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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.

About this comparison →

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
44,300 miles · Feb 8, 2007
Electrical System

I WAS DRIVING ON AN ICY ROAD OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO WHEN I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE DUE TO SPEED CREEP THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE SPEEDOMETER OF THE VEHICLE FAILING AND STICKING AT 37 MPH. I ESTIMATE THAT WHEN I SKIDDED OUT THAT I WAS MOST LIKELY GOING OVER 50 MPH. I'VE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER HAS STUCK AF…

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I WAS DRIVING ON AN ICY ROAD OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO WHEN I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE DUE TO SPEED CREEP THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE SPEEDOMETER OF THE VEHICLE FAILING AND STICKING AT 37 MPH. I ESTIMATE THAT WHEN I SKIDDED OUT THAT I WAS MOST LIKELY GOING OVER 50 MPH. I'VE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER HAS STUCK AFTERWARD, BUT WAS ABLE TO AVOID SIMILAR INCIDENCES BECAUSE I REALIZED THEIR COULD BE A PROBLEM. I AM DRIVING A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THIS IS NOT A SAFE SITUATION. IF THERE WERE OTHER TRAFFIC, STRUCTURES, OR PEDESTRIANS AROUND PROPERTY MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AND PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT EITHER. IF YOU GO TO WWW.TOPIX.NET YOU CAN READ 380 POSTINGS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. JUST TYPE IN SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER STUCK. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10181990

59,400 miles · Feb 4, 2007
Electrical System

I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Z71. DURING THE PAST WEEK, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REGISTERING ERRATIC SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT PACE. TODAY, THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING ALTOGETHER. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 59,450 MILES ON IT, AND HAS NOT BEEN USED IN ANY OFF ROAD EXCURSIONS. NOT HAVING AN ACCURATE SPEED READING WHILE…

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I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Z71. DURING THE PAST WEEK, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REGISTERING ERRATIC SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT PACE. TODAY, THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING ALTOGETHER. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 59,450 MILES ON IT, AND HAS NOT BEEN USED IN ANY OFF ROAD EXCURSIONS. NOT HAVING AN ACCURATE SPEED READING WHILE DRIVING A VEHICLE OF THIS SIZE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS OF THIS VEHICLE, AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROADWAY. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR VEHICLE. AS SUCH, I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO ENTER INTO A SAFETY RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10181536

35,000 miles · Dec 29, 2006
Electrical System

AT 35000 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD MAKE A TICKING NOISE AND START MOVING WITH A NOTCHY MOTION. WHEN DRIVING IT COULD READ 40-75 MPH WHILE DOING LESS THAN 10 MPH. AT 60+ MPH IT COULD READ 100+ MPH. AFTER MULTIPLE RESTARTS THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD RETURN TO 0. THE PROBLEM SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD WORSEN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS COL…

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AT 35000 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD MAKE A TICKING NOISE AND START MOVING WITH A NOTCHY MOTION. WHEN DRIVING IT COULD READ 40-75 MPH WHILE DOING LESS THAN 10 MPH. AT 60+ MPH IT COULD READ 100+ MPH. AFTER MULTIPLE RESTARTS THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD RETURN TO 0. THE PROBLEM SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD WORSEN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS COLDER, BUT IT COULD BE COINSIDENCE. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A FAULTY GUAGE CLUSTER AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. WHILE IN THE DEALER THERE WERE 2 OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR TRUCKS HAVING THE SAME THING REPLACED. NOW I SEE ONLINE THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH NEARLY EVERY SUBURBAN AND CHEVROLET/GMC TRUCK IN MODEL YEARS 2004-2005. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALLED PART AND COULD BE A MAKE FOR A COSTLY/DANGEROUS DRIVE FOR SOMEONE.

NHTSA ODI #10177320

41,650 miles · Dec 22, 2006
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC AND INACCURATE. VERY DANGEROUS! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10176857

51,000 miles · Dec 22, 2006
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER AND OIL PRESSURE STARTING DISPLAYING ERRATIC READING ANY WHERE FROM 0-120+ AND OIL PSI OF 0 TO PEGGING GAGE. AFTER RESEARCH OF DEALERS AND REPAIR FACILITIES DATA CONFIRMED THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT AND CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE STEPPER MOTORS. SETTING CRUISE CONTROL HAMPER THIS DEFECT BY NOT KNOWING WHAT ACTUAL SPEED IS WHEN…

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SPEEDOMETER AND OIL PRESSURE STARTING DISPLAYING ERRATIC READING ANY WHERE FROM 0-120+ AND OIL PSI OF 0 TO PEGGING GAGE. AFTER RESEARCH OF DEALERS AND REPAIR FACILITIES DATA CONFIRMED THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT AND CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE STEPPER MOTORS. SETTING CRUISE CONTROL HAMPER THIS DEFECT BY NOT KNOWING WHAT ACTUAL SPEED IS WHEN ENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO HAVE SECOND VEHICLE THAT JUST STARTED WITH SAME ISSUES TODAY 12-22-06. 2004 GMC YUKON XL

NHTSA ODI #10176854

50,000 miles · Dec 11, 2006
Electrical System

2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN- SPEEDOMETER AND OIL PSI GAUGES READ ERRATIC. SPEEDOMETER CAN READ ZERO ONE MINUTE AND 120 ANOTHER, VERY ERRATIC. OIL PRESSURE GAGE READS 0-80 AT ANY TIME. MANY DOCUMENTED CASES BUT NO RECALL ON DEFECTIVE STEPPER MOTORS. INTERNET SHOWS MANY REPAIRS BEING MADE ON THESES CLUSTERS REPLACING DEFECTIVE STEPPE…

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2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN- SPEEDOMETER AND OIL PSI GAUGES READ ERRATIC. SPEEDOMETER CAN READ ZERO ONE MINUTE AND 120 ANOTHER, VERY ERRATIC. OIL PRESSURE GAGE READS 0-80 AT ANY TIME. MANY DOCUMENTED CASES BUT NO RECALL ON DEFECTIVE STEPPER MOTORS. INTERNET SHOWS MANY REPAIRS BEING MADE ON THESES CLUSTERS REPLACING DEFECTIVE STEPPER MOTORS. DEALER REPAIR TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE CLUSTER $400 *NM

NHTSA ODI #10175739

170,000 miles · Dec 7, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO FILL THE GAS TANK. EVEN WITH THE RUBBER BOOT SEALED AGAINST THE NECK, GASOLINE SPLASHES OUT ALL OVER THE GROUND. NO FIRE YET. THIS HAPPENS AFTER ONLY A FEW GALLONS IN PUT INTO A 31-GALLON TANK CONTAINING 8-10 GALLONS. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT AND TIME CONSUMING TO FILL THIS TANK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10175522

39,000 miles · Oct 23, 2006
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. THE SPEEDOMETER GOES FROM 0-120 IN A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS AND BACK DOWN. I CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR INCIDENCES FOUND ON THE INTERNET. I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY REAL ISSUES, BUT I COULD SEE IT HAPPENING IF YOU WERE NOT WITH OTHER TRAFFIC TO VERIFY YOUR SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #10171655

20,790 miles · Oct 2, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN PARK, AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. IT WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, HOWEVER THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ODI #10169776

63,956 miles · Aug 14, 2006
Tires

VALVE STEM OF TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR BROKE CAUSING THE LEFT, REAR TIRE TO GO FLAT. IT BROKE WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE VALVE STEM CAP SO THAT I COULD CHECK MY TIRE PRESURE. IF THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE OCCURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, IT MAY HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10165421

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.