Total Complaints
7 filings
CHEVROLET KODIAK · model year
2004 CHEVROLET KODIAK
7 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004CHEVROLETKODIAK carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 KODIAK is power train:axle assembly with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel (1) and suspension:front (1). 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 5 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 KODIAK, 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.
7
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recalls (5)
04V12900017/03/2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE. IF BOTH CABLES FRACTURED, THE TAILGATE WOULD SUDDENLY DROP AND STRIKE THE TOP SURFACE OF TH
05V28800016/06/2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
CERTAIN 2003-2005 MODEL YEAR 4500/5500 SERIES CHEVROLET KODIAK, SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS, AND GMC TOPKICK VEHICLES; AND 2003-2004 MODEL YEAR GMC SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L ENGINE AND HYDROMAX BRAKE SYSTEM. THE POWER STEERING HOSE MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH A PORTION OF THE INTERMED
04V12300010/03/2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE SWITCH RETAINER HOLDING THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUSH ROD AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TOGETHER COULD BE MISSING.
05V04300008/02/2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CERTAIN TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH HYDRO-BOOST BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR MAY CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.
07V46900004/10/2007
STEERING
ON CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ZF MODEL 8018 STEERING GEARS, THE STEERING GEAR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED INCORRECTLY. A STEERING GEAR WITH THIS CONDITION MAY PRODUCE THE FEELING OF HITTING A CURB AND A CRACKING OR PINGING SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED.
Recent Complaints
20060619POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. AT 20,000 MILES, THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING BACKED OUT AND AT 87,000 MILES, THE DRAG LINK FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DOWN SHIFTED TO 20 MPH WITH NO EFFORT FROM THE CONTACT. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE RPM WILL NOT GO BEYOND 2000. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY CAN NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THIS OCCURRED REGARDLESS OF THE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, SPEED OR TERRAIN.*AK
Mileage: 40,000
20060518STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FOR SERVICE BRAKES CAME ON. SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKE FLUID SPRAYED ALL OVER LEFT FRONT WHEEL, CHASSIS, AND FRAME. OUTSIDE BRAKE LINE FROM THE BRAKE PRESSURE MODULATOR HAD A HOLE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. CAUSE OF WORN BRAKE LINE WAS FROM THE POWER STEERING HOSE COMING FROM THE HYDRAULIC PUMP TO THE INLET SIDE OF THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE. POWER STEERING HOSE WAS REPLACED AND BRAKE LINE REPAIRED. DEFECTIVE BRAKE LINE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *JB
Mileage: 51,631
20060518SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FOR SERVICE BRAKES CAME ON. SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKE FLUID SPRAYED ALL OVER LEFT FRONT WHEEL, CHASSIS, AND FRAME. OUTSIDE BRAKE LINE FROM THE BRAKE PRESSURE MODULATOR HAD A HOLE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. CAUSE OF WORN BRAKE LINE WAS FROM THE POWER STEERING HOSE COMING FROM THE HYDRAULIC PUMP TO THE INLET SIDE OF THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE. POWER STEERING HOSE WAS REPLACED AND BRAKE LINE REPAIRED. DEFECTIVE BRAKE LINE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *JB
Mileage: 51,631
20060217SUSPENSION:FRONT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK AT ANY SPEED. THIS CAUSED ABNORMAL WEAR TO THE FRONT TIRES, THE TIRES MUST BE REPLACED EVERY 10,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT DETERMINED THE TIRES ARE NOT RATED TO CARRY THE LOAD OF THE VEHICLE.
Mileage: 28,000
20060217TIRES
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK AT ANY SPEED. THIS CAUSED ABNORMAL WEAR TO THE FRONT TIRES, THE TIRES MUST BE REPLACED EVERY 10,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT DETERMINED THE TIRES ARE NOT RATED TO CARRY THE LOAD OF THE VEHICLE.
Mileage: 28,000
20051020CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
DT: THE CONTACT EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WITH THE DIESEL ENGINE DYING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL, BUT SIMPLY DIED AT ONCE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS A WARNING, AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF . THE VEHICLE WAS USED AS A HAULER THAT PULLED A TRAILER DELIVERING BOATS. WHEN THE ENGINE DIED THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS BY USING THE IN CAB CONTROLLER TO ACTIVATE THE ELECTRIC BRAKES ON THE TRAILER WHICH ULTIMATELY SLOWED AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO 18 DEALERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERS WERE CAUSE OF THE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE DID NOT PRODUCE ANY TYPE OF DIAGNOSTIC CODE. THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS WERE MADE. THE LATEST INCIDENT RESULTED IN A JACKKNIFE CRASH ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS AN INJURY, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING
Mileage: 6,200
20041005POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAYED OUT OF THE LANE. FRONT END HAD BEEN DONE EIGHT TIMES. THE REAR AXLE WAS MOUNTED WRONGLY ON THE VEHICLE. *AK
Mileage: 37,000
Compare 2004CHEVROLETKODIAK to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2004 CHEVROLET KODIAK have?▼
The 2004 CHEVROLET KODIAK has 7 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 CHEVROLET KODIAK?▼
Yes, the 2004 CHEVROLET KODIAK has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 CHEVROLET KODIAK?▼
The most-complained component for the 2004 CHEVROLET KODIAK is POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL and SUSPENSION:FRONT.
Is the 2004 CHEVROLET KODIAK 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.