IllustrationMY2004 CHEVY TAHOE LT WAS MOVING WHEN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS HAVE BROKEN OFF WHICH CAUSE BAD GAS MILEAGE AND SLOW TAKE OFFS.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tahoe 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
370–25K
7425–50K
9450–75K
6875–100K
79100–150K
36150K+
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
Engine complaints
26 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TEN MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE AS TO WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW FACILITY.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TEN MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE AS TO WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW FACILITY. IT WAS UNKNOWN YET IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
THE REAR MAIN DEAL WENT BAD IN ALMOST ALL OF THE TRUCKS AND SUVS WITH A 4.8L OR 5.3L ENGINE IN THEM WHERE THE POUR OIL EVERYWHERE AND THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED AN EPA VIOLATION AND A FIRE HAZARD IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP SO WE CAN SAVE LIVES AND SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLETTAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLETTAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,498.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED A "LOW POWER MODE" MESSAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT STEAM WAS EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LIFTED THE HOOD FOR THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED A "LOW POWER MODE" MESSAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT STEAM WAS EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LIFTED THE HOOD FOR THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED AROUND THE OIL DRAIN HOLES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 09/29/16*LJ UPDATED 06/15/18*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE USED EXCESSIVE ANTI FREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE CASTECH HEAD THAT LEAKED COOLANT. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CASTECH HEADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE USED EXCESSIVE ANTI FREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE CASTECH HEAD THAT LEAKED COOLANT. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CASTECH HEADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS THAT THREAD INTO THE CYLINDER HEADS HOLDING THE CAST IRON EXHAUST MANIFOLDS IN PLACE ONTO THE HEADS BREAK OFF UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE BOLTS BREAK OFF AND WERE CAUSING AN EXHAUST LEAK. MY VEHICLE'S EXHAUST WAS COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE MAKING OCCUPANTS ILL. THE STEEL MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE UNDERSI…
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THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS THAT THREAD INTO THE CYLINDER HEADS HOLDING THE CAST IRON EXHAUST MANIFOLDS IN PLACE ONTO THE HEADS BREAK OFF UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE BOLTS BREAK OFF AND WERE CAUSING AN EXHAUST LEAK. MY VEHICLE'S EXHAUST WAS COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE MAKING OCCUPANTS ILL. THE STEEL MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE UNDERSIZED FOR THE APPLICATION, AND BEING USED ON IRON MANIFOLDS MATING TO ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS. I HAVE TO PAY THE $1000+ REPAIR COST TO FIX AN APPARENT MANUFACTURING FAILURE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. NO ONLY DO THE BROKEN BOLTS CAUSE EXHAUST LEAKS AND NOISE, BUT PUTS THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION AS A POSSIBLE FIRE RISK.
WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE STABILITRACK SENSORS KICKS IN FOR NO REASON AND SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAD THIS REPAIRED ONCE BUT AFTER A FEW MONTHS CONTINUED TO DO IT AGAIN. SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. IT HAPPENS MOREOFTEN IN THE COLD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS USING TOO MUCH ANTIFREEZE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAST TECH HEADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN OFF AT REAR OF ENGINE ON BOTH SIDES.
Official recalls
205V163000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.