Illustration2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WINDOW MOTOR REPLACEMENT**CC THE RIGHT POWER WINDOW WAS SLOW GOING UP. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A MOTOR AND REGULATOR WAS NEEDED. THE FRONT TIRES WERE SEVERELY WORN ON THE INSIDE. AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED AND THE TIRES WERE ROTATED. *JB
2004 Chevrolet Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 118.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Suburban 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
330–25K
2725–50K
3450–75K
2475–100K
27100–150K
22150K+
167 reports with mileage · 37 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 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports6 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
204 reportsSTARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER READING INCORRECT SPEED AT ABOUT 40K MILES. CURRENTLY HAVE 55K MILES ON MY 2004 SUBURBAN. THE SPEEDOMETER OFTEN READS OVER 100 MPH SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR AFTER 30+ MINUTES OF CONTINUED DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, THE TACHOMETER BECOMES ERRATIC AND SOMETIMES JUST DROP…
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STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER READING INCORRECT SPEED AT ABOUT 40K MILES. CURRENTLY HAVE 55K MILES ON MY 2004 SUBURBAN. THE SPEEDOMETER OFTEN READS OVER 100 MPH SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR AFTER 30+ MINUTES OF CONTINUED DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, THE TACHOMETER BECOMES ERRATIC AND SOMETIMES JUST DROPS TO 0 WHILE DRIVING. *NM
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WITH APPROX. 60,000 MILES. THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO REGISTER AND OTHER TIMES NOT AT ALL. WHEN "WORKING", THE SPEEDOMETER STEPS OR JAGGEDLY MOVES. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT EVEN IF IT IS "WORKING" IT IS NOT ACCURATE. I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB AND THERE SEEMS T…
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I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WITH APPROX. 60,000 MILES. THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO REGISTER AND OTHER TIMES NOT AT ALL. WHEN "WORKING", THE SPEEDOMETER STEPS OR JAGGEDLY MOVES. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT EVEN IF IT IS "WORKING" IT IS NOT ACCURATE. I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A HIGH NUMBER OF SIMILAR CASES. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS IN A FRIEND'S SUBURBAN LAST WEEKEND AND HE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN. HE HAD APPROX. THE SAME MILEAGE (60,000 MILES). VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING AT ANY GIVEN TIME. *NM
2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER GOES CRAZY,SOMETIMES SET AT 120 MPH WHILE SETTING STILL. WHILE DRIVING I NEVER KNOW THE SPEED I'M GOING. ONE DAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER JUST KEPT CLIMBING TO 120 MPH , THAT IS WHEN IT STARTED. SOMETIMES THE SPEEDOMETER GOES DOWN TO 0 MPH THEN WHILE DRIVING SAY 30 MPH I GUESS IT MAY …
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2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER GOES CRAZY,SOMETIMES SET AT 120 MPH WHILE SETTING STILL. WHILE DRIVING I NEVER KNOW THE SPEED I'M GOING. ONE DAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER JUST KEPT CLIMBING TO 120 MPH , THAT IS WHEN IT STARTED. SOMETIMES THE SPEEDOMETER GOES DOWN TO 0 MPH THEN WHILE DRIVING SAY 30 MPH I GUESS IT MAY TAKE YOU TO 60 MPH, 80 MPH WHILE AT THE SAME RPM. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ,IT HAS 44000 MILES THEREFORE MY WARRANTY IS OUT I HAVE TO SEE IF THE EXT WARRANTY I GOT COVERS THIS, ALSO I HAVE BEEN CHECKING THE INTERNET IF ANYONE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE ON TOPIX.NET . THANK YOU FOR YOU'RE TIME. *NM
2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN - SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DOES NOT GIVE THE RIGHT SPEED. MAY BE GOING 30 BUT SAYS 70 AND VICE VERSA. *NM
SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ON 2004 CHEVY Z71 TAHOE. IT IS EITHER PEGGED AT 120 MPH, READS TOO HIGH , OR READS TOO LOW. *JB
LAST NIGHT THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TICKING LOUDLY AND MOVING WITH SUDDEN JERKING MOVEMENTS. IT THEN SHOWED I WAS GOING 85 MPH WHEN I WAS ACTUALLY GOING LESS THAN 45. THIS GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS I CONTINUED, TO THE POINT IT SHOWED I WAS GOING OVER 120 MPH WHEN STOPPED. NOW IT IS ALL THE WAY TO FAR RIGHT SIDE AND IS STUCK. …
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LAST NIGHT THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TICKING LOUDLY AND MOVING WITH SUDDEN JERKING MOVEMENTS. IT THEN SHOWED I WAS GOING 85 MPH WHEN I WAS ACTUALLY GOING LESS THAN 45. THIS GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS I CONTINUED, TO THE POINT IT SHOWED I WAS GOING OVER 120 MPH WHEN STOPPED. NOW IT IS ALL THE WAY TO FAR RIGHT SIDE AND IS STUCK. IT WILL NOT RESET WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, THEN BOTH FEET WERE USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM FAILED AND BOTH COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED.
ON MY 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN THE HOUSING UNIT FOR THE SPARE TIRE WILL NOT RELEASE THE SPARE TIRE TO COME DOWN, SO YOU CAN FIX A FLAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T GET THE SPARE TIRE DOWN, YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE FLAT--& YOU WILL BE STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN--WE HAD NEVER USED THE SPARE TIRE BEFORE--B…
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ON MY 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN THE HOUSING UNIT FOR THE SPARE TIRE WILL NOT RELEASE THE SPARE TIRE TO COME DOWN, SO YOU CAN FIX A FLAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T GET THE SPARE TIRE DOWN, YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE FLAT--& YOU WILL BE STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN--WE HAD NEVER USED THE SPARE TIRE BEFORE--BUT WHEN WE NEEDED IT, IT WAS INOPERABLE. *NM
6-2006, 98 DEGREES, CENTENNIAL, COLORADO 2004 CHEVY 8.1 LITER SUBURBAN, DRIVING 55-60 MPH FOR APPROX. 1 HOUR(NO TRAILER) VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS POWER, I HAD TO PULL OVER AND HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO CHEVY DEALER. (DEALER STATED CODES INDICATED MISFIRING) FURTHER TESTING, SERVICE WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE ISSUE AND LOCATE A BULLETIN OU…
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6-2006, 98 DEGREES, CENTENNIAL, COLORADO 2004 CHEVY 8.1 LITER SUBURBAN, DRIVING 55-60 MPH FOR APPROX. 1 HOUR(NO TRAILER) VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS POWER, I HAD TO PULL OVER AND HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO CHEVY DEALER. (DEALER STATED CODES INDICATED MISFIRING) FURTHER TESTING, SERVICE WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE ISSUE AND LOCATE A BULLETIN OUTLINING THE PROBLEM. PER DEALER, FAULTY FUEL PUMP, GM ADVISED TO SWITCH FUEL PUMP TO A HIGH ALTITUDE PUMP, TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. WHICH WAS DONE, AND IT FIXED THE ISSUE. AS THE 8.1 LITER SUBURBAN IS A VEH. PRIMARILY USED FOR TOWING, THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR CAMPAIGN TO WARN PEOPLE. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL COULD BE CATASTROPHIC IN NATURE. *NM
Official recalls
406V289000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Aug 3, 2006
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE DAMPER COMES LOOSE, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463.
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.
05V043000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Feb 8, 2005
CERTAIN TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH HYDRO-BOOST BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR MAY CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WERE OPEN, FRAGMENTS FROM THE ACCUMULATOR COULD CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. THE PRESENCE OF THIS CRACK OR FRACTURED SURFACE COULD ALLOW THE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE ACCUMULATOR CIRCUIT OF THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. THE LOSS OF FLUID WOULD CAUSE INCREASED STEERING AND BRAKING EFFORT AND A CRASH MAY OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FOR FUNCTIONAL OPERATION OF THE TWO-FUNCTION VALVE. IF THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FAILS THE TEST, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463 AND 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
1EA04012 · Hydraulic Pump Failres
Opened Apr 30, 2004 · Closed Feb 28, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System
GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist
GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System
GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.