2004 Chevrolet Colorado Reliability
The 2004 Chevrolet Colorado has 361 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and body structure. Compared with nearby Colorado model years (2004–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Colorado's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
361
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
11
Complaints citing a crash
13
Complaints citing a fire
2004 Chevrolet Colorado complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 model year, filed between 2004 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 88 | 24% |
| Body structure | 61 | 17% |
| Service brakes | 51 | 14% |
| Exterior lighting | 43 | 12% |
| Suspension | 35 | 10% |
| Air bags | 29 | 8% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 27 | 7% |
| Visibility / wipers | 26 | 7% |
2004 Chevrolet Colorado recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2004 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06V139000 | Apr 27, 2006 | 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… |
| 09V310000 | Jul 29, 2009 | 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,… |
| 10V575000 | Nov 18, 2010 | 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… |
How the 2004 compares with nearby Colorado years
Verdicts compare these Colorado model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 (this page) | 361 | 3 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2005 | 356 | 3 | Service brakes | Avoid |
| 2006 | 236 | 4 | Electrical system | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2004 Chevrolet Colorado can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2004 Chevrolet Colorado reliability FAQ
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado reliable?
The 2004 Chevrolet Colorado has 361 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and body structure. Compared with nearby Colorado model years (2004–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Colorado's typical year.
What are the most common 2004 Chevrolet Colorado problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado are electrical system (88), body structure (61), service brakes (51), exterior lighting (43). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado, including 06V139000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch) and 09V310000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado compare with the 2003 and 2005 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2005 has 356 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid). The 2004 has 361 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2004 Chevrolet Colorado?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Chevrolet Colorado research
Other Chevrolet Colorado model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2004 Colorado, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.