IllustrationAT 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
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tahoe 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
370–25K
7425–50K
9450–75K
6875–100K
79100–150K
36150K+
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
Electrical System complaints
214 reportsFAILURE OF SPEEDOMETER. *AK
TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER ARE NOT GIVING CORRECT READINGS. THEY CAN BE 3,000RPM AT IDLE OR 100MPH AT ABOUT 40 MPH SOMETIME SHUTTING OFF CAR RESETS IT. *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT CONSISTENT IN DETECTING ACTUAL SPEED DRIVEN. SOMETIMES IT WILL READ 40 MPH WHEN I AM ACTUALLY DRIVING 60 MPH. THIS IS DANGEROUS, AS THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING AROUND CURBS. GOT A QUOTE FROM DEALER TO REPAIR WHICH WILL BE AROUND $500. MY DAUGHTER OWNS A 2004 TRAILBLAZER AND HAS THE SAME PROBL…
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THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT CONSISTENT IN DETECTING ACTUAL SPEED DRIVEN. SOMETIMES IT WILL READ 40 MPH WHEN I AM ACTUALLY DRIVING 60 MPH. THIS IS DANGEROUS, AS THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING AROUND CURBS. GOT A QUOTE FROM DEALER TO REPAIR WHICH WILL BE AROUND $500. MY DAUGHTER OWNS A 2004 TRAILBLAZER AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
2004 CHEVY TOHOE, THE SPEEDOMETER GETS STUCK AND SAYS YOU ARE GOING 100MPH
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 WAR…
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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
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 M…
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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
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 COMPLAIN…
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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
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, SA…
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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
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
Official recalls
205V163000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.