2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 467 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 Tahoe model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 25 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 24 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Wheels, hubDec 17, 2007
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.
WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.
Campaign 07E106000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasolineMay 19, 2006
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
Campaign 06E043000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Campaign 06E026000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, rear/otherApr 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 05V163000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulicFeb 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 04V045000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
214 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Dec 10, 2006
SPEEDOMETER WILL DROP TO ZERO OR SHOW AN INACCURATE READING WHILE DRIVING. CAN NOT DRIVE SAFELY OR LEGALLY IF THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE IS UNKNOWN. GM SHOULD CONSIDER THIS A RECALL ISSUE. *JB
Electrical system, Dec 7, 2006
ON OCTOBER 27TH, THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVY TAHOE BEGAN TO STOP WORKING. MY VEHICLE HAS 49K MILES ON IT. THE SPEEDOMETER GETS STUCK AT VARIOUS POINTS AND WILL PEG OUT AT OVER 120. ON MANY OCCASIONS, IT WILL NOT COME OFF OF ZERO. IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT, IT WILL DROP THE NEEDLE ABOUT 5 MPH, BUT WILL NEVER ZERO ITSELF BACK OUT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP (BILL HEARD CHEVROLET, COLLIERVILLE, TN) THE DAY THAT IT OCCURRED. I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT IT WOULD COST AROUND $600-$700 TO REPAIR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN GM TRUCKS AND SUV'S. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT. THIS IS NOT JUST HAPPENING TO ME. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO HAVE THIS INSTRUMENT PANEL REPAIRED. PEOPLE EXPECT RELIABILITY WHEN THEY INVEST THIS TYPE OF MONEY INTO A VEHICLE AND THEY ARE NOT GETTING IT FROM GM OR IT'S PARTS. *NM
Electrical system, Dec 1, 2006
I OWN A 2004 CHEVY TAHOE WHICH HAS 46K MILES. MY SPEEDOMETER IS ACTING ERRATICALLY. IT WILL NOT DROP LOWER THAN 70 MPH, OFTEN NOT DROPPING BELOW 80 AND EVEN 90 MPH. IT WILL TOP OUT ON THE FREEWAY AND EVEN DRIVING DOWN STREETS. I AM BEING TOLD THIS IS COMMON AND BEING QUOTED HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CLUSTER AT OVER $1K OUT OF POCKET. PLEASE HAVE CHEVY RECALL THIS DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A COMMON OCCURRENCE. PLEASE MAKE THEM PAY FOR THEIR POOR WORKMANSHIP AND PROTECT HARD WORKING CONSUMERS WHO SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR CHEVROLET'S POOR WORKMANSHIP. *JB
Electrical system, Dec 1, 2006
SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. *JB
Electrical system, Dec 1, 2006
2004 CHEVY TAHOE - THE SPEEDOMETER IS COMPLETELY ERRATIC WHILE DRIVING AND DOES NOT READ THE CORRECT MPH. IT FLUCTUATES ALL OVER THE PLACE AND DOES NOT SETTLE BACK TO ZERO. VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE!!! *JB
Vehicle speed control, Electrical system, Nov 28, 2006
SPEEDOMETER IS NOT REGISTERING CORRECT SPEED. STARTED READING INACCURATELY AND NOW DOES NOT READ AT ALL. OUR 2004 CHEVY TAHOE IS BEING TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. VEHICLE CONSIDERED OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILES AND DID NOT PURCHASE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *JB
Electrical system, Nov 27, 2006
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE THAT THE SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS INCORRECTLY OR NOT AT ALL. WHEN THE NEEDLE MOVES IT MOVES WITH A JERKY MOTION. *JB
Electrical system, Nov 22, 2006
2004 TAHOE SPEEDOMETER IS PEGGED FULL SCALE WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WITH ENGINE OFF. NOTICED SEVERAL OTHERS HAVING SAME SPEEDOMETER RELATED PROBLEMS ON INTERNET FORUMS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY THROUGH A RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER. *NM
Electrical system, Nov 21, 2006
STARTED VEHICLE NOVEMBER 14,2006 SPEEDOMETER IS SHOWING AT BETWEEN 70 MPH AND 120 MPH WHEN AT FULL STOP. UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW FAST I AM GOING. INTERNET IS SHOWING THAT A LOT OF GMC SUV AND TRUCK OWNERS FROM 2003-2006 ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. DEALERS AND MECHANICS ARE CHARGING BETWEEN $600-$800 TO REPAIR. *NM
Electrical system, Nov 21, 2006
THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED GOING WAY BELOW THE ACTUAL SPEED I WAS GOING. I'D HAVE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT AND KEEP DOING THIS UNTIL IT GETS BACK TO NORMAL. THIS WENT ON FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WHERE IT WAS FINE, THEN IT WOULD DROP BELOW 0 AT A STOP SIGN, THEN WOULD SHOW 10 MPH WHEN I WAS ACTUALLY DOING ABOUT 35. NOW IT'S DOING JUST THE OPPOSITE. THE OTHER NIGHT I LOOKED DOWN AT THE SPEEDOMETER AND ALMOST PANICKED BECAUSE IT SAID I WAS GOING 90 MPH! I WAS ACTUALLY DOING AROUND 50. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND GMC SHOULD RECALL. *NM
Electrical system, Nov 16, 2006
MY '04 CHEVY TAHOE'S SPEEDOMETER, WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES, JUST QUITE WORKING AND IS STUCK ON 55 EVEN WHEN IT SITS ON THE GARAGE. AFTER SEEING HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON-LINE, IT APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH SIMILAR GM MODELS. *JB
Electrical system, Nov 16, 2006
MY RECENTLY PURCHASED 2004 CHEVROLET TAHO Z71 HAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES ON IT. THE SPEEDOMETER IS GROSSLY INACCURATE AND FUNCTIONS ERRATICALLY WHEN IT DOES FUNCTION. SHOWS 30 MPH EVEN WHEN PARKED, BUT THAT VALUE JUMPS AROUND. NO TRIGGER EVENT, IT JUST STARTED DOING IT. CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY REAL SPEED IS AND THIS CREATES A HAZARD IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM. BASED UPON MY SEARCHES I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH A NUMBER OF GM VEHICLES. GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM RATHER THAN SOAKING UP OUR MONEY IN REPAIR COSTS. *JB
Electrical system, Nov 15, 2006
WE HAVE SEEN DOZEN OF INCIDENTS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TICKING, BECAME JERKY, OR STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. SOMETIMES IT WILL DISPLAY A SPEED OBVIOUSLY LOWER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED (LIKE 30 ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE WE ARE GOING AT LEAST 55). OTHER TIMES, IT WILL SIT AT 0 WHILE THE CAR IS CRUISING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIME STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR FIXES IT. WE WILL GO A WEEK OR MORE WITHOUT THE PROBLEM AND SOMETIME WE SEE IT MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE DAY. WE HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE ISSUE YET. INTERNET SEARCHING INDICATES THE AVERAGE REPAIR COST TO BE BETWEEN $500 AND $1,200. SIMILAR SEARCHING ALSO INDICATES THAT THIS HAS BEEN SEEN BY AT LEAST HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON VARIATIONS OF THE TAHOE (SUBURBAN, AVALANCHE, ETC). THERE IS EVEN SOMEONE ON EBAY WHO HAS A HOLE BUSINESS AROUND FIXING BROKEN INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS FOR THESE VEHICLES. *JB
Electrical system, Nov 7, 2006
MY SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS UNABLE TO TELL MY ACCURATE SPEED. I HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED WITH AN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT HAD BEEN REPAIRED. I WAS WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEREFORE HAD TO PAY MY PORTION ($100.00).*JB
Electrical system, Nov 7, 2006
MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED ACTING ERRATICALLY, SHOWING THE INCORRECT SPEED OR NO SPEED AT ALL, COMPARED TO THE ACTUAL VELOCITY OF THE VEHICLE. AND NOW IT SIMPLY NO LONGER WORKS AND I CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING. *JB
Electrical system, Nov 6, 2006
SPEEDOMETER READS 40 MPH WHEN ACTUALLY TRAVELLING 70 MPH. *NM
Electrical system, Nov 4, 2006
MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE WITH 30,000 MILES CURRENTLY ON IT. WE WERE DRIVING HOME FROM SUPPER LAST NIGHT WHEN OUR SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. WE WERE DOING 65 MPH DOWN A LOCAL HIGHWAY WHEN MY HUSBAND LOOKED DOWN AT HIS SPEED AND THE SPEEDOMETER READ 35. WE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE SPEED DROPPED TO 0. WHEN WE ACCELERATED, THE SPEED STAYED AT 0 WHEN WE WERE DOING AT LEAST 35. WE THEN PULLED OVER, TURNED THE CAR OFF, RECRANKED THE CAR AND THEN BEGAN DRIVING. STILL NOTHING. I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY IMPACTING OUR SAFETY. WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST WE'RE DRIVING. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND AROUND 100 OTHER GMC/GM CAR OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY ARE STATING IT COSTS BETWEEN $500 AND $700 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND MANY TIMES THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AFTER THE REPAIRS. WE HAVE NOT CONTACTED OUR LOCAL DEALER BECAUSE IT IS THE WEEKEND. WE PLAN TO CALL ON MONDAY MORNING TO FIND OUT THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM
Vehicle speed control, Electrical system, Nov 3, 2006
I DRIVE A 2004 TAHOE LS. I AM A SALESMAN AND DRIVE QUITE A BIT AND HAVE RACKED UP AROUND 95,000 MILES TO THIS DAY. WHILE DRIVING, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER ACTING ERRATICALLY. THE NEEDLE WOULD JUMP OR LURCH PAST EACH NUMBER AS IT ASCENDED THROUGH THE NUMBERS ON THE SPEEDOMETER. IT WAS MORE NOTICEABLE IN THE 55 TO 75MPH RANGE. THE SPEED WAS STILL ACCURATE SO I VIEWED IT AS A NON-ISSUE. HOWEVER, AS TIME WENT ON THE ACCURACY BEGAN TO DEGRADE AS I STARTED NOTICING THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD STOP AT 40 MPH WHILE I WAS DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEGRADATION HAS CONTINUED UP TO NOW WHERE I AM LUCKY IF THE NEEDLE EVEN MOVES OFF OF 0 MPH. WHEN THE NEEDLE DOES MOVE IT FREEZES AT ABOUT 15 MPH FORCING ME TO GUESS AT MY SPEED BY MONITORING THE TACHOMETER. THIS IS A PRETTY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASSUME GM WOULD LOOK TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION QUICKLY. THE ALTERNATIVE IS FOR THE CONSUMER TO FOOT THE BILL OF A $500-$1100 REPAIR COST FOR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AS MANY DEALERS ALREADY KNOW THAT THE "CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED". THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE FOR GMS BUILT IN THE 2003 TO 2005 MODEL YEARS WHICH WE, AS CONSUMERS WHO HAVE ALREADY INVESTED AT LEAST $40,000 ON THESE VEHICLES, NEED TO SEE REMEDIED. P.S. THE 07 FORD EXPEDITION AND EXPEDITION EL APPEAR TO BE VERY NICE
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Nov 3, 2006
ELECTRICAL PANEL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. HAVE NOT HAD A CORRECT READING IN MONTHS.
Electrical system, Nov 1, 2006
SPEEDOMETER NO LONGER WORKS. READS TO HIGH, OFTEN STAYING AT MAX SPEED OR ABOVE WHILE DRIVING 55 TO 65 MPH. READS ~50 MPH WHILE SITTING STILL. VEHICLE HAS MILES. *NM
Electrical system, Oct 31, 2006
SPEEDOMETER TICKING AND SHOWING INCORRECT SPEED. SOMETIMES STICKING ON HIGHER NUMBER AND THEN ON LOWER NUMBERS AND OFTEN NOT WORKING AT ALL. *NM
Electrical system, Oct 30, 2006
2004 CHEVY TAHOE SPEEDOMETER FAILURE - A COMMON PROBLEM AND UNSAFE. THIS OUGHT TO BE A FACTORY RECALL ISSUE. SPEEDOMETER READS DOUBLE SPEED, HALF SPEED OR ZERO. *JB
Electrical system, Oct 29, 2006
AT 37,000 MILES, THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVY TAHOE HAS STOPPED WORKING. READING ERRATICALLY OR NOT AT ALL. *NM
Electrical system, Oct 20, 2006
2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE HAS A SPEEDOMETER THAT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. VERY ERRATIC READINGS THROUGHOUT SPEED RANGE. *NM
Electrical system, Oct 17, 2006
OUR TAHOE HAS 46295 MILES ON IT. LAST WEEK, THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME ERRATIC. IT SOMETIMES WORKS, BUT OFTEN SHOWS SPEEDS OF 50-80 MPH WHILE THE TRUCK IS IN IDLE, AND MUCH HIGHER WHEN THE TRUCK IS MOVING. AFTER TALKING WITH MANY DEALERS, REPAIR SHOPS AND OTHER GM DRIVERS, THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY GM. APPARENTLY, THE ISSUE IS WITH THE INSTRUMENT CONSOLE, AND OTHER GAUGES MAY OR MAY NOT BE WORKING AS WELL. THIS IS BOTH A SAFETY CONCERN AND A VEHICLE CONCERN, AS I MAY NOT KNOW MY CORRECT SPEED, LEVEL OF GAS, ETC. *NM