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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

What owners actually said

467 reports
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

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2025
Seat Belts

UNKNOWN

NHTSA ODI #11676048

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2023
Power Train

My Tahoe has the New Process 246GM transfer case. They have a known issue called pump rub where the pump is to close to the magnesium shell, and rubs pin holes in the shell which causes fluid to dissipate over time causing the transfer case to run dry burning it up. I've had a mechanic check it out and there was no fluid in the …

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My Tahoe has the New Process 246GM transfer case. They have a known issue called pump rub where the pump is to close to the magnesium shell, and rubs pin holes in the shell which causes fluid to dissipate over time causing the transfer case to run dry burning it up. I've had a mechanic check it out and there was no fluid in the case, and now I have a transfer case that's burned up. I've called a transmission shop, and they told me it was a common issue. I would like for general motors to correct this issue

NHTSA ODI #11534962

190,000 miles · Apr 24, 2023
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact's spouse owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and remained extended to the floorboard. The contact engaged the parking brake to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The vehicle was driven to the residence and parked. Additionally, the conta…

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The contact's spouse owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and remained extended to the floorboard. The contact engaged the parking brake to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The vehicle was driven to the residence and parked. Additionally, the contact stated that while parked, the brake pedal was depressed, and brake fluid was squirting onto the ground from underneath the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 190,000.

NHTSA ODI #11518661

150,000 miles · Sep 2, 2022
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle immediately while the brake pedal was being depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V045000 (Service …

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The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle immediately while the brake pedal was being depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V045000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #11482582

183,500 miles · Mar 31, 2022
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while inspecting the coils under the hood, he noticed that the master cylinder brake lines were leaking. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the master cylinder brake lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The man…

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The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while inspecting the coils under the hood, he noticed that the master cylinder brake lines were leaking. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the master cylinder brake lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 183,500. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ODI #11459100

210,000 miles · Jul 28, 2020
EngineUnknown Or Other

MY2004 CHEVY TAHOE LT WAS MOVING WHEN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS HAVE BROKEN OFF WHICH CAUSE BAD GAS MILEAGE AND SLOW TAKE OFFS.

NHTSA ODI #11341775

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

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.