2004 Chevrolet Blazer: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
On the 2004 Chevrolet Blazer, the failure owners report most often is no-start or intermittent start failure, and the reports cluster around 30,000 miles. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 35,000 miles. Overall it scores 67 out of 100, high risk for a 2004.
High risk for a 2004 — 173rd riskiest of the 329 2004 vehicles we can rate. 67 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What owners report breaking
Owners have reported 25 named failure modes on the 2004 Chevrolet Blazer, and the three most-reported carry 28% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
No-start or intermittent start failure leads with 8 reports, about 0.5 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 27k to 50,000 miles.
Seat belt or retractor failure follows with 6 reports.
Other body or interior problem follows with 5 reports, median 120,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into engine (12), brakes (9) and airbag (6).
At what mileage it happens
52 of the reports on the 2004 Chevrolet Blazer came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 35,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 58% by 50,000 miles, 85% by 100,000 miles and 94% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 1 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 27% of the dated reports.
50% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 25. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 1 report came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 5 mention a crash and 3 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.25, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: no-start or intermittent start failure at $200–$1,800, seat belt or retractor failure at $200–$900, other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000 and instrument cluster or gauge failure at $350–$1,400. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
24% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 8 | 8 | 27k | 32k | 52k | 0.5 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.4 | $200–$900 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 5 | 3 | — | 121k | — | 0.3 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 4 | 4 | — | 3k | — | 0.3 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 4 | 3 | — | 27k | — | 0.3 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 4 | 4 | — | 54k | — | 0.3 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 4 | 3 | — | 38k | — | 0.3 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 162k | — | 0.2 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 3 | 3 | — | 25k | — | 0.2 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 3 | 2 | — | 68k | — | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 3 | 2 | — | 59k | — | 0.2 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 2 | 2 | — | 60k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 2 | 2 | — | 156k | — | 0.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 2 | 1 | — | 3k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 20k | — | 0.1 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 120k | — | 0.1 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 70 | — | 0.1 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 70k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 8k | — | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 1 | 1 | — | 10k | — | 0.1 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 90k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 60 | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 1 | 1 | — | 3k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 3 | 3 | — | 3k | — | 0.2 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2004 Chevrolet Blazer draws about 4.4 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 79th percentile of complaint rates among 2004 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 15,326 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2004 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
No-start or intermittent start failure
All of a sudden in late may when I hit my brakes they made a crushing sound and the entire vehicle would shake and the ABS light came on. So at 51000 miles I am told that my front and rear brakes and rotors all need to be replaced. The mechanic couldn't believe how badly the rotors we rusted. After the brakes we repaired ABS still kicks in at the very last minute before the vehicle stops. So I had to take the vechicle to another repair shop so they could do a computer diagnostics and I am told that my ABS modul needs to be replaced and the cost is approx $1300. When I asked if this was normal at 51000 miles the man said "it's a blazer". Oh, did I mention my front bearing is also shot but I'm broke. Also, in the past 2 years the vehicle has been back to the dealer numerous times because the security light would stay on and the interior dome light would remain on. After the dealer "fixed" it a few times then other issues started the gas gage doesn't work all the time and sometimes the vehicle will not start. I've had it with the dealer and know I just deal with it.*ak
All of a sudden in late may when I hit my brakes they made a crushing sound and the entire vehicle would shake and the ABS light came on. So at 51000 miles I am told that my front and rear brakes and rotors all need to be replaced. The mechanic couldn't believe how badly the rotors we rusted. After the brakes we repaired ABS still kicks in at the very last minute before the vehicle stops. So I had to take the vechicle to another repair shop so they could do a computer diagnostics and I am told that my ABS modul needs to be replaced and the cost is approx $1300. When I asked if this was normal at 51000 miles the man said "it's a blazer". Oh, did I mention my front bearing is also shot but I'm broke. Also, in the past 2 years the vehicle has been back to the dealer numerous times because the security light would stay on and the interior dome light would remain on. After the dealer "fixed" it a few times then other issues started the gas gage doesn't work all the time and sometimes the vehicle will not start. I've had it with the dealer and know I just deal with it.*ak
Other body or interior problem
Blazer feels as if it is going to roll over in high winds, shakes, on the highway you feel like you are on a roller coaster ride. Blazers are supposedly the deadiest vehicles on the road today.
While driving in the parking lot of lowes, the door hinge on drivers side failed along with latch allowing it fall off. Making door unclosable and car undrivable. After taking it to repair shop, mechanic showed me several other 2004 chevy blazers with the exact same hinge failure. He has repaired so many of them with the same problem he concluded it must be a defect. Repair cost for this are estimated at $1k as the hinge must be replaced and re enforced, along with the drivers door and locking latch. *tr
Recalls on the 2004 model year
NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2004 Chevrolet Blazer, affecting an estimated 15,326 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover equipment:other:labels. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
183,922 vehicles 2004-03-18- Defect
- Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
- Consequence
- Some of these vehicles include incorrect statements on one of the air bag warning labels.
- Remedy
- Owners will be provided with correct labels and installation instructions. Owner notification began on june 4, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2004 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2004 sits in the model line
High risk for a 2004 — 173rd riskiest of the 329 2004 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 18 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2005 comes out best at 64 and 2024 worst at 82, with 2004 itself at 67.
No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2004, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.
Within the 1996–2004 generation specifically, 2002 is the strongest year at 65 and 1999 the weakest at 70.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 1996-2004 generation, 2002 Chevrolet Blazer scores best at 65 and 1999 Chevrolet Blazer worst at 70.
What to look at before buying one
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: no-start or intermittent start failure from about 27k.
On a 2004 Chevrolet Blazer with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether no-start or intermittent start failure has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
What this page cannot tell you
67 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 67 reports, 52 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 78% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Chevrolet Blazer?
The most-reported failures are no-start or intermittent start failure (8 reports, median 30,000 miles), seat belt or retractor failure (6 reports) and other body or interior problem (5 reports, median 120,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Blazer problems start?
No-start or intermittent start failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 30,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 25,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 35,000 miles.
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Blazer reliable?
It scores 67 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 173rd riskiest of the 329 2004 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2004 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Chevrolet Blazer is best?
Within the 1996–2004 generation, 2002 scores best at 65 out of 100 and 1999 worst at 70. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed