IllustrationI WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH 2 OTHER VEHICLES, AT 45 TO 50 MPH, AND MY AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tahoe years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
370–25K
7425–50K
9450–75K
6875–100K
79100–150K
36150K+
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 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVY TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD REST HAD A BULGE IN IT AND A BROKEN MEDAL BRACKET. THE HEAD REST WAS AN AFTER MARKET HEAD REST WITH A DVD INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVY TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD REST HAD A BULGE IN IT AND A BROKEN MEDAL BRACKET. THE HEAD REST WAS AN AFTER MARKET HEAD REST WITH A DVD INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,800. THE CONSUMER STATED FEELS BROKEN HEADREST DOES NOT MEET FEDERAL COMPLIANCE FOR SAFETY STANDARDS AND THE CONSUMER FURTHER STATED CAN NOT SIT IN THE SEAT WITHOUT THE SHARP METAL PROTRUDING IN THE BACK OF THEIR HEAD. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
NORMAL OPERATION AND USE, NEVER OFF ROAD. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 40,000 MILES. AT THIS TIME, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD STICK AT A PARTICULAR SPEED. AFTER TWENTY MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD FALL AND REMAIN AT ZERO. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD STICK AT A PARTICULAR SPEED. AFTER TWENTY MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD FALL AND REMAIN AT ZERO. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
I HAVE A 2004 TAHOE AT 41K MILES, SUDDENLY THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION; WHEN I RAN AT DRIVEWAY THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWED OVER 120 MPH; EVEN WHEN I STOP, TURN OFF ENGINE THE SPEEDOMETER STILL SHOW OVER 120MPH AND STUCK LIKE THAT FOREVER. *TR
I HAVE BEEN HEARING A RATTLING SOUND UNDERNEATH MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. ALSO WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE, I HEAR A POPPING NOISE, MAYBE FROM THE MUFFLER AREA. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT COU…
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I HAVE BEEN HEARING A RATTLING SOUND UNDERNEATH MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. ALSO WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE, I HEAR A POPPING NOISE, MAYBE FROM THE MUFFLER AREA. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT COULD BE ALREADY WITH ONLY 85K ON THE CAR. *TR
CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STEERING ESPECIALLY IN A PARKING SITUATION WHEN YOU HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL HARD. *JB
SPEEDOMETER STICKS AT 25-30 MPH OVER WHAT THE ACTUAL SPEED SHOULD BE...NEVER RESETS TO 0 WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF...I LIST THIS AS 1 FAILURE BECAUSE IT NEVER CORRECTED ITSELF AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE. *JB
VEHICLE GOES INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. VHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR HE SAME PROBLEM.
AT 36,000 MILES SPEEDOMETER FAILED AND READ WRONG SPEED AND THEN LOCKED AT 140 MPH. T 40,000 MILES THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILED AND THE BRAKING WAS REDUCED. *AK
Official recalls
205V163000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.