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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

23 reports
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190,000 miles · Apr 24, 2023
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact's spouse owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and remained extended to the floorboard. The contact engaged the parking brake to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The vehicle was driven to the residence and parked. Additionally, the conta…

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The contact's spouse owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and remained extended to the floorboard. The contact engaged the parking brake to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The vehicle was driven to the residence and parked. Additionally, the contact stated that while parked, the brake pedal was depressed, and brake fluid was squirting onto the ground from underneath the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 190,000.

NHTSA ODI #11518661

150,000 miles · Sep 2, 2022
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle immediately while the brake pedal was being depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V045000 (Service …

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The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle immediately while the brake pedal was being depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V045000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #11482582

183,500 miles · Mar 31, 2022
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while inspecting the coils under the hood, he noticed that the master cylinder brake lines were leaking. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the master cylinder brake lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The man…

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The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while inspecting the coils under the hood, he noticed that the master cylinder brake lines were leaking. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the master cylinder brake lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 183,500. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ODI #11459100

64,000 miles · Oct 14, 2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE BRAKES. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HIS DAUGHTER HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME, HE DECIDED TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND SOON DISCOVERED THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND HE COULD BARELY STOP THE…

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2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE BRAKES. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HIS DAUGHTER HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME, HE DECIDED TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND SOON DISCOVERED THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND HE COULD BARELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO ADD NEARLY 16 OUNCES OF BRAKE FLUID. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND ONE LINE WAS LEAKING BADLY. THE REPAIR COST, THE CONSUMER $1,346.62.

NHTSA ODI #10641009

54,000 miles · Aug 11, 2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO AVOID A PERSON THAT RAN A STOP SIGN. I DROVE OFF, DOWN A HILL AND UPON REACHING THE STOP SIGN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD VERY LIMITED BRAKING AND STOPPED 3/4 OF THE WAY INTO THE INTERSECTION. THANK GOODNESS THERE WASN'T ANY CROSS TRAFFI…

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I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO AVOID A PERSON THAT RAN A STOP SIGN. I DROVE OFF, DOWN A HILL AND UPON REACHING THE STOP SIGN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD VERY LIMITED BRAKING AND STOPPED 3/4 OF THE WAY INTO THE INTERSECTION. THANK GOODNESS THERE WASN'T ANY CROSS TRAFFIC. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT ONE OF THE METAL LINES HAD RUPTURED AND THAT ALL THE LINES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. DEALER WANTS $2,800.00 TO REPLACE THESE BIO-DEGRADABLE BRAKE LINES. ONE WOULD WONDER WHY THE MUFFLER IS STILL ORIGINAL AND IN GOOD SHAPE, BUT THE BRAKE LINES CORRODED TO THE POINT OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST IN THE COST DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE INVESTIGATION THAT IS ON-GOING NEEDS TO INCLUDE MORE MODEL YEARS THAN WHAT IS BEING INVESTIGATED. IT MAY THEN SHED LIGHT ON HOW WIDE SPREAD THIS PROBLEM REALLY IS. I AM UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT METAL BRAKE LINES SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THEN A MUFFLER. GM IS TAKING THE STANCE THAT THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS IN "SALT STATES". IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN, DON'T THEY SELL THESE VEHICLES IN "SALT STATES?" THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THIS IS SERIOUS. UPDATED 09/24/14. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10621530

55,000 miles · Nov 10, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD DEPRESS TO THE FLOOR WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND IT WOULD TAKE REPEATED HEAVY PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD DEPRESS TO THE FLOOR WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND IT WOULD TAKE REPEATED HEAVY PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10435152

120,000 miles · Oct 25, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH OUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10432724

85,000 miles · Jul 21, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKES, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKES, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10413884

113,000 miles · May 13, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE CONTACT NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TWO BOTTOM BRAKE LINES WERE WORN AND HAD SPLIT SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE CONTACT NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TWO BOTTOM BRAKE LINES WERE WORN AND HAD SPLIT SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 06/17/11*LJ UPDATED 2/03/2012 *LN *TR

NHTSA ODI #10400788

140,000 miles · May 9, 2011
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicWheels

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH SHE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE AND FUEL GAUGE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED. UPON RESTART THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURR…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH SHE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE AND FUEL GAUGE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED. UPON RESTART THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY TWENTY TIMES WITHIN A TWO WEEK PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PLANNED ON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 04V045000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 07E106000 (WHEELS: CAP/COVER/HUB, WHICH HE BELIEVED COULD HAVE POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY OF THE RECALLS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10399595

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.