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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.

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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

Service Brakes complaints

60 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2026
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

My brakes locked up with steering wheel and cause me to go off the road it’s very unsafe and there should be recall immediately

NHTSA ODI #11764617

230,000 miles · Jun 5, 2020
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO COMPLAINT # 11327456 THE ADDRESS AND THE MPH ARE INCORRECT. PLEASE SEE FORM ATTACHED TO THIS COMPLAINT # AFFECTED PARTS: STEERING, BRAKES, ELECTRICAL, ELEC, STABILITY CONTROL AND SPEED CONTROL THIS SITE WOULDN'T LET ME CHECK MORE THAN 3. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11327461

230,000 miles · Jun 5, 2020
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

THERE IS A RECALL #04004. "BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE" BUT MY VIN# IS NOT ON THE LIST. OVER 64,000 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED AND THERE IS A "#1" ON THE MOUNTING SURFACE. ALL OF THE UNITS DETECTED A MACHINING ERROR IN THE RELIEF BORE CAVITY FOR MODULES PRODUCED FROM A MACHINE IDENTIFIED AS "FADAL #1" THIS CAN AND HAS CAUSED …

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THERE IS A RECALL #04004. "BRAKE HYDRO-BOOST RELIEF VALVE" BUT MY VIN# IS NOT ON THE LIST. OVER 64,000 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED AND THERE IS A "#1" ON THE MOUNTING SURFACE. ALL OF THE UNITS DETECTED A MACHINING ERROR IN THE RELIEF BORE CAVITY FOR MODULES PRODUCED FROM A MACHINE IDENTIFIED AS "FADAL #1" THIS CAN AND HAS CAUSED MY 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE TO HAVE NO POWER ASSIST WITH MY STEERING AND NO POWER BRAKES. I HAVE FOUND MYSELF HOLDING TWO FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AT A RED LIGHT. AND CAN NOT OPERATE IN SMALL SPACES SUCH AS PARKING GARAGES AND CERTAIN PARKING STALLS. I WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE IS SOMETHING MORE THAT I CAN DO IN REGARDS TO THIS PARTICULAR RECALL AND FIND OUT IF THERE IS SOME MISTAKE AS FAR AS MY VIN# NOT BEING RECOGNIZED BUT YET EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY VEHICLE HAS BECOME INOPERABLE FOR THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THE NO POWER ASSIST AND COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT...I WANT TO SEE ABOUT RECEIVING SOME AID IN ALL THIS. THIS HAS BEEN A ISSUE SINCE AUGUST OF 2019. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO LOSE WORK FOR A LACK OF TRANSPORTATION. MY CREDIT HAS FALLEN BEHIND BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT TO WORK AND SPENDING MY SAVINGS ON TRYING TO GUESS AT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. FOR IT IS MY ONLY VEHICLE. NOW THAT THE COVID-19 IS HERE IS A DOUBLE WHAMY! IN DIRE STRAITS - CALI LOVIN MY 4X4 - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11327456

230,000 miles · Mar 27, 2020
Service BrakesCrash

BRAKES NOT WORKING WHEN PRESSED CAUSED AN ACCIDENT

NHTSA ODI #11319447

115,000 miles · Dec 31, 2018
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, "STABILITY SYSTEM DISABLED- SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OUT OF A DRIVE-THRU AREA OF A BU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, "STABILITY SYSTEM DISABLED- SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM" FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OUT OF A DRIVE-THRU AREA OF A BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #11164195

127,617 miles · Oct 19, 2018
Service Brakes

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AROUND 25 TO 30 MPH AND A KID RAN OUT BETWEEN TWO CARS AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY PARTIALLY FAILED. THE TRUCK EVENTUALLY STOPPED, BUT IMMEDIATELY GOT A BRAKE FAILURE WARNING AND I HAD TO HOLD THE PEDDLE TO THE WALL TO STOP THE REMAINING MILE OR SO HOME. I GET HOME AND LOOK UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR T…

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DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AROUND 25 TO 30 MPH AND A KID RAN OUT BETWEEN TWO CARS AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY PARTIALLY FAILED. THE TRUCK EVENTUALLY STOPPED, BUT IMMEDIATELY GOT A BRAKE FAILURE WARNING AND I HAD TO HOLD THE PEDDLE TO THE WALL TO STOP THE REMAINING MILE OR SO HOME. I GET HOME AND LOOK UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR TO INVESTIGATE A PUDDLE AND I SEE SMOKE WHERE THE RUPTURED BRAKE LINE HAD BEEN SPRAYING BRAKE FLUID ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THOUGHT FOR SURE THE TRUCK WAS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE BRAKES WERE JUST SERVICED, PADS AND ROTORS A YEAR OR SO AGO, SO I HAD NO CLUE THE LINES WERE BAD. JUST GOT HOME TO SEARCH ON THIS AND SEE THAT THE NHTSA HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS, BUT NOT MUCH HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS SINCE 2014. VERY DISTRESSING. SEEMS THE ONLY THING THAT HAS BEEN DONE IS GM IS OFFERING THE REPLACEMENT LINES FOR SALE, BUT NO MENTION THAT THE DEALERS WANT $2,000 OR MORE TO INSTALL THEM?? I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT THIS KID IS STILL ALIVE AND WE BOTH DID NOT HAVE TO ENDURE A DEATH DUE TO THE CLOSE CALL. HOWEVER, I'M EXTREMELY DISTURBED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MILLIONS OF THESE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE WITH THIS TICKING TIME BOMB. EVERY SINGLE SUCH AFFECTED TRUCK WILL EVENTUALLY RUN INTO THE SAME ISSUE, AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET KILLED. GM IS CLEARLY NOT ADDRESSING THIS OR EVEN WARNING PEOPLE OF THE HIDDEN PROBLEM. WHY WON'T YOU GUYS DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BIG PROBLEM? YOU'VE KNOW ABOUT THIS FOR 4 YEARS AND NOTHINGS BEEN DONE? I'M SHOCKED, THAT GM HAS BEEN ABLE TO AVOID ALL RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO A MFRS DEFECT BY USING CHEAP AND INFERIOR PRODUCTS THAT DO NOT HOLD UP IN THE NORTHERN CLIMATES. COATED BRAKE LINES SHOULD BE MANDATED!!! JUST CAME BACK FROM THE NEXT PAGE TO QUALIFY: NO CRASH - BY ABOUT 1 FOOT. NO FIRE - VERY LUCKY. NO INJURY/FATALITY - THIS VERY CLOSE! I WOULD LIKE A CALL BACK.

NHTSA ODI #11141452

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2018
Service Brakes

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE PEDAL STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR MAIN BRAKE LINE MIDWAY OF THE TRUCK COMPLETELY BLEW APART MY SON JUST DROVE 2 HOURS PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY I WENT TO MOVE HIS CAR THANK GOODNESS PUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND FLUID WAS EVERYWHERE I HAVE READ THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A 1 + 1,000 ON CHEVY TRUCKS HOWEVER I HAVE …

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COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE PEDAL STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR MAIN BRAKE LINE MIDWAY OF THE TRUCK COMPLETELY BLEW APART MY SON JUST DROVE 2 HOURS PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY I WENT TO MOVE HIS CAR THANK GOODNESS PUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND FLUID WAS EVERYWHERE I HAVE READ THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A 1 + 1,000 ON CHEVY TRUCKS HOWEVER I HAVE PURCHASED A CHEVY 2005 TAHOE 1 YEAR DIFFERENCE AND THIS WEEKEND THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED TRAVELING BACK FROM A WEEKEND AWAY AND COMPLETE BRAKE LINE FAILURE BRAKE LINE COMPLETELY BUSTED HALFWAY DOWN AND FLUID EVERYWHERE SO I GUESS I AM TOO IN 2000 SEEMS A LITTLE COINCIDENTAL I AM IN OHIO AND I HAVE READ ABOUT THE SALT BRINE AND EVERYTHING HOWEVER I HAVE ONE OF THE CLEANEST TRUCKS AROUND WE ARE DETAIL FREAKS EVERY ONE OF OUR CARS IS TAKEN CARE OF SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THESE YEARS OF TAHOES AND IT'S GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY ONCE AGAIN WE WERE ON A TWO-HOUR TRIP HOME STOP TO USE THE BATHROOM THE NEXT TIME WE HIT THE BRAKES THEY WERE TOTALLY GONE HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP AND PULL OVER WE FEEL THE DIVINE INTERVENTION ON BOTH INCIDENCES AND ARE BLESSED THAT SOMEONE WAS LOOKING OUT FOR US AND IT SURE WASN'T CHEVY

NHTSA ODI #11115053

112,000 miles · Nov 26, 2017
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINE RUSTED. LOST FLUID AND BRAKES WHILE DRIVING. HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 53 YEARS. NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11048477

132,011 miles · Oct 4, 2017
Service Brakes

WAS AT CHEVY DEALER TO LOOK FOR A NEW CAR, WHEN LEAVING PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND PEDEL WENT TO THE FLOOR GOT OUT AND FOUND FLUID ON GROUND UNDER DRIVER SIDE. DEALER EXAMINED AND FOUND BLOWN BRAKE LINE, AND SAID ALL LINES WERE IN BAD SHAPE AND NEED TO REPLACE AT A COST OF $4200. HAD THEM REPLACE ONLY ONES THAT WERE LEAKING. THIS IS …

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WAS AT CHEVY DEALER TO LOOK FOR A NEW CAR, WHEN LEAVING PUT FOOT ON BRAKE AND PEDEL WENT TO THE FLOOR GOT OUT AND FOUND FLUID ON GROUND UNDER DRIVER SIDE. DEALER EXAMINED AND FOUND BLOWN BRAKE LINE, AND SAID ALL LINES WERE IN BAD SHAPE AND NEED TO REPLACE AT A COST OF $4200. HAD THEM REPLACE ONLY ONES THAT WERE LEAKING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I HAVE HEARD LOTS OF PROBLEMS FROM OTHER PEOPLE. CHEVY SHOULD BE CORRECTING THESE ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11031748

128,500 miles · Aug 14, 2017
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED AND LEAKING. COMPLETELY RUSTED FROM FRONT TO BACK... I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.

NHTSA ODI #11015241

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.