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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Avalanche 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales 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
Air Bags complaints
12 reportsI HAD JUMPED MY DEAD BATTERY AND LEFT THE TRUCK RUNNING. ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER BEING JUMPED, THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE NEVER MOVED AND WAS SITTING IDLY IN PARK AND NOTHING TOUCHED THE VEHICLE. *TR
TAKATA INFLATORS AIRBAGS AND GAGES ON DASH. IN AN ACCIDENT AIRBAGS DIDN'T RELEASED.
SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS.
I GOT IN MY VEHICLE TO COME HOME. PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START THE CAR AND AS I DID, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED IN MY FACE. I HAD NOT EVEN PUT THE CAR IN GEAR YET.
2004 AVALANCHE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN 2005 DEALERSHIP REPLACE AIRBAG UNIT SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN 2007 DEALERSHIP CLAIMED WIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN 2009 VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY AND LIGHT NOW STAYS ON WITH NO APPARENT FIX AVAILABLE STARTED RESEARCHING FORUMS ON THE INTERNET…
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2004 AVALANCHE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN 2005 DEALERSHIP REPLACE AIRBAG UNIT SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN 2007 DEALERSHIP CLAIMED WIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN 2009 VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY AND LIGHT NOW STAYS ON WITH NO APPARENT FIX AVAILABLE STARTED RESEARCHING FORUMS ON THE INTERNET AND REALIZED THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER GM VEHICLES ARE RUNNING INTO THE SAME ISSUE NO DEATHS FROM LACK OF DEPLOYMENT IN MY TRUCK TO REPORT. *TR
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAIN ON AT ALL TIMES NOW. HAS BEEN AN HABITUAL PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE, YET MULTIPLE DEALERS ARE UNWILLING TO HELP WITH THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY AVALANCHE WHICH I BOUGHT NEW THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A T-BONE COLLISION AT APPROX. 35 MPH ACROSS THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE . THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SHOULDER HARNESS LATCH EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. I FEEL THIS MAY BE A SAFETY CONCERN SO I AM MAKING YOU AWARE OF THIS.PROBLEM SINCE I W…
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I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY AVALANCHE WHICH I BOUGHT NEW THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A T-BONE COLLISION AT APPROX. 35 MPH ACROSS THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE . THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SHOULDER HARNESS LATCH EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. I FEEL THIS MAY BE A SAFETY CONCERN SO I AM MAKING YOU AWARE OF THIS.PROBLEM SINCE I WAS INJURED . THE CAR I HIT HAD PULLED OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER ACOSS IN FRONT OF ME IT WAS A CHEVY CAVALIER , WHICH I HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR WHEELS. *TR
2004 AVALANCHE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. READ NUMEROUS FORUMS AND THIS SHOULD BE FIXED AT NO CHARGE DUE TO A SAFETY ISSUE. A LOT OF CHEVY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 02/22/2010. A VERY LARGE ICE CHEST FLEW OUT OF A VEHICLE SEVERAL CARS AHEAD OF ME ON THE HIGHWAY. TRAFFIC WAS GOING AROUND 55 - 60 MPH. THE FIRST CAR SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES, TRYING TO AVOID THE ICE CHEST. THE CAR BEHIND CRASHED INTO THEM AND SO ON. I WAS THE LAST VEHICLE IN THE COLLISION. I STOO…
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I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 02/22/2010. A VERY LARGE ICE CHEST FLEW OUT OF A VEHICLE SEVERAL CARS AHEAD OF ME ON THE HIGHWAY. TRAFFIC WAS GOING AROUND 55 - 60 MPH. THE FIRST CAR SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES, TRYING TO AVOID THE ICE CHEST. THE CAR BEHIND CRASHED INTO THEM AND SO ON. I WAS THE LAST VEHICLE IN THE COLLISION. I STOOD ON MY BRAKES AND MADE EVERY EFFORT TO STOP BEFORE CRASHING INTO THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. I CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF THE FORD F-250, INFLICTING MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THEIR TAILGATE. THE FRONT OF MY AVALANCHE WAS CRUSHED. IT WAS A FULL FRONT CRASH - WITH A LITTLE MORE DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FRONT TIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS CUT IN THE CRASH. THE PASSENGER SIDE A/C VENT WAS JAMMED BY THE ACCIDENT. I HAD INJURY TO MY C-SPINE, KNEES, ARMS, CHEST, ETC. THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT, SO I DIDN'T HIT THE WINDSHIELD. BUT HAD THAT FAILED, I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE AVALANCHE IS IN THE BODY SHOP NOW. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT, CODE OR OTHER INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE NO FAITH IN MY AIR BAGS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I'D RATHER NOT WAIT FOR A FATAL ACCIDENT TO PROVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
Official recalls
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.