RoadVitals

2004 Chevrolet W-Series

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.
4
Latest Mar 17, 2010
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.
1
Latest Jun 19, 2013
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.
0
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet W-Series, most frequently naming the brakes and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 278 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

  • Brakes250.0%
  • Electrical250.0%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
13V259000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Jun 19, 2013
1,774 units potentially affected
The defect: Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain model year 2001-2013 Isuzu N-Series; model year 2001-2010 Chevrolet and GMC W-Series; model year 2001-2004 Isuzu FRR and model year 2001-2004 Chevrolet and GMC WT5500 trucks. The affected vehicles are equipped with an optional oil pan heater (RPO code IG3). Debris may collect at the contact point of the heater plug and the extension cord. This may cause overheating of the extension cord.
The risk: Overheating of the extension cord could melt the oil pan heater plug and/or block heater plug, resulting in an increased risk of fire.
The remedy: Isuzu will notify owners and dealers will inspect the trucks. The extension cord and damaged components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2013. Owners may contact Isuzu at 1-866-441-9638.
Isuzu Manufacturing Services of AmericaView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Electrical
Filed Mar 17, 2010

SPEEDOMETER BASELINE IS NOW 100 MPH. GOES UP FROM THERE BUT NOT BELOW. TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESET IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10320419
Incident
Feb 18, 2010
Mileage
104,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 13, 2009

MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 ALLEGRO MOTORHOME BY TIFFIN BUILT ON A CHEVY WORKHORSE CHASSIS. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH HAS A SMALL LCD DISPLAY FOR ODOMETER, OIL PRESSURE, AND MPG READOUTS. THE DISPLAY HAS MOSTLY FAILED AND THE INFORMATION DISPLAYED IS NOT READABLE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY IS MADE BY ACTIA CORP. AND I HAVE RECEIVED NO HELP FROM THEM OR CHEVY OR TIFFIN CONCERNING THIS FAILURE. WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME? *TR

NHTSA ID
10265090
Incident
Oct 20, 2008
Mileage
36,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 20, 2005
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS BEING USE OFF THE ROAD CLIMBING A STEEP BANK. WHEN IT BROKE TRACTION THE DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE BOTTOM AND WITH NO BRAKING EFFECT. IT HIT A TRUCK FOLLOWING IT DAMAGING THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPT AND DEEMED TO BE NORMAL. WE TESTED THE TRUCK ON A SIMILAR BANK AND FOUND THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. WE THEN TRIED FIVE OTHER CHEVYS (2003 &2004 MODELS) AND FOUND THE SAME BRAKE FAILURE IN ALL FIVE EVERY TIME TRACTION WAS BROKEN. WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM CHEVROLET WITNESS OUR TEST AND ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT THEIR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SAID THE BRAKES ARE NORMAL. WE CALLED CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND DIDN'T GET A DIRECTION FROM THEM. WE ARE WRITING CHEVROLET/GM, BUT DON'T KNOW WHERE OR WHO TO SEND THE COMPLAINT TO. SO FAR WE HAVE HAD NO RESULTS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10118175
Incident
Mar 23, 2005
Mileage
62,976 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 13, 2004

THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT FIXED, IT IS A CHEVY 2500HD DURAMAX DIESEL. THE VEHICLE HAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES FAILING TO STOP! WE HAVE TAKEN SAID VEHICLE TO, TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, NEITHER COULD FIND PROBLEM AND CONTINUE TO TRY DIFFERENT PARTS. THE VEHICLE HAS A HYDRALIC POWER BOOSTER ON ORDER TO SEE IF THIS RECTIFY'S THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE BRAKES FAIL ITS LIKE PUSHING YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND MEETING FORCE, BY USING EXTREME FORCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL YOU CAN BYPASS THE FORCE, HOWEVER THIS CAUSES A PANIC STOP.*AK

NHTSA ID
10095700
Incident
Aug 6, 2004
Mileage
7,000 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.

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.

General Communication

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

24-NA-141

POWER TRAIN

GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or inadequate packaging or shipping. This bulletin advises the dealers to be more careful not to damage the transmissions during removal and to package the core properly for return.

16-NA-383

ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.

18-NA-099

This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as a Product Allegation Resolution (PAR) claim.

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 W-Series by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2011000—
2010110—
2009010—
2008010—
2007010—
2006010—
2005010—
2004Viewing410—
2003110—
2002010—
2001110—
2000000—
1999000—

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.