Problems · NHTSA complaints
2004 Chevrolet S-Class problems
Owners filed 21 complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet S-Class with NHTSA between Oct 2003 and Dec 2020. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (4).
Complaints
21
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Air bags3
- Structure3
- Electrical system3
- Visibility3
- Steering2
- Suspension2
- Power train2
- Service brakes1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Parking brake1
- Equipment1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Engine and engine cooling1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
4
1
1
2
1
4
1
1
2
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes, hydraulic
4 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET S10. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MADE MULTIPLE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE INCLUDING A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, NEW BRAKES PADS FOR ALL FOUR WHEELS, THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND ALL FOUR TIRES. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE FAILING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES AT THE COST OF $150. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.”
Air bags
3 reports1 crash
“THE SERVICE AIR BAGS IS STUCK ON ALSO THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM WONT GO OFF.”
Structure
3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE COLLAPSED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CABLES WERE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE LIFT GATE TO STRIKE THE BUMPERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.”
Electrical system
3 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET S-10. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE AND REINSERT THE FUSE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE WHAT THE EXACT FUSE WAS THAT WAS BEING REMOVED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.”
Visibility
3 reports
“VEHICLE PURCHASED 2/23/04 NEW 2004 S-10 CLUB CAB - IN FEB 05 WAS RETURNED DUE TO COOLANT LEAK - BOTH ENG. OIL COOLER HOSES REPLACED. ALSO FUEL GAUGE WAS ERRATIC THEY REPLACED FUEL LEVEL SENSOR IN TANK REPLACED MILEAGE 15777. AT THAT TIME THE 4WD WAS NOT ENGAGING PROPERLY BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO NO REPAIR WAS MADE. MARCH 9, 2005 MOTOR HAD A TICKING NOISE - A LIFTER COLLAPSED AND REPLACED ALONG WITH THE INTAKE GASKET. THERE WAS ALSO A LEAK - THEY FOUND THE REAR EXTENSION HOUSING LEAKING -THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT WAS REMOVED AND SEAL REPLACED. OCT 10, 2005 TRANSMISSION LEAK AND ENGINE NOISE UNDER ACCELERATION - REAR TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT SEAL REPLACED AND ENGINE PRESSURE CHECK. MARCH 30, 2006 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND EXHAUST SYSTEM RATTLING - THERMOSTAT REPLACED AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. MILEAGE 34,997 JUNE 2007 TAIL LIGHT ON RIGHT NOT WORKING - WIRING ISSUES REPAIRED TWICE. NOVEMBER 2007 GRINDING NOISE WHEN PUT INTO 4WD BUT ONCE PUT BACK INTO 2WD OKAY. MARCH 2008 - 4WD MAKING LOUD NOISE WHEN ENGAGED AND ALSO MAKING CONTINUING NOISE WHEN IN 2WD - FOUND TO BE TRANSAXLE GOING OUT. WIPER MOTOR GUIT - REPLACED. MILEAGE NOW 74,540 THIS IS WHERE I AM NOW…”
Steering
2 reports
“WHILE DRIVING THE ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PINION WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. *AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.