AI Damage2004 Chevrolet Kodiak: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Chevrolet Kodiak filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 40% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 20% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 20% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 20% of all complaints
- 6 Tires 20% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The vehicle did not stall, but simply died at once without warning. The check engine light illuminated as a warning, and the engine shut off . The vehicle was used as a hauler that pulled a trailer delivering boats. When the engine died there was a loss of power, resulting in a loss of power steering and the brakes.
Dt*: the contact stated there were numerous problems with the vehicle. At 20,000 miles, the left wheel bearing backed out and at 87,000 miles, the drag link failed. While driving 80 mph, the vehicle suddenly down shifted to 20 mph with no effort from the contact.
Brake warning light for service brakes came on. Soft brake pedal. Further investigation revealed loss of brake fluid and brake fluid sprayed all over left front wheel, chassis, and frame. Outside brake line from the brake pressure modulator had a hole leaking brake fluid.
Dt*: the contact stated the front end of the vehicle shook at any speed. This caused abnormal wear to the front tires, the tires must be replaced every 10,000 miles. The dealership was unable to determine a problem with the vehicle, but determined the tires are not rated to carry the load of the vehicle.
Consumer is unable to keep vehicle strayed out of the lane. Front end had been done eight times. The rear axle was mounted wrongly on the vehicle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,283 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Kodiak has 3 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Chevrolet Kodiak?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, engine and cooling, service brakes. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (40%), warning lights, check engine (40%), brake failure (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Chevrolet Kodiak?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2004 Chevrolet Kodiak from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2004 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.