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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.

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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

Electrical System complaints

214 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2026
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

My brakes locked up with steering wheel and cause me to go off the road it’s very unsafe and there should be recall immediately

NHTSA ODI #11764617

230,000 miles · Jun 5, 2020
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

THERE IS A RECALL #04004. "BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE" BUT MY VIN# IS NOT ON THE LIST. OVER 64,000 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED AND THERE IS A "#1" ON THE MOUNTING SURFACE. ALL OF THE UNITS DETECTED A MACHINING ERROR IN THE RELIEF BORE CAVITY FOR MODULES PRODUCED FROM A MACHINE IDENTIFIED AS "FADAL #1" THIS CAN AND HAS CAUSED …

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THERE IS A RECALL #04004. "BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE" BUT MY VIN# IS NOT ON THE LIST. OVER 64,000 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED AND THERE IS A "#1" ON THE MOUNTING SURFACE. ALL OF THE UNITS DETECTED A MACHINING ERROR IN THE RELIEF BORE CAVITY FOR MODULES PRODUCED FROM A MACHINE IDENTIFIED AS "FADAL #1" THIS CAN AND HAS CAUSED MY 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE TO HAVE NO POWER ASSIST WITH MY STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES. I HAVE FOUND MYSELF HOLDING TWO FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AT A RED LIGHT. AND CAN NOT OPERATE IN SMALL SPACES SUCH AS PARKING GARAGES AND CERTAIN PARKING STALLS. I WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE IS SOMETHING MORE THAT I CAN DO IN REGARDS TO THIS PARTICULAR RECALL AND FIND OUT IF THERE IS SOME MISTAKE AS FAR AS MY VIN# NOT BEING RECOGNIZED BUT YET EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY VEHICLE HAS BECOME INOPERABLE FOR THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THE NO POWER ASSIST AND COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT...I WANT TO SEE ABOUT RECEIVING SOME AID IN ALL THIS. THIS HAS BEEN A ISSUE SINCE AUGUST OF 2019. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO LOSE WORK FOR A LACK OF TRANSPORTATION. MY CREDIT HAS FALLEN BEHIND BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT TO WORK AND SPENDING MY SAVINGS ON TRYING TO GUESS AT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. FOR IT IS MY ONLY VEHICLE. NOW THAT THE COVID-19 IS HERE IS A DOUBLE WHAMY! IN DIRE STRAITS - CALI LOVIN MY 4X4 - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11327456

150,000 miles · Sep 1, 2019
Electrical System

THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS FULL OF CONDENSATE AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WOULD JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. TOOK MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE MECHANIC SHOP FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE AND CORRECT THE ISSUE. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS MANY TAHOE OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11252648

183,000 miles · May 14, 2018
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

NHTSA ODI #11093804

226,000 miles · Jan 12, 2017
Electrical System

LEAVING MY DRIVE ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD LIT UP FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS THEN WENT OFF. A FEW MILES LATER DID THE SAME THING THEN ALL THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. NEXT TIME I STARTED IT UP THE GAUGES WOULD NOT WORK ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD ALL THE LIGHTS ON DASH CAME ON AND THEN GAUGES WOULD START WORKING. SOMETIMES MY BATT…

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LEAVING MY DRIVE ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD LIT UP FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS THEN WENT OFF. A FEW MILES LATER DID THE SAME THING THEN ALL THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. NEXT TIME I STARTED IT UP THE GAUGES WOULD NOT WORK ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD ALL THE LIGHTS ON DASH CAME ON AND THEN GAUGES WOULD START WORKING. SOMETIMES MY BATTERY WILL BE DEAD WHEN I GO OUT IN THE MORNINGS. THE DRIVER SEAT HEAT COMES ON AND OFF WHENEVER IT WANTS TO. IF IT'S COLD OUTSIDE THE RADIO WILL NOT WORK UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN WARMED UP FOR A WHILE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10944661

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

WHILE DRIVING I HAD A REAL BAD CLUNKING NOISE IN MY STEERING WHEEL.I TOOK IT TO THE VICTORY LAYNE CHEVY DEALER AND SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND COLUMN BEARING REPLACED BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT. NOW MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FUEL GUAGE IS DEFECTIVE,THE ABS LIGHT& P…

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WHILE DRIVING I HAD A REAL BAD CLUNKING NOISE IN MY STEERING WHEEL.I TOOK IT TO THE VICTORY LAYNE CHEVY DEALER AND SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND COLUMN BEARING REPLACED BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT. NOW MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FUEL GUAGE IS DEFECTIVE,THE ABS LIGHT& PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T COME ON WITH THE KEY ON OR AT ALL AND THERE ARE NO CODES FROM THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10876299

128,000 miles · Jan 6, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #10818479

140,000 miles · Nov 10, 2015
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

WHEN USING THE AIR CONDITIONER IT SOMETIMES BLOWS VERY HOT AIR. NOW THAT IT IS COLD OUT WHEN USING THE HEATER IT SOMETIMES BLOWS ICE COLD AIR. IF THIS HAPPENS I HAVE TO STOP, TURN OFF MY VEHICLE, THEN WHEN I RESTART THE VEHICLE IT DOES THE RIGHT THING. SOME TIMES I HAVE TO DO THIS MORE THEN ONCE TO GET IT TO WORK. I GOT A RECALL…

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WHEN USING THE AIR CONDITIONER IT SOMETIMES BLOWS VERY HOT AIR. NOW THAT IT IS COLD OUT WHEN USING THE HEATER IT SOMETIMES BLOWS ICE COLD AIR. IF THIS HAPPENS I HAVE TO STOP, TURN OFF MY VEHICLE, THEN WHEN I RESTART THE VEHICLE IT DOES THE RIGHT THING. SOME TIMES I HAVE TO DO THIS MORE THEN ONCE TO GET IT TO WORK. I GOT A RECALL NOTICE A WHILE BACK BUT THE DEALER SAID IT IS ONLY FOR WHEN IT SMELLS LIKE SMOKE. GUESS THEY WANT ME TO HAVE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE BEFORE THEY WILL FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #10789527

130,000 miles · Sep 28, 2015
Electrical SystemVisibility/wiperWheels

WHILE DRIVING MY ELECTRICAL GAUGES ALL WENT CRAZY AND THEN QUIT ONE BY ONE. I HAVE ONLY 2 LEFT THAT WORK. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT TURN OFF AND INTERMITTENT DOES NOT WORK ON THEM. MY HUB ON FRONT TIRES KEEP NEEDING REPLACED. THEY COME LOSE TO POINT OF TIRE NEARLY FALLING OFF. MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND NEVER TURNED OFF.

NHTSA ODI #10778006

125,476 miles · Sep 17, 2015
Electrical System

ON AN EXIT RAMP GETTING READY TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE CUTS OFF. I WAS ABLE TO STOP. TURNED THE KEY REPEATEDLY, AND THOUGH THE RADIO AND DASH LIGHTS CAME ON THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I HAD THE TAHOE IN "PARK" MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. NOTHING. SHIFTED IT TO NEUTRAL AND TRIED: NOTHING. MOVD THE COLUMN UP AND D…

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ON AN EXIT RAMP GETTING READY TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE CUTS OFF. I WAS ABLE TO STOP. TURNED THE KEY REPEATEDLY, AND THOUGH THE RADIO AND DASH LIGHTS CAME ON THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I HAD THE TAHOE IN "PARK" MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. NOTHING. SHIFTED IT TO NEUTRAL AND TRIED: NOTHING. MOVD THE COLUMN UP AND DOWN: NOTHING. POUNDED ON THE COLUMN: AMEN IT STARTED. DROVE TO MECHANIC: COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. NO DATA IN COMPUTER INDICATING ANY PROBLEM. 6 WEEKS GO BY AND TAHOE WILL NOT START IN MY DRIVEWAY. GO THOUGH THE SAME LITANY AGAIN. FINALLY STARTED. MY WIFE TAKES MY TAHOE TO LOWE'S IN JANUARY CAR WILL NOT START. SHE TRIED SO MANY TIMES SHE DRAINED THE BATTERY. I HOOKED UP THE JUMPER CABLES AND IT STARTED IMMEDIATELY. I TAKE IT TO MECHANIC AND HE "THINKS" IT'S PART OF THE IGNITION MODULE, BUT DOESN'T KNOW FOR SURE. THE PART ALONE IS $250. I DECLINE TO SPEND MONEY ON A MAYBE. THEN FOR 4 MONTHS NO PROBLEMS. MAY 31ST 2015, TAHOE WILL NOT START. IT STARTED FINE MAY 29TH. NOT ONLY WOULD IT NOT START, BUT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. RADIO WAS OUT OF SEQUENCE BY 8 HOURS. CHARGED THE BATTERY AND TAHOE STILL WOULD NOT START. HAD A FRIEND WHO IS A MECHANIC COME OVER TO LOOK AT IT AND HERE'S THE PART THE REALLY TICKS ME OFF. I GET IN AND WITHOUT ANY FUSS THE DARN THING STARTED, TURNED IT OFF AND IT STARTED, DID THIS 20 TIMES, IT STARTED EVERY TIME. I WOULD CONCLUDE THAT IT WAS THE STARTER, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT TWO TIMES IT SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. WE OWN THREE TAHOE'S. 2002, 2003, AND 2004. I DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2002, AND 2003 TAHOE'S. IS THIS AN IGNITION PROBLEM OTHER'S HAVE EXPERIENCED. DOES IT HAVE ANY CONNECTION TO THE OTHER CHEVROLET IGNITION PROBLEMS. I HAVE TWO YOUNG SON'S AND WILL NOT DRIVE THIS TAHOE, WITH THEM IN IT.

NHTSA ODI #10764484

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.