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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

What owners actually said

144 reports
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

50,000 miles · Sep 8, 2008
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE IN CHEVY AVALANCHE. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IS WIDELY DISCUSSED ON THE INTERNET, YET NO RECALL. 2004 CHEVY AVALANCHE Z71. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241270

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2008
Tires

I PURCHASED A VEHICLE,04 CHEVY AVALANCHE ,WHICH HAS A NEW SET OF API,SPECTOR ADVANTA SUV TIRES ON IT FROM AUCTION DIRECT IN RALEIGH,NC THIS AUG. THE TIRE SIZE IS 265/70R 17. DOT 3EEF MANF. DATE OF 10 08, I BELIEVE. THEY WILL NOT RUN SMOOTH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FROM 50 MPH TO 65-70 MPH WITH SOME VIBRATION AT LOWER SPEEDS,AFTER EXTEN…

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I PURCHASED A VEHICLE,04 CHEVY AVALANCHE ,WHICH HAS A NEW SET OF API,SPECTOR ADVANTA SUV TIRES ON IT FROM AUCTION DIRECT IN RALEIGH,NC THIS AUG. THE TIRE SIZE IS 265/70R 17. DOT 3EEF MANF. DATE OF 10 08, I BELIEVE. THEY WILL NOT RUN SMOOTH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FROM 50 MPH TO 65-70 MPH WITH SOME VIBRATION AT LOWER SPEEDS,AFTER EXTENSIVE BALANCING INCLUDING ROAD FORCE BALANCE, THEY STILL SHAKE THE VEHICLE VERY BAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ,MAKING DRIVING AWFUL,THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT AT ACTION DIRECT'S SERVICE CENTER,AND AT SIR WALTER CHEVROLET IN RALEIGH, NC,THE PROBLEM WAS ISOLATED TO THE TIRES. AUCTION DIRECT WILL NOT REPLACE THEM. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP,JAMES ARTHUR JONES *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240275

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2008
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MY 2004 CHEVY AVALANCHE HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230986

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

84,270 miles · Mar 18, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK VENT VALVE HAS FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO FILL THE TANK WITH GASOLINE. WHEN TRYING TO FILL THE TANK, THE PUMP WILL CONTINUOUSLY SHUT OFF. OPENING THE GAS TANK CAP ALSO RELEASES QUITE A BIT OF "AIR". APPROXIMATE COST TO REPLACE THE VENT VALVE/SOLENOID WILL BE $210.00 WHICH INCLUDES 2 HOURS OF LABOR. REPAIR FACIL…

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FUEL TANK VENT VALVE HAS FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO FILL THE TANK WITH GASOLINE. WHEN TRYING TO FILL THE TANK, THE PUMP WILL CONTINUOUSLY SHUT OFF. OPENING THE GAS TANK CAP ALSO RELEASES QUITE A BIT OF "AIR". APPROXIMATE COST TO REPLACE THE VENT VALVE/SOLENOID WILL BE $210.00 WHICH INCLUDES 2 HOURS OF LABOR. REPAIR FACILITY STATED THEY WERE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING MANY REQUESTS TO REPAIR THIS SAME ISSUE ON GM VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221553

105,000 miles · Mar 3, 2008
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER HAD STOPPED WORKING ON MY 04 AVALANCHE. NOT REALIZING THIS AND TRAVELING AT NIGHT WITH NO TRAFFIC I HAD GOTTEN PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING. ONCE I HAD STOPPED AND NOTICED THE GAGE WAS STUCK AT 60MPH I SHOWED IT TO THE OFFICER AND HE LET ME GO. I REALIZE THERE IS A RECALL OUT FOR THIS IF THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 70K…

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THE SPEEDOMETER HAD STOPPED WORKING ON MY 04 AVALANCHE. NOT REALIZING THIS AND TRAVELING AT NIGHT WITH NO TRAFFIC I HAD GOTTEN PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING. ONCE I HAD STOPPED AND NOTICED THE GAGE WAS STUCK AT 60MPH I SHOWED IT TO THE OFFICER AND HE LET ME GO. I REALIZE THERE IS A RECALL OUT FOR THIS IF THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 70K MILES BUT I AM OVER THAT BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF DRIVING I DO FOR MY JOB. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE COVERED FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, OR ALL CLUSTERS SHOULD BE CHANGED BECAUSE THEY WILL FAIL AT ONE POINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219873

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2008
Electrical System

I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. MY SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I HAVE CALLED THE CHEVROLET PLACE AND THEY ARE SAYING IT WILL BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. THEN ONE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. BUT IT WAS FOR 7 YEARS OR 70 THOUSAND MILES. I JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND IT WAS OVER THE MILEAGE…

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I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. MY SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. I HAVE CALLED THE CHEVROLET PLACE AND THEY ARE SAYING IT WILL BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. THEN ONE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. BUT IT WAS FOR 7 YEARS OR 70 THOUSAND MILES. I JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND IT WAS OVER THE MILEAGE WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS FIXED, WITH OUT BREAKING MY BANK.??? PLEASE HELP ME OUT ON THIS...... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219046

106,000 miles · Feb 13, 2008
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN ACTING ERRATICALLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217992

56,000 miles · Jan 28, 2008
Steering

THERE IS POPPING AND TWISTING MOTIONS IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF MY 04 AVALANCHE, IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY LIKE THAT AS I WAS TOLD. MY STEERING WHEEL EVENTUALLY TWISTED ALL THE WAY AROUND WITHOUT TURNING THE TIRES ONE DAY... THANK GOD NO ACCIDENT. VERY SERIOUS ISSUE WAS TOLD ALL AVALANCHES IN THIS YEAR POP AND TWIST LIKE THAT. HA…

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THERE IS POPPING AND TWISTING MOTIONS IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF MY 04 AVALANCHE, IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY LIKE THAT AS I WAS TOLD. MY STEERING WHEEL EVENTUALLY TWISTED ALL THE WAY AROUND WITHOUT TURNING THE TIRES ONE DAY... THANK GOD NO ACCIDENT. VERY SERIOUS ISSUE WAS TOLD ALL AVALANCHES IN THIS YEAR POP AND TWIST LIKE THAT. HAD TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN. OLD PART IS AT LANDFILL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216313

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.