Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Chevrolet Colorado owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
In October 2015, I received a notice from GM indicating a fault with the airbags. The letter indicated that they would cover the repairs if the years had not exceeded 10 past manufacture, which, on a 2004 model this was already a disqualifier. They also indicated not in excess of 120K miles, again a disqualifier on my vehicle with 150K miles. Additionally, when I showed the letter to the local dealer, and they ran a vehicle report, the recall was not shown. For all intent then, GM is disregarding the faulty airbags on my vehicle. It is my understanding that when the indicator is on, the airbags are not functioning. I would think that an airbag issue, with a known cause by the manufacturer, should be a lifetime recall. I am the original owner of the truck. Originally, this was an intermittent problem when using the left rear door, but it is no longer so. …
Several months ago I received a safety recall for this vehicle. I took the truck to my Chevy dealership, they told me they could not perform the repair because the odometer had over 120,000 miles on it. My question is this, do all safety recalls no longer become safety problems when the odometer reaches a certain number ? If this is the case there must be thousands of safe unsafe vehicles on our highways due to this type of enforcement. Please tell me this is a joke.
While in parked or in motion, the air bag indicator lamp stays lit. I took it to two separate repair shops and they were unable to correct the problem. One shop removed the front passenger seat to check for faulty wires or connections and found none. I was advised to take my 2004 Chevrolet Colorado double cab truck back to the dealership where I purchased it, to have diagnosed & repaired. The problem still exist as of today.
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at 40 MPH impact. Driver's side seat belt failed to hold the driver in place , and the driver's side air bag failed to deploy. Driver sustained injuries, and was transported to the local hospital by an ambulance. Dealer was contacted, and the vehicle is at the body shop.
The airbags were deactivated due to the wires being damaged through normal use of the extended cab rear door. A normal mechanic shop wouldn't fix it, because it was a safety issue, so took the truck to the Chevrolet dealer, who confirmed the problem, and had to replace the wiring harness in that door.
Wires in the harness which pass from cab to left rear door break. The break disables the seat belt lock up mechanism. A broken wire causes the air bag readiness light to illuminate. The door open and close switch is inoperable. The left rear stereo speaker does not work.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
I put key into on position and airbag deployed and hit me in face. My face was red & swollen on right side where I was hit by bag. My truck not moving was parked my seatbelt was out side I was getting it on when bag deployed. GM is giving me a hard time! I keep getting 1800 customer service numbers they gave me a pac # but they have not followed up with me or dealer. I bought the truck it had 101,000 on it has 176,000 on it now. GM only agreed to take care of it after I told them I was in vehicle when the bag deployed. Still waiting for my truck to be fixed. Dealer told me the computer is fried so it needs bag and computer then maybe they can find out why it blew. Cost is $1500-2000 to fix they said it May do it again. So I left waiting and wondering what next? Luckily I had stopped for work supplies on my way home, and did not drive straight home! …
The air bag light would not go off. The power window on the drivers side rear would not operate from the drivers door master switch panel.the passenger side mirror stopped working. The airbag light remains on, the inoperative power rear window continues to be operational but only from the rear door switch and continues to be non responsive to the drivers door master panel. The all the power windows ceased to function and I found a blown fuse which when replaced allowed the three working windows to resume operation. I had a certified mechanic troubleshoot the airbag system with a computer program. He told me the airbag system would not reset due to a fault with the drivers side door airbag located in the "a" pillar. …
Dt: the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado extended cab. The child safety seat will not fit into rear extended cab fold down portion seat. The dealer talked to GM, and GM did not agree that this was a problem. GM came and took pictures of the seat inside the car, and said it did comply. The consumer had the seat inspected by three car safety seat inspectors ,and they told him that it did not pass , and it was not safe for the child. The infant seat will fit, but a larger seat will not. For a bigger seat to even come close to fitting in the back seat, the seat would have to be pushed up so much that it would endanger the person sitting in the front passenger seat because they would be so close to the air bag. There was no cut off switch for the air bag in this car.
NHTSA investigations
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.
Airbag complaints in other Colorado years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado, 8% of the model year's 361 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Chevrolet Colorado airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Colorado airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 97,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 8 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.