Buy Chevrolet (Chevy) Colorado Side View Mirrors

Overview

The Chevrolet Colorado's side mirror-also called an outside rear-view, door, or wing mirror-does more than let you see what's behind you. Across three generations (2004-2012, 2015-2022, and 2023-present), the mirror housing has grown wider, added heating, blind-spot lights, power folding, and even trailer-specific extensions. A 2023 Colorado, for instance, spans roughly 84.4 inches mirror-tip to mirror-tip (Edmunds). Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 111 tells builders what field of view the mirror must provide, while owner-handy features-like pushing the rear-defrost button to warm the glass-make everyday driving safer (assets.gm.com, coloradofans.com).

Fitment & Generations

• First gen (2004-2012) - Mirrors were mostly manual-folding; power-adjust was optional. Heated glass could be added near the end of the run (assets.gm.com).
• Second gen (2015-2022) - Power adjustment became standard on many trims, and integrated turn-signal repeaters appeared on upscale models (MotorTrend).
• Third gen (2023-present) - Larger housings accommodate blind-spot-monitor icons and cameras for the truck's Surround-Vision system (MotorTrend, MotorTrend).

Core Features

← scroll table horizontally →

Legal & Safety

• Driver-side mirror must be a flat (unit-magnification) mirror on all U.S. trucks (NHTSA).
• Passenger-side mirror can be convex or even deleted on some passenger vehicles if the inside mirror meets field-of-view rules-but pickups like the Colorado normally carry one on each side (NHTSA, NHTSA).
• Adding aftermarket mirrors is legal for owners so long as no shop "renders inoperative" a federally required part (NHTSA).

Installation Steps (DIY)

1. Remove door trim - Pop the sail-panel cover and four screws, then release the clips (see any 1-3 minute video walk-through) (YouTube).
2. Unplug harness - Power/heated mirrors carry a single multi-pin connector.
3. Unbolt - Three 10 mm nuts secure the mirror to the door shell.
4. Swap mirror - Seat the new assembly, torque nuts to ~7 N·m, plug harness, and test functions.
5. Reinstall trim - Reverse the removal steps.

Common Problems

• Cracked glass - Replace just the glass pane; it snaps into the backing plate.
• Vibration at highway speed - Check mounting bolts or replace worn foam gasket .
• Heater not working - Verify the rear-defrost fuse and harness continuity (coloradofans.com).
• False blind-spot alerts - Camera or radar can mis-read splash or snow; a dealer software update often cures it (coloradofans.com).

Maintenance Tips

• Clean glass weekly with ammonia-free cleaner to avoid harming heater elements.
• Fold in manually or power-fold before entering automatic car washes to prevent breakage (assets.gm.com).
• Cycle heat during the last minute of winter drives to dry the mirror and reduce morning fogging (coloradofans.com).

Upgrade Ideas

Third-gen owners can add factory telescoping tow mirrors that extend four inches and retain power adjustment and heater circuits (MotorTrend, MotorTrend). Earlier trucks accept bolt-on heated glass or LED turn-signal caps; a popular 2017 DIY video shows the entire swap completed in an hour (YouTube).

Adjustment Guide

Set the horizon at mirror center, then angle outward until your truck's flank just disappears from view; this "BGE" method reduces blind spots and meets FMVSS field-of-view intent (NHTSA, NHTSA).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which years of Colorado have factory-heated side mirrors?
A: Most LT, Z71, Trail Boss, and ZR2 models from 2015 onward include heated glass, activated with the rear-window defrost button (coloradofans.com).

Q: How wide is a 2023 Colorado with the mirrors out?
A: About 84.4 inches-from tip to tip (Edmunds).

Q: Do blind-spot icons stay lit with a trailer?
A: Trailering packages widen the detection zone, but large campers can still hide smaller cars, so check manually too (MotorTrend).

Q: Can I add turn-signal mirrors to a base Work Truck?
A: Yes. Aftermarket caps or full assemblies plug into the existing 12-pin door harness; you'll also enable the feature in the truck's settings menu (coloradofans.com).

Q: Is passenger-side glass supposed to be convex?
A: Yes-convex glass widens the view. Objects appear farther away, so glance over your shoulder before merging (NHTSA).

Q: What tool size removes the mirror?
A: A 10 mm socket fits the three retaining nuts on all Colorado model years (YouTube).

Q: Why does my mirror vibrate after a dirt-road trip?
A: The gasket can compress over time; adding a thin rubber shim or replacing the gasket usually fixes shake .

Q: Does the heater shut off automatically?
A: Yes-it turns off when the rear-defogger timer ends (about 10-15 minutes) (assets.gm.com).

Q: Are power-fold mirrors retrofit-ready on pre-2023 trucks?
A: Not plug-and-play; the BCM lacks programming. Most owners install manual-fold tow mirrors instead (MotorTrend).

Q: What law limits mirror changes?
A: FMVSS 111 sets the field-of-view and mirror size rules; aftermarket mods must not defeat those requirements (NHTSA, NHTSA).

Q: How often should I replace mirror glass?
A: Only when it's cracked, the heater grid fails, or visibility is hazy from delamination; the glass alone is inexpensive and snaps in place (YouTube).

Q: Why don't I see an indicator light for heat?
A: The Colorado never used indicator LEDs on the mirror; rely on the rear-defrost button status (coloradofans.com).

Q: Can I remove the passenger mirror for off-roading?
A: Legally you can on private land, but public-road travel without it may violate state mirror-visibility rules even if FMVSS allows it under certain conditions (NHTSA, NHTSA).

Q: What's the difference between manual-fold and power-fold?
A: Manual-fold requires pushing by hand; power-fold uses motors controlled by a door-panel button-handy in tight parking (MotorTrend).

References correspond to numbered citations in the text.