RoadVitals

2004 Chevrolet Tracker

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Apr 20, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 15 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Tracker, most frequently naming the suspension, airbags and body & structure categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 351 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Suspension628.6%
  • Airbags419.0%
  • Body & structure314.3%
  • Steering314.3%
  • Powertrain (other)14.8%
  • Transmission14.8%
  • Brakes14.8%
  • Heating & air conditioning14.8%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA06018ClosedEngineering Analysis

FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER CORROSION

Opened Oct 30, 2006
Closed Dec 3, 2007

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 THE MY 1999 AND 2000 VEHICLES.OWNERS OF MY 2001 THROUGH 2004 VEHICLES WILL RECEIVE LETTERS AT A FUTURE DATE, BUT ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FREE REPAIRS FROM THE PROGRAM IF THE CROSSMEMBER REQUIRES REPLACEMENT.GM'S PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE INSPECTIONS FOR CONSUMERS EVERY 12 MONTHS THROUGH THE TERMS OF THE POLICY ADJUSTMENT.COPIES OF THE DEALER BULLETIN AND OWNER LETTER FOR GM'S SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM ARE ATTACHED TO THE CLOSING REPORT FOR THIS INVESTIGATION. THE RATE OF CONFIRMED LCA SEPARATIONS AT 5 YEARS IN SERVICE IS LESS THAN 10 PER 100,000 VEHICLES, WHICH IS LOW RELATIVE TO OTHER INVESTIGATIONS OF FRONT SUSPENSION ISSUES PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED BY ODI. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

SteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 20, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID
11584191
Incident
Apr 10, 2024
Airbags
Filed Apr 15, 2018
Crash reported

TAKATA INFLATORS RECALL DID NOT INFLATE ON IMPACT

NHTSA ID
11085134
Incident
Jan 13, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 8, 2017
Crash reported3 injuries reported

THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL. HOW EVEN ON DEC 19, 2016 THIS VEHICLE WAS TOTALED IN A FRONT END CRASH. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT CAME LOOSE.

NHTSA ID
10950218
Incident
Dec 19, 2016
Mileage
69,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT NOTIFY THE CONTACT OF A MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR RUST AND CORROSION ON THE CROSS MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN INSPECTION, AND THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER BAR HAD EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THE STATUTE HAD EXPIRED FOR THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE CROSS MEMBER. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF EITHER A DEALER OR A MECHANIC WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE TO PASS AN INSPECTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,932.

NHTSA ID
10896414
Incident
Aug 16, 2016
Mileage
45,932 mi
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 19, 2014

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626441
Incident
Aug 18, 2014
Mileage
142,347 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jul 31, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE DUST SHIELD ON THE REAR BRAKES BECAME CORRODED. THE CONTACT WANTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PART WAS OBSOLETE AND NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ID
10617895
Incident
Jul 24, 2014
Mileage
41,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed May 23, 2014
Crash reported

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593777
Incident
Apr 9, 2014
Mileage
200 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 5, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

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*LJ 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

NHTSA ID
10567426
Incident
Feb 23, 2014
Mileage
20,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIP5358D

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.

PIP4723J

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIT5099H

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

PIT5099H

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

PIT3271P

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Tracker by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004Viewing150148.8
2003690148.8
2002590145.3
2001830144.8
20001090245.8
1999490143.5
1998100026.4
1997400
1996700
1995300
1994000
1993100
1992100
1991000
1990100
1989100

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.