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2004 Chevrolet Colorado Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 361 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado, most often about the electrical (24% of complaints, typically around 74,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Colorado model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2004 Chevrolet Colorado problems
Electrical
88 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 74,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, wiring, starter assembly, horn.
The HVAC blower motor resistor assembly melted on the vehicle. The current passing through the unit is sufficient to melt the connector and degrade the wires to brittle. I believe this is a possible fire hazard. A number of co-owners have found the same defect. The connection in question terminal (c) goes to a ground…
Chevrolet has a known ignition system defect since march 2009. My 2004 Chevrolet Colorado intermittently does not start and then starts on the second try. Chevrolet's document: "#pip4575b: intermittent click no crank or brief crank no crank with dtcs - possible crank sensor - keywords bqmi - (mar 11, 2009)" explains…
Body and structure
61 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 115,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
I have a 2004 chevy Colorado z 71 ls. I bought it 4 years ago and it had 58,000 miles and I am the second owner of the truck. It has 115,000 miles on it and I already have frame rot. There is a crack in the frame between the cab and box which is causing my box touching the back of the cab that's causing damage to the…
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado. While having the tires changed, the mechanic stated that the frame was rusted out. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 11/02/17…
Brakes
51 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 48,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, pedals and linkages, antilock.
: the contact stated in wet weather while depressing the brake pedal at various speeds, the brakes locked causing the vehicle to suddenly stop. It was driven to the dealer who could not duplicate the problem.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado. While driving between 20 to 50 MPH, the ABS activated without the brake pedal being depressed. The ABS warning light illuminated and the broadcast system indicated that there was an ABS error. The dealer would not repair the system because there was no recall. The ABS has…
Lights
43 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 47,500 miles. Parts named most often: brake lights, tail lights, headlights.
Brake lights & cruise control quit working as described in NHTSA recall 06v139000 and gm recall 06030. Dealer did not repair under recall because the VIN # did not match recall database. I think gm needs to expand recall to all who experience this problem.
This is exactly the problem I am experiencing with my vehicle, yet after contacting them by phone, gm denies that there is a recall addressing the problem. I have not received a recall notice about the problem from gm. 2004 Chevrolet Colorado ls z85 select different vehicle 1 recall notice these recall notices may not…
Suspension
35 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado. When the contact depressed the brake pedal, the ABS did not respond. The ABS light illuminated at random, which caused the brakes to randomly pulsate. The dealer stated that the vehicle needed front hubs, bearings, and wheel speed sensors on both sides. The contact stated…
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact heard a loud growling noise and the vehicle pulled to the right while traveling over 30 MPH. The ABS warning indicator illuminated when the growling noise was heard. The dealer stated that the driver's side hub failed and would cost over $700 to repair. Her VIN…
Engine
30 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 41,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Vehicles check engine light came on then went off after a couple of days. Vehicle idle dropped to 500 rpms. The truck started to act sluggish and acted as if it would shut off at idle. During acceleration the vehicle was again sluggish. Took the truck to a local shop and had the codes run. It came back as an engine…
While driving the vech. Once it goes under 10mph it will stall out. I then have to put it in n and restart. This has been going on for a while. Ever since it about 40-45,000 miles...I have not been able to afford to pay to have it fixed. I was told by a chevy dealer service manager that it has a faulty coil system and…
Air bags
29 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window, on-off switch assembly.
Driver/owner travelled into a parking lot, parked without incident and turned the ignition completely off. Within seconds, the driver stepped out of the vehicle, then leaned over to retrieve the key which was still in the ignition. As the driver removed key from ignition, without warning, the driver's side airbag…
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, the air bag light illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the mechanic diagnosed that the broken wire in the extended cab front driver's side door needed to be replaced. The…
Transmission
27 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 16,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, axle assembly.
After putting the truck in park yet still leaving on I got out of the truck. The truck started to roll backward because it was still engaged in reverse. The gear indication showed it was park but the transmition was in reverse. In order to start the truck it had to be swich into netural first. This was taken to the…
Took my truck in for tire rotation and check alignment on 3/12/2005. Maintenance is current. Turns out both front tires (general tire 235-75r15) were worn down to the steel belts on the inside edges only, with the steel belts actually sticking out in there. I do no off-road driving- only to and from work 2 miles daily…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Chevrolet Colorado recalls
Child Seat
Risk: Both NHTSA and gm discourage placement of a child in a front seat. Nevertheless, there are individual circumstances that may require placement of a child in a restraint in the front center seating position of this vehicle that does not offer a rear seat. Lack of access to the top tether anchor and a lack of instructions as to how to use it, may result in improper installation of a child restraint. Improper installation of a child restraint can result in a reduction in the restraint's performance in the event of a crash and an increased risk of injury or death to the child seated in the restrai
Fix: Dealers will cut a hole into the back panel trim cover to allow access to the top tether anchor for the front center seat position and will provide supplemental information as to use in the owner's manual. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule for this campaign. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, isuzu at 1-800-255-6727 or visit gm's website at www.gmownercenter.com.
Full defect summary
Gm is recalling certain model year 2004-2011, chevrolet colorado, gmc canyon, model year 2006, isuzu I-280/I-350, and model year 2007-2008, I-290/I-370, regular cab vehicles and extended cab vehicles without a rear seat and equipped with a front 60/40 split bench seat. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." the top tether anchor for the front center seat is not accessible and the owner manual does not include instructions regarding how to use the top tether.
Lights: switch
Risk: This condition could cause the simultaneous loss of all brake lamps or cause all of the brake lamps to stay on continuously. Both of these conditions could fail to warn others of the driver's intentions and could lead to a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the necessary components as specified in the recall bulletin free of charge. Gm anticipates that parts will be available by june 2010. A special coverage for vehicles registered in all other states will be implemented in the same time frame. In the interim, owners who experience the failure can obtain a free repair, however they will be required to return when the new design part becomes available. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, isuzu at 1-800-255-6727 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
Full defect summary
Gm is recalling 185,903 model year 2004-2009 colorado, gmc model year 2009-2004 canyon, model year 2006 I-280, I-350, model year 2007-2008 I-290, and I-370, passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of alabama, arizona, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, nevada, new mexico, puerto rico, south carolina, texas, u.s. Virgin islands and utah. Some of these vehicles have a brake lamp switch that may not work as designed due to contamination in the switch.
Lights: switch
Risk: A following driver may not know when the brakes have been applied, and a rear-end crash could occur without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch assembly. The recall began on december 5, 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; gmc at 1-866-996-9463 or isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
Full defect summary
Certain pickup trucks may experience the permanent loss of brake lamp function or brake lamps that are illuminated at all times. The center high-mounted stop lamp (chmsl) is affected in both instances. Also, if equipped, the cruise control will become inoperative. Any trailer brake lamps which are connected to the vehicle's brake lamp wiring will mimic the vehicle's brake lamps when either condition occurs.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Brake lamp switch malfunction
Summary
On july 28,2009, gm initiated a regional recall campaign on certain model year (my) 2004-2009 chevrolet colorado and gmc canyon vehicles and my2006-2008 isuzu I-series vehicles.the states and u.s. Territories involved are al, az, fl, ga, hi, la, ms, nv, nm, pr, sc, tx, vi and ut.a total of 185,903 vehicles will be recalled with 92,272 vehicles within the scope of this investigation.in addition, a special coverage/extended warranty program will be initiated forvehicles registered in all other states. Gm determined that brake lamp switch failures are more likely to occur in vehicles in which customers used interior cleaners containing silicon and that reside in hot geographical locations.brake
Inadvertent front airbag deployment
Summary
All reports indicate inadvertent deployment during ignition start-up (key-on) and with the vehicle not in motion.reported injuries were minor and consist of skin abrasion and bruises.the incident dates ranged from july through november 2004.odi has received no additional reports since opening this investigation. A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by t
Questions about the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (88 complaints, typically around 74,000 miles); body and structure (61 complaints, typically around 115,000 miles); brakes (51 complaints, typically around 48,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 18, 2010 (child Seat). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Chevrolet Colorado?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Colorado model year since 2000, with 361 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.