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 reports
93,240 miles · Sep 6, 2015
Service Brakes
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST MY REAR BRAKES. THIS CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO STEER ON TO THE SHOULDER TO AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE/DOWN SHIFTING TO CONTROL VEHICLE SPEED. I NARROWLY AVOIDED 3 OTHER VEHICLES. THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE STEEL BRAKE LINE RUNNING TO THE REAR O…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST MY REAR BRAKES. THIS CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO STEER ON TO THE SHOULDER TO AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE/DOWN SHIFTING TO CONTROL VEHICLE SPEED. I NARROWLY AVOIDED 3 OTHER VEHICLES. THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE STEEL BRAKE LINE RUNNING TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. EVEN AFTER FREQUENTLY INSPECTING MY BRAKE LINES, THE ROUTING OF THIS LINE IN PARTICULAR MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO VIEW. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS WIDELY KNOWN, HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED.
NHTSA ODI #10761840
102,000 miles · Sep 4, 2015
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS USING TOO MUCH ANTIFREEZE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAST TECH HEADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
NHTSA ODI #10761534
194,957 miles · Aug 18, 2015
Service Brakes
WHILE AWAY FROM HOME AND TOWING MY BOAT I STARTED TO LOSE BRAKING POWER AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO STOP. THE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE LINES AND POOR QUALITY OF THE COMPONENTS AND THE WAY THEY ROUTE THEM THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED. I COUNT MYSELF LUCKY THAT NEITHER I OR ANYONE ELSE WAS INJURED.
NHTSA ODI #10749582
127,000 miles · Aug 17, 2015
Service BrakesCrash
TRAVELLING NORTH ON STATE ROUTE 741 WITH MY FAMILY OF 6. WE BEGAN TO SLOW FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL GRADE. AT ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING AND WHEN I APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE THE BRACKET FASTENING IT TO THE FRAME BROKE AS WELL. THE TRUCK WAS GAINING SPEED WITHOUT ANY BRAKES AT ALL. I PUT IT IN…
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TRAVELLING NORTH ON STATE ROUTE 741 WITH MY FAMILY OF 6. WE BEGAN TO SLOW FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL GRADE. AT ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING AND WHEN I APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE THE BRACKET FASTENING IT TO THE FRAME BROKE AS WELL. THE TRUCK WAS GAINING SPEED WITHOUT ANY BRAKES AT ALL. I PUT IT INTO A DITCH DOING 60 MPH. IT TOOK ME 1.5 MILES TO FINALLY GET THE TRUCK STOPPED. TOOK IT TO A GARAGE THEY REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES TWO REAR CALIPERS, MASTER CYCLINDER, AND HYDRO BOOST CANISTER. HOW DO ALL THESE PARTS FAIL AT THE EXACT SAME TIME AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BRACKET BREAK AWAY FROM FRAME TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE? APPARENTLY THE SIZE OF THE VEHICLE IS TO MUCH FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM TO EFFECTIVELY STOP THIS VEHICLE. I AM TOLD BY A DEALER THIS IS A FREQUENT ISSUE WITH GM VEHICLE. I AM VERY MAD ABOUT THIS INCIDENT AND PUTTING MY FAMILY AT RISK. THIS VEHICLE WAS AT CHEVROLET DEALER IN BELLEFONTAINE OHIO 11 MONTHS AGO FOR A FULL INSPECTION AND NOTHING WAS FOUND EXCEPT AN INNER TIE ROD THAT NEEDED REPLACED. HOW??? WITHOUOT PRIOR WARNING CAN ALL THESE COMPONENTS IN A BRAKEING SYSTEM FAIL AT THE EXACT SAME TIME. THERE WAS ZERO EVIDENCE OF TAMPERING AND TRUCK MILEAGE IS BELOW NATIONAL AVERAGE. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN KEPT UP TO DATE. SERIOUSLY CONCERNED OWNER!
NHTSA ODI #10749164
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2015
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
STARTED MY VEHICLE AND LET IT WARM UP. NO ISSUES.. AFTER WAITING 5 MIN I DROVE AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AND WITHIN 1 MINUTE OF DRIVING( COULD OF BEEN LESS), ALL OF MY DASH LIGHTS FLASHED/GLITCHED,AND MY GAUGE NEEDLES GO ALL THE WAY DOWN,I LOSE ACCURACY OF SPEED, FUEL,TEMPS,ETC. MY INDICATOR( WHERE IT SHOWS MILEAGE) RESET TO "DRIVER 1"…
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STARTED MY VEHICLE AND LET IT WARM UP. NO ISSUES.. AFTER WAITING 5 MIN I DROVE AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AND WITHIN 1 MINUTE OF DRIVING( COULD OF BEEN LESS), ALL OF MY DASH LIGHTS FLASHED/GLITCHED,AND MY GAUGE NEEDLES GO ALL THE WAY DOWN,I LOSE ACCURACY OF SPEED, FUEL,TEMPS,ETC. MY INDICATOR( WHERE IT SHOWS MILEAGE) RESET TO "DRIVER 1" . SAME THING HAPPENS EVERYTIME, AND ITS ALWAYS RANDOM, EXCEPT THE LAST 2 DAYS. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED, LAST YEAR AND A CARFAX WAS DONE AND I JUST DID A VIN SEARCH AND NOTHING STATES THIS VEHICLE WAS EITHER RECALLED OR WAS THE PROBLEM ORIGINALLY FIXED WHEN THERE WAS A RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10746820
130,000 miles · Jul 19, 2015
Power Train
TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN THIS WAS NUMBER 5 NOT THATS CORRECT 5 (FIVE) TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS CAR AT 130K MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10735004
140,800 miles · Jul 19, 2015
Engine
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN OFF AT REAR OF ENGINE ON BOTH SIDES.
NHTSA ODI #10735002
112,000 miles · Jun 17, 2015
Service Brakes
DRIVING VEHICLE ON LOCAL STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 15MPH WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT STOP SIGN. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TOTALLY TO THE FLOOR AND LOST ALL BRAKES. UNABLE TO STOP I NARROWLY MISSED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS ALREADY IN THE INTERSECTION. CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AGAINST CURB ON OTHER SIDE OF INTERSECTION. UPON INSPECTIO…
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DRIVING VEHICLE ON LOCAL STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 15MPH WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT STOP SIGN. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TOTALLY TO THE FLOOR AND LOST ALL BRAKES. UNABLE TO STOP I NARROWLY MISSED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS ALREADY IN THE INTERSECTION. CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AGAINST CURB ON OTHER SIDE OF INTERSECTION. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES HAD COMPLETELY BLOWN UNDERNEATH DRIVERS DOOR. THEY WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THEM TO FAIL. WHEN I GOT HOME I DID A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH OF THIS ISSUE AND FOUND QUITE A FEW STORIES DEVOTED TO THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. IMAGINE IF I WAS GOING FASTER THAN 15 MPH IF THIS EVENT HAD OCCURRED. I ALSO HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THROUGH EMAIL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10725776
140,000 miles · May 28, 2015
Service Brakes
WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH SON IN CAR WENT TO HIT THE BRAKES DOING ABOUT 40 MPH AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY SHE HAD ROOM TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY OF THE STOPPED CAR WHILE CONTINUING TO PUMP BRAKES COMING TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THANK GOD NO HARM WAS DONE TO HER OR MY CHILD. 2 BRAKE LINES HAS BEE…
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WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH SON IN CAR WENT TO HIT THE BRAKES DOING ABOUT 40 MPH AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY SHE HAD ROOM TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY OF THE STOPPED CAR WHILE CONTINUING TO PUMP BRAKES COMING TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THANK GOD NO HARM WAS DONE TO HER OR MY CHILD. 2 BRAKE LINES HAS BEEN RUPTURED ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE AND WAS SPEWING BRAKE FLUID EVERYWHERE. ALL OF THE LINES CONNECTED TO THE ABS PUMP WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND ALL HAVE TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA ODI #10722062
184,000 miles · Apr 19, 2015
Service Brakes
A CAR CUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HAD TO SLAM THE BRAKES, WHEN I DID THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE AND AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT AFTER PULLING OVER I OBSERVED BRAKE FLUID GUSHING OUT A RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS PUSHED. VERY UNSAFE. I LIVE IN CHARLESTON SOUTH CARO…
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A CAR CUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HAD TO SLAM THE BRAKES, WHEN I DID THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE AND AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT AFTER PULLING OVER I OBSERVED BRAKE FLUID GUSHING OUT A RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS PUSHED. VERY UNSAFE. I LIVE IN CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA AND THIS TYPE OF CORROSION ON THE BRAKE LINES IS TOTALLY UNSAFE. *TR
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.
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.
2004 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year