Total Complaints
50 filings
CHEVROLET CLASSIC · model year
50 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004CHEVROLETCLASSIC carries 50 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injury, and 20 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 CLASSIC is electrical system with 24 filings, followed by engine (4) and service brakes, electric (2). 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 1 active recall campaign, 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 CLASSIC, 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.
Total Complaints
50 filings
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 24 |
| ENGINE | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY | 1 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK THAT DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATION. A WELD ON THESE FUEL TANKS MAY BE INSUFFICIENT, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK.
MY FUEL LEVEL GAUGE IS MALFUNCTIONING. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND THE IN DASH GAUGES CHECKED, IT WILL NOT REGISTER PAST 1/4 TANK. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 150 MILES THE GAUGE WILL SUDDENLY DROP, THE LOW FUEL LIGHT WILL COME ON. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON, IT WILL AGAIN READ 1/4 TANK EVEN WHEN FULL. THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST ALWAYS IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURS.
ANTI THEFT SYSTEM KEEPS ON COMING ON AND WILL NOT LET YOUR CAR START !!! THEY EVEN REPLACED THE KEY HOLES WITH FILLERS IN IT. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE KEY AND WAIT 15 TO 20 MIN. BEFORE IT WILL START OR SOMETIME IT WILL NOT WORK!!!! HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT AND THAT STILL DOES NOT FIX THE IGNITION SWITCH IT IS A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE NOW THE CAR WILL NOT START I HAVE CALLED GM BEFORE AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL. WELL IF YOU LOOK AT THIS WEB SITE TO SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS IN THESE CARS FOR THE IGNITION PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD BE FIXED AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT !!!!! I GUESS THEY WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO GETS KILLED AGAIN TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT !!! THEY ALREADY HAD A BIG LAW SUITE I GUESS THEY WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANOTHER ONE IF THIS KEEPS ON HAPPENING WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE AND IT JUST CONKS OUT ON US AND THERE IS A BUNCH OF ACCIDENTS !!!! GM YOU REALLY NEED TO LISTEN TO YOUR CUSTOMERS !!!!! THEN YOU GUYS WANT US TO BUY MORE CARS WELL IF WE CAN NOT TRUST YOU TO FIX SOMETHING W
Mileage: 85,000
BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. ALL THE LINES(4) RUN VERY CLOSE TOGETHER UNDERNEETH THE AIR FILTER BOX. BY RUNNING THE LINES THIS CLOSE TOGETHER IT ALLOWS MOISTURES TO BE HELD IN THE TINY GAPS BETWEEN THE LINES, THERBY CUASING ACCELERATED RUSTING AND CORROSION. BRAKE LINES RUSTING OUT IN JUST OVER 10 YEARS SEEMS PREMATURE GIVEN HOW MANY OF THE VEHICLES 10 YEARS OLD ARE STILL ON THE ROAD. MAYBE I'M WRONG? LUCKILY I WAS JUST LEAVING THE DRIVEWAY TO GO TO THE CAR WASH. THE PICTURE IS TAKEN FROM UNDER THE CAR LOOKING UP FROM THE WHEEL WELL, THERE IS ALSO LITTLE PROTECTION FROM TIRE SPRAY
Mileage: 114,000
I HAD TAKEN MY SON TO THE DR. AND THE CAR HAD BEEN TURNED OFF FOR LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. WHEN WE CAME BACK OUT, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT WOULDN'T FIRE UP. AFTER SITTING IN THE BLAZING SUN WITH MY SICK CHILD FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES, A FRIEND CAME TO ASSIST US. THE FUEL PUMP WAS KICKING ON, WE CLEANED THE INTAKE AND CHANGED THE AIR FILTER WITH NO LUCK. WITH STARTER FLUID THE ENGINE WOULD FIRE UP BUT DIED AS SOON AS THE FLUID BURNT OFF. BEFORE HAVING IT TOWED HOME WE RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL REFERENCES TO THE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM GLITCH. SURE ENOUGH, AFTER LEAVING THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES,WITHOUT TRYING TO START THE CAR, WE TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND THEN TRIED TO START THE CAR. IT FIRED RIGHT UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES SINCE THEN. ONE TIME I HAD TO GO THROUGH THOSE STEPS 3 TIMES TO GET THE CAR TO START. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH 2 CHILDREN. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF WE GET STRANDED IN THE EXTREME HEAT OR COLD OR
THIS VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH ITS STARTER. I'M NOT SURE OF THE FIRST DATE IT WAS NOTICED. INITIALLY THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION, IT WOULD TAKE UP TO 1/2 HR OR MORE FOR THE KEY TO COME OUT, THEN LONGER, THEN DAYS IN WHICH THE BATTERY WOULD HAVE TO BE RECHARGED. IT ALSO ON OCCASION WOULD ACTIVATE THE 'KILL-SWITCH' ON THE ALARM. WE WERE TOLD BY CHEVY THAT THE CAR WAS NOT 'RECOGNIZING' THE IGNITION KEY. FINALLY AFTER THE MONEY WAS AVAILABLE, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO CHEVY FOR REPAIR. INITIALLY IT WAS FINE...THE KEY DIDN'T GET STUCK, THEN ONLY A FEW TIMES ...NONE IN WHICH IT DIDN'T COME OUT....HOWEVER, THE CAR IN 2013? BEGAN TO DIE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. MY SON AND FINANCE' BOUGH THIS TO MY ATTENTION AND FOR SAFETY I NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR AS THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS IN TRAFFIC, FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO STEER INTO A PARKING LOT AND PARK THE CAR. IT WOULD RESTART WITHOUT A PROBLEM.....BUT NOT KNOWING WHY OR WHEN IT WILL STOP WAS/IS TO MUCH OF A RISK SO WE TURNED IN THE REGIS
2004 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, REPLACED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND SWITCH*CW
THE PRESCRIBED/PROPOSED FIX BY GM OVER THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES IS THE MOST LAME EXCUSE FOR A FIX I HAVE EVER HEARD OF. JUST WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD SAYING THIS. *TR
Mileage: 106,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE KEY REMAINED STUCK IN THE ACCESSORY, ON OR OFF MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH TUMBLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
Mileage: 144,000
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY WOULD REMAIN STUCK IN THE OFF, ACCESSORY, AND/OR ON MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH TUMBLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. DJR
IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED/FALLS OUT WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. WE HAVE HAD SIX INCIDENTS WHERE WE PARKED CAR AND REMOVED KEY AND THEN CAR STARTED ROLLING. IN TWO INCIDENTS AN OPEN DOOR OF THE ROLLING CAR CAUGHT PERSON KNOCKING THEM DOWN, ONE INCIDENT JUST MISSED ROLLING OVER FOOT. IN EACH CASE FOUND THAT CAR WAS NOT IN PARK WITH KEY REMOVED. HAVE ALSO HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WHERE KEY WAS REMOVED BUT IGNITION REMAINED ON DRAINING THE CARS BATTERY EACH TIME. VERY HARD TO GET KEY LOCK INTO "OFF" POSITION. *TR
Mileage: 160,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECURITY SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT A BRIEF MOMENT FOR THE SECURITY SYSTEM TO DISABLE IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE SINCE THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WE STOP AND WAITING FOR RED LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURN TO GREEN, PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE CAR NOT HAVE ANY REACTION. I TURN OFF THE CAR, AND START AGAIN THEN THE CAR CAN MOVE. *TR
Mileage: 94,650
WE STOP AND WAITING FOR RED LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURN TO GREEN, PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE CAR NOT HAVE ANY REACTION. I TURN OFF THE CAR, AND START AGAIN THEN THE CAR CAN MOVE. *TR
Mileage: 94,650
2004 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCHES PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION, AND THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS OPERABLE DURING THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION AND CYLINDER SWITCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,500.
Mileage: 118,500
FOR TWO YEARS NOW MY DOORS WILL LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN I TURN THE CAR OF AND GET OUT. ALSO THE HORN WILL BLOW FOR NO REASON LIKE I HAVE LOCKED THE DOORS. I CAN'T LEAVE MY KEYS IN THE CAR BECAUSE IT HAS LOCKED WITH KEYS IN THE IGNITION. RECENTLY WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR I HAVE TO JIGGLE THE KEY TO BE ABLE TO TURN IT TO START. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS THE KEY BUT I HAVE HAD NEW ONES MADE. *JS
CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST STALLED OUT... REPLACED THE BATTERY AFTER DRAINING IT FROM TRYING TO RESTART IT. AFTER READING ABOUT THE ANTI-THEFT PROBLEMS THESE MODELS HAVE HAD AND HOW TO RESET IT, IT STARTED BUT THEN IT DOES IT STILL OCCASIONALLY AND I HAVE TO REPEAT THE PROCEDURE WHICH CAN BE AN INCONVENIENCE. *TR
Mileage: 130,000
CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST STALLED OUT... REPLACED THE BATTERY AFTER DRAINING IT FROM TRYING TO RESTART IT. AFTER READING ABOUT THE ANTI-THEFT PROBLEMS THESE MODELS HAVE HAD AND HOW TO RESET IT, IT STARTED BUT THEN IT DOES IT STILL OCCASIONALLY AND I HAVE TO REPEAT THE PROCEDURE WHICH CAN BE AN INCONVENIENCE. *TR
Mileage: 130,000
MY 2004 CHEVY CLASSIC WILL NOT START. SUSPECTING THE THEFT SYSTEM. I'VE DEALT WITH THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT BEFORE, BUT THIS TIME IT HAS BEEN ON SOLID OR NOT ON AT ALL. I'VE TRIED THE 10 MINUTE RESTART TWICE WITH NO LUCK. I TRIED A VARIATION OF THE 10 MINUTE RESET THAT HAD ME DO IT 3 TIMES BACK TO BACK WITHOUT STARTING IN BETWEEN AND NO LUCK. I TRIED WAITING 1 MINUTE AND 3 MINUTES AFTER PERFORMING THE 10 MINUTE RESET BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO START IT. I REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH NO LUCK. DIAG WAS DONE WITH NO ANSWERS. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE, THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL, AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DON'T DO A RECALL. *TR
Mileage: 130,000
THE "THEFT SYSTEM" LIGHT WILL COME ON RANDOMLY AND MY CAR WILL NOT START. THE ONLY CURE IS TO TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT ON THE DASH GOES OUT. THEN TURN THE KEY TO OFF AND THE WILL THEN START. *TR
Mileage: 63,385
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.