CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 · model year

2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500

174 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004CHEVROLETAVALANCHE 1500 carries 174 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 0 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 AVALANCHE 1500 is electrical system: instrument cluster/panel with 38 filings, followed by service brakes (32) and electrical system (16). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2004 AVALANCHE 1500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

174
Complaints
11
Crashes
0
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

174 filings

Crashes Reported

11 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL38
SERVICE BRAKES32
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16
AIR BAGS9
STEERING8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC6
SEAT BELTS4
STRUCTURE:BODY4
ENGINE4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
TIRES:SIDEWALL2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
EQUIPMENT2

Recalls (2)

06E04300019/05/2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE

07E10600017/12/2007

WHEELS:HUB

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO M

Recent Complaints

20240417SERVICE BRAKES

The brake pressure modulator valve leaks the transmission has problems and service airbags is on

20240417POWER TRAIN

The brake pressure modulator valve leaks the transmission has problems and service airbags is on

20240417AIR BAGS

The brake pressure modulator valve leaks the transmission has problems and service airbags is on

20211127TIRES:SIDEWALL

Tire brand and size is cooper Discoverer stt 33×12.50R20LT. I was coming home on my lunch break and it blew out I didnt hit anything in the road or anything I have another tire the same brand and it started to separate on sidewall also but I felt a vibration so I took the tire off and put my other spare on and the vibration stopped.

20210408SERVICE BRAKES

VEHICLE LOOSES POWER AND BRAKES GO OUT THEN DIES,DOESN'T MATTER SPEED. IF SLOWING DOWN AND PRESS THE BRAKES, THE LOCKS, LIGHTS, AND SECURITY GOES CRAZY. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS IT IS IN INTERSECTIONS AND CAUTION FOR COLLISION. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE OFF FOR A TIME FRAME AND RESTARTS FINE AND CAN GO. HAPPENED WHEN COMING FROM RAMP AND IN MIDDLE OF ROAD WITH SEMI TRUCK COMING DOWN BY US.

Mileage: 161,000

20210408ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE LOOSES POWER AND BRAKES GO OUT THEN DIES,DOESN'T MATTER SPEED. IF SLOWING DOWN AND PRESS THE BRAKES, THE LOCKS, LIGHTS, AND SECURITY GOES CRAZY. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS IT IS IN INTERSECTIONS AND CAUTION FOR COLLISION. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE OFF FOR A TIME FRAME AND RESTARTS FINE AND CAN GO. HAPPENED WHEN COMING FROM RAMP AND IN MIDDLE OF ROAD WITH SEMI TRUCK COMING DOWN BY US.

Mileage: 161,000

20210408POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE LOOSES POWER AND BRAKES GO OUT THEN DIES,DOESN'T MATTER SPEED. IF SLOWING DOWN AND PRESS THE BRAKES, THE LOCKS, LIGHTS, AND SECURITY GOES CRAZY. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS IT IS IN INTERSECTIONS AND CAUTION FOR COLLISION. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE OFF FOR A TIME FRAME AND RESTARTS FINE AND CAN GO. HAPPENED WHEN COMING FROM RAMP AND IN MIDDLE OF ROAD WITH SEMI TRUCK COMING DOWN BY US.

Mileage: 161,000

20201221SERVICE BRAKES

THIRD BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION. AREAS OF FAILURE ARE HIDDEN FROM VIEW ABOVE OTHER COMPONENTS. UPON BRAKE LINE FAILURE, BACKUP BRAKING WAS INOPERATIVE IN ALL CASES. VEHICLE WAS ON A CITY STREET IN MOTION ATTEMPTING TO STOP. BRAKES FAILED SUDDENLY IN ALL CASES. BRAKES WERE VERY NOTICIBLY INOPERATIVE BEFORE ANY INDICATION ON DASH BOARD. PUMPING THE PEDAL DID NOTHING- THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WAS TOLD MANUFACTURER NO LONGER SUPPLIES BRAKE LINES FOR THIS VEHICLE.

Mileage: 170,000

20201020FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

IT TAKES HALF AN HOUR TO FILL MY TANK IT KEEPS KICKING OFF LIKE IT'S FULL WHEN IT'S NOT

20200528AIR BAGS

I HAD JUMPED MY DEAD BATTERY AND LEFT THE TRUCK RUNNING. ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER BEING JUMPED, THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE NEVER MOVED AND WAS SITTING IDLY IN PARK AND NOTHING TOUCHED THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 168,500

20181120STRUCTURE:BODY

CLEAR COAT PEELING ON ALL HORIZONTAL SURFACES, UPPER DASH PANEL DEVELOPED MULTIPLE CRACKS CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD IF AIRBAG DEPLOYS.

Mileage: 74,000

20181116FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AND THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE FUEL STATION AND THE FUEL ODOR BECAME STRONGER WHILE ADDING FUEL TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUBFRAME UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Mileage: 170,000

20180301ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

NEW BATTERY NEW ALTERNATOR HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS NOT COMMUNICATING CORRECTLY TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR CHARGE THE BATTERY. RESULT IS "BATTERY NOT CHARGING." THIS DURING ANY OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. BATTERY WILL DIE.

Mileage: 138,000

20180226SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V043000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

Mileage: 250,000

20180226STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V043000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

Mileage: 250,000

20180130SERVICE BRAKES

THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGES AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN STOPPING ON DRY PAVEMENT. GENERALLY THE CONDITION IS LIMITED TO SPEEDS UNDER 10 MPH WHEN PARKING OR STOPPING AT STOP SIGNS. THIS CONDITION DISENGAGED THE BREAKS AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE BEYOND THE TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNAL AT A FOUR WAY INTERSECTION, NEARLY RESULTING IN A SERIOUS SIDE IMPACT COLLISION.

Mileage: 205,000

20171028CrashAIR BAGS

TAKATA INFLATORS AIRBAGS AND GAGES ON DASH. IN AN ACCIDENT AIRBAGS DIDN'T RELEASED.

20171028CrashEXTERIOR LIGHTING

TAKATA INFLATORS AIRBAGS AND GAGES ON DASH. IN AN ACCIDENT AIRBAGS DIDN'T RELEASED.

20171024CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXTERIOR DOOR LATCH DID NOT LATCH WHEN DOOR WAS CLOSED. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS TURNING RIGHT ON A VILLAGE STREET, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS OPENED UNEXPECTEDLY. WHILE IN MOTION AROUND THE TURN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE DOOR TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DURING THE ATTEMPT TO CLOSE THE DOOR, THE CAR HIT A TREE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. I SUSPECT THE STUCK LATCH WAS DUE TO WATER AND/OR DIRT GETTING IN THE LATCH HINGE.

Mileage: 160,000

20170807CrashSERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER WAS LATER CONTACTED (GORDON CHEVROLET IN PHILADELPHIA, PA) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

Mileage: 92,000

Compare 2004CHEVROLETAVALANCHE 1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 have?
The 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 has 174 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 0 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500?
Yes, the 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500?
The most-complained component for the 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL with 38 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.