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2004 Chevrolet Tahoe

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 246.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

388 reports with mileage · 79 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 214 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports7 fire reports14 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

14 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY HUSBAND AND I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WE WERE HIT AT 55 MPH

NHTSA ODI #10836861

102,500 miles · May 21, 2014
Air BagsSeatsSteeringCrash

I HAVE BEEN SEEING COMMERCIALS ABOUT AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING ON CHEVY VEHICLES. MY DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN MY 04 CHEVY TAHOE WHERE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE AND ALSO ANOTHER PERSON WAS IN THE CAR AS WELL. AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE TRUCK FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES. THE…

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I HAVE BEEN SEEING COMMERCIALS ABOUT AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING ON CHEVY VEHICLES. MY DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN MY 04 CHEVY TAHOE WHERE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE AND ALSO ANOTHER PERSON WAS IN THE CAR AS WELL. AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE TRUCK FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DRIVERS SEAT ALSO LIFTED UP AND WAS SPLIT IN TO. WE ASKED THE INVESTIGATORS AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO CHECK INTO WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL, BUT WE KNEW OTHERWISE. THEY DID NOT TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593235

84,000 miles · May 25, 2013
Air Bags

ON THE DATE IN QUESTION MY TEENAGE SON AND GIRLFRIEND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN WHEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER WARNING OF ANY KIND, THE OVERHEAD SIDE RAIL AIRBAGS ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYMENT SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THE SEATBELTS LOCK UP. FORTUNATELY THE KIDS WERE NOT PHYSICALLY HARMED. GM WAS…

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ON THE DATE IN QUESTION MY TEENAGE SON AND GIRLFRIEND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN WHEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER WARNING OF ANY KIND, THE OVERHEAD SIDE RAIL AIRBAGS ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYMENT SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THE SEATBELTS LOCK UP. FORTUNATELY THE KIDS WERE NOT PHYSICALLY HARMED. GM WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ARRANGED AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING RECOVERY OF THE ENCRYPTED BLACK BOX DATA WHICH CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION AND THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION FOR THE DEPLOYMENT. AFTER ABOUT 2 MONTHS WE WERE FINALLY TOLD THE ENGINEERS HAD CONCLUDED THAT THE SENSORS HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO A LOT OF WATER DAMAGE AND WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THEY AUTHORIZED A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE SMART MODULE, EVERY AIRBAG SENSOR, SEAT BELT HARDWARE AND ALL INCIDENTAL DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. I SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO GM FOR MONEY DAMAGES IN MARCH-APRIL 2013, AND RECEIVED A CALL IN , REGARD TO THIS TWO WEEK AGO. GM OFFERED A FEW MEAGER ITEMS TO TRY AND SETTLE THE DISPUTE, AND IN THE PROCESS OF THIS LATEST DISCUSSION, WE WERE ADVISED FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT NOT A SINGLE REPORT MADE MENTION OF ANY WATER OR CORROSION DAMAGE, BUT THE ENGINEERING REPORT FOUND INSTEAD THAT INADEQUATE DOOR PADDING IN ALL FOUR DOORS FROM THE FACTORY ALLOWED THE SENSORS TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY, THUS CAUSING THE DEFECTIVE DEPLOYMENT. SHE ADMITTED THAT GM HAD SEVERAL SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH CERTAIN VEHICLES LIKE OURS MADE DURING A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER WE SPOKE WITH OUR ORIGINAL CLAIMS REP WHO DENIED EVER TELLING US THAT WATER DAMAGE AND CORROSION WERE CULPRITS. SHE CLAIMED TO HAVE MADE THE REPAIR DECISION ON HER OWN THE FIRST TIME AND SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY ENGINEERING REPORT REGARDING DOOR PADDING. SINCE FEBRUARY MY SON HAS CONTINUED TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH A SERIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AIR BAG SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513486

89,000 miles · Mar 25, 2013
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE, BUT THEY WOULD CHANGE THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE, BUT THEY WOULD CHANGE THE MODULE AND SENSOR TO SEE IF THE REPAIR WOULD CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 89,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504465

176,388 miles · Sep 24, 2012
Air BagsElectrical System

ON SEPT 21, 2012 I WAS DRIVING HOME FOR LUNCH AND AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES I NOTICE MY RADIO SHUT OFF AND ON, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS KEPT LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. ALSO, THE GAUGES ON THE DASH WHERE COMING ON AND OFF AND ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE ON THE TAHOE WHERE GOING ON AND OFF ALSO. AS SOON AS EVERYTHING STOPPED MY AIRBAGS…

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ON SEPT 21, 2012 I WAS DRIVING HOME FOR LUNCH AND AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES I NOTICE MY RADIO SHUT OFF AND ON, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS KEPT LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. ALSO, THE GAUGES ON THE DASH WHERE COMING ON AND OFF AND ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE ON THE TAHOE WHERE GOING ON AND OFF ALSO. AS SOON AS EVERYTHING STOPPED MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND HIT MY FACE AND CHEST. I REMEMBER A CLOUD OF WHITE POWDER AND REALIZED I WAS STILL DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID RUNNING INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476865

55,000 miles · Jul 12, 2011
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE MEDIUM. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN AROUND AND THEN REVERSED WHILE THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ENTIRE TIME. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE MEDIUM. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN AROUND AND THEN REVERSED WHILE THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ENTIRE TIME. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE BEFORE FINALLY CRASHING INTO A METAL RAIL BEFORE STOPPING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES AND SWELLING TO HIS COLLAR BONE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER RIB CAGE, NECK AND FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE AS WELL AS THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AND THE SPARE TIRE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10411932

80,000 miles · Jun 27, 2011
Air BagsCrashInjury

2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE, AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH SEVERE IMPACT TO BOTH FRONT CORNERS AND BUMPER, HARD IMPACT COLLISION, AND AFTER FLIPPING THREE TIMES, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEVERE DRIVER INJURY AS A RESULT OF THE AIRBAG FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10409000

74,000 miles · Aug 23, 2010
Air Bags

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET DEALER FOR A SUSPECT SYSTEM RESTRAINT ISSUE WITH INDICATIONS FROM THE AIR BAG DASH LIGHT. FIRST REPAIR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CODE"C0041". CODE LEAD THE DEALER TO THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE TECHNICIAN REPORTED THE ISSUE TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM UNDER THE SEAT WITH RUBBING OF THE WIRING. AIR BAG LIGHT DID …

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VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET DEALER FOR A SUSPECT SYSTEM RESTRAINT ISSUE WITH INDICATIONS FROM THE AIR BAG DASH LIGHT. FIRST REPAIR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CODE"C0041". CODE LEAD THE DEALER TO THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE TECHNICIAN REPORTED THE ISSUE TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM UNDER THE SEAT WITH RUBBING OF THE WIRING. AIR BAG LIGHT DID GO OUT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN STARTED TO FLASH BACK ON AND OFF. WITHIN THE PAST TWO MONTHS THE LIGHT HAS STARTED TO STAY LIT ABOUT 90% OF THE TIME. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER, TROUBLE CODE REPORTED THE SAME CODE (C0041), NOW THE DEALER IS INDICATING THE PROBLEM TO BE THE "SEAT AIR BAG MODULE". DEALER WANTS TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE REPAIR 50/50 NOW AFTER AN INITIAL CHARGE OF $275 AGAINST A CURRENT ESTIMATE OF $570. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351252

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION HEADING NORTHBOUND, GOT THE GREEN ARROW, SO PROCEEDED TO GO. MY VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 5-10 MILES PER HOUR. ANOTHER CAR COMING THE OPPOSITE WAY, HEADING SOUTHBOUND RAN THE RED LIGHT GOING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. MY AIR BAG DID NOT BLOW. I DRIVE A 2004 CHEVY TAHOE. I HAD MY 6YR OLD DAUGHTE…

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I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION HEADING NORTHBOUND, GOT THE GREEN ARROW, SO PROCEEDED TO GO. MY VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 5-10 MILES PER HOUR. ANOTHER CAR COMING THE OPPOSITE WAY, HEADING SOUTHBOUND RAN THE RED LIGHT GOING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. MY AIR BAG DID NOT BLOW. I DRIVE A 2004 CHEVY TAHOE. I HAD MY 6YR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. WE BOTH GOT INJURIES. THE OTHER CAR'S AIRBAG BLEW . MY CAR WAS CRUSHED LIKE TIN FOIL AND I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260544

69,900 miles · Jan 14, 2009
Air Bags

THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT & MESSAGE CAME ON IN MY 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE DEALER RAN TEST & FOUND THAT THE SENSING DIAGNOSTIC MODULE HAD FAILED THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD, LESS THAN 71,000 MILES. THEY SAID THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE AIRBAG MAY NOT COME OUT IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD THEM REPLACE THIS MOD…

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THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT & MESSAGE CAME ON IN MY 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE DEALER RAN TEST & FOUND THAT THE SENSING DIAGNOSTIC MODULE HAD FAILED THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD, LESS THAN 71,000 MILES. THEY SAID THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE AIRBAG MAY NOT COME OUT IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD THEM REPLACE THIS MODULE ON 12/30/08 AND PAID THEM $550.49. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY STILL HAVE THE OLD PART OR NOT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE IN AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE AT THIS AGE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RELY ON AIRBAGS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY & SAFELY FOR MANY MORE YEARS THAN THIS. IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS I DISCOVERED THAT MY HORN WILL NOT BLOW WHICH COULD ALSO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. A MECHANIC CHECKED THE HORN AND STATED THAT IT WILL COST AT LEAST $200. TO GO INTO THE STEERING WHEEL & TAKE IT APART TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN A NUMBER OF TIMES BECAUSE THE "SERVICE TIRE MONITOR" MESSAGE COMES UP BUT THE DEALER DOESN'T FIND A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255105

Official recalls

2

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.