Illustration35 40 MPH CRASH INTO STOPPED VEHICLE, HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THEY LOCKED UP SKIDDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLES HAS 3000 MILES (NEW). SAT ON DEALER LOT FOR A YEAR. BOUGHT LESS THAN MONTH. DRIVING FOR 35 YEARS, NO ACCIDENTS *JB
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 reportsTRANSMISSION DOES NOT ALWAYS DOWNDHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND DOWNSHIFTS INTO FIRST HARD AFTER ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES DO TO SECOND GEAR NOT MOVING VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTER LEVER IS MANUALLY PLACED IN FIRST GEAR TRANMISSION DOES NOT REMAIN IN FIRST, WILL AUTOMATICALLY UPSHIFT INTO …
Read full complaint
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ALWAYS DOWNDHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND DOWNSHIFTS INTO FIRST HARD AFTER ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES DO TO SECOND GEAR NOT MOVING VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTER LEVER IS MANUALLY PLACED IN FIRST GEAR TRANMISSION DOES NOT REMAIN IN FIRST, WILL AUTOMATICALLY UPSHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR CAUSING TOWING CONDITIONS TO BECOME HARDER.*AK
PURCHASED NEW 2004 Z-71 TAHOE 06-30-04. NOTICED VEHICLE HAD A LOUD POPPING SOUND COMMING FROM EXHAUST. DEALER HAD A BULLETIN STATING GM ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM BUT HAD NO FIX. CONTACTED GM SIX WEEKS AGO AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WOULD BE RESOLVED BY THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER.HAVE NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED....
THERE IS A VERY OBVIOUS POP/PING, ALMOST LIKE A BELL LIKE SOUND THAT IS COMING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE AND THE SOUND CAN BE HEARD DURING IDLE OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF.*AK
CHEVROLET TAHOE. SWERVED TO MISS A DOG AT 35 MPH AND LOST CONTROL. CAR VERY UNSTABLE. THE FASTER THE SPEED , THE HARDER IT IS TO CONTROL. YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE STEERING EVERY SECOND. IF IT IS WINDY OUT, IT WILL SLIDE OVER TO ANOTHER LANE WITHOUT NOTICE. CAR VERY TOP HEAVY. REPORTED THIS TO DEALER IN MEDFORD, OREGON AND THEY SAID…
Read full complaint
CHEVROLET TAHOE. SWERVED TO MISS A DOG AT 35 MPH AND LOST CONTROL. CAR VERY UNSTABLE. THE FASTER THE SPEED , THE HARDER IT IS TO CONTROL. YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE STEERING EVERY SECOND. IF IT IS WINDY OUT, IT WILL SLIDE OVER TO ANOTHER LANE WITHOUT NOTICE. CAR VERY TOP HEAVY. REPORTED THIS TO DEALER IN MEDFORD, OREGON AND THEY SAID THAT IS WAS NORMAL. NORMAL TO LOSE CONTROL SO EASILY?? PURCHASED NEW AND ONLY HAD 4,800 MILES ON IT AND SOLD IT THAT DAY. I AM A VERY GOOD DRIVER, NO TICKETS OR ACCIDENTS AND DRIVING OVER 45 YEARS. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING OR A CAR HAD BEEN COMING THE OTHER WAY, SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT 60 TO 70 MPH, A CERTAIN ROLL OVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. CAR VERY UNSAFE. *NM
LOUD POPPING/PINGING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLE POSITION OR WHEN IT HAS BEEN TURNED OFF.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS STUDS BROKE FROM THE BRAKE DRUM AND WHEEL CAME OFF. *AK
WHEN BRAKING/ACCLERATING THERE WOULD BE VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL LINKAGES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT SOLIDLY FASTENED TO THE FRAME. *MR *SC *JB
LOUD POPPING/PINGING NOISES COMING FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM WHEN CAR IS IN IDLE POSITION OR WHEN CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. DEALERSHIP REPLACED MUFFLER BUT PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER. GM STATES IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS CURRENTLY NOT A FIX FOR IT. SAYS IT IS DEFINITELY THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.*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.