IllustrationSPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION. PROBLEMS INCLUDE SPEEDOMETER BEING STUCK AT 0 MPH OR OTHER SPEEDS, SPEEDOMETER BEGINNING AT 60 MPH AND REACHING 120 MPH WHEN ACTUALLY TRAVELING 60 MPH, AND OTHER RANDOM PROBLEMS. *TR
2004 Chevrolet Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 118.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Suburban years →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
330–25K
2725–50K
3450–75K
2475–100K
27100–150K
22150K+
167 reports with mileage · 37 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 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports6 fire reports8 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
72 reports2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN Z71, LESS THAN 16000 MILES, SPEEDOMETER PERIODICALLY DISPLAYS UPWARDS OF 30 - 120+ MPH OVER ACTUAL SPEED. CHEVY DEALER REPAIR COST IS TOO HIGH. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD. IS THERE YET A RECALL? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED AND DOES NOT OPERATE AT ALL. THE REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. AT 40,000 MILES, THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES, BUT DID NOT CHECK THE ROTORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,539 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED AND DOES NOT OPERATE AT ALL. THE REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. AT 40,000 MILES, THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES, BUT DID NOT CHECK THE ROTORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,539 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 03/14/08.*LJ THE POWER WINDOW MOTORS, UNIVERSAL JOINTS AND SHOCKS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED
MY SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T CONSISTENTLY WORK. SOME TIME IT DOES.. SOME TIMES IT SAYS I'M DOING 110 MPH AND PEOPLE ARE PASSING ME AND MY RPMS ARE AT 1800. ALSO WHEN MY SPEED OMETER DOESN'T WORK MY REAR DFOG AND WIPER DO WORK. WHEN MY REAR DEFOG AND WIPER DON'T WORK MY SPEEDOMETER DOES WORK. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES IN ALL THREE FUSE…
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MY SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T CONSISTENTLY WORK. SOME TIME IT DOES.. SOME TIMES IT SAYS I'M DOING 110 MPH AND PEOPLE ARE PASSING ME AND MY RPMS ARE AT 1800. ALSO WHEN MY SPEED OMETER DOESN'T WORK MY REAR DFOG AND WIPER DO WORK. WHEN MY REAR DEFOG AND WIPER DON'T WORK MY SPEEDOMETER DOES WORK. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES IN ALL THREE FUSE BOXES AND NONE ARE BLOWN. *TR
VEHICLE FIRE- STARTED TRUCK, TURNED ON FRONT AND REAR HEATER AND DEFROSTERS. ~2-3MIN LATER, THE TRUCK WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND SMOKE. CAUGHT A SECOND CAR ON FIRE AND HOUSE ON FIRE. *TR
I HAVE A CHEVY SUBURBAN (2004) THAT THE SPEEDOMETER JUST STOP WORKING. IT FIRST STARTED GIVING ME A SLOWER SPEED THAN I WAS ACTUALLY GOING. AT 35MPH IT WAS REGISTERING 9MPH. AFTER A FEW DAYS IT WAS NORMAL THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DOES NOT REGISTER AT ALL. NOW IT STAYS AT 15 MPH WITHOUT THE VEHICLE MOVING. *TR
CHEVY SUBURBAN 2004 DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER. THE PART IS DEFECTIVE, BUT THE DEALER WANTS $500 TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE AGAIN. IT IS A HAZARD ON THE ROAD WITH THE WRONG SPEED READOUT. GM SHOULD OWE UP TO THE PROBLEM, FIX THE PART/VEHICLES IN THE NAME OF SAFETY. THIS WILL BE MY LAST GM IF THEY FAIL TO AMEND THE PROBLEM AT THEIR…
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CHEVY SUBURBAN 2004 DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER. THE PART IS DEFECTIVE, BUT THE DEALER WANTS $500 TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE AGAIN. IT IS A HAZARD ON THE ROAD WITH THE WRONG SPEED READOUT. GM SHOULD OWE UP TO THE PROBLEM, FIX THE PART/VEHICLES IN THE NAME OF SAFETY. THIS WILL BE MY LAST GM IF THEY FAIL TO AMEND THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. *JB
MY 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING AT 50,000 MILES. THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND CHEVROLET SHOULD DO A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR
SPEEDOMETER FAILURE BEGAN WITH THE NEEDLE "JERKING" AS VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED AND EVENTUALLY, ONE NIGHT THE NEEDLE WENT BEYOND 120 MPH AND STUCK ON THE PEG WHILE I WAS ON A RURAL HIGHWAY WITH NO WAY TO GAUGE MY SPEED. *TR
VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS AN INCORRECT READING ON THE DASH PANEL GAUGE. WHILE IN PARK OR STOPPED, THE GAUGE WILL SHOW ANYWHERE FROM 20-30 MILES PER HOUR AND WHILE DRIVING WILL ERRATICALLY JUMP FROM SPEED TO SPEED. RPM GAUGE IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. GAS GAUGE, UPON FILLING UP, IS SLOW TO REGISTER TO FULL. *TR
Official recalls
406V289000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Aug 3, 2006
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE DAMPER COMES LOOSE, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463.
05V163000 · Seat Belts:rear/other
Apr 22, 2005
ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE SUGGESTED SEAT BELT FIT/ROUTING FOR ADULTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEATING POSITION, IS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TEXT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.
05V043000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Feb 8, 2005
CERTAIN TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH HYDRO-BOOST BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR MAY CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WERE OPEN, FRAGMENTS FROM THE ACCUMULATOR COULD CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. THE PRESENCE OF THIS CRACK OR FRACTURED SURFACE COULD ALLOW THE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE ACCUMULATOR CIRCUIT OF THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. THE LOSS OF FLUID WOULD CAUSE INCREASED STEERING AND BRAKING EFFORT AND A CRASH MAY OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FOR FUNCTIONAL OPERATION OF THE TWO-FUNCTION VALVE. IF THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FAILS THE TEST, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.
04V045000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Feb 4, 2004
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST HOUSING RELIEF VALVE BORE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SEAT FRACTURE.
Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; GMC AT 1-866-996-9463; OR HUMMER AT 1-866-486-6376.
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
1EA04012 · Hydraulic Pump Failres
Opened Apr 30, 2004 · Closed Feb 28, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System
GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist
GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System
GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.