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2004 Chevrolet AvalancheProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 165 owner complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
42
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.4× the Avalanche median · #5 of 12 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints16510 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage51kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 23, 2021. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche has problems

165 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system602
Service brakes252
Service brakes, hydraulic150
Power train141
Steering101
Air bags93
Visibility90
Fuel system, gasoline70
Suspension70
13 other systems361

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

2004 Chevrolet Avalanche recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Seat belts: rear/other

Recall 05V-163 · Apr 22, 2005 · 1,359,824 vehicles

Risk. A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Service brakes, hydraulic

Recall 05V-043 · Feb 8, 2005 · 77,411 vehicles

Risk. IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WERE OPEN, FRAGMENTS FROM THE ACCUMULATOR COULD CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Tailgate: hinge and attachments

Recall 04V-129 · Mar 17, 2004 · 3,662,211 vehicles

Risk. ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.

Mileage at failure

When do electrical system problems start?

51kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 50 electrical system complaints. 84% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
6under 30k miles42under 100k miles8100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2004 vs. every other Avalanche year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Avalanche median. How we score

'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2004 Chevrolet Avalanche safety ratings

2004 Chevrolet Avalanche 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2004 Chevrolet Avalanche frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche, and the recalls they led to.

  1. HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRESEA04012 · closed Feb 28, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-005
In owners' words

What Avalanche owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHILE DRIVING OR IN PARK THE TACHOMETER STICKS AS DOES THE SPEEDOMETER. THIS HAS LASTED FROM MINUTES TO DAYS. THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO RUN PROPERLY, HOWEVER, I AM VERY LEERY OF MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Complaint 10716262 · May 13, 2015 · 73,245 miles
WHILE DRIVING ALL MY CLUSTER GAUGES FROZE...I WAS PARKED AND IT STILL SAID I WAS GOING 40MPH...HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL? NO CLUE HOW FAST I WAS GOING,NOR HOW MUCH FUEL I HAD...WE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED SOMETHING. *TR
Complaint 10701963 · Mar 26, 2015 · 67,000 miles
I WAS ISSUED A RECALL A FEW YEARS BACK SPECIFIC TO MY VEHICLE ABOUT A BLOWER MOTOR OPERATION MALFUNCTION. IT STATED THAT SETTINGS ON THE BLOWER MOTOR MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I TURN ON THE AIR OR HEAT I HAVE SETTINGS FOR 5 BLOWER MOTOR OPTIONS. ALL THE SETTINGS 1-4 WORK JUST…
Complaint 10629010 · Aug 28, 2014 · 102,000 miles

Own a 2004 Avalanche?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.