Is the 2004 GMC Envoy a bad year?
367 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Envoy years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2004 GMC Envoy are in line with other Envoy years. Electrical system and fuel system 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 Envoy 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 63,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 164 (45%) | 47k–80k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 67 (18%) | 72k–157k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Exterior lighting | 39 (11%) | 61k–102k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 30 (8%) | 49k–163k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 28 (8%) | 47k–128k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Visibility and wipers | 20 (5%) | 52k–118k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 18 (5%) | 57k–145k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 16 (4%) | 37k–85k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 15 (4%) | 11k–84k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 14 (4%) | 19k–93k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Equipment | 8 (2%) | 6k–78k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 6 (2%) | 63k–118k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Seat belts | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 7 (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 63,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 367 complaints: 25 mention a crash · 11 mention a fire · 22 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Dec 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Stopped at street like, light went green started to move forward and car goes dead. No lights on dash, nothing showing, just stops abruptly.
While driving another motorist saw smoke coming from rear of vehicle and got vehicle stopped on side of road at which time the engine compartment was engulfed in flames.
Vehicle was being driven on a two way highway at approximately 55 mph. Vehicle lost engine power while driving and the gas pedal lost resistance and went to the floor.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 63,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 GMC Envoy: 2
Certain maxzone headlight assemblies, depo brand, p/no 335-1120L-AS, sold for use as aftermarket equipment for the above listed passenger vehicles. During production the lamp housing shape deformed distorting the assembly angle of the reflector and influenced the aiming position. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
On certain trucks and sport utility vehicles, the driver wishing to signal a turn by moving the directional signal lever, (Up or down) may cause the front marker/turn lights and rear turn lights to flash in a manner similar to hazard warning, rather than flashing on the desired side only. The driver may not be able to clearly signal their intentions to turn, change travel lanes, or potentially warn others of an impaired vehicle operating condition increasing the risk of a crash.
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 GMC: 163
Repair instructions GMC sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 GMC Envoy. 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
Possible location of an internal coolant leak from a specific cylinder head and location
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
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Loss of Headlights
Fuel pump module leaks gasoline
Turn signal failures
Brake lamp failure
Neighbouring years
2003 Envoy: 394 complaints, keep it · 2005 Envoy: 487 complaints, keep it.
Every GMC Envoy year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · All Envoy years side by side
Other GMC models: GMC Acadia · GMC Canyon · GMC Denali · GMC Envoy XL · GMC Envoy Xuv · GMC Jimmy · GMC Safari · GMC Savana · GMC Sierra · GMC Sierra 1500 · GMC Sierra 2500 · GMC Sierra 3500 · GMC Sierra Denali · GMC Sonoma · GMC Terrain · GMC Yukon · GMC Yukon Denali · GMC Yukon Denali XL · GMC Yukon XL · GMC Yukon XL 1500. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 GMC Envoy a bad year?
367 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Envoy years. At 63,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 GMC Envoy?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (164), fuel system (67), exterior lighting (39), air bags (30), engine (28).
How many recalls does the 2004 GMC Envoy have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Exterior lighting (NHTSA 07E014000), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 05V-198). 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.