What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2004 Chevrolet Colorado

Typical pattern

10.2% of complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2004 vehicle — around the middle of the 236 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (88 complaints), typically at 7.0 yr or about 75,000 miles.

Complaints
502
Median age at failure
5.4 yr
Median mileage
53,000 n=396
Crash / fire / tow
8.8% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
88 reports · 75,000 mi
7.0 yr
10.2%
Structure
62 reports · 115,440 mi
13.7 yr
1.6%
Exterior lighting
45 reports · 47,500 mi
3.2 yr
4.4%
Suspension
35 reports · 43,000 mi
5.1 yr
2.9%
Service brakes, hydraulic
34 reports · 40,880 mi
4.1 yr
8.8%
Air bags
29 reports · 97,344 mi
8.3 yr
27.6%
Visibility
28 reports · 45,000 mi
3.6 yr
10.7%
Power train
28 reports · 16,400 mi
1.8 yr
7.1%
Engine cooling
23 reports · 32,000 mi
2.8 yr
0%
Other
22 reports · 98,833 mi
14.6 yr
0%
Tires
19 reports · 7,800 mi
1.8 yr
10.5%
Speed control
15 reports · 36,500 mi
2.7 yr
26.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

10V575000 2010-11-18
Child seat

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2011, CHEVROLET COLORADO, GMC CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006, ISUZU I-280/I-350, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008, I-290/I-370, REGULAR CAB VEHICLES AND EXTENDED CAB VEHICLES WITHOUT A REAR SEAT AND EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT 60/40 SPLIT BENCH SEAT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE AND THE OWNER MANUAL DOES NOT INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING HOW TO USE THE TOP TETHER.

BOTH NHTSA AND GM DISCOURAGE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A FRONT SEAT. NEVERTHELESS, THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY REQUIRE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD IN A RESTRAINT IN THE FRONT CENTER SEATING POSITION OF THIS VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT OFFER A REAR SEAT. LACK OF ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR AND A LACK OF INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO USE IT, MAY RESULT IN IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAI

09V310000 2009-07-29
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

GM IS RECALLING 185,903 MODEL YEAR 2004-2009 COLORADO, GMC MODEL YEAR 2009-2004 CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006 I-280, I-350, MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 I-290, AND I-370, PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, PUERTO RICO, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND UTAH. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A BRAKE LAMP SWITCH THAT MAY NOT WORK AS DESIGNED DUE TO CONTAMINATION IN THE SWITCH.

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS OR CAUSE ALL OF THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

06V139000 2006-04-27
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE THE PERMANENT LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP FUNCTION OR BRAKE LAMPS THAT ARE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP (CHMSL) IS AFFECTED IN BOTH INSTANCES. ALSO, IF EQUIPPED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE. ANY TRAILER BRAKE LAMPS WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LAMP WIRING WILL MIMIC THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LAMPS WHEN EITHER CONDITION OCCURS.

A FOLLOWING DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, AND A REAR-END CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

In owners’ own words

Structure 200 mi 5 mo in service crash / fire / tow
LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE 2004 GM COLORADO PICKUP TRUCK THE TAILGATE OPEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE CABINET I WAS HAULING FELL OFF THE TRUCK INTO THE ROAD CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I WAS SURE THE DOOR WAS SHUT SECURELY BUT SOMEHOW IT JUST OPENED UP.*AK
Structure mileage not reported 7 mo in service
THE WIND NOISE IS ABSOLUTELY UNBEARABLE. AFTER YOU GET UP TO 40 MPH AND CLOSE THE WINDOWS IT SOUINDS LIKE A TORNADP INSIDE THE TRUCK, AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE. CALLED THE REGINAL REP AND WAS TOLD THAT IS THE WAY IT IS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. *AK
Structure mileage not reported 9 mo in service
PAINT ON TRUCK, MIDNIGHT BLUE, VERY DELICATE. CHIPS AND SCRATCHES ALL OVER TRUCK. SCRATCHES DOWN TO PRIMER. OWNED JUST OVER A MONTH, EXCELLENT TRUCK, SKIMPY PAINT JOB.*AK
Service brakes, hydraulic 1,400 mi 4 mo in service
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL PROCEEDED TO THE FLOOR AND PULSATED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

Other Colorado model years

2024202320222021202020192018201720162015200920082007200620052004

How to read this