IllustrationWHENEVER I TRY TO ACCELERATE THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I TRY TO MERGE ON TO THE FREEWAY. CHEVY STATED THAT THE CAR IS PERFORMING AS IT SHOULD. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER IDENTICAL CARS, THAT DO NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE SAFETY ISSUE.UI. *AK
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 reportsMEMORY SEATS WILL NEVER RECALL POSITION AND RANDOMLY CHOOSE MULTIPLE POSITIONS. MIRRORS, PEDALS, RADIO PRESETS ALSO RANDOMLY SELECT WHEN REMOTE KEY FOB IS USED OR WHEN KEY IS PUT INTO IGNITION. ALL SEATING POSITIONS, PEDALS, MIRRORS MUST BE RESET EACH TIME DRIVER ENTERS VEHICLE. TSB REPORTEDLY ON FILE FOR ONE YEAR+ WITH NUMER…
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MEMORY SEATS WILL NEVER RECALL POSITION AND RANDOMLY CHOOSE MULTIPLE POSITIONS. MIRRORS, PEDALS, RADIO PRESETS ALSO RANDOMLY SELECT WHEN REMOTE KEY FOB IS USED OR WHEN KEY IS PUT INTO IGNITION. ALL SEATING POSITIONS, PEDALS, MIRRORS MUST BE RESET EACH TIME DRIVER ENTERS VEHICLE. TSB REPORTEDLY ON FILE FOR ONE YEAR+ WITH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, BUT GM SAYS NO FIX.*AK
DEFROSTER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE CONSUMER GETS THE DEFROSTER TO COME ON IT DOES NOT CLEAR THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT STOPS WORKING. CONSUMER HAS TO PULL OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAIT FOR IT TO START WORKING AGAIN. *AK MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *TT
DURING A SIDE IMPACT/ROLL OVER MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT, NO AUTOMATIC SAFETY FEATURES DEPLOYED. FULL SIDE IMPACT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE RESULTED IN NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THIS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED AT ADDITIONAL COST, SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS. IN CONTRARY TO NATIONAL ADVERTISING THE ON-STAR FEATURE WAS ALSO A NULL RESPONSE. THIS VEHIC…
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DURING A SIDE IMPACT/ROLL OVER MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT, NO AUTOMATIC SAFETY FEATURES DEPLOYED. FULL SIDE IMPACT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE RESULTED IN NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THIS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED AT ADDITIONAL COST, SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS. IN CONTRARY TO NATIONAL ADVERTISING THE ON-STAR FEATURE WAS ALSO A NULL RESPONSE. THIS VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSE AND NON-REPAIRABLE.*AK
OCCATIONALLY WHEN TURN INDICATOR IS SET TO TURN TO RIGHT, ALL TURN INDICATOR LIGHTS START TO BLINK (HAZARD-LIGHTS).*AK
THE LATCH SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE INFANT HAS BEEN UNSECURED IN THE VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES, ONCE PLACED INTO THE SEAT, MOTHER DISCOVERED THE INFANT LATCH WAS NOT SECURE.*AK
I BOUGHT MY TAHOE NEW IN SEPT. 2004. TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING TOOK BACK TO DEALER SHIP WITH VIBRATION IN BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER SHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX IT THAT IT WAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND I SHOULD KNOW SOMETHING WITHIN 4-6 WEEKS. WELL IT IS NOW THE END OF JAN. AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT THE FIX WOULD BE AND THE…
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I BOUGHT MY TAHOE NEW IN SEPT. 2004. TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING TOOK BACK TO DEALER SHIP WITH VIBRATION IN BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER SHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX IT THAT IT WAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND I SHOULD KNOW SOMETHING WITHIN 4-6 WEEKS. WELL IT IS NOW THE END OF JAN. AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT THE FIX WOULD BE AND THE VIBRATION IS GETTING WORSE AND NOW YOU CAN FEEL IT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING STILL AND IN PARK WITH OUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. *NM
A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE NOISE CONTINUED WHILE DRIVING, AND CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE WITH …
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A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE NOISE CONTINUED WHILE DRIVING, AND CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE WITH THE MAKE/MODEL, AND YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. A SOLUTION WAS TO PACK THE STEERING SHAFT WITH GREASE. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM,BUT THERE WAS NO CURRENT SOLUTION. *AK
I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. I HAVE FOUND THAT WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION, YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO USE THE BRAKE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. MY 18-MONTH OLD SON DISCOVERED THIS WHILE WE WERE CLEANING OUT THE TRUCK AND IT STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL OR FIX AN…
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I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. I HAVE FOUND THAT WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION, YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO USE THE BRAKE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. MY 18-MONTH OLD SON DISCOVERED THIS WHILE WE WERE CLEANING OUT THE TRUCK AND IT STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL OR FIX AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS NOT. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY HOW ALL TAHOES SINCE 2003 ARE PROGRAMMED TO WORK. THIS BEHAVIOR IS NOT CONSISTANT WITH THE OTHER KEY POSITIONS AND I FEEL IS A SAFTEY HAZZARD. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE DISCOVERY OF THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMEONE FOLLOW UP WITH GM TO GET THIS RESOLVED BEFORE THERE ARE INJURIES OR DEATHS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE SOME FOLLOW UP WITH ME AS TO THE OUTCOME OF THIS COMPLAINT.*AK
IDLING OR WHEN VEHICLE IS HOT IT BACKS FIRES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *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.