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GM Authority

2023 Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon Batteries Drained After Software Update

General Motors unveiled the all-new 2023 Chevy Colorado and all-new 2023 GMC Canyon last year, pulling the sheets on a long list of updates, changes, and upgrades for the two midsize pickups. Critically, many 2023 Chevy Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon owners have complained on social media recently about an issue that causes the batteries in their pickups to lose charge. Now, GM Authority has investigated the issue – this is what we found.

The front end of the 2023 Chevy Colorado.

Apparently, this new issue affecting the battery in the 2023 Chevy Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon has only appeared in the past few days, including this past weekend. The root cause of the issue is believed to be a failed software update that leaves the infotainment system hanging, thus draining the battery until it’s dead. Both pickups are equipped with over-the-air software update capabilities.

GM Authority reached out to Chevrolet for an explanation. A GM spokesperson said that General Motors was looking into the issue, but did not provide any further details.

At this point, it’s unclear if this issue affects only some trim levels of the 2023 Chevy Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon, or all trim levels. It’s also unclear if the vehicle build date is a factor.

One social media user claiming to be a GM tech said that the issue is related to a radio software update failure that leaves the radio locked in recovery mode. This individual suggests going into the system settings, then the update preferences menu, and turning off both the “download updates in the background” and “download updates via Wi-Fi when available” options in order to prevent the radio software update from performing and, if it fails, draining the battery.

The 2023 Chevy Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon represent the first model years for the latest third-generation of each respective pickup nameplate. Both pickups are also equipped with the GM Global B electronic architecture.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. Kevin

    My 23 z71 is totally shot. The dealer replaced my battery and got it to actually start again but my infotainment and dash are completely dead and they said they need to be replaced which could take up to two months to get parts. I’m FURIOUS. I put in a claim with gm customer service (who has been rather pleasant) so it documented but I need some answers and solutions very fast. I don’t want a brand new 50k dollar truck that has already had a serious enough problem for that big of a fix. I’ll gladly take any advice

    Reply
    1. ZR2Ready

      Start by finding a new dealer that understands software and infotainment screens.

      Reply
      1. Richard

        Good luck with that! Dealerships don’t hire engineers. This is the future.

        Reply
    2. Danno

      2 month wait on parts is not unusual these days. See it all the time at our dealership. $100K trucks to $30k SUVs. It’s really bad when a HD dually goes down for months that’s in use commercially. Very hard to replace that kind of capability. Can’t rent one.

      Reply
      1. Kevin

        I hear you. It’s just hard to accept this large if repair with that wait time for a truck that I’ve had for 3 weeks with 829 miles. Still has the new car smell lol

        Reply
        1. Bob F

          Any info on the fix for running lights that stay on 2022 Silverado’s?? My trailer lights won’t shut off!!

          Reply
        2. Arcee

          Honestly doesn’t same like that “large of a repair” if they are simply swapping out the infotainment screens. YouTubers, The Fast Lane Truck, had their cluster go dark in their 2023 Colorado Trail Boss. They disconnected the battery, reconnected the battery, and the cluster came back to life. This happened to them around 2,000 miles.

          A large repair would be a failed engine or transmission. Infotainment screen issues are pretty run of the mill these days for most brands.

          Reply
          1. Leonard Gutkowski

            My 2023 Colorado that I bought in June had an dead battery this morning. Now it has service engine light on now . The info system says it is in low power because the brakes are faulty . I think I got an computer update last night .

            Reply
        3. Carl

          Demand a free loaner until yours is fixed.

          Reply
    3. Hans

      Getting the infotainment replaced isn’t really a big deal. It has nothing to do with the powertrain. The fit and finish after replacement should be as good as factory. Sucks to be out a truck for two months, but I wouldn’t sweat it. It’s a brand new system GM will be using on all refreshed and new products. Probably a supplier build quality issue. In the end you’ll end up with a better product then you initially had (the replacement infotainment will most likely be from the redundant supplier that didn’t f#ck up the design).

      Been in the industry (working in infotainment specifically) for 10 years.

      Best of luck with your truck.

      Hans

      Reply
      1. Boomer59

        I wish I could get one without infotainment! I don’t need it or want it. I just need an am/fm radio, keep the rest.

        Reply
        1. Toolmaker

          AMEN brother, but they could throw in a cassette tape and CD player with that am/fm radio. Like the good ones that were built at Delco Radio in Kokomo, Indiana.

          Reply
          1. Carl

            Yes sir, Kokomo is just up the road from me.

            Reply
        2. nick g

          Yea bring back the 8 track Dinosaurs Dex

          Reply
          1. morrisangelo

            Where’s your silly ‘horse-n-buggy’ reference, Nick?