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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

7 reports
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198,000 miles · May 29, 2014
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIGNAL SOCKET AND THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIGNAL SOCKET AND THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06E026000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000.

NHTSA ODI #10594759

39,000 miles · Mar 29, 2011
Exterior Lighting

RUNNING LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHT FILLS WITH WATER AND BURN OUT BULBS AND RUSTED THE BULB ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ODI #10393655

12,000 miles · Dec 29, 2010
Exterior Lighting

2004 TAHOE LIGHTS (HEADLAMP, RUNNING AND TURN SIGNALS) EXPLODE OR BURN OUT REPEATEDLY DUE TO THE LENS FILLING WITH WATER. ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW. MY FAULT I HAVE NEVER TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, I HAVE JUST BEEN REPLACING THE BULBS AND DRAINING THE WATER. MAYBE GM CAN LOOK AT IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE NEXT GEN…

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2004 TAHOE LIGHTS (HEADLAMP, RUNNING AND TURN SIGNALS) EXPLODE OR BURN OUT REPEATEDLY DUE TO THE LENS FILLING WITH WATER. ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW. MY FAULT I HAVE NEVER TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, I HAVE JUST BEEN REPLACING THE BULBS AND DRAINING THE WATER. MAYBE GM CAN LOOK AT IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF TAHOE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373226

13,250 miles · Jan 23, 2007
Exterior Lighting

DRIVER SIDE FOG LAMP CAME FREE ON THE FRONT BUMPER, DANGLING BY THE ELECTRICAL CABLE IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE. FAULTY ENGINEERING REGARDING THE PLACEMENT AND SECURE OF THE FOG LAMP ONTO THE FRONT BUMPER. THE LARGE FOG LAMP EVENTUALLY CAME FREE AND OBVIOUSLY WENT UNDER THE TIRE, AS IT DANGLED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE TIRE…

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DRIVER SIDE FOG LAMP CAME FREE ON THE FRONT BUMPER, DANGLING BY THE ELECTRICAL CABLE IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE. FAULTY ENGINEERING REGARDING THE PLACEMENT AND SECURE OF THE FOG LAMP ONTO THE FRONT BUMPER. THE LARGE FOG LAMP EVENTUALLY CAME FREE AND OBVIOUSLY WENT UNDER THE TIRE, AS IT DANGLED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE TIRE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A PUNCTURED TIRE AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENT AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOG LAMP HAD POTENTIAL TO INJURE OTHERS DRIVING BEHIND ME, IMPACTING THEIR WINDSHIELD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY, AS IT CLEARED MY VEHICLE AFTER DETACHMENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10179530

9,000 miles · Sep 19, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

SO MANY... WHERE DO I START? 1) AT 9,000 MI. INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED DUE TO A POPPING FEELING IN THE STEERING, AT 16,000 MI. IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. 2) AT 9000 MILES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY TACH MOTOR MAKING A BUZZING/RATTLING SOUND, STARTED MAKING NOISE AGAIN AT 13,000 MILES TOO…

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SO MANY... WHERE DO I START? 1) AT 9,000 MI. INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED DUE TO A POPPING FEELING IN THE STEERING, AT 16,000 MI. IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. 2) AT 9000 MILES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY TACH MOTOR MAKING A BUZZING/RATTLING SOUND, STARTED MAKING NOISE AGAIN AT 13,000 MILES TOOK TO DEALER AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. 3) HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF ON TURNS HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES SINCE IT HAD 9000 MI. 1ST 2 TIMES REPLACED A PLUG ON ALTERNATOR AND SAID IT WAS FIXED, WAS NOT THEN SAID THE FOUND A BAD CONNECTOR STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS CONTACTED GM AND THEY WERE NO HELP. 4) EXHAUST HAS BEEN POPPING SINCE NEW AND SOMETIMES AFTER COOL DOWN SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING EXPLODED 5) ENGINE MAKES A NOISE WHEN WARMED UP TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AT 12000 MILES AND THEY CLEANED OIL PUMP PICKUP TUBE AND SAID THE OIL PRESSURE WAS NOT CORRECT. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM TOOK BACK IN AT 15000 AND THEY STATED NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE NOISE WAS NORMAL. 6) THE BRAKES PULSATED WHEN NEW TOOK BACK AT 59 MI. I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT AND IT WOULD GET BETTER. STARTED AGAIN AT 9000 MI. AND THEY TURNED THE ROTORS. BRAKES STARTED MAKING A CRACKING NOISE IN THE FRONT TOOK IN 3 TIMES FOUND NO PROBLEM YET WHEN I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP THE LAST TIME AT 15,000 MI THE NOISE WENT AWAY ONLY TO COME BACK A WEEK LATER. 7) WHEN IDLING THE VEHICLE VIBRATES BAD!!!! DASH WILL RATTLE AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL WHEN THE A/C WAS ON YET IT'S WORSE WHEN THE A/C IS OFF. NOW THAT A/C IS MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INSIDE THE CLIMATE CONTROL BOX AREA. 8) ENGINE HAS A MISS AT IDLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10168650

46,568 miles · Apr 19, 2005
Exterior Lighting

WHEN USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL THE FLASHERS ARE ACTIVATED AND NOT THE TURNING SIGNAL ITSELF.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10118082

7,000 miles · Feb 15, 2005
Exterior Lighting

OCCATIONALLY WHEN TURN INDICATOR IS SET TO TURN TO RIGHT, ALL TURN INDICATOR LIGHTS START TO BLINK (HAZARD-LIGHTS).*AK

NHTSA ODI #10110545

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.