AI Damage2004 Chevrolet SSR: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Chevrolet SSR filed 28 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and structure. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 28
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 29% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 29% of all complaints
- 3 Latches, locks, linkages 25% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 11% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 7% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 4% of all complaints
- 7 Engine 4% of all complaints
- 8 Equipment 4% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 8 complaints (29% of all).
- Structure: 8 complaints (29% of all).
- Latches, locks, linkages: 7 complaints (25% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (11% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (7% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 5.3 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 28 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 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.
Service braking system warning and chime come on intermittently. This has been occurring for about twelve years. I have had this serviced many times by chevy dealership and independent garages yet it persists. I have spent many hundreds of dollars and have all receipts.
Was going to go to the store and when I turned on the ignition every thing was coming on,the lights,dash all lite up ,I heard the fuel pump and I turned the ignition further to start it and nothing. No click,no turning over,nothing. I shut it off and tried again and same thing.
Other safety issue is the service air bag warning is on and dealer refused warranty service due to age of vehicle. Both of these issues are safety related and not looking for warranty of maintenance work.
The passenger's door of my ssr was becoming difficult to open and I was confident the issue was the same problem I had experienced previously with the driver's side door.
The consumer discovered the coolant reservoir had a hole in it, and all the coolant leaked out. The engine stopped running and was hot.
The contact stated that one of the seat belts had become inoperable. The contact ordered a replacement seat belt but once it was received, he noticed that the seat belt was rolled backward and exhibited an abnormal twist.
I have been advised by the orange county sheriff to report the headlight covers on my 2004 chevrolet ssr are melting from the heat of the headlight. They have told me that this is a safety hazard that the manufacturer needs to address. I have spoken to chevrolet but they say my vehicle is out of warranty.
The contact stated that when he pulled the handle on the door, the door would not open. The failure became progressively worse. The contact referenced a tsb 050864026 that was related to the failure. The dealer stated that the vehicle could be repaired at the contacts expense.
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 7,081 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 19% most complained about).
On average one model year of the SSR has 19 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 28, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Chevrolet SSR?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, structure, latches, locks, linkages. Total complaints: 28. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: door locks, latches, handles (18%), windows, sunroof (11%), overheating, coolant loss (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Chevrolet SSR?
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 SSR 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 2026-11-05.