IllustrationThe brake pressure modulator valve leaks the transmission has problems and service airbags is on
2004 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Avalanche 1500 years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 38.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →144Owner complaints
Model-year median: 38
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2004 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 144 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Electrical System: 53 reports
- Service Brakes: 32 reports
- Air Bags: 12 reports
- Steering: 10 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Avalanche 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
2325–50K
3550–75K
2375–100K
28100–150K
13150K+
124 reports with mileage · 20 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports
Power Train complaints
5 reportsVEHICLE LOOSES POWER AND BRAKES GO OUT THEN DIES,DOESN'T MATTER SPEED. IF SLOWING DOWN AND PRESS THE BRAKES, THE LOCKS, LIGHTS, AND SECURITY GOES CRAZY. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS IT IS IN INTERSECTIONS AND CAUTION FOR COLLISION. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE OFF FOR A TIME FRAME AND RESTARTS FINE AND CAN GO. HAPPENED WHEN COMING FROM RAMP AN…
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VEHICLE LOOSES POWER AND BRAKES GO OUT THEN DIES,DOESN'T MATTER SPEED. IF SLOWING DOWN AND PRESS THE BRAKES, THE LOCKS, LIGHTS, AND SECURITY GOES CRAZY. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS IT IS IN INTERSECTIONS AND CAUTION FOR COLLISION. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE OFF FOR A TIME FRAME AND RESTARTS FINE AND CAN GO. HAPPENED WHEN COMING FROM RAMP AND IN MIDDLE OF ROAD WITH SEMI TRUCK COMING DOWN BY US.
WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY, THE TRUCK WENT INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE LOW BY ITSELF, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55 MPH. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 4WD. THE VEHICLE MANUAL STATES THAT THE TRUCK CANNOT BE SHIFTED INTO 4WD UN…
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WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY, THE TRUCK WENT INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE LOW BY ITSELF, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55 MPH. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 4WD. THE VEHICLE MANUAL STATES THAT THE TRUCK CANNOT BE SHIFTED INTO 4WD UNLESS IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND ROLLING AT LESS THAN 3 MPH OR MAJOR DAMAGE WILL OCCUR. IT ALSO STATES THAT THERE ARE SAFETY FEATURES THAT PREVENT THE 4WD FROM ENGAGING AT ANY OTHER TIME. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 4WD ON MY VEHICLE AND THE SAFETY FEATURE FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF TEN DAYS AND ALL OF THE PROBLEMS ARE STILL NOT REPAIRED. I WILL BE RETURNING THE TRUCK THERE AGAIN TOMORROW. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE THOROUGHLY GONE OVER ALL OF THE PROBLEMS AND HAVE REPAIRED EVERYTHING, BUT THE 4WD SYSTEM IS STILL NOT FUNCTIONAL. SO FAR, I HAVE BEEN CHARGED OVER $600. WHEN I ASKED IF THIS WOULD EVER HAPPEN AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME THAT IT COULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE THE PART THAT FAILED HAD BEEN UPGRADED. THIS TELLS ME THAT GM KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART AND SHOULD HAVE RECALLED IT. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THESE VEHICLES. ALL OF THE DAMAGED PARTS ON MY TRUCK SHOULD BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE AND MY MONEY SHOULD BE REFUNDED. AFTER ALL REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED, I SHOULD BE GIVEN A WARRANTY FOR THE DRIVE TRAIN OF THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE PARTS REPAIRED SO FAR HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETELY REBUILT AND I FEEL THAT THE TRUCK WILL GIVE ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN IN THE FUTURE. IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED; I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRUCK TRANSMISSION STARTED NOT SHIFTING AND AT 55MPH WAS RUNNING 4500 RPM, TRUCK SYSTEM THEN WARNED OF A HOT TRANSMISSION. BROUGH TO DEALER TOLD TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD, UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY CAN ONLY GET A REBUILT TRANSMISSION IF APPROVED BY GM. *TR
POPPING, BINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION IN DRIVETRAIN. *NM
Recall campaigns
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.