Most common 2004 Chevrolet Colorado problems
Share of the 361 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Colorado complaints by model year
Best Colorado years: 2011, 2012, 2020. Years to avoid: 2016, 2015, 2024, 2023, 2017. Compare all years →
2004 Chevrolet Colorado recalls (3)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will cut a hole into the back panel trim cover to allow access to the top tether anchor for the front center seat position and will provide supplemental information as to use in the owner's manual.
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,…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the necessary components as specified in the recall bulletin free of charge. GM anticipates that parts will be available by June 2010.
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch assembly. The recall began on December 5, 2006. Owners May contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; GMC at 1-866-996-9463 or Isuzu at 1-800-255-6727.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado:
Brake lamp switch malfunction
On July 28,2009, GM initiated a regional recall campaign on certain model year (my) 2004-2009 Chevrolet colorado and GMC canyon vehicles and my2006-2008 Isuzu I-series vehicles.the states and U.S. Territories involved are al, az, fl, ga, hi, la, ms, nv, nm, pr, sc, tx, vi and ut.a total of 185,903 vehicles will be recalled with 92,272 vehicles within the scope of this investigation.in addition, a special…
Inadvertent front airbag deployment
All reports indicate inadvertent deployment during ignition start-up (key-on) and with the vehicle not in motion.reported injuries were minor and consist of skin abrasion and bruises.the incident dates ranged from July through November 2004.odi has received no additional reports since opening this investigation.
What 2004 Chevrolet Colorado owners say
Electrical system all 88 →
Body Control Module, BCM. Controls everything. Air bag can deploy, breaks can lock up. Mine, the hazards were staying on. Chevy Dealer says they are on National Back Order and GM is canceling those orders after so long placed. "We can get you one from a junk yard for $350 but GM won't let us properly program them with correct codes, and so many times they won't take, and I can't return the part". My response to GM already and to Congressman Westerman, BBB, and the WH. A part such as the on board computer, SAFETY first, should never come from a junk yard and if GM doesn't want to supply the part AS we all know they need them for newer cars right now..... You, the NHTSB and all of us are in danger. There is an expiration date on our cars, but we're not being told. A computer that controls EVERYTHING in a vehicle is more important than a safety belt. Me not wearing it kills me. …
One day, after I turned my truck off, I noticed that my taillights and overhead cargo light remained on. Key was out, truck was off, but the lights stayed on. So for the time being, I disconnected the battery. I brought it to a mechanic, who ran the codes that came back that the rear driver turn signal was high, the rear passenger turn signal was high, and the overhead cargo light was high. He checked the entire truck for a short, replaced the taillights, replaced the fuse box, replaced the body control module, and numerous other attempts at a repair, with no success. I was without a vehicle for many months, since I can't afford the absurd prices of the current vehicle market and was hopeful it could be fixed. Reading through some other complaints/online threads, this seems like a fairly common problem with these vehicles. …
Body & structure all 61 →
I was checking on the common rear cab rust and noticed the frame looked rusted through just in front of the rear wheel suspension mount. I took it to my local mechanic (Bob's Repair of Mayer) and they said it was not safe to drive. It is a complete blindside to me and now I have to find a spare (safe) car to help drive around my newborn and toddler. I am going to attempt to repair the frame as I do not have any other options for vehicles. There were obviously no warnings are notices that about this issue, but it seems to be uncannily common for this generation of Chevrolet vehicles. The truck only has 160,000 miles on it and surface rust on the cab. The vehicle is not drivable and not safe as the frame could give away at any moment.
Mechanic had the truck on the lift raised up to check the brakes for squeaking and while under the truck the mechanic inspected the frame because he noticed a lot of rust and called me to come look at it and pointed out that the frame has rotted to the point that he should not be driven and could break in half and cause major problems for the safety of the occupants and other drivers on the road. I looked up online if other Colorado owners had the same issue and others have the same problem. I'm am forced to junk this vehicle even though the rest of the truck is in very good condition
Brakes all 52 →
The brake light switch has failed multiple times. It was covered twice under a recall. Switches only last 1.5-2 years. There is no warning or dash light when they go out. I have almost been rear ended twice. Happened again April 13, 2015. I drove it straight to the dealer when I found out in traffic. I knew it was the brake switch again and the dealer confirmed. The dealer called GM to see if they would cover the replacement. They refused. The dealer gave me a discount as they know it is an issue and charged me $87 to change. This is the second time I have had to pay. He gave me this number to call but that was no use as they refused last time. [phone]. Most concerning to me is the lack of concern by GM to fix a know safety issue in the brake and light system. Someone probably has or will be seriously injured or killed. …
My cruise control and my rear driver's side top tail light went out a week or so ago. Today, my stop lights stopped working completely, including the 3rd brake light. I was almost rear ended and another driver informed me that my brake lights didn't work. After researching the issue, I discovered that the problems I'm experiencing are related to 2 switches above my brake pedal-the stop lamp switch and the brake cruise release switch.I called the Chevy recall hotline and provided my VIN #. The girl lacy informed me there wasn't a recall for my vehicle and that they would do nothing to help me get the problem resolved. I've seen numerous reports online of other people with the same issue being denied as well. The reference # to my call is [redacted]. …
2004 Chevrolet Colorado engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 18 / 24 / 21 |
| 3.5L 5-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 2.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 22 / 19 |
| 2.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
| 3.5L 5-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 2.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
| 3.5L 5-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
| 3.5L 5-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado a good car?
Based on 361 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Colorado rates avoid: 2.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Colorado at the same age. It is one of the Colorado years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado?
The electrical system — 88 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about 12v/24v/48v battery. Next are the body & structure (61) and brakes (52).
How many recalls does the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado, the most recent from November 18, 2010 (child seat). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Colorado?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2012 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016, 2015, 2024, 2023 and 2017. See the full Chevrolet Colorado years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Colorado problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 58,000 miles; 46% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.