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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.

About this comparison →

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

Electrical System complaints

214 reports
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198,502 miles · Jan 28, 2013
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATED OVER A PERIOD OF 2-3 DAYS, THEN STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CAMPAIGN HAS LONG EXPIRED. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DRIVER CANNOT TELL HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELI…

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THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATED OVER A PERIOD OF 2-3 DAYS, THEN STOPPED WORKING. I CALLED A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CAMPAIGN HAS LONG EXPIRED. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DRIVER CANNOT TELL HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING. IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495013

78,000 miles · Dec 21, 2012
Electrical System

I AD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH THE 2004 TAHOES UNTIL A CO-WORKER MENTIONED HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEN WHEN I HAD A SMOG CHECK DONE THIS YEAR. I NOTICED ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO THAT MY GAUGES WERE NOT WORKING. DIDN'T REALLY LOOK INTO AS, I HAVE REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND CHECK MY LEVELS REGULARLY TOO.…

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I AD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH THE 2004 TAHOES UNTIL A CO-WORKER MENTIONED HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEN WHEN I HAD A SMOG CHECK DONE THIS YEAR. I NOTICED ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO THAT MY GAUGES WERE NOT WORKING. DIDN'T REALLY LOOK INTO AS, I HAVE REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND CHECK MY LEVELS REGULARLY TOO. BUT RECENTLY MY SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T READ THE SPEED CORRECTLY. IT'S NOW A PERMANENT ISSUE AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER PANEL COMPLETELY IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I CANNOT BELIEVE GM WILL NOT RECALL FOR THIS ITEM! HOW MANY OTHERS OUT THERE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND JUST LIKE ME, DID NOT KNOW IT WAS AN ISSUE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10489481

185,000 miles · Dec 1, 2012
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER, OIL GAUGE AND RPM GAGE ON THE CLUSTER PANEL QUIT WORKING. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A DEFAULT THAT SHOULD BE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE TO THE OWNERS. NO ONE WANTS TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE AND HAVE TO PUT IN THE SHOP FOR A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10486694

176,388 miles · Sep 24, 2012
Air BagsElectrical System

ON SEPT 21, 2012 I WAS DRIVING HOME FOR LUNCH AND AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES I NOTICE MY RADIO SHUT OFF AND ON, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS KEPT LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. ALSO, THE GAUGES ON THE DASH WHERE COMING ON AND OFF AND ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE ON THE TAHOE WHERE GOING ON AND OFF ALSO. AS SOON AS EVERYTHING STOPPED MY AIRBAGS…

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ON SEPT 21, 2012 I WAS DRIVING HOME FOR LUNCH AND AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES I NOTICE MY RADIO SHUT OFF AND ON, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS KEPT LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. ALSO, THE GAUGES ON THE DASH WHERE COMING ON AND OFF AND ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE ON THE TAHOE WHERE GOING ON AND OFF ALSO. AS SOON AS EVERYTHING STOPPED MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND HIT MY FACE AND CHEST. I REMEMBER A CLOUD OF WHITE POWDER AND REALIZED I WAS STILL DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID RUNNING INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10476865

75,000 miles · May 25, 2012
Electrical System

CONTROL PANEL CLUSTER IS FAILING FIRST CAUSING THE GAS GAUGE TO NOT WORK AT ALL AND THEN THE SPEEDOMETER TO MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10459664

98,000 miles · Apr 10, 2012
Electrical System

INSTRUMENTATION PROBLEM. SPEEDOMETER STEPPER MOTOR DOES NOT RESET TO ZERO. THIS RESULTS IN THE INACCURATE REPORTING OF VEHICLE SPEED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS ISSUE IS WIDELY REPORTED THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET. WE LENT A TON OF MONEY TO GM AND THEY NEED TO BE CALLED TO THE CARPET TO REMEDY THESE ISSUES PROMPTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454716

176,800 miles · Mar 21, 2012
Electrical System

THE RPM AND SPEED GAUGES ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE NOT WORKING. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10452499

142,000 miles · Dec 8, 2011
Electrical System

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I GLANCED AT MY GAUGES. THE TACHOMETER READING WAS BELOW ZERO. THEN SUDDENLY MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED SLOWLY FALLING FROM 65 TO 70 MPH TO JUST BELOW ZERO AS WELL. STILL DRIVING. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER. THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO SLOWLY RISE. FINALLY IT STAYED STEADY AT ABOUT 35 MPH. THIS CREA…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I GLANCED AT MY GAUGES. THE TACHOMETER READING WAS BELOW ZERO. THEN SUDDENLY MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED SLOWLY FALLING FROM 65 TO 70 MPH TO JUST BELOW ZERO AS WELL. STILL DRIVING. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER. THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO SLOWLY RISE. FINALLY IT STAYED STEADY AT ABOUT 35 MPH. THIS CREATED A PROBLEM. BECAUSE I WASN'T GOING 35MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. DURING THIS TIME, I TRIED NOT TO INCREASE OR DECREASE MY SPEED. I WENT WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS A SAFE RATE OF SPEED AT THAT TIME. BECAUSE THE TACHOMETER WASN'T WORKING TOO. THE APPROXIMATE CALCULATION OF MY RATE OF SPEED. COULD NOT BE ASCERTAINED. "SPEED" IS A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. WHETHER IT BE THE REGULAR STREETS THROUGHOUT YOUR TOWN OR THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. ANOTHER REASON TO CONSIDER THIS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE IS. SOMEONE MAYBE DRIVING FASTER THAN THE SPEED RATING OF THEIR TIRES. BECAUSE OF INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTION. THE RISK OF SERIOUS TIRE ISSUES HAVE NOW INCREASED. THIS IS A DIRECT SAFETY ISSUE. THROUGH SOME RESEARCH OF MY OWN. I FOUND THAT ALOT OF THE EFFECTED VEHICLES. STARTED HAVING THIS ISSUE AFTER 70000 TO 80000 MILES. GM'S ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY THIS SAFETY HAZARD IS LAME AT MOST. 7 YRS 70,000 MILES. THESE NUMBERS WERE PICKED SO THEY COULD KEEP THEIR COSTS AT A MINIMUM. WE, THE CONSUMER, ARE BEING FORCED. TO TAKE IT ONCE AGAIN. FROM THE BIG BUSINESSES THAT REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. FOR THE VERY DANGEROUS ISSUES OF WHICH THEY CREATED! HAS ANYONE FIGURED OUT HOW MANY SUV'S HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE EFFECTED? HOW MANY OF THEM ARE OR WILL BE ON THE ROAD? ALSO, ONCE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER GETS REPLACED. THE ODOMETER & HOUR READINGS NEED TO BE RESET. THIS OPENS THE DOOR FOR A NEW SET OF PROBLEMS. ODOMETER FRAUD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439011

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2011
Electrical SystemCrash

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2005. AFTER APPOX. 5 YRS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED SLOWLY NOT WORKING. AT FIRST IT WAS THE SPEEDOMETER, THEN FUEL GAUGE AND NOW THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS USELESS. NOT ONE GAUGE IS WORKING. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. I, FOR ONE, SEE T…

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I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2005. AFTER APPOX. 5 YRS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED SLOWLY NOT WORKING. AT FIRST IT WAS THE SPEEDOMETER, THEN FUEL GAUGE AND NOW THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS USELESS. NOT ONE GAUGE IS WORKING. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. I, FOR ONE, SEE THIS AS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS WELL AS COMPLETELY AGAINST THE LAW TO BE DRIVING A VEHICLE WITHOUT A SPEEDOMETER. THIS IS NOW THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT I HAVE AND I HAVE TO DEPEND ON THIS VEHICLE TO DRIVE MY FAMILY AROUND IN. I DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED AND DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE WITH MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES, I THINK CHEVROLET SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS EITHER STRANDED OR HURT DUE TO THEIR NEGLIGENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436812

136,233 miles · Aug 31, 2011
Electrical SystemPower Train

2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND ONLY ALLOWS YOU TO GO ABOUT 25 MPH. VERY UNSAFE IF ON A HIGHWAY. GM DEALER REPLACED THE FAULTY WIRE HARNESS AND PLUG THAT PLUGS INTO THE THROTTLE BODY. ALSO REPLACED THROTTLE BODY ITSELF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10422704

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.