Most common 2004 Chevrolet Tracker problems
Share of the 15 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Tracker complaints by model year
Best Tracker years: 1996, 2004, 1998. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 Chevrolet Tracker:
Front suspension crossmember corrosion
In October 2007, GM initiated a special coverage program for all my 1999 through 2004 Chevrolet tracker vehicles sold or currently registered in salt-belt states.the program extends the warranty coverage for front suspension crossmember corrosion to 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first.GM is administering the program in phases due to part availability.the first phase started in October 2007 and covers…
What 2004 Chevrolet Tracker owners say
Suspension
I purchased a vehicle from a friend that is 20 years old but runs great and he takes great care of his vehicles. This one was his away car, in that he was here only 6 months of the year and drove this one mainly when he was here and only put on about 2-3 thousand miles per year. He told me he was scraping the car so I offered him scrap value but little to my knowledge that the total frame is rotted from inside to out and on driving it home it thumped, shook rattled and scared the crap out of me. I had no idea being a car person all my life that this vehicle would be allowed on the road with only 84k on it it is undriveable and even a pro welder would not work on it.
My car is in excellent shape I store it right and wash all the salt off during winter there was no corrosion or at least I thought until I was driving down the road the car started shaking violently causing me to go off the road and hit a tree come to find out my front crossmember was extrrememly corroded but the metal right next to it was not corroded at all so they used inferior metal the accident damaged the fenders bumper and lights it also destroyed my sway bar links struts and strut mounts I take good care of my car and when I called Chevy the told me they knew about it and that the would not do anything about it.
Air bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tracker. The contact stated that while driving in the snow, she lost control of the vehicle and crashed the front of end into an embankment. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact suffered contusions and bruising to the torso region. A police report was taken. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000. Updated 04/22/14 the consumer stated she hit a patch of ice while driving, she veered off the highway lost control of the vehicle, and flipped over 3 times. Update 04/24/14
Myself and 2 daughters were in a head on wreck 2/04/2010 when a guy pulled out in front of us, neither of the airbags deployed. My daughter hit the windshield and I hit the steering wheel and dash. The pregnant one was thankfully in the back seat.
Steering
I purchased a vehicle from a friend that is 20 years old but runs great and he takes great care of his vehicles. This one was his away car, in that he was here only 6 months of the year and drove this one mainly when he was here and only put on about 2-3 thousand miles per year. He told me he was scraping the car so I offered him scrap value but little to my knowledge that the total frame is rotted from inside to out and on driving it home it thumped, shook rattled and scared the crap out of me. I had no idea being a car person all my life that this vehicle would be allowed on the road with only 84k on it it is undriveable and even a pro welder would not work on it.
Driving on expressway car started to vibrate and shake severely. The car was pulling to the left and steering became difficult, experiencing partial loss of control. I pulled over to shoulder of highway and upon investigation noticed the cross beam was rusted through and the left drivers side control arm had broke free. I had the car towed to the nearest Chevrolet dealer and was told the vehicle was three months past the extended coverage. I had the Tracker checked previously for this problem when I received a letter from Chevrolet about a possible issue and was told there was not an issue with my car. Really! If Chevrolet knew there was a safety issue, it should have been repaired to begin with.
2004 Chevrolet Tracker engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 20 / 18 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 20 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Tracker a good car?
Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Tracker rates better than average: 78% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Tracker at the same age. It is one of the best Tracker years by this measure. 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 Tracker?
The suspension — 6 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › control arm › lower arm. Next are the air bags (4) and steering (3).
How many recalls does the 2004 Chevrolet Tracker have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2004 Chevrolet Tracker. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Tracker?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1996, 2004 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000 and 2001. See the full Chevrolet Tracker years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Tracker problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 20,000 miles; 73% 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.