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2004 Chevrolet Colorado Pickup 2WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 Colorado Pickup 2WD.

Body TRUCKTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2004 Chevrolet Colorado Pickup 2WD is a truck whose engine calls for 5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil and pairs with a four-speed automatic transmission, returning EPA fuel economy of 14 city, 19 highway, and 16 combined mpg. Researchers approaching its service record will find 361 total owner complaints on file for the model year, three recalls, and an Electrical System category that tops the list of grievance areas. Plotted against the Colorado's broader 2004–2026 complaint arc, the 2004 sits well beneath the 2016 high of 695 reports and well above the 2013 nadir of just one, landing in the middle of the range. That positioning makes it a useful reference point for the model's reliability trajectory, neither foreshadowing its worst year nor predicting its calmest.

Model year2015 2010 2007 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 economy14/19/16 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 86 · 640 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731179. 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 86 · 640 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP225-70R15OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731179 alt 12731172
Engine air filter	15202408
Fuel filter	25121468
Spark plug	12681663
Battery	88866259 alt 88866262
Front wiper blades	88958226 alt 88958228
Serpentine belt	12593777 alt 12611636
Thermostat	12561155 alt 12622316

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	207.1 in
Overall width	68.5 in
Overall height	65.4 in
Wheelbase	126 in
Curb weight	3752 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.8 / 60.2 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	14 / 19 / 16 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
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, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 19.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-5-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	5
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.2 qt
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.5 qt
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	19.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	8.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)	56.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket	92.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle	63.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket	63.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	29.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	29.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	191 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-5-4-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	GM-part number 12569190
Spark Plug Gap	0.042 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.60 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	4.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	86
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	640 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	86

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	194-225 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-57
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-57

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	29 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	129 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.070
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.030
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.002 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.06 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.06 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

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

110 ft. lbs., step 2: 180

110 ft. lbs

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

110 ft. lbs., step 2: 180

110 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the 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 25,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (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.

Owner complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Colorado Pickup 2WD top in one area — the electrical system, 41 of 361 reports (11%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 3 recall campaigns target the electrical system, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 11 of the reports describe a crash and 13 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the electrical system pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

614

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

361

Owner complaints

11 involved a crash · 13 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’04’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 361 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System41

Structure40

Service Brakes, Hydraulic26

Air Bags19

Exterior Lighting19

Engine & Engine Cooling18

Unknown Or Other17

Suspension17

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

10V575000Child SeatReported 18/11/2010

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2011, CHEVROLET COLORADO, GMC CANYON, MODEL YEAR 2006, ISUZU I-280/I-350, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008, I-290/I-370, REGULAR CAB VEHICLES AND EXTENDED CAB VEHICLES WITHOUT A REAR SEAT… Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT A HOLE INTO THE BACK PANEL TRIM COVER TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE TOP TETHER ANCHOR FOR THE FRONT CENTER SEAT POSITION AND WILL PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AS TO…

06V139000Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:SwitchReported 27/04/2006

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE THE PERMANENT LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP FUNCTION OR BRAKE LAMPS THAT ARE ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP (CHMSL) IS AFFECTED IN BOTH INSTANCES. ALSO, IF… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR ISUZU AT…

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 Colorado Pickup 2WD. 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 86 battery Vehicles taking 5 qt Engine oil filter 12731179 Engine air filter 15202408 Fuel filter 25121468 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 Colorado Pickup 2WD take?

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

Does the 2004 Colorado Pickup 2WD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Colorado Pickup 2WD get?

EPA figures are 14 city / 19 highway / 16 combined mpg.