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Holden Colorado: Automatic Transfer Case Shudder and Engagement Hesitation

Automatic Transfer Case Shudder and Engagement Hesitation is a common transmission fault on the Holden Colorado on the 2012–2020 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $400 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 11 documented faults on the Holden Colorado.

Vehicle
Holden Colorado
Years
2012–2020
Fuel
diesel
Gearbox
auto
System
Transmission

This page covers the Holden Colorado as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Holden Colorado faults11 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Transfer case yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The Borg-Warner 44-44 transfer case fitted to automatic Colorado variants develops a torque-binding shudder at highway speeds in AWD-auto mode, caused by friction material degradation and incorrect transfer case fluid viscosity. The centre differential clutch pack wears, producing a pronounced vibration felt through the drivetrain between 80–110 km/h that is often mistaken for a wheel balance or driveshaft issue. Delayed or harsh engagement when switching between 2H and 4H is a related symptom of clutch pack wear and low fluid.

What you would notice

  • Rhythmic shudder or vibration felt in cabin at highway cruising speeds in AWD mode
  • Hesitation or harsh clunk when engaging 4H or 4L from 2H
  • Transfer case differential lock warning light cycling on and off
  • Whining or growling noise from underfloor at speed that changes with road speed not engine speed
  • Transfer case fluid dark black and smelling burnt at service

How to check it

Where to look. Centre of vehicle underfloor — transfer case mounted directly behind automatic gearbox

  1. Drive the vehicle at 90–100 km/h in AWD-auto mode on a straight road and feel for a rhythmic drivetrain shudder.

  2. Check the transfer case fluid condition via the filler plug — fresh fluid is amber; black or burnt fluid indicates clutch wear.

  3. Note any hesitation or grinding when cycling the dial from 2H to 4H at low speed.

Parts involved: Transfer case.

What it costs to put right

$400 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “When was the transfer case fluid last changed, and what specification fluid was used?”
  • “Does the vehicle vibrate at highway speed when in AWD-auto mode?”
  • “Has any workshop diagnosed or repaired a transfer case issue?”

Now check the Holden Colorado you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Holden Colorado buyer questions

Is automatic transfer case shudder and engagement hesitation serious on a Holden Colorado?

We rate it major and common on the Holden Colorado. The Borg-Warner 44-44 transfer case fitted to automatic Colorado variants develops a torque-binding shudder at highway speeds in AWD-auto mode, caused by friction material degradation and incorrect transfer case fluid viscosity. The centre differential clutch pack wears, producing a pronounced vibration felt through the drivetrain between 80–110 km/h that is often mistaken for a wheel balance or driveshaft issue. Delayed or harsh engagement when switching between 2H and 4H is a related symptom of clutch pack wear and low fluid.

How much does it cost to fix on a Holden Colorado?

$400 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Holden Colorado years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2012–2020 Holden Colorado. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Drive the vehicle at 90–100 km/h in AWD-auto mode on a straight road and feel for a rhythmic drivetrain shudder. Check the transfer case fluid condition via the filler plug — fresh fluid is amber; black or burnt fluid indicates clutch wear. Note any hesitation or grinding when cycling the dial from 2H to 4H at low speed. Look here: Centre of vehicle underfloor — transfer case mounted directly behind automatic gearbox