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Holden2008–2020 Critical issues documented

Holden Colorado RG: common faults & what to check

The RG is the Holden Colorado built 2012–2021. The engines documented for it are the 2.8 turbo-diesel. Of the 14 faults documented for the Colorado, 9 apply to this generation, each with its symptoms, what to inspect and a typical repair cost. Free, no account needed.

Check this exact Holden Colorado

  • Money owing
  • Written off
  • Accident claims
  • Odometer history

An Australian plate goes to the A$17.90 Vehicle Check: money owing, write-off, stolen and rego. Full History adds past kms, accident claims and market value from A$24.99. The free fault check for this model needs the generation and engine, pick them below.

14

Documented faults

Critical

Most serious

≈A$550–2,580

Typical repair

14

Service milestones

You're looking at the RG · 2.8 turbo-diesel

Everything below is narrowed to this variant. Pick a different one to change it.

Choose a different generation

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

A 2013 Holden Colorado is the RG generation (2012 to 2021).

Start your free check on this Holden Colorado

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

Holden Colorado RG

Free. The paid plate check is separate, and stays optional.

Can't confirm for this car

Holden Colorado · 2013

Narrowed to the year. No engine is recorded for this vehicle. Pick an engine to see which faults apply.

Tell us the engine, or check the engine code on the car, before relying on this.

  • No engine is recorded for this vehicle.

matched on year only

What to look out for

The checks worth doing on a Holden Colorado before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

  • Serious issue

    Clean the area with a rag before inspecting — cracks appear as dark hairline marks often packed with rust.

    See why

    Front Leaf Spring Front Eye Cracking

    The front mono-leaf spring on the RG Colorado develops fatigue cracks at the forward eye — the formed loop through which the chassis pin passes — under repeated bump loading, particularly when the vehicle is used with a canopy, tray load, or bull bar that increases unsprung stress cycles. A cracked eye can propagate to full fracture, causing the front axle to shift rearward under braking and creating acute understeer or loss of directional control. This is a safety-critical structural failure that has been subject to at least one voluntary recall campaign in Australia.

    What you would notice

    • Clunking or knocking from front suspension over sharp bumps or driveway lips
    • Visible crack or rust staining at the spring eye when viewed from below
    • Subtle pull to one side under firm braking
    • Uneven front ride height when measured left-to-right
    • Creaking noise from front end when articulating in car parks

    Typically ≈A$740–1,840 to put right.

All 9 issues for this one

Documented for the exact year and engine you picked. Tap an area to open it.

4 rated critical
Electrical1 critical1

01Alternator cable fire recall (RG Colorado built September 2013 to January 2015)

2013–2015Electrical
OccasionalElectrical ≈A$0 to fix

RG Colorados built from September 2013 to January 2015 were recalled (PRA 2015/14657) because the main alternator cable can rub on a steel bracket at the battery tray, wear through, short out and in the worst case melt or start a fire. This applies to all engines. The fix is free through a GM or former Holden dealer. Look for chafe or melt marks near the battery.

Symptoms to notice

  • Burning plastic smell from the engine bay
  • Battery or charging warning light
  • Melted insulation near the battery tray

What to check

  1. Open the bonnet and use a phone torch to look at the heavy cable running from the alternator past the battery tray for rubbed, shiny or melted insulation.
  2. Ask the seller for the service history and look for a dealer invoice or service stamp showing recall PRA 2015/14657 (alternator cable) was done.
  3. A buyer can also give the VIN to any franchise dealer and ask them to check for open recalls before paying.

Where to look: Engine bay, alternator cable at the battery tray

Parts involved: Alternator.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the alternator cable recall been done?”
  • “Has there ever been a burning smell or electrical fault?”
Body, brakes, suspension & interior1 critical1

02Front Leaf Spring Front Eye Cracking

Clean the area with a rag before inspecting — cracks appear as dark hairline marks often packed with rust.2012–2017SuspensionRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller
Only if it's 4WD or AWD: 1 issueThese only happen on four-wheel-drive versions. If this one is 4WD or AWD, check these too.

01Automatic Transfer Case Shudder and Engagement Hesitation

Drive the vehicle at 90–100 km/h in AWD-auto mode on a straight road and feel for a rhythmic drivetrain shudder.diesel2012–2020TransmissionRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller
Only with a certain gearbox: 1 issueEach one names the gearbox it affects, for example the CVT automatic. Check which gearbox this car has.

01RG Colorado 6L50 automatic torque converter clutch shudder

Request a firm 4-3 kickdown and note if the downshift is smooth or bangs in.diesel2012–2020TransmissionRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller
Depends on the exact engine or version: 5 issuesDocumented for a specific engine or version we could not confirm from what you picked. Check the engine code on the car.

01LWN 2.8L Diesel EGR Cooler Internal Failure – Coolant Contamination

Check coolant reservoir level and look for top-up evidence.diesel2012–2020CoolingRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

02LWN 2.8L Diesel Automatic Flywheel Bolt Shearing

Check if the vehicle is subject to the relevant recall using the VIN.diesel2012–2016Transmission
OccasionalTransmission ≈A$1,100–2,580 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The automatic transmission variant of the RG Colorado LWN 2.8L diesel is subject to flywheel (flex plate) bolt shearing. The bolts connecting the torque converter to the flex plate can shear under the torque loads of the diesel engine, particularly when towing. The failure produces a loud knocking noise and renders the vehicle unable to drive. Holden Australia issued a recall for this fault covering certain build date ranges.

Symptoms to notice

  • Loud knocking or banging noise from bellhousing area under load
  • Vibration through drivetrain when accelerating
  • Complete loss of drive in severe cases
  • Noise worsens on acceleration and reduces on overrun

What to check

  1. Check if the vehicle is subject to the relevant recall using the VIN.
  2. Listen during a hard acceleration run for any rhythmic knock from the transmission area.
  3. Ask specifically about towing history and any drivetrain noises.

Where to look: Flex plate (flywheel) and torque converter bolt interface, automatic transmission bellhousing

Parts involved: Torque converter.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the flywheel bolt recall been completed?”
  • “Any knocking or banging from the drivetrain under load?”
  • “Has the vehicle been used for towing and at what loads?”

03LWN 2.8L Diesel DPF Blockage from Urban / Short-Trip Use

Scan for DPF-related fault codes (P2002, P244A and related).diesel2012–2020EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

04EGR Cooler Carbonisation and Throttle Body Fouling

A healthy example has minimal carbon at 150,000 km.diesel2012–2020EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

05RG 2.8 LWH exhaust brake VNT actuator failure

diesel2012 onwardEngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller
Other Holden Colorado engines and years5 documented issues that do not apply to the one you picked.
Engine, transmission & cooling5

01RG Colorado five-speed manual fifth gear thrust washer fracture (2014 model year)

On the test drive hold fifth gear at highway speed under light load and check it does not pop out or whine.diesel2014Transmission
OccasionalTransmission ≈A$2,760–6,440 to fix

Does not apply

RG Colorados from the 2014 model year with the five-speed manual gearbox are a known issue for the fifth gear thrust washer wearing and fracturing, especially when towing heavy loads at speed. The gearbox can then jump out of fifth and in the worst case lock the rear wheels. Holden ran a customer satisfaction program that replaced the transmission, so check it has been done.

Symptoms to notice

  • Gearbox jumps out of fifth gear
  • Whine or noise in fifth
  • Rear wheels locking under load (worst case)

What to check

  1. On the test drive hold fifth gear at highway speed under light load and check it does not pop out or whine.
  2. Ask whether the Holden program (CSP A151702040) gearbox replacement was done and ask for the paperwork.
  3. Ask how much heavy towing it has done.

Where to look: Manual gearbox

Ask the seller

  • “Was the Holden fifth gear program gearbox replacement done?”
  • “Has it ever jumped out of fifth?”
  • “Has it towed heavy loads?”

02Glow Plug Seizure and Broken Tip on Extraction

Request service records confirming glow plug inspection or replacement.diesel2014–2020EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

03Timing chain wear and stretch — cold-start rattle (3.6 V6 Alloytec)

Start the engine stone cold and listen at the front of the engine for a rattle in the first few seconds, then again at hot idle after the test drive.petrol2008–2012Engine
OccasionalEngine ≈A$1,840–3,220 to fix

Does not apply

The RC Colorado's 3.6 petrol V6 is the same Alloytec (HFV6, 10H9-prefix) engine fitted to the late RA Rodeo and the VZ/VE Commodore, an engine family GM documented for timing chain elongation (bulletin H08-0601-01). The known bad-chain build window ended in May 2007, before RC production, but stretched chains and worn guides are still widely reported on later Alloytecs at higher kilometres, especially where oil changes were stretched. A stretched chain sets camshaft-correlation fault codes (P0008, P0009, P0016 to P0019) and rattles at idle and on cold start; left alone it can jump timing. The fix is a chains, guides and tensioners job deep in the front of the engine.

The front of a dual overhead camshaft engine with the timing cover removed, exposing the timing chain and sprockets.Example of the part — not this vehicle

The front of a twin-cam engine with the timing cover off — chain, sprockets and guides.

Logansenf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Symptoms to notice

  • Rattle from the front of the engine on cold start or at idle
  • Check-engine light with codes P0008, P0009 or P0016-P0019
  • Rough running or misfire as the cam timing drifts

What to check

  1. Start the engine stone cold and listen at the front of the engine for a rattle in the first few seconds, then again at hot idle after the test drive.
  2. Watch for: a check-engine light — ask the seller to have any stored codes read, because cam-correlation codes P0016 to P0019 are the giveaway for stretched chains.
  3. Ask for oil-change invoices; this engine punishes long intervals.
  4. If a workshop inspection is possible: a scan tool shows cam/crank correlation error building before the light comes on, and the cam covers can come off to check chain slack and guide wear directly.

Where to look: Timing chains behind the front engine cover (the Alloytec V6 runs three chains)

Parts involved: Timing chain.

Ask the seller

  • “Have the timing chains ever been replaced, and is there an invoice?”
  • “How often was the oil changed?”
  • “Has it ever logged codes P0016-P0019 or run rough?”

04RC Colorado suction control valve (SCV) sticking, low rail pressure (3.0 4JJ1-TC diesel)

Start the engine from cold and again when hot and note any long cranking.diesel2008–2012EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

05Oil consumption between services (2.8 Duramax diesel, RG Colorado 2014-2016)

Check the dipstick level and ask how often the owner tops up.diesel2014–2016Engine
CommonEngine ≈A$140–460 to fix

Does not apply

The 2.8 Duramax diesel in 2014 to 2016 RG Colorados is known for using oil between services. Holden's service update changed the oil from 5W-30 to a dexos2 5W-40, fitted a new oil filler cap and amended the owner's manual. Cars that missed the update, or are still serviced with the old oil grade, may need regular top-ups.

Symptoms to notice

  • Oil level drops between services
  • Owner tops up oil regularly

What to check

  1. Check the dipstick level and ask how often the owner tops up.
  2. Look in the owner's manual for the dealer's oil specification amendment and check the oil filler cap is the revised type.
  3. Ask which oil grade is used at services.

Where to look: Engine

Ask the seller

  • “Does it use oil between services?”
  • “Was the Holden oil consumption service update done?”
  • “What oil grade is used at services?”

Holden Colorado service schedule

The 2 engines a 2013 Holden Colorado was sold with, each with its own intervals. Pick your engine above to narrow this to one. These are the model’s intervals — the car’s own service book is the only thing that can tell you what has actually been done to it.

Holden Colorado RG - Second Generation · 2012–2020 · 2.8L (LWN) Duramax Turbo Diesel - LT/LTZ/Z71

Diesel

Due by distance

  1. 100,000 km

    Full cooling system flush and replacement of the serpentine belt and tensioner for reliability on long hauls.

  2. 150,000 km

    Inspect the suspension bushings and steering rack ends, which may show wear depending on whether the vehicle has seen heavy towing or off-road use.

  3. 200,000 km

    Deep-clean the intake manifold to remove carbon buildup, restoring factory-level performance and fuel efficiency.

Holden Colorado RG - Second Generation · 2012–2020 · 2.5L (LKH) Duramax Turbo Diesel - DX/LX

Diesel

Due by distance

  1. 100,000 km

    Cooling system hoses and thermostat housings benefit from a proactive inspection.

  2. 150,000 km

    Check for DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) health and confirm the EGR system has been cleaned or serviced.

  3. 200,000 km

    Suspension components like shock absorbers and control arm bushes might be due for a refresh to maintain the factory ride quality.

Holden Colorado faults in detail

Narrowed to the Holden Colorado · 2013. Each of these has its own page: the symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller and what the repair costs. Free, no account needed.

Automatic Transfer Case Shudder and Engagement HesitationMajor · TransmissionEGR Cooler Carbonisation and Throttle Body FoulingMajor · EngineFront Leaf Spring Front Eye CrackingCritical · SuspensionLWN 2.8L Diesel DPF Blockage from Urban / Short-Trip UseMajor · EngineLWN 2.8L Diesel EGR Cooler Internal Failure – Coolant ContaminationCritical · CoolingRG 2.8 LWH exhaust brake VNT actuator failureMajor · EngineRG Colorado 6L50 automatic torque converter clutch shudderMajor · Transmission

Buying guides that cover the Holden Colorado

Other Holden models

Holden Commodore55 documented faultsHolden Captiva20 documented faultsHolden Astra18 documented faultsHolden Cruze14 documented faultsHolden Statesman13 documented faultsHolden Rodeo12 documented faults

Holden Colorado buyer questions

Is the Holden Colorado reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 14 documented faults for the Holden Colorado, the recurring problem areas are transmission, cooling, and suspension. A Holden Colorado with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.

What are the most common problems with a used Holden Colorado?

We've catalogued 14 known faults for the Holden Colorado, covering transmission, cooling, and suspension. All 14 are written out in full on this page, with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each. Free to read, no account needed.

How much do repairs cost on a Holden Colorado?

Most single repairs on the Holden Colorado fall between ≈A$550–2,580 at independent-workshop rates (an approximate guide in Australian dollars). Some of the 14 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.

Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a Holden Colorado?

Yes. A Holden Colorado inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection with AI photo analysis from A$28.90, far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page. For a big purchase, a mechanic's pre-purchase inspection on the car you settle on is still worth it.