Chevrolet C4500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
23,452 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 16 complaints (37.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 18.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 18.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 12.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
Electrical System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Seat Belts: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10144094 · 2005-11-30 (November 30, 2005)
THE 2003 CHEVROLET KODIAK C-4500 CREW CAB TRUCK COMES STANDARD WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED EXHAUST BRAKE. WHEN THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED, NO BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS SIZE TRUCK IS COMMONLY USED TO HAUL RV TRAILERS, FIFTH WHEEL TRAILERS AND HORSE TRAILERS. SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT ACTIVATED ON THE TRUCK, NEITHER ARE THEY ACTIVATED ON THE REAR OF THE TRAILER. WHEN ACTIVATING THE EXHAUST BRAKE WHILE GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL, THE VEHICLE AND TRAILER CAN BE SLOWING DOWN, BUT NOT GIVE ANY INDICATION TO A FOLLOWING VEHICLE. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10441687 · 2011-12-29 (December 29, 2011)
WE LOST A BABY VIA DNC ON THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING 2010 AND THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING MY HUSBAND WENT TO LEAVE WORK TO COME HOME AND STARTED THE TRUCK TO LET THE ENGINE WARM AND NEXT THING HE KNEW THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. IT WAS RAINING SO AT FIRST HE ASSUMED IT WAS CONDENSATION BURNING OFF THE EXHAUST. NEXT THING HE KNEW THE DASH WAS ON FIRE AND WE LOST OUR TRUCK. THE BODY SHOP AND INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THAT THE "BRAKE RELAY BOX" HAD SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE FIRE. IT TOOK MONTHS TO SETTLE WITH THE INSURANCE COMPAN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10441687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10488835 · 2012-12-14 (December 14, 2012)
CONTINUAL WIRING PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE. TRUCK SHUTS DOWN WHILE IN TRANSIT. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10488835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091633 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER . MECHANIC REPLACED THE COMPUTER SENSOR, AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150940 · 2006-02-22 (February 22, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND EXCHANGE PUMP, ALTHOUGH THIS HELPED THE STALLING, IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE STALLING PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10424221 · 2011-09-08 (September 8, 2011)
AFTER MONTHS OF HARD STARTING THE ENGINE, THINKING IT WAS THE COLD WEATHER, OLDER GLOW PLUGS, IT TURNED OUT TO BE NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE LEAKING DIESEL FUEL INTO THE CRANKCASE. CHEVY HAS KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME. THEY WANT 4500.00 TO REPLACE THE INJECTORS. THE OIL IS CONTAMINATED AND CAN CATCH ON FIRE. I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDERS OR PISTONS OR OTHER COMPONENTS DUE TO DRIVING WITH CONTAMINATED OIL. CHEVY SAYS TO BAD. ROLL THE DICE ON THE REPAIR OR BUY A NEW TRUCK. E…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424221 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160581 · 2006-06-23 (June 23, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN HOME IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. AFTER DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS DIFFICULTY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE. ALSO, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO READ THE APPROPRIATE MILEAGE AND THE GAS GAUGE WENT UP AND DOWN. THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMPED TO MAKE THE BRAKES FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS EVEN D…
Owner-reported narrative. 211 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160581 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2004: 0; 2005: 0; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2009: 1