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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

7 reports
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30,000 miles · Jun 9, 2015
Fuel System, GasolineSeat BeltsService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LAMP FLASHED RANDOMLY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY TO SECURE AND RETRA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LAMP FLASHED RANDOMLY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY TO SECURE AND RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE FUEL LINES WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAILGATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E043000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), 05V163000 (SEAT BELTS), 05V043000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 04V129000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 8/17/15*CN

NHTSA ODI #10724271

71,000 miles · Apr 8, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTY LINES ALONG FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE OF MY 2004 CHEVY AVALANCHE. LINE BROKE AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS A SLIGHT AMOUNT OF REAR BRAKING POWER LEFT BUT THE TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE LINES WERE REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY…

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BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTY LINES ALONG FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE OF MY 2004 CHEVY AVALANCHE. LINE BROKE AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS A SLIGHT AMOUNT OF REAR BRAKING POWER LEFT BUT THE TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE LINES WERE REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I WENT TO PUT THE TRUCK IN GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324488

40,000 miles · Oct 6, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION ON MY 2004 AVALANCHE WHICH STARTED AT 40,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS CONSTANT AND COULD BE DANGEROUS. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THE 1998- 2002 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT ON 03-04 ETC.. I KNOW OF AN 03 WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND HE HIT A POLE. I CONTACTED GM AND A PAT O'BRIEN DEALERSHIP IN MEDINA OH…

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UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION ON MY 2004 AVALANCHE WHICH STARTED AT 40,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS CONSTANT AND COULD BE DANGEROUS. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THE 1998- 2002 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT ON 03-04 ETC.. I KNOW OF AN 03 WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND HE HIT A POLE. I CONTACTED GM AND A PAT O'BRIEN DEALERSHIP IN MEDINA OHIO AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THIS PROBLEM UNLESS I PAY FOR. IT EFFECTS TRUCKS ONLY IN THE SNOW BELT AREAS, I LIVE IN OHIO. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10286538

38,916 miles · May 16, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED BRAKE FAILURE COMING TO A STOP. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BRAKE FLUID WAS GUSHING OUT FROM UNDER DRIVER'S DOOR. LATER EXAMINATION REVEALED BRAKE LINES SEVERELY RUSTED AND ONE FAILED DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUSTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10268917

86,000 miles · Feb 6, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringStructure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAILGATE STRAPS WERE RUSTY AND BEGINNING TO FAIL. IN ADDITION, THE ABS SPEED SENSOR WAS SLOW AT STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE ABS WOULD PULSE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD TAKE LONGER TO STOP. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND VIBRATED WHEN DRIVING OVER A BU…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAILGATE STRAPS WERE RUSTY AND BEGINNING TO FAIL. IN ADDITION, THE ABS SPEED SENSOR WAS SLOW AT STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE ABS WOULD PULSE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD TAKE LONGER TO STOP. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND VIBRATED WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP. THE SHAFT BUSHING IS ALSO FAILING IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURES; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 3/5/09 *CN UPDATED 03/10/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10257709

80,000 miles · Oct 24, 2008
EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE MY 2004 CHEVY AVALANCHE DUE TO THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM GOING OUT WHICH MAKES THE POWER STEERING GO OUT AS WELL. PRIOR TO THE SYSTEM GOING COMPLETELY OUT IT OCCASIONALLY IT WOULD BE HARD TO TURN THE STEERI NG WHEEL UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE I CONTACTED THE RECALL DEPARTMENT IN REFERENCED TO THIS BUT THE…

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I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE MY 2004 CHEVY AVALANCHE DUE TO THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM GOING OUT WHICH MAKES THE POWER STEERING GO OUT AS WELL. PRIOR TO THE SYSTEM GOING COMPLETELY OUT IT OCCASIONALLY IT WOULD BE HARD TO TURN THE STEERI NG WHEEL UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE I CONTACTED THE RECALL DEPARTMENT IN REFERENCED TO THIS BUT THEY STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS THE YEAR AND MODEL FITTING THE RECALL MY VIN DOES NOT FALL IN THE BATCH. WHY IS THIS WHEN I AM HAVING THE PROBLEM WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE BRAKES GOING OUT. CAN THIS BE RECTIFIED. I HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED BUT IT STARTED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246610

46,003 miles · Jun 10, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2WD HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN 10 DAYS, NO PRIOR PROBLEMS NOTED. DROVE VEHICLE, NOTICED ABS LIGHT WAS ON, PARKED VEHICLE, TURNED IGNITION OFF, HEARD LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. TRACED NOISE TO ABS UNIT MOUNTED UNDER DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR BOARD, HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY TO STOP NOISE, WHEN BAT…

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2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2WD HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN 10 DAYS, NO PRIOR PROBLEMS NOTED. DROVE VEHICLE, NOTICED ABS LIGHT WAS ON, PARKED VEHICLE, TURNED IGNITION OFF, HEARD LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. TRACED NOISE TO ABS UNIT MOUNTED UNDER DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR BOARD, HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY TO STOP NOISE, WHEN BATTERY IS CONNECTED NOISE IMMEDIATELY STARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230454

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.