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2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Suburban 1500 years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 53.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

167 reports with mileage · 15 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports4 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

182 reports
200,000 miles · Nov 30, 2018
Electrical System

TAKATA RECALL. THE GAUGE CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING. NOW THE IGNITION AND AC WILL NOT WORK. OIL PRESSURE SENSOR READING WRONG. TOOK IT TO GET CODE READ AND 35 CODES CAME UP. HAD TO PUT ON A TOGGLE SWITCH JUST TO START IT. CANT SEE SPEED AND THAT MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT. THINK ALL OF THIS IS DUE TO WAT…

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TAKATA RECALL. THE GAUGE CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING. NOW THE IGNITION AND AC WILL NOT WORK. OIL PRESSURE SENSOR READING WRONG. TOOK IT TO GET CODE READ AND 35 CODES CAME UP. HAD TO PUT ON A TOGGLE SWITCH JUST TO START IT. CANT SEE SPEED AND THAT MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT. THINK ALL OF THIS IS DUE TO WATER LEAK ON DRIVERS SIDE. STEERING CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING TODAY. THIS REALLY NEED TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN TO THE MANUFACTURER AS IT COULD REALLY GET SOMEONE HURT OR KILLED.

NHTSA ODI #11155129

152,000 miles · Jul 31, 2018
Service Brakes

RUSTED BREAKE LINES, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY COULD NOT USE BRAKES AFTER STARTING THE CAR

NHTSA ODI #11115028

13,000 miles · Nov 25, 2017
Seats

THIS PROBLEM CONCERNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE SEAT HEATER SWITCH, LOCATED ABOVE THE DRIVER'S DOOR ARMREST, TURNS ITSELF ON WHEN THE CAR IS OPERATING. THE HEATED SEAT BECOMES EXTRAORDINARILY HOT RAPIDLY AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF - EVERY BUMP AND JAR IN THE ROAD TURNS THE LIGHT AND THE SEAT BACK ON. THE LIGHT'S LOCAT…

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THIS PROBLEM CONCERNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE SEAT HEATER SWITCH, LOCATED ABOVE THE DRIVER'S DOOR ARMREST, TURNS ITSELF ON WHEN THE CAR IS OPERATING. THE HEATED SEAT BECOMES EXTRAORDINARILY HOT RAPIDLY AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF - EVERY BUMP AND JAR IN THE ROAD TURNS THE LIGHT AND THE SEAT BACK ON. THE LIGHT'S LOCATION WHICH INDICATES THE OPERATION OF THE HEATED SEATS IS DIFFICULT TO SEE AS WELL - ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SUN IS STRONG & I'M WEARING SUNGLASSES. LOOKING DOWN AND AWAY FROM THE ROAD AND TRAFFIC IS FAIRLY DANGEROUS. THIS DISTRACTION COULD EASILY EVOLVE INTO AN ACCIDENT AS THE DRIVER IS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO TURN THE HEATED SEAT OFF. I HAVE HAD THIS ITEM "REPAIRED" ONCE, YET THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT WAS TRYING TO DRIVE IN A TORRENTIAL RAINSTORM ON THE INTERSTATE. I PULLED OVER FOR SAFETY BEFORE I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT. THE MINUTE I PULLED BACK ONTO THE INTERSTATE, THE HEATED SEAT TURNED ITSELF BACK ON AND STAYED ON FOR THE NEXT 250 MILES. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH A 2004 SUBURBAN THAT SUFFERS FROM THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE TAKEN THE FUSE OUT OF THE CAR THAT CONTROLS THE HEATED SEATS, BUT THAT ALSO AFFECTS THE ABILITY TO READJUST THE SEAT POSITION FOR THE INDIVIDUAL DRIVERS. THE HEATED SEAT DISTRACTION COMBINED WITH THE LOCATION OF THE SWITCH ARE DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI #11048367

135,000 miles · Oct 26, 2017
Service Brakes

THE BRAKE FLUID LINES RUSTED AT THE AREA UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL, CAUSING THE FLUID TO LEAK UNEXPECTEDLY, THUS RENDERING NO BRAKES. THE LEAK HAPPENED ON MY VEHICLE AND ANOTHER IN THIS SAME AREA. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE COULD BE IS A PROBLEM IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE LINES DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND BECAUSE ITS TOO CLOSE …

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THE BRAKE FLUID LINES RUSTED AT THE AREA UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL, CAUSING THE FLUID TO LEAK UNEXPECTEDLY, THUS RENDERING NO BRAKES. THE LEAK HAPPENED ON MY VEHICLE AND ANOTHER IN THIS SAME AREA. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE COULD BE IS A PROBLEM IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE LINES DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND BECAUSE ITS TOO CLOSE TO THE WHEEL SALT AND ROAD CONDITIONS CAUSES THIS AREA TO RUST MORE EASILY. HE'S HAD A NUMBER OF CHEVY SUB. WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM IN FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11040025

65 miles · Jun 6, 2017
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed ControlFire

VEHICLE GAS GAUGE AND ODOMETER GAUGES CLUSTERS ARE NOT WORKING THIS PUTS US IN DANGER I DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I NEED AND HOW FAST I WAS GOING THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE IT WAS A CLUSTER DEFECT

NHTSA ODI #10993648

135,000 miles · Apr 25, 2017
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherFire

BRAKE MODULATING SYSTEM SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. ONCE THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER START.

NHTSA ODI #10980422

125,000 miles · Sep 18, 2016
Service Brakes

STEEL BRAKE LINES: DIRECTLY UNDER DRIVERS FEET BENEATH VEHICLE IS CLUSTER OF FOUR BRAKE LINES HELD IN PLACE BY A PLASTIC BRACKET.THESE BRAKE LINES ARE HIDDEN BY A LARGE CORRUGATED BLACK WIRING HARNESS. ALL FOUR LINES ARE EXTREMELY CORRODED AT BRACKET AND AT LEAST ONE OF THEM FAILED COMPLETELY AND INSTANTANEOUSLY. UNLIKE GM REPOR…

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STEEL BRAKE LINES: DIRECTLY UNDER DRIVERS FEET BENEATH VEHICLE IS CLUSTER OF FOUR BRAKE LINES HELD IN PLACE BY A PLASTIC BRACKET.THESE BRAKE LINES ARE HIDDEN BY A LARGE CORRUGATED BLACK WIRING HARNESS. ALL FOUR LINES ARE EXTREMELY CORRODED AT BRACKET AND AT LEAST ONE OF THEM FAILED COMPLETELY AND INSTANTANEOUSLY. UNLIKE GM REPORTS THAT IT'S A DUAL BRAKE SYSTEM AND VEHICLE WILL RETAIN BRAKING CAPABILITIES IN OUR CASE THIS IS FALSE . WORD NEEDS TO GO OUT ABOUT THESE VEHICLES BUT PREFERABLY A RECALL. MY 15 YEAR OLD NEWLY ISSUED PERMIT HOLDER WAS AT THE WHEEL AND WE WERE ONE LEFT TURN FROM DESCENDING A 200 FOOT TALL 6% GRADE HILL WITH A BUSY INTERSECTION AND STOP LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM. ALSO LIVING IN MINNESOTA KNOWING CLASSIC CAR OWNERS WITH ORIGINAL STEEL BRAKE LINES WITH NO ISSUES I'M LED TO BELIEVE DESIGN IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THESE BRAKE FAILURE ISSUES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10907442

152,000 miles · Mar 18, 2016
Electrical System

THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHTS IN THE GM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ARE NO LONGER WORKING. THIS CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DRIVER CAN SHIFT INTO THE INCORRECT GEAR ACCIDENTALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10850361

150,000 miles · Mar 18, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

THE GM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STEPPER MOTORS AND LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. THIS RESULTS IN A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FUEL LEVEL AS WELL AS OTHER IMPORTANT ENGINE INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #10850358

200,000 miles · Jan 5, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH WOULD NOT OPEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 04/20/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI #10818148

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.