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
467 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Jun 8, 2007
2004 CHEVY TOHOE, THE SPEEDOMETER GETS STUCK AND SAYS YOU ARE GOING 100MPH
Electrical system, May 30, 2007
2004 Z71 CHEVY TAHOE. SPEEDOMETER FAILED AT 54,000 MILES. THE DIAL HANGS AT 90 OR 120. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS NO FIX OTHER THEN REPLACING THE ENTIRE CLUSTER PANEL. $800 TO REPLACE CLUSTER PANEL. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER FOR FREE. VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Vehicle speed control, May 12, 2007
!ST ACCURRENCE JUST OVER 36000 MILES --SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ FASTER BY ABOUT 20 MPH DRIV IVING IT HAS DONE THIS NUMEROUS TIME, S BUT I FOUND IF TURNING KEY ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES IT WOULD BE ALRIGHT FOR A FEW WEEKS . SEEMED WORSE IN COLD AND DAMP WEATHER. NOW, AT 60000 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT CORRECT ITSELF AND WAS STUCK AT 25 MPH FASTER THEN WAS TRAVELING ---- DEALER WANTED $500 TO FIX THIS. I SAW WHERE NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE COMPANY AS IT WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME . *AK
Vehicle speed control, May 5, 2007
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY TAHOE Z71. THE SPEEDOMETER RECENTLY QUIT WORKING. THE MILEAGE KEEPS ACCUMULATING BUT THE SPEED DOES NOT SHOW. I KNOW OF SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. THE CHEVY DEALER TELLS ME THE FIX IS ABOUT 200 DOLLARS AND THEY MUST KEEP THE CAR FOR UP TO A WEEK TO SEND THE MODULE BACK TO FACTORY. I CAN ASSUME MOST PEOPLE ARE LIKE ME AND CANNOT DO WITHOUT A CAR FOR A WEEK WHICH MAKES THIS AN ISSUE OF A LOT OF THESE MODELS ON THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY IDEA HOW FAST THEY ARE GOING. IS THERE ANY HISTORY OF THIS ON RECORD OR RECALLS. THANKS RANDY *TR
Vehicle speed control, May 3, 2007
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY TAHOE AND IN NOVEMBER OF 2006 THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED ACTING ODD. SOMETIMES IT WOULD BE ON A SPEED WHEN I WAS SITTING STILL OTHER TIMES IT WOULD BE AT ZERO WHE I WAS DRIVING AND NOW IT IS STUCK AT ZERO. APPARENTLY, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT FOR THIS VEHICLE AS I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER GMC VEHICLES IN THIS MODEL YEAR. I CURRENTLY HAVE MY TRUCK IN A SHOP TO GET THIS REPAIRED BUT I WOULD HOPE WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT GMC WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND INITIATE A RECALL. *TR
Electrical system, Apr 21, 2007
AS I HAVE READ IN PRIOR COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED ON THIS WEB SITE, THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY VEHICLE ALSO DOES NOT REGISTER CORRECTLY. I KNOW OF AT LEAST 4 OTHER TAHOE OWNERS, AND 1 3/4 TON Z71 OWNER (ALL 2004 MODELS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND GIVEN WHAT I HAVE PAID FOR MY VEHICLE USED I SIMPLY CANT AFFORD TO PAY THE EXTRA 400 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT OBVIOUSLY BEGAN DURING MANUFACTURING. (WHY ELSE WOULD MULTIPLE VEHICLES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.) *TR
Electrical system, Apr 10, 2007
I HAVE AN 2004 TAHOE WITH 37,000 MILES ON IT AND THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT SPEED. WHEN SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP THE SPEEDOMETER WILL STILL REGISTER THAT I AM STILL MOVING. HAVE SPOKEN TO THE GM DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WERE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT GM WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. LOOKING AT OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB. THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF GM OWNERS WITH THIS SAME SAFETY RELATED PROBLEMS COVERING MANY DIFFERENT GM VEHICLES. *AK
Electrical system, Apr 8, 2007
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE AND RECENTLY THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED ACTING FUNNY. IT WOULD SHOW I WOULD BE GOING 60 MPH OVER WHAT I WAS ACTUALLY GOING. WHEN PARKED IT WOULD READ 45- 60 MPH. NOW IT STAYS STUCK AT 120 MPH. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND TOLD ME THE ENTIRE CLUSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $500. ALSO, SAID THAT IT WOULD BE 90 TO JUST LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. I DID SOME RESEARCH ,AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TO WHOM THIS IS HAPPENING TO. WHAT MADE ME MAD WAS THAT THIS HAPPENED 7500 MILES AFTER MY WARRANTY RAN OUT. *AK
Electrical system, Apr 1, 2007
SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTENTLY QUITS WORKING. YOU CAN BE DRIVING ALONG AT 60 MPH AND 50 MILES LATER, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS GONE TO 0 WHILE YOU ARE TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. IF YOU STOP, TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND GET OUT OF THE CAR, THEN RESTART THE CAR, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL WORK AGAIN FOR A LITTLE WAYS. *JB
Vehicle speed control, Mar 28, 2007
2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE, SPEEDOMETER REGISTERED INCORRECT SPEED AND SLOWLY STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED THE CHEVROLET DEALER, AND THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG, AND TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $500.00 TO FIX IT. I ASKED THEM ABOUT RECALLS SINCE MY BROTHER HAD THE SAME VEHICLE AND IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING. THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS I DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. I HAD IT FIXED LAST WEEK AND WAS CHARGED $500.00. AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 26, 2007
2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE . SPEEDOMETER STICKS AT 70 MPH, THEN DECREASES TO 40 MPH AND ULTIMITELY FALLS TO 0 MPH EVEN THOUGHTHE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET AT 70 MPH. OTHER TIMES THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS FINE FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN, THEN IT DROPS TO 0MPH, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.AK
Vehicle speed control, Mar 24, 2007
SPEEDOMETER IS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY IN MY 2004 CHEVY TAHOE. *AK
Electrical system, Mar 14, 2007
SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS 120 MPH AT ALL TIMES. DEALER WANTED $700+ TO REPLACE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. PULLED CLUSTER MYSELF IN TEN MINUTES AND SENT TO INSTRUMENT REPAIR COMPANY IN SACRAMENTO, CA WHO REPLACED ALL THE LIGHTS AND STEPPER MOTORS FOR $155.*JB
Electrical system, Mar 9, 2007
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON HIS WAY TO WORK IN OUR 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE WITH CURRENT MILEAGE OF 39,000 MILES, AND THE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AT 53 MPH, IT WILL NOT MOVE. *JB
Electrical system, Mar 8, 2007
2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE SPEEDOMETER READS WRONG AND THEN DOESN'T READ A SPEED AT ALL. ON A 70 MILE TRIP, MY SPEEDOMETER REGISTERED SPEED FOR THE FIRST 10 MILES AND THEN READ 0 MILES/HOUR THE REST OF THE 60 MILES. *JB
Electrical system, Mar 8, 2007
SPEEDOMETER STUCK IT WILL BE AT 50 SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. *JB
Electrical system, Mar 7, 2007
THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS FINE SOMETIMES BUT SOME OTHER TIMES IT STARTS OFF AT ABOUT 35 MPH AND COUNTS UP FROM THERE. IT IS HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING AND I AM REALLY AFRAID OF GETTING A SPEEDING TICKET OR GOING TO SLOW AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO SO MAYBE WE CAN PREVENT FUTURE MAJOR PROBLEMS. ALSO A NUMBER OF FRIENDS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH GAUGES IN THEIR CHEVROLET VEHICLES. *JB
Steering, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 6, 2007
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
Electrical system, Mar 5, 2007
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I STARTED TO NOTICE PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVY TAHOE. IT DOES NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT SPEED SOMETIMES. SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. THERE IS NO SPECIFIC TIME OR DRIVING CONDITION THAT THIS OCCURS. LAST NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE. THE SPEEDOMETER READS 35 WHEN I WAS ACTUALLY GOING OVER 60. SOMETHING REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE A NEW SPEEDOMETER PUT IN THE VEHICLE AT $500.00. *JB
Electrical system, Mar 5, 2007
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE LT. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN ACTING VERY ERRATIC - READING 35, 45, 75, ETC. WHILE STOPPED AND 125+ WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH... I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND MY CHEVROLET DEALER IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS JUST BY GIVING A BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND WANTS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR $400+ THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS - SO MUCH MONEY WAS SPENT ON THESE VEHICLES AND CHEVROLET CANNOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A DEFECT WHICH CAN VERY EASILY POSE A SAFETY HAZARD. SEE ATTACHED LINK TO VIEW HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR ISSUES: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-TAHOE/T2BGKBGI55EKNU77C/P2 *JB
Electrical system, Mar 4, 2007
MY 2004 CHEVY TAHOE HAS A DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER. AT 37,500 MILES, CONVENIENTLY JUST AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STARTED JUMPING ERRATICALLY, AND THEN A FEW DAYS LATER, IT QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY 2 LOCAL DEALERS IN THE S.F. BAY AREA THAT IT WILL COST APPROX $600-900 TO REPAIR, AND I WILL BE WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR UP TO A WEEK. UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT BE WITHOUT IT B/C I WORK FULL TIME AND AM A SINGLE MOTHER. I DID SEE ON EBAY THAT THERE IS A PERSON THAT CAN REPAIR THE CLUSTER AND IT IS A WHOLE LOT CHEAPER THAN TAKING IT TO THE DEALER, BUT I WOULD BE WITHOUT THE WHOLE CLUSTER FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THIS IS DANGEROUS! I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOT HAVING A CLUE AS TO HOW FAST I AM ACTUALLY DRIVING, AND IT MAKES ME REALLY NERVOUS. I CANNOT AFFORD THE $600-900 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, AND FEEL THAT GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY! COME ON, THIS HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ALREADY! *JB
Electrical system, Mar 1, 2007
SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC AND UNRELIABLE. ON CHEVY SUV CHAT SITES THIS IS A APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM AND RELATED TO A DEFECTIVE PART. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Other, Vehicle speed control, Electrical system, Feb 26, 2007
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 80000 MILES. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN DRIVING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THEN START MOVING AGAIN THE SPEEDOMETER WILL STAY AT ZERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE SPEEDOMETER TO WORK AGAIN WAS TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, THEN LET IT SIT FOR A MOMENT AND RESTART. THIS PROBLEM MADE THE CONTACT RUN OUT OF GAS SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE GAS GAUGE DID NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE OIL GAUGE WASINCORRECT AS WELL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Electrical system, Feb 26, 2007
SPEEDOMETER HAS COMPLETELY FAILED AT 46,000 MILES THEREFORE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW HOW FAST I AM DRIVING. *NM
Electrical system, Feb 15, 2007
SPEEDOMETER ERRATIC ON 2004 CHEVY TAHOE. SAYS I AM GOING 120 PARKED, AND 30 WHEN I AM GOING 70. *JB