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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

Service Brakes complaints

60 reports
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124,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES FAILED AND WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES FAILED AND WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ODI #10609213

104,639 miles · Apr 14, 2014
Service Brakes

GOT INTO PARKED TRUCK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CAN NOT EVEN STOP TRUCK AT IDLE SPEED. BRAKE LINE LEAK BETWEEN PROPORTIONING VALVE AND ABS MODULE NEAR BEND ABOVE FRAME. CAN'T EVEN TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIR WITHOUT TOWING IT. REAR BRAKE LINES IN BAD SHAPE, BUT NOT LEAKING YET. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10579743

64,391 miles · Apr 3, 2014
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINE RUPTURE CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. I WAS SWITCHING THE CARS AROUND IN MY SINGLE WIDE DRIVE WAY WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. PULLING THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY FROM BEING STOPPED ON THE ROAD SO I BARELY ACCELERATED AND FORTUNATELY HAD VERY LITTLE SPEED WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED, THE PEDAL GOING ALL T…

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BRAKE LINE RUPTURE CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. I WAS SWITCHING THE CARS AROUND IN MY SINGLE WIDE DRIVE WAY WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. PULLING THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY FROM BEING STOPPED ON THE ROAD SO I BARELY ACCELERATED AND FORTUNATELY HAD VERY LITTLE SPEED WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED, THE PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, WHILE FAILING TO SLOW/STOP THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BY PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK, NO HARM DONE THOUGH NOT A GENTLE STOP. IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DIFFICULT AS THE BRAKE LINE HISSED LOUDLY WHERE IT RUPTURED WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. A GREAT DEAL OF CORROSION WAS PRESENT ON ALL OF THE LINES AS WELL AS THE FUEL LINES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577216

59,000 miles · Apr 2, 2014
Fuel System, GasolineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

APPROX. 6 MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING WHEN A VEHICLE ENTERED THE INTERSECTION IN FRONT OF ME. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CRASH BUT MY VEHICLE JUST BARELY CAME TO A STOP. TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND FOUND ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. O…

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APPROX. 6 MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING WHEN A VEHICLE ENTERED THE INTERSECTION IN FRONT OF ME. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CRASH BUT MY VEHICLE JUST BARELY CAME TO A STOP. TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND FOUND ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON 3/28/14 I BEGAN NOTICING STRONG GAS FUMES COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. I AGAIN TOOK IT IT IN AND FOUND THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, ALL THE FUEL HOSES, AND THE STRAPS AND BOLTS THAT HOLD THE FUEL TANK WERE RUSTED OUT. I READ THAT NHTSA WAS DOING A STUDY OF THIS ISSUE. I UNDERSTAND MY VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD AND I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST BUT I OBSERVED A LOT OF RUST UNDER MY VEHICLE. I AM A POLICE OFFICER AND A CRASH RECONSTRUCTIONIST AND THESE RUST ISSUES COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH VEHICLES RESULTING IN CRASHES. I FEEL THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BECAUSE IT EFFECTS CRUCIAL SYSTEMS LIKE THE BRAKES AND FUEL SYSTEMS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576806

32,000 miles · Apr 2, 2014
Service Brakes

LOST BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE LINES AND FUEL LINES SHOULD NEVER RUST !!! GENERAL MOTORS IS LIABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD MAKE REPAIR IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576709

45,000 miles · Feb 22, 2014
Service Brakes

I WAS LEAVING WORK AND I WAS COMING TO A JUNCTION, APPLIED MY BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED, I WAS SLOWLY GOING INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND A CAR WAS COMING TOWARDS ME, I HAD TO ACCELERATE TO GET IN FRONT OF HIM, TO AVOID HIM HITTING ME. I GOT TO THE MAIN JUNCTION WHICH IS ON A HILL AND I PRESSED VERY HARD ON THE BRAKES AND I…

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I WAS LEAVING WORK AND I WAS COMING TO A JUNCTION, APPLIED MY BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED, I WAS SLOWLY GOING INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND A CAR WAS COMING TOWARDS ME, I HAD TO ACCELERATE TO GET IN FRONT OF HIM, TO AVOID HIM HITTING ME. I GOT TO THE MAIN JUNCTION WHICH IS ON A HILL AND I PRESSED VERY HARD ON THE BRAKES AND IT FINALLY STOPPED. I DROVE 2 MILES AN HOUR FOR ABOUT 100 FT AND TURNED INTO A GAS STATION. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND WHILE WAITING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE TOW TRUCK MAN GOT UNDER THE CAR AND SAID ALL MY BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND LEAKING. I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. WHY ARE THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED. IS THERE A RECALL ON THESE BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565402

217,456 miles · Feb 17, 2014
Service Brakes

MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME TODAY THAT MY BRAKE LINES WERE VERY CORRODED AND IN DANGER OF A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564730

200,342 miles · Jan 12, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

A FEW WEEKS AGO I WAS TRAVELING DOWN HWY 60 IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI AND THE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO ABOUT 4-5 MILES PER HOUR AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I CRAWLED TO THE NEXT EXIT WHERE I BARELY MADE IT UP THE INCLINE AND INTO A GAS STATION. WE CHECKED THE GAS, OIL, BATTERY, E…

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A FEW WEEKS AGO I WAS TRAVELING DOWN HWY 60 IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI AND THE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO ABOUT 4-5 MILES PER HOUR AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I CRAWLED TO THE NEXT EXIT WHERE I BARELY MADE IT UP THE INCLINE AND INTO A GAS STATION. WE CHECKED THE GAS, OIL, BATTERY, ETC. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I STARTED IT UP AGAIN, IT SEEMED FINE. I CONTINUED HOME. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT IT ALL CHECKED OUT PERFECTLY AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THIS HAS HAPPENED 12-15 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH AND EVERY TIME I TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC, HE TELLS ME THAT THE COMPUTER IS NOT "THROWING CODES" AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THIS IS NOT A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION. THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. THE MOST RECENT "EPISODE" WAS LAST NIGHT. WE TOOK THE BOAT DOWN TO THE RIVER TO GO GIGGING AT NIGHT. WHEN I WENT TO PULL THE TRAILER UP THE BOAT RAMP AND PARK THE VEHICLE, THE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON AND I COULD NOT PULL UP THE HILL. EVERY TIME I ATTEMPTED IT, THE LIGHT CAME ON AND I ACTUALLY WENT BACKWARDS TOWARDS THE RIVER!! MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE AND I WAS SCARED WE WOULD BE TRAPPED IT SOMETHING FURTHER MALFUNCTIONED AND WE ROLLED BACK INTO THE DEEP COLD WATER!!! FROM WHAT I HAVE NOW RESEARCHED GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A PROBLEM THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY HAS NOT BEEN DEALT WITH! I AM NOT THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE BEAUTIFUL BOYS AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE OF THIS. I CANNOT PUT THEM IN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION. SO OUR ONLY VEHICLE SITS AND WAITS IN OUR DRIVEWAY LEAVING ME STRANDED A LOT UNTIL GM CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION ON THEIR DIME. THIS ISN'T FAIR THAT A PROBLEM IS KNOW AND NO ONE AT GM WILL FIX IT. PLEASE HELP FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559516

1,000,000 miles · Jan 9, 2014
Service Brakes

TRIED TO STOP, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. BRAKE LINES AT THE FRAME UNDER DRIVER'S SIDE RUSTED THROUGH. TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED, AND ALL BRAKE LINES REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559133

43,961 miles · Oct 23, 2013
Service Brakes

I BOUGHT A 2004 CHEVY TAHOE AUGUST 2013- I MAYBE DROVE IT TWICE A WEEK FOR MAYBE 3 WEEKS.DO TO THE SCREW UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND INSURANCE COMPANY I WAS CANCELED IN SEPTEMBER UP UNTIL OCTOBER 22 THE TRUCK SAT IN MY DRIVE WAY. FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT. DROVE IT ONE DAY, I WAS DRIVING BACK AFTER FILLING MY TANK. I'M COMING…

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I BOUGHT A 2004 CHEVY TAHOE AUGUST 2013- I MAYBE DROVE IT TWICE A WEEK FOR MAYBE 3 WEEKS.DO TO THE SCREW UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND INSURANCE COMPANY I WAS CANCELED IN SEPTEMBER UP UNTIL OCTOBER 22 THE TRUCK SAT IN MY DRIVE WAY. FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT. DROVE IT ONE DAY, I WAS DRIVING BACK AFTER FILLING MY TANK. I'M COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT WITH A MOTORCYCLE IN FRONT OF ME. I BEGAN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND I'M APPROACHING THE MOTORCYCLE IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I TRY TO APPLY THE BRAKES, I'M PUSHING THEM ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I'M NOT STOPPING. I KNOW AT THIS POINT I DON'T HAVE BRAKES. I SWERVE TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE MOTORCYCLE. I ALMOST HIT ON COMING CARS. THEN I'M ABLE TO APPLY WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE BRAKES TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. WHEN I PUT THE TAHOE IT TO PARK THAT'S WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. I GET OUT AND I SEE NOTHING BUT BRAKE FLUID POURING OUT OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. I LOOK UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK(SUV) AND THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINES WHERE ROTTED AND THE ENTIRE UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK WAS RUSTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549027

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.