The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear brakes needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired however, the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic who replaced the parking brakes and the brake fluid; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the brake pedal would hesitate to respond when depressed, causing a 100-feet in stopping distance delay. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 04V045000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) since the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000.
The worst 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical60
- Brakes42
- Transmission14
- Fuel system11
- Steering10
- Airbags9
- Visibility9
- Body7
- Engine7
- Suspension7
- Acceleration5
- Wheels3
- Lights2
- Locks2
- Seat belts2
- Driver assistance1
- Tires1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
Recalls 5
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- On certain trucks equipped with an 8.1l v8 (rpo l8-VIN g) engine have a condition in which the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip may fracture resulting in inadequate retention of the damper.
- Risk
- If the damper comes loose, a fuel leak may result. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip free of charge. The recall began on august 31, 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438 and gmc trucks at 1‑866‑996‑9463.
Recall number 06V289000 · Recall details
Seat belts: rear/other
- What is wrong
- On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing may make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips of occupants, especially smaller occupants, seated in this position. Appropriate use of a child seat or booster seat, as recommended for small children, does improve the fit condition for this user group. In addition to instructions on proper infant and young child restraint (with child seats or boosters), special verbiage for restraining older child is included in the owner's manual. Also, the suggested seat belt fit/routing for adults, irrespective of seating position, is described in the owner's manual text.
- Risk
- A lap portion of the seat belt routing that is not low and snug on the hips can allow the lap belt to ride up on an occupant's abdomen instead of fitting low around their hipbones, and therefore, can expose them to more risk of abdominal and internal organ injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on july 21, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463, or hummer at 1‑800‑732‑5493.
Recall number 05V163000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic
- What is wrong
- Certain trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans equipped with bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies, the hydraulic brake booster pressure accumulator may crack and separate from the hydro-boost assembly during normal operating conditions.
- Risk
- If a separation occurred and the hood of the vehicle were open, fragments from the accumulator could cause injury to people in the immediate area. The presence of this crack or fractured surface could allow the hydraulic fluid to leak from the accumulator circuit of the booster assembly. The loss of fluid would cause increased steering and braking effort and a crash may occur without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two-function valve. If the hydro-boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge. The recall began on march 23, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc trucks at 1‑866‑996‑9463 and hummer at 1‑800‑732‑5493.
Recall number 05V043000 · Recall details
Structure: body: tailgate: hinge and attachments
- What is wrong
- On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the galvanized steel tailgate support cables that retain the tailgate in the full open (horizontal) position may corrode, weaken, and eventually fracture. If both cables fractured, the tailgate would suddenly drop and strike the top surface of the rear bumper.
- Risk
- Anyone sitting or standing on the horizontal surface of the tailgate when both cables fractured could be injured by falling from the tailgate. On vehicles that have had the bumper removed, the tailgate may drop even lower. Additionally, if there is cargo on the tailgate the cargo may fall off if the support cables fracture.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the cables. Interim owner notification began on april 7, 20004. The recall began on september 24, 2004, when replacement parts were available, and will continue through october 29, 2004. Owners should contact cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438 or gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463, or visit www.mygmlink.com, and enter your vehicle identification number.
Recall number 04V129000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic
- What is wrong
- Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, ?passenger car brake systems.? Some of these vehicles were produced with an out-of-specification brake hydro-boost housing relief valve bore.
- Risk
- Consequently, the valve o-ring seal may fracture. Steering efforts may be slightly increased while braking or parking. Under certain driving conditions, a fractured seal may require a slight increase in the applied brake pedal effort to achieve the same vehicle deceleration rate as prior to the seat fracture.
- Remedy
- Dealers are to replace the hydro-boost relief valve. The recall began on june 18, 2004. Owners should contact cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339; chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438; gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463; or hummer at 1‑866‑486‑6376.
Recall number 04V045000 · Recall details
See all 5 recalls for the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
Defect investigations
Hydraulic pump failres
Gm is conducting a recall on all subject vehicles build between may 1999 and october 14, 1999.significant changes were incorporated into production in early october 1999, and vehicles built after that date have lower warranty failure rates.the complaint and warranty data appear to support the effectiveness of these changes. Gm made additional changes in november 1999, february 2000, may 2001, and february 2004.odi will continue to monitor this problem and will take further action, if warranted, in the future.for further technical details see the attached engineering analysis report.
EA04012
Technical service bulletins for the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche 334
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual
- Equipment: electrical
- This preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about finding needle...
- This informational bulletin provides information on Part Restriction and Ordering Process Information for...
- This informational bulletin provides information on close coupled converters and there affect on newly...
- Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor
- This informational bulletin provides information to advise dealers about seat belt buckles not operating...
- This informational bulletin provides technicians with information regarding automatic transmission oil...
- This informational bulletin provides dealership personnel with information on flexible fuel vehicles...
- This informational bulletin provides information on a GM of Canada OnStar® cellular communication upgrade.
2004 Chevrolet Avalanche fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3L 8‑cyl | RWD | 13-14 | 17-18 | 14-15 |
| 5.3L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 13 | 17 | 14 |
What 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
4"takata recall" the contact owns a 2004 chevy avalanche with a set of capitol precision trac ll tires on it. While pulling off in the vehicle and driving around 35 MPH you could feel the back end shaking and wobbling like the lug nuts were loose. The vehicle was pulled off the road to investigate the shaking issue where was found that the tires tread was separating making humps and waves in the tread. This happened on the highway at 92,207 miles on vehicle and 7, 319 miles on 265/70r17 capitol precision trac ll tires. The vehicle was parked for a few days until getting tires to replace the capitol tires but once the vehicle started moving to take it to the shop to replace the tires the front had started to shake just like the back at 92,221 miles on the vehicle but not as much. Walmart changed the tires and the technician reported the tires were really bad with tread separating from the tire and also that this brand tire were recalled. I have taken these tires back to tire pros where it was purchased and now is awaiting them to send these tires back to the tire company for an investigation of the tire. The recall # is 14t013-8570 if I'm not mistaken.
My vehicle has a kelsey hayes ABS module that has already failed twice. First at about 75.000 miles and now at 130.000 miles, always while driving. The module was recalled in 2002 and the manufacturer was given a chance to redesign it, but it is still a bad part. The blogs are full of owners constantly complaining about this. I had to take gm to the mat to replace the first one since the truck was manufactured after the first recall. This time around I didn't have the time or patience to do so an went ahead an replaced it out of my own pocket. Ia m also stuck with this part as it is not replaceable with any other brand. This is a dangerous glitch that needs to be addressed before someone gets badly hurt. In addition to this problem, the location of the unit (outside the vehicle and exposed to all sort of inclement environments) is ridiculous! No clever designer would have chosen this placement.
Module kit,f/tnk f/pmp,lvl s/fuel pump module assembly is leaking fuel, becase of poor grade plastic and metal construction, this also happened on my 2002 trailblazer but was covered by a recall,no such recall covers my 2004 avalache even though it is the same problem, cost to fix 870.89 estimate, to remove gas tank and replace fuel pump module assembly, cant send pics have drop gas tank and that cost is 250.00, vehile stars slowly then when parked empties fuel lines on top of tank then on to ground very dangerous, service manager big jim 319 261 0999 , says this is a common problem, he knew what it was before inspecting on houste, if 2002 is covered why is 2004 not covered? Want my 1000.00 back from gm
My son had borrowed the truck and was returning it with his 4 and 5 year old sons in the vehicle. He was in a traffic circle and had to brake to avoid an accident. Immediately afterwards the brake failure warning came on and the truck had no brakes. Fortunately he was only going about 25 MPH and was able to park it on the shoulder and no one was injured. I was able to get it to a local dealer for repair to the tune of $1,952. They diagnosed the problem as a rusted brake line that ruptured and damaged the left caliper. We got no prior warning of the brake failure. In 2012 I also had a sudden brake failure while leaving a parking garage. There was no prior warning or indication that the brakes were not functioning. Again I took it to a local dealer and was told that there was a leak in the master cylinder and I had to have that replaced. No one mentioned anything at that time about rusting brake lines. Although the truck is 11 years old it only has 67,871 miles.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet avalanche. While driving approximately 7 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The ABS warning indicator illuminated. The emergency brake was engaged and the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the brake lines were rusted and the vehicle had multiple brake leaks. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet avalanche. The contact stated that the brake system failed when the brake pedal was depressed and the brake system failed to engage. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power booster and the ABS system were severely corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet avalanche. While reversing at a low speed, the brake pedal was depressed but it took a longer distance to stop the vehicle. The brake warning light illuminated and service brake system was displayed across the message board. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact discovered that one of the brake lines had fractured. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,000.
The brake line burst as I was shifting into drive could not stop vehicle, shifted it into park and was able to stop before hitting someone. Why are these lines not made of stainless steel? Better yet why is this agency not doing anything about this? They jump all over a key switch that may cause a problem but do nothing for something as important as be able to safely stop our vehicles.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet avalanche. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator flashed and remained illuminated. The dealer stated that the driver side air bag module needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 167,000.
Compare the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
Other model years
Questions about the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche reliable?
Owners have filed 165 complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche, 1.5 times a typical Avalanche model year.
What is the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche year score?
The 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche scores 58 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Avalanche: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche?
Electrical system, with 60 complaints, typically around 50,800 miles. Next is brakes (42).
How many recalls does the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche have?
5 recalls, covering engine and engine cooling, seat belts and service brakes, hydraulic.
What year does the Chevrolet Avalanche have the most electrical problems?
The Chevrolet Avalanche model years with the most electrical complaints are 2004 (60 complaints), 2003 (42 complaints) and 2007 (24 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche get?
Official estimates for the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche range from 14 to 15 mpg combined. The most efficient version (5.3L 8-cyl, RWD) gets 13-14 city and 17-18 highway.
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