2004 Chevrolet Avalanche problems
Owners have filed 202 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche. Electrical system is the most reported problem area, at 30% of complaints. Next are brakes (22%) and fuel system (6%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 202 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 30% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 9 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 52,000 miles 173 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 33 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 26 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 34 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 30 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 17 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 13 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 9 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 173 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 52,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 51,000 miles (51 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 9 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 8 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Chevrolet Avalanche with enough data (124 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
When the consumer attempted to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle hesitated intermittently. The vehicle needed a new alternator, radio system (CD would over heat).
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet avalanche. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, an elk jumped in front of the vehicle and the contact attempted to avoid a crash. As a result, the contact crashed into a dirt mountain. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact and the front passenger sustained head trauma and upper body injuries. The contact and the front passenger required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed.
2004 chevrolet avalanche designed without inline fuel filter, only a filter made into the fuel pump assembly inside the tank. According to GM and all data repair manuals, this filter is a non-serviceable item intended to last the life of the vehicle. At approximately 60,000 miles, vehicle mil indicator came on, diagnosed as misfire condition. Vehicle stuttered under both idle and acceleration.
Instrument gauge cluster on 2004 chevrolet avalanche. The speed odometer does not work correctly it goes wherever it wants while driving, the voltage gauge stays on 9. The tachometer does not work right.