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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

Engine complaints

26 reports
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122,562 miles · Feb 19, 2014
Engine

GM USED DEFECTIVE ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS FOR MILLIONS OF 4.8/5.3 LITER V8 ENGINES FROM 2001-2006. THE CYLINDER HEADS CRACK CAUSING COOLANT TO FLOW INTO THE OIL AND CAUSE EXCESSIVE SLUDGE TO FORM AND CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. GM KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ISSUED TSB TO IT'S SERVICE DEPARTMENTS:1 INFORMATION ON GRADUAL COOLANT LOSS O…

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GM USED DEFECTIVE ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS FOR MILLIONS OF 4.8/5.3 LITER V8 ENGINES FROM 2001-2006. THE CYLINDER HEADS CRACK CAUSING COOLANT TO FLOW INTO THE OIL AND CAUSE EXCESSIVE SLUDGE TO FORM AND CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. GM KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ISSUED TSB TO IT'S SERVICE DEPARTMENTS:1 INFORMATION ON GRADUAL COOLANT LOSS OVER TIME WITH NO EVIDENCE OF LEAK FOUND #06-06-01-019B - (06/12/2007). THESE DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEADS CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING AND COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565012

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2014
Engine

CYLINDER HEADS ARE LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSES EXCESSIVE LIFTER NOISE WHEN FIRST STARTED AFTER THE ENGINE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND REQUIRES COOLANT TO BE ADDED ALMOST DAILY. THIS CONDITION WILL EVENTUALLY RUIN THE ENGINE REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY GM TO BE A DE…

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CYLINDER HEADS ARE LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSES EXCESSIVE LIFTER NOISE WHEN FIRST STARTED AFTER THE ENGINE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND REQUIRES COOLANT TO BE ADDED ALMOST DAILY. THIS CONDITION WILL EVENTUALLY RUIN THE ENGINE REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY GM TO BE A DEFECT IN THE CASTING PROCESS, YET NO HELP IS OFFERED BY GM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559068

84,000 miles · Jun 25, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COOLING FLUID LEAK, AND SHE HAD TO ADD COOLING FLUID CONSISTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS COOLING FLUID LEAKING INTO THE OIL PAN IN THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO ACKNOWLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COOLING FLUID LEAK, AND SHE HAD TO ADD COOLING FLUID CONSISTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS COOLING FLUID LEAKING INTO THE OIL PAN IN THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ODI #10521683

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2013
Engine

ENGINE STARTED WITH A TICKING NOISE WHEN COLD. WOULD GO AWAY AFTER ENGINE WARMED UP. UPON INSPECTION FOUND 2 EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS SHEARED ON #7 CYLINDER, 1 BROKEN ON #8. TICKING COMING FROM EXHAUST LEAK ON #7. UPON RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE ENGINES. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL OR SAFETY NOTICE AS IT…

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ENGINE STARTED WITH A TICKING NOISE WHEN COLD. WOULD GO AWAY AFTER ENGINE WARMED UP. UPON INSPECTION FOUND 2 EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS SHEARED ON #7 CYLINDER, 1 BROKEN ON #8. TICKING COMING FROM EXHAUST LEAK ON #7. UPON RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE ENGINES. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL OR SAFETY NOTICE AS IT PRESENTS A REAL HAZARD FOR FIRE AND EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519314

115,000 miles · May 10, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CYLINDER HEADS FRACTURED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AND IT WAS FOUND THAT COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT IF THIS CONTINUES THE ENGINE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL. THE VEH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CYLINDER HEADS FRACTURED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AND IT WAS FOUND THAT COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT IF THIS CONTINUES THE ENGINE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511420

102,000 miles · Jul 15, 2012
Engine

I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 CHEVY TAHOE IS SEPTEMBER 2009 WHEN THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 71,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS USING A LOT OF OIL AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THEIR WAS NO OIL LEAKS AND PERFORMED A COMPRESSION TEST. SINCE THAT DATE I HAVE NEEDED TO ADD ADDITIONAL OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CH…

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I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 CHEVY TAHOE IS SEPTEMBER 2009 WHEN THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 71,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS USING A LOT OF OIL AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THEIR WAS NO OIL LEAKS AND PERFORMED A COMPRESSION TEST. SINCE THAT DATE I HAVE NEEDED TO ADD ADDITIONAL OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS IT STARTED TO USE A LOT OF COOLANT. I HAVE ADDED ABOUT 4 GALLONS OF COOLANT IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE LEFT CYLINDER HEAD WAS LEAKING COOLANT IN THE ENGINE. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE CASTECH HEADS IN THIS MODEL WERE POROUS WHICH CAUSED THEM TO CRACK. THE DEALER IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6400. I FEEL CHEVY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE THEY ARE AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH THE CASTECH HEADS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10465745

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.