2004 Chevrolet COLORADO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
361 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 283 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 80 of 361 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 100 | 27.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 37 | 10.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 5.0% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 4.4% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 2.2% |
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 | 80 |
| Structure:Body | 40 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch | 25 |
| Air Bags | 23 |
| Unknown Or Other | 22 |
| Suspension | 21 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 18 |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 |
Electrical System: 80; Structure:Body: 40; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch: 25; Air Bags: 23; Unknown Or Other: 22; Suspension: 21; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 18; Exterior Lighting: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 79 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 50 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 39 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 45 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 49 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 79; 25,000 to 49,999: 50; 50,000 to 74,999: 39; 75,000 to 99,999: 45; 100,000 to 149,999: 49; 150,000 and above: 21
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (79). 78 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 43 |
| 2005 | 40 |
| 2006 | 34 |
| 2007 | 20 |
| 2008 | 20 |
| 2009 | 19 |
| 2010 | 27 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 27 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2004: 43; 2005: 40; 2006: 34; 2007: 20; 2008: 20; 2009: 19; 2010: 27; 2011: 17; 2012: 17; 2013: 7; 2014: 27; 2015: 12; 2016: 8; 2017: 23; 2018: 12; 2019: 16; 2020: 3; 2021: 6; 2022: 4; 2023: 5; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 100 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 37 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 18 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 10063263 · 2004-03-16 (March 16, 2004)
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL PROCEEDED TO THE FLOOR AND PULSATED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086484 · 2004-08-09 (August 9, 2004)
WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE THE FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS THE FOOT LET UP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE TRUCK LURCHED FORWARD. THE TRUCK HIT A BUILDING BEFORE THE BRAKE COULD BE REAPPLIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114196 · 2005-03-16 (March 16, 2005)
BATTERY ON COLORADO KEEPS GOING DEAD. 4 TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOR SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. REPLACED BODY CONTROL MODULE AND BATTERY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 23,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115254 · 2005-03-16 (March 16, 2005)
AIR IS SEEPING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE GLASS BECAUSE IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY SEALED AT THE FACTORY. ALSO, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS COMES ON UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE LIGHT DIMS THEN BRIGHTENS AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THIS INDICATES A FAILURE IN THE BATTERY. ALTHOUGH THE BATTERY IS FINE. THIS MAYBE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. DEALERSHIP IS NOT BEING HELPFUL WITH RESOLVING ANY OF THE PROBLEMS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086933 · 2004-08-16 (August 16, 2004)
-TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE -BAD SMELL COMING FROM THE A/C UNIT -WATER LEAKS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,902 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088328 · 2004-08-21 (August 21, 2004)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 7,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088652 · 2004-08-26 (August 26, 2004)
2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO, NEW PURCHASE, DROVE 568 MILES ENGINE IDLE ERATICALLY, ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND THEN ENGINE STALLED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER, SINCE THAT I LOST 1.6 MPG AND ENGINE WILL NOT IDLE UNTIL VEHICLE CAME TO COMPLETE STOP. ENGINE RPMS DO NOT DROP BETWEEN SHIFTS LIKE IT DID BEFORE REPROGRAMMING AND VEHICLE LUNGES WHEN CLUTCH IS RELEASED IF NOT CAREFULL OR GIVE IT EXTRA TIME FOR THE RPMS TO DROP FOR A SMOOTH ENGAGEMENT. AND WHEN YOU NEED TO LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR KEEPS GOING LIKE YOU ARE STILL ACCEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 568 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088652 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141882 · 2005-11-06 (November 6, 2005)
2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO Z71 - RANDON STALLING CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095875 · 2004-10-16 (October 16, 2004)
ON 10/15/2004, I BEGAN TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY OF MY 2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO AUTOMOBILE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. JUST AS I TURNED THE IGNITION, THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG INFLATED. THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG INFLATED FOR NO REASON. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SINCE I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE REPLACING THE AIRBAG UNDER WARRANTY. THE AIRBAG INFLATION DID NOT RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. THE ONLY INJURY WAS A RUG BURN LIKE FEELING TO THE FACE AND A SORE LEFT EYE AND A SORE LEFT HAND. NEITHER A…
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110911 · 2005-02-04 (February 4, 2005)
WHILE SHIFTING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE CAME FROM FRONT. THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN ON ITS OWN. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10110911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080602 · 2004-07-08 (July 8, 2004)
1. ROAD DEBRIS CRACKED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR WHERE THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE COMES OUT OF THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK. . BRAND NEW, 2004 CHEVY COLORADO (860 MI.) STOPPED RUNNING. AFTER 3 DAYS, TRADED IN FOR A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA.*AK 3. NO PARTS AVAILABLE EVEN FROM THE FACTORY IN DETROIT.
Owner-reported narrative. 860 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118009 · 2005-04-17 (April 17, 2005)
1. WITH 860 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AN UNKNOWN OBJECT FLIPPED UP BY THE TIRES. ENGINE DIED WITH GASOLINE TRAILING BEHIND THE TRUCK. THE PLASTIC PIECE CONNECTING THE PLASTIC GAS LINE TO THE PLASTIC GAS TANK WAS CRACKED.*AK 3. IT COULDN'T BE FIXED, AS CHEVROLET AND GENERAL MOTORS DID NOT HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE ANYWHERE. AFTER 3 DAYS TRADED IT IN FOR A NISSAN XTERRA TO COMPLETE OUR THIP.
Owner-reported narrative. 860 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118009 at NHTSA ↗