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2004 Chevrolet Classic

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 Classic.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2004 Chevrolet Classic is a passenger car equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and powered by a powertrain that utilizes 5 quarts of 5W-30 API-grade motor oil, delivering EPA-rated fuel economy of 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. In terms of reliability, this model year recorded 40 owner complaints across various systems, with the Electrical System emerging as the most frequently cited concern, and it was associated with one recall. Compared to later iterations of the model, the 2004 Classic's complaint volume positions it as a relatively trouble-free year within the model's production run, suggesting fewer widespread chronic issues than some subsequent model years experienced.

Model year2005 2004

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy21/31/25 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12580255. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12580255 alt 12605566
Engine air filter	25161977
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	12681663 alt 12681661
Battery	88861746 alt 88866263
Front wiper blades	22700263 alt 19120758
Serpentine belt	12634319
Thermostat	12622410 alt 24422922

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	21 / 31 / 25 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	99 cu ft
Cargo volume	16 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	6.9
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 89021184 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	10 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	284 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	AC 41-981
Spark Plug Gap	0.042 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.35 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	60.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-60
RPM	40-57 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance	11-14 @ 50-95 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	100

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	85 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.031 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.031 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.98 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

74 ft. lbs., step 2: 75

74 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	155 degrees	155 degrees
1	26

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2004 Chevrolet Classic is the lower-volume entry in the two-year federal record, logging 40 complaints, one recall, no investigations, and 326 TSBs against 2005's 49 complaints, one recall, and 431 TSBs. With no earlier year in the data, the trend is an upward climb into 2005, making 2004 the baseline and comparatively calmer year of the pair. Electrical System complaints dominate 2004 at 22 of the 40 total, while engine, electrical/equipment, and exterior lighting each register only two; the data does not specify a root cause for that clustering. Crash and fire complaints are present but minimal at two and one, respectively. Because 2004 has fewer complaints and TSBs than 2005 while carrying the same single recall, it is the better of the two recorded years to buy, though a pre-purchase electrical inspection and TSB compliance check are prudent.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

326

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

2 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 40 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System22

Engine2

Electrical System,Equipment2

Exterior Lighting2

Fuel/Propulsion System1

Service Brakes1

Unknown Or Other1

Vehicle Speed Control,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

04V301000Fuel System, Gasoline:StorageReported 30/06/2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK THAT DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATION. A WELD ON THESE FUEL TANKS MAY BE INSUFFICIENT, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK, AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 326 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT3271P	2024-09-06	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
General Communication	2024-08-26	Electrical System	Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It…
24-NA-141	2024-07-24	Power Train	GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman…
16-NA-383	2024-06-27	Fuel/Propulsion System	This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Classic. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 75 battery Vehicles taking 5 qt Engine oil filter 12580255 Engine air filter 25161977 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 12681663

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2004 Classic take?

5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2004 Classic have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Classic get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 31 highway / 25 combined mpg.