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2004 Chevrolet Suburban 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

20 reports with mileage · 0 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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

20 reports
63,000 miles · Feb 16, 2009
Electrical SystemFire

FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN 02/2008. POWER SEAT ADJUSTER AND SEAT HEATER QUIT WORKING. PROBLEM FOUND TO BE HIGH RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR UNDER DRIVERS SEAT. SUBSTANTIAL BURNING AND MELTING OF THE CONNECTOR PRESENT. SECOND OCCURRENCE ON 2/13/09, FOUND SAME HIGH RESISTANCE PROBLEM AT THE CONNECTOR BETWEEN BODY AND RE…

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FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN 02/2008. POWER SEAT ADJUSTER AND SEAT HEATER QUIT WORKING. PROBLEM FOUND TO BE HIGH RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR UNDER DRIVERS SEAT. SUBSTANTIAL BURNING AND MELTING OF THE CONNECTOR PRESENT. SECOND OCCURRENCE ON 2/13/09, FOUND SAME HIGH RESISTANCE PROBLEM AT THE CONNECTOR BETWEEN BODY AND REAR HATCH. CAUSED REAR WIPER AND DEFROSTER TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. BOTH INCIDENTS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT A VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT THAT IS PRODUCED BY CURRENT FLOWING THROUGH A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION. BOTH CONNECTORS HAVE EVIDENCE OF EXTREME HEAT AND LEAD ME TO BE LESS THAN CONFIDENT THAT THESE TWO CONNECTORS ARE THE ONLY ONES ON THIS VEHICLE THAT ARE FAULTY. I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SEAT CONNECTOR IN FEBRUARY OF 2008, BUT FIND NO RECORD OF IT AT SAFECAR.GOV AND HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258853

77,198 miles · Dec 5, 2008
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER JUMPED FROM APPROX.69 TO 110 AND CONTINUED TO STAY HAYWIRE AND IS NOT READING ACCURATELY. APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM BY CHEVY BUT THEY ARE ONLY REPAIRING IN 7 YEARS 70,000 MILES. OF COURSE I AM AT 4 YEARS AND AT 77,000. I WAS OVER 74K MILES WHEN NOTICE CAME OUT SO EVEN THEN WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET KNOWN DEFEC…

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SPEEDOMETER JUMPED FROM APPROX.69 TO 110 AND CONTINUED TO STAY HAYWIRE AND IS NOT READING ACCURATELY. APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM BY CHEVY BUT THEY ARE ONLY REPAIRING IN 7 YEARS 70,000 MILES. OF COURSE I AM AT 4 YEARS AND AT 77,000. I WAS OVER 74K MILES WHEN NOTICE CAME OUT SO EVEN THEN WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET KNOWN DEFECT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250850

52,341 miles · Oct 8, 2008
Electrical SystemSeats

A SHORT IN THE WIRING THAT POWERS THE HEATED SEATS AND POWER DRIVERS SEAT. CONNECTOR IS BURNED AND MELTED. AS A RESULT OF THE SHORT, MY BATTERY HAS BEEN DRAINED TWICE. LUCKILY THIS WAS FOUND BEFORE A FIRE OR SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244730

82,000 miles · Sep 22, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

REAR HEATER HOSE RUBBING ON THE FRAME OF VEHICLE CAUSED A FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243089

52,789 miles · Feb 16, 2008
Seats

POWER SEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE QUIT WORKING ALONG WITH SEAT WARMERS ON BOTH FRONT SEATS. EXAMINATION FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL FEED AT THE REAR OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD FAILED IN SOME MANNER, CAUSING HIGH RESISTANCE IN THE POWER AND GROUND CIRCUITS WHICH IN TURN LED TO ARCING AND BURNING OF THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. THE AMOUNT OF DA…

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POWER SEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE QUIT WORKING ALONG WITH SEAT WARMERS ON BOTH FRONT SEATS. EXAMINATION FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL FEED AT THE REAR OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD FAILED IN SOME MANNER, CAUSING HIGH RESISTANCE IN THE POWER AND GROUND CIRCUITS WHICH IN TURN LED TO ARCING AND BURNING OF THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE CONNECTOR AND ITS PROXIMITY TO CARPETING AND POTENTIAL CONTENTS IN THE VEHICLE RAISES CONCERNS OF A POSSIBLE INTERIOR FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218212

150,000 miles · Jan 18, 2008
Air BagsCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE INTO A DITCH. THE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE INTO A DITCH. THE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10215312

5,000 miles · Jun 30, 2007
Steering

2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN 2500 SERIES WITH QUADRASTEER. THE REAR WHEEL STEERING FAULTS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 5 MILES, OFTEN WHEN EXITING A TURN. THIS CAN LEAVE THE REAR WHEELS FULL LEFT (OR RIGHT) IF THE TURN WAS TIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRAB DOWN THE ROAD SIDEWAYS. IF THE ROAD IS NOT WIDE AND THE DRIVER IS NOT EXTREMELY AWARE A …

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2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN 2500 SERIES WITH QUADRASTEER. THE REAR WHEEL STEERING FAULTS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 5 MILES, OFTEN WHEN EXITING A TURN. THIS CAN LEAVE THE REAR WHEELS FULL LEFT (OR RIGHT) IF THE TURN WAS TIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRAB DOWN THE ROAD SIDEWAYS. IF THE ROAD IS NOT WIDE AND THE DRIVER IS NOT EXTREMELY AWARE A SIDESWIPE ACCIDENT COULD EASILY OCCUR. THE REAR WHEELS SLOWLY SELF CENTER AFTER 10 TO 15 SECONDS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES. THEY EITHER SAY THEY HAVE REPLACED A SENSOR, TIGHTENED A LOOSE CONNECTION, OR NO PROBLEM FOUND. SOMETIMES IT WILL BE OK FOR 20 MILES OR SO BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RECURS. UNABLE TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10195022

38,000 miles · Apr 23, 2007
Electrical System

1. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN SPEEDOMETER STARTS SLOWLY REGISTERING DOWN TO ZERO 2. COULD NOT TELL HOW FAST I WAS GOING 3. DEALERSHIP AGREED TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10188658

45,000 miles · Mar 2, 2007
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN DOES NOT READ THE CORRECT SPEED. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT THE SPEEDOMETER IS WRONG, CAUSING HER TO DRIVE AT AN UNSAFE SPEED, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN EXCESSIVE SPEED ACCIDENT. CONVERSELY, AS THE SPEEDOMETER TYPICALLY REA…

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THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN DOES NOT READ THE CORRECT SPEED. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT THE SPEEDOMETER IS WRONG, CAUSING HER TO DRIVE AT AN UNSAFE SPEED, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN EXCESSIVE SPEED ACCIDENT. CONVERSELY, AS THE SPEEDOMETER TYPICALLY READS A SPEED HIGHER THAN ACTUAL SPEED, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT CREATING A TRAFFIC HAZARD BY IMPEDING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND POSSIBLY BEING REAR ENDED BY A FASTER VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT THESE CONCERNS ARE A SAFETY RISK WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL CAMPAIGN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184073

57,000 miles · Aug 11, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE POWER ASSIST STEERING AND THE POWER ASSIST BRAKES FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND BOOSTER HAD FAILED, ALONG WITH THE BOOSTER THAT LED TO THE POWER ASSIST BRAKE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #10165245

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.