher than the Colorado's 59 complaints in the same category. Additionally, while the Tacoma has a high number of crash-linked air bag complaints (31 total, 23 crash-linked), the Colorado does not show a similar pattern in any specific safety component. On the other hand, the Colorado experiences more frequent issues with its electrical system, recording 115 complaints, compared to Tacoma's 64, highlighting a potential area for improvement in electrical reliability for the Colorado.
| Component | Chevrolet Colorado | Toyota Tacoma |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 2.3Low | 5.8Average |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.7Very Low | 4.6Average |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1.5Low | 2.4Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 3Low |
| STEERING | 1Very Low | 1.4Low |
| ENGINE | 0.5Very Low | 1.7Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 0.8Very Low | 1.1Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | 1.7Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.2Very Low | 1.2Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.1Very Low | 0.9Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.9Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.3Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| SUSPENSION | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| TIRES | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| EQUIPMENT | —None | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Chevrolet Colorado or Toyota Tacoma?
How Does Chevrolet Colorado vs Toyota Tacoma Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Chevrolet Colorado | Toyota Tacoma | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 83/1000R / 19C | 70/1004R / 33C | Chevrolet Colorado |
| 2024 | 76/1003R / 82C | 55/1004R / 126C | Chevrolet Colorado |
| 2023 | 73/1003R / 113C | 68/1004R / 42C | Chevrolet Colorado |
| 2022 | 81/1001R / 39C | 67/1003R / 51C | Chevrolet Colorado |
| 2021 | 78/1001R / 59C | 70/1000R / 69C | Chevrolet Colorado |
| 2020 | 81/1000R / 71C | 65/1001R / 81C | Chevrolet Colorado |
| 2019 | 78/1000R / 139C | 55/1004R / 203C | Chevrolet Colorado |
| 2018 | 75/1001R / 173C | 55/1003R / 190C | Chevrolet Colorado |
| 2026(predicted) | 77/100(predicted) | 64/100(predicted) | Chevrolet Colorado |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Chevrolet Colorado scored 83/100 and the 2025 Toyota Tacoma scored 70/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Colorado vs the Toyota Tacoma?
Chevrolet Colorado vs Toyota Tacoma: Common Questions
- Is the Chevrolet Colorado more reliable than the Toyota Tacoma?
- Based on our data, the Chevrolet Colorado is more reliable with an average score of 78/100 compared to 63/100. That's a significant difference worth considering.
- Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Colorado or the Toyota Tacoma?
- The Toyota Tacoma has more recalls (23) compared to the Chevrolet Colorado (9). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Chevrolet Colorado or the Toyota Tacoma?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Chevrolet Colorado has a lower complaint rate at 8.8 per 10,000 sold versus 30.1 for the Toyota Tacoma. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Chevrolet Colorado or the Toyota Tacoma?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Toyota Tacoma is cheaper to maintain at $478/year versus $599/year for the Chevrolet Colorado.
- Is the Chevrolet Colorado or Toyota Tacoma safer?
- Both the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 4/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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