Is the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado a bad year?
361 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Colorado years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado are in line with other Colorado years. Electrical system and body structure 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 Colorado 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 77,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 88 (24%) | 40k–99k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 61 (17%) | 76k–141k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 35 (10%) | 23k–121k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Air bags | 29 (8%) | 37k–126k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 26 (7%) | 14k–77k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 25 (7%) | 27k–87k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 51 (14%) | 27k–66k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 43 (12%) | 31k–72k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 27 (7%) | 7k–50k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 20 (6%) | 6k–27k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 13 (4%) | 17k–66k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Latches and locks | 15 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 12 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 6 (2%) | 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 77,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 361 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 13 mention a fire · 14 report an injury.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in May 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Everyday now when I try to start the truck it turns over but will not start, wait 15 minutes then it will start.
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.
Odi 10150645, odi 10150645: 3rd recurring problem. Customer invoice: drivers window inoperative, screws backed out of window motor causing it to bind r & r window motor and reinstalled bolts.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 77,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado: 3
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. Both NHTSA and GM discourage placement of a child in a front seat.
Some of these vehicles have a brake lamp switch that may not work as designed due to contamination in the switch. 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.
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. A following driver may not know when the brakes have been applied, and a rear-end crash could occur without prior warning.
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: 155
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Brake lamp switch malfunction
Inadvertent front airbag deployment
Neighbouring years
2005 Colorado: 356 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet Colorado year
2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Colorado years side by side
Other Chevrolet models: Chevrolet Astro · Chevrolet Avalanche · Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 · Chevrolet Aveo · Chevrolet Blazer · Chevrolet Bolt EV · Chevrolet Camaro · Chevrolet Captiva · Chevrolet Cavalier · Chevrolet Cobalt · Chevrolet Cobalt SS · Chevrolet Corvette · Chevrolet Cruze · Chevrolet Equinox · Chevrolet Equinox EV · Chevrolet Express · Chevrolet HHR · Chevrolet Impala · Chevrolet Malibu · Chevrolet Malibu Classic · Chevrolet Malibu Maxx · Chevrolet Monte Carlo · Chevrolet S10 · Chevrolet Silverado · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD · Chevrolet Silverado 2500 · Chevrolet Silverado 3500 · Chevrolet Sonic · Chevrolet Spark · Chevrolet Suburban · Chevrolet Suburban 1500 · Chevrolet Tahoe · Chevrolet Tracker · Chevrolet Trailblazer · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370 · Chevrolet Traverse · Chevrolet Trax · Chevrolet Uplander · Chevrolet Venture · Chevrolet Volt. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado a bad year?
361 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Colorado years. At 77,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (88), body structure (61), suspension (35), air bags (29), visibility and wipers (26).
How many recalls does the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Other (NHTSA 10V-575), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09V-310), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 06V-139). 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.