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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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60,000 miles · Oct 14, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE ACTIVATING AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THERE IS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THEM TO BE DOING SO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10287382

77,000 miles · Jun 6, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

2004 CHEVY TAHOE POWER STEERING FAILURE AND SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF POWER BRAKES! IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER IF I HAD BEEN GOING FAST OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273001

88,000 miles · Mar 6, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VALVE O-RING SEAL FRACTURED. THE STEERING WAS SLIGHTLY AFFECTED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. THE VEHICLE BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO STOP AND TOOK LONGER TO DECELERATE THAN PRIOR TO THE SEAL FRACTURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. UPDATED…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VALVE O-RING SEAL FRACTURED. THE STEERING WAS SLIGHTLY AFFECTED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. THE VEHICLE BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO STOP AND TOOK LONGER TO DECELERATE THAN PRIOR TO THE SEAL FRACTURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. UPDATED 4/21/08 *CN UPDATED 04/21/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220230

36,000 miles · Jul 12, 2007
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

AT 36,000 MILES SPEEDOMETER FAILED AND READ WRONG SPEED AND THEN LOCKED AT 140 MPH. T 40,000 MILES THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILED AND THE BRAKING WAS REDUCED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10196158

20,000 miles · Mar 6, 2007
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE POWER STEERING SHAFT AND THE BRAKES WERENOT OPERATING NORMALLY. THE BRAKE CALIPERS, ROTORS, PADS AND BRAKE LINES WERE REPAIRED, DUE TO THE PASSENGER FRONT BRAKE SMOKING WITH A LIFT FLAME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE POWER STEERING SHAFT AND THE BRAKES WERENOT OPERATING NORMALLY. THE BRAKE CALIPERS, ROTORS, PADS AND BRAKE LINES WERE REPAIRED, DUE TO THE PASSENGER FRONT BRAKE SMOKING WITH A LIFT FLAME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE THE FAILURES SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 26,000.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10184305

9,000 miles · Sep 19, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

SO MANY... WHERE DO I START? 1) AT 9,000 MI. INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED DUE TO A POPPING FEELING IN THE STEERING, AT 16,000 MI. IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. 2) AT 9000 MILES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY TACH MOTOR MAKING A BUZZING/RATTLING SOUND, STARTED MAKING NOISE AGAIN AT 13,000 MILES TOO…

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SO MANY... WHERE DO I START? 1) AT 9,000 MI. INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED DUE TO A POPPING FEELING IN THE STEERING, AT 16,000 MI. IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. 2) AT 9000 MILES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY TACH MOTOR MAKING A BUZZING/RATTLING SOUND, STARTED MAKING NOISE AGAIN AT 13,000 MILES TOOK TO DEALER AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. 3) HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF ON TURNS HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES SINCE IT HAD 9000 MI. 1ST 2 TIMES REPLACED A PLUG ON ALTERNATOR AND SAID IT WAS FIXED, WAS NOT THEN SAID THE FOUND A BAD CONNECTOR STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS CONTACTED GM AND THEY WERE NO HELP. 4) EXHAUST HAS BEEN POPPING SINCE NEW AND SOMETIMES AFTER COOL DOWN SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING EXPLODED 5) ENGINE MAKES A NOISE WHEN WARMED UP TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AT 12000 MILES AND THEY CLEANED OIL PUMP PICKUP TUBE AND SAID THE OIL PRESSURE WAS NOT CORRECT. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM TOOK BACK IN AT 15000 AND THEY STATED NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE NOISE WAS NORMAL. 6) THE BRAKES PULSATED WHEN NEW TOOK BACK AT 59 MI. I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT AND IT WOULD GET BETTER. STARTED AGAIN AT 9000 MI. AND THEY TURNED THE ROTORS. BRAKES STARTED MAKING A CRACKING NOISE IN THE FRONT TOOK IN 3 TIMES FOUND NO PROBLEM YET WHEN I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP THE LAST TIME AT 15,000 MI THE NOISE WENT AWAY ONLY TO COME BACK A WEEK LATER. 7) WHEN IDLING THE VEHICLE VIBRATES BAD!!!! DASH WILL RATTLE AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL WHEN THE A/C WAS ON YET IT'S WORSE WHEN THE A/C IS OFF. NOW THAT A/C IS MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INSIDE THE CLIMATE CONTROL BOX AREA. 8) ENGINE HAS A MISS AT IDLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10168650

41,000 miles · Sep 14, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MADE A RUBBING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED ALL FOUR ROTORS WERE SO WORN THEY COULD NOT BE TURNED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10168238

28,000 miles · Aug 3, 2005
Electrical SystemEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: CONTACT STATED THE BATTERY FAILED. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED AN AIR CONDITIONING MODULE. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING THE WHEEL LOST BRAKING CAPABILITY, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP VERIFIED THIS WA SHAPPENING, BUT DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFAC…

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DT: CONTACT STATED THE BATTERY FAILED. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED AN AIR CONDITIONING MODULE. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING THE WHEEL LOST BRAKING CAPABILITY, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP VERIFIED THIS WA SHAPPENING, BUT DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10131413

3,022 miles · Nov 12, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

35 40 MPH CRASH INTO STOPPED VEHICLE, HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THEY LOCKED UP SKIDDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLES HAS 3000 MILES (NEW). SAT ON DEALER LOT FOR A YEAR. BOUGHT LESS THAN MONTH. DRIVING FOR 35 YEARS, NO ACCIDENTS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10098720

2,400 miles · Sep 8, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS STUDS BROKE FROM THE BRAKE DRUM AND WHEEL CAME OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10091588

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.