Is the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche a bad year?
164 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Avalanche years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche are in line with other Avalanche years. Electrical system and brakes stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 Avalanche owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 52,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 59 (36%) | 40k–80k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 42 (26%) | 46k–127k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 14 (9%) | 15k–74k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 9 (5%) | 32k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (7%) | 64k–114k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 10 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 52,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 164 complaints: 6 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 3 report an injury.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Nov 2021.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche: 6
On certain trucks equipped with an 8.1L V8 (Rpo L8-VIN g) engine have a condition in which the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip may fracture resulting in inadequate retention of the damper. If the damper comes loose, a fuel leak may result. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
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 certain school buses. This condition may cause an inadequate seal at the connection, potentially leading to a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing may make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips of occupants, especially smaller occupants, seated in this position. 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 around their hipbones, and therefore…
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. 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.
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 the rear bumper. Anyone sitting or standing on the horizontal surface of the tailgate when both cables fractured could be injured by falling from the tailgate. On vehicles that have had the bumper removed, the tailgate may drop even lower.
Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, - passenger car brake systems.? Some of these vehicles were produced with an out-of-specification brake hydro-boost housing relief valve bore. Consequently, the valve o-ring seal may fracture. Steering efforts may be slightly increased while braking or parking.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 43
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Close coupled converters and there affect on newly installed engines or engines during there break in period
Engine block of possible cylinder bore damage, scoring or out of round as the possible cause of engine oil consumption, misfire, cylinder leakage or blow…
Diagnose and repair vehicles that may have a Service Engine Soon Malfunction Indicator Lamp on at low mileage
Service Engine Soon Malfunction Indicator Lamp on, engine misfire, and/or engine noise
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Hydraulic pump failres
Neighbouring years
2003 Avalanche: 204 complaints, keep it · 2005 Avalanche: 71 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet Avalanche year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · All Avalanche years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche a bad year?
164 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Avalanche years. At 52,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (59), brakes (42), transmission and drivetrain (14), air bags (9), fuel system (11).
How many recalls does the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Engine (NHTSA 06V-289), Fuel system (NHTSA 06E043000), Seat belts (NHTSA 05V-163), Brakes (NHTSA 05V-043) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.