Page 3 of 5 · complaints 101–150 of 204

2004 Chevrolet Suburban complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jan 24, 200863,000 milesCT

SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES SHOWING SPEEDS GREATER THAN ACTUAL SPEED. SPEEDS ARE GREATER BY ANYWHERE FROM 10 MPH TO 80 MPH OVER ACTUAL SPEED. AS I WRITE THIS, THE CAR IS PARKED/ENGINE OFF AND SPEED INDICATED IS 60 MPH. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jan 10, 2008FL

1) INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN MY 2004 SUBURBAN (SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAGE) FAILED DURING OPERATION 2) 4 INSTANCES OF RUNNING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OUT OF FUEL AND REQUIRING ROADSIDE SERVICE. SPEEDOMETER FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT FAILURES DURING OPERATION RESULT IN NUMEROUS SAFETY AND LEGAL ISSUES. 3) GM WILL CORRECT THE FAILURE FREE OF CHARGE IF THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. AFTER THE 70,000 MILE MARK IT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR FOR A PART GM KNOWS IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Jan 10, 200846,405 milesGA

NO INCIDENTS KNOWN. MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER LEAKS. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 46,000 MILES. I DO NOT TOW TRAILERS, CARRY HEAVY LOADS, OR APPLY HEAVY BRAKE PRESSURE WHEN STOPPING. APPEARS TO BE AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT OR INJURY IF NOT INVESTIGATED AND CORRECTED. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jan 3, 200896,000 milesOK

DRIVING TO DOCTOR APPT AND NOTICED THAT SPEEDOMETER STUCK ON 80 MPH. WHEN I EXITED TOLL ROAD, STILL SHOWING 80 MPH. AFTER STOPPING AND STARTING THROUGHOUT THE DAY, SPEEDOMETER IS NOW STUCK ON 120 MPH- VERY DANGEROUS! I BOUGHT THIS SUBURBAN NEW IN 2004 AND WAS TOLD TODAY AFTER REPORTING INCIDENT TO GM THAT I WAS OUT OF THE 7 YEAR/70,000 MILE RECALL. MY PROBLEM..I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY 20 MILES FROM THE NEAREST TOWN/WORK AND 90 MILES FROM DOCTOR- IS IT A WONDER I HAVE MORE THAT 70,000 MILES ON A 2004 MODEL?*CN

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Dec 22, 200791,000 milesWI

SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION. PROBLEMS INCLUDE SPEEDOMETER BEING STUCK AT 0 MPH OR OTHER SPEEDS, SPEEDOMETER BEGINNING AT 60 MPH AND REACHING 120 MPH WHEN ACTUALLY TRAVELING 60 MPH, AND OTHER RANDOM PROBLEMS. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Dec 7, 200715,000 milesTX

2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN Z71, LESS THAN 16000 MILES, SPEEDOMETER PERIODICALLY DISPLAYS UPWARDS OF 30 - 120+ MPH OVER ACTUAL SPEED. CHEVY DEALER REPAIR COST IS TOO HIGH. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD. IS THERE YET A RECALL? *TR

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Nov 26, 200795,000 milesNC

2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING ISSUES BEFORE 100K MILES: 1. REPLACED FUEL PUMP 2. ENGINE OVERHEATING(TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT 2X FOR ISSUE) 3. OIL PRESSUE - LOST OIL PRESSUE 4. TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Nov 15, 200760,539 milesCT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED AND DOES NOT OPERATE AT ALL. THE REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. AT 40,000 MILES, THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES, BUT DID NOT CHECK THE ROTORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,539 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 03/14/08.*LJ THE POWER WINDOW MOTORS, UNIVERSAL JOINTS AND SHOCKS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Nov 12, 200762,000 milesVA

MY SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T CONSISTENTLY WORK. SOME TIME IT DOES.. SOME TIMES IT SAYS I'M DOING 110 MPH AND PEOPLE ARE PASSING ME AND MY RPMS ARE AT 1800. ALSO WHEN MY SPEED OMETER DOESN'T WORK MY REAR DFOG AND WIPER DO WORK. WHEN MY REAR DEFOG AND WIPER DON'T WORK MY SPEEDOMETER DOES WORK. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES IN ALL THREE FUSE BOXES AND NONE ARE BLOWN. *TR

Electrical System › WiringFire2 injured
Filed Oct 31, 200760,000 milesVA

VEHICLE FIRE- STARTED TRUCK, TURNED ON FRONT AND REAR HEATER AND DEFROSTERS. ~2-3MIN LATER, THE TRUCK WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND SMOKE. CAUGHT A SECOND CAR ON FIRE AND HOUSE ON FIRE. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Oct 29, 2007MS

I HAVE A CHEVY SUBURBAN (2004) THAT THE SPEEDOMETER JUST STOP WORKING. IT FIRST STARTED GIVING ME A SLOWER SPEED THAN I WAS ACTUALLY GOING. AT 35MPH IT WAS REGISTERING 9MPH. AFTER A FEW DAYS IT WAS NORMAL THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DOES NOT REGISTER AT ALL. NOW IT STAYS AT 15 MPH WITHOUT THE VEHICLE MOVING. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Oct 25, 200788,200 milesAZ

CHEVY SUBURBAN 2004 DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER. THE PART IS DEFECTIVE, BUT THE DEALER WANTS $500 TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE AGAIN. IT IS A HAZARD ON THE ROAD WITH THE WRONG SPEED READOUT. GM SHOULD OWE UP TO THE PROBLEM, FIX THE PART/VEHICLES IN THE NAME OF SAFETY. THIS WILL BE MY LAST GM IF THEY FAIL TO AMEND THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. *JB

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Oct 20, 200751,000 milesVA

MY 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING AT 50,000 MILES. THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND CHEVROLET SHOULD DO A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Sep 19, 200746,400 milesMN

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE BEGAN WITH THE NEEDLE "JERKING" AS VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED AND EVENTUALLY, ONE NIGHT THE NEEDLE WENT BEYOND 120 MPH AND STUCK ON THE PEG WHILE I WAS ON A RURAL HIGHWAY WITH NO WAY TO GAUGE MY SPEED. *TR

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Fuel Gauge System
Filed Sep 12, 200758,000 milesTX

VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS AN INCORRECT READING ON THE DASH PANEL GAUGE. WHILE IN PARK OR STOPPED, THE GAUGE WILL SHOW ANYWHERE FROM 20-30 MILES PER HOUR AND WHILE DRIVING WILL ERRATICALLY JUMP FROM SPEED TO SPEED. RPM GAUGE IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. GAS GAUGE, UPON FILLING UP, IS SLOW TO REGISTER TO FULL. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Sep 11, 200715,000 milesFL

LEFT FRONT PARKING LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. I SEE OTHER VEHICLE, SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LIGHT HOUSING IS NOT SEALED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED CHANGE THE BULB BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. UPDATED 10/03/07 *TR

Steering
Filed Aug 26, 200735,000 milesVA

TERRIBLE KNOCKING IN TURNING STEERING WHEEL--REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY--STATES SHAFT, INTERMEDIATE REPLACE-MILEAGE WAS 35K NOW AT 55K SAME PROBLEM ONLY LOUDER AND WHEEL SEEMS LOOSE--CALLED DEALER--NEEDS TO REPLACE SHAFT AGAIN FOR A COST OF $300--I DRIVE MY GRANDCHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND TAKE LONG TRIPS--DEALER SAID CAR IS SAFE-I AM ABOUT TO MAKE ALONG TRIP AND CANNOT GET THE CAR SERVICED UNTIL MY RETURN IN A WEEK--THIS IS WORRISOME WHEN I FEEL I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR IF SOMETHING SHOULD BREAK-WHY WOULD A SECOND DRIVE SHAFT BE FAULTY AS WAS THE FIRST. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND MY DEALER SAYS IT IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF 2004 SUBURBANS AND THEY EXPECT A RECALL. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jul 28, 200755,000 milesTX

2004 Z71 CHEVY SUBURBAN, BROKEN SPEEDOMETER. @ 55,000 MILES. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 11, 2007WA

THE SPEEDOMETER HAS GONE OUT. I HAVE READ MANY ENTRIES ON A WEBSITE THAT THIS WA S AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET TAHOES., AND THE PRICE TO GET IT FIXED RANGED FROM $400 TO $1000. THAT WAS A BIT TO EXPENSIVE. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL . THIS CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. *AK

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jul 11, 200747,598 milesFL

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS VERY ERRATIC , SOMETIMES SHOWING 30 TO 50 MPH WHEN PARKED. WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD JUMP AND SHOW 20 TO 60 MILES OVER THE ACCURATE GPS SPEED. NOW IT READ 120 MPH ALL THE TIME. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS MATTER. *AK

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jul 1, 200725,500 milesOR

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. BAD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. VERY UNSAFE. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control › Linkages
Filed May 10, 2007TX

ODOMETER FAILED AND I WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SPEED. IT COST ME APPROXIMATELY $750.00 TO REPAIR THE 2004 TAHOE. I OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS ITEM HAD TO BE REPLACED IN SEVERAL VEHICLES, BUT AT THIS TIME THERE WAS NO RECALL. SO I HAD TO PAY! *AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Apr 20, 200760,000 milesVT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER, MACMAHON CHEVROLET, PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND NO FAILURES. HOWEVER, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE LIGHT TO DIM. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY A WEEK. THE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ,AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CENTER THAT SENDS THE SIGNAL FOR THE AIR BAGSWAS DAMAGED. THIS FAILURE WOULD PREVENT THE AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING IN A CRASH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 80,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *AK

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Apr 2, 2007PA

SPEEDOMETER ON 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN WORKS SPORADICALLY SINCE NOV. 2006. COST TO REPLACE WILL BE APPROX. $500. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 20, 200738,000 milesTX

TACHOMETER/SPEEDOMETER FAILED ON 2004 CHEVORLET SUBURBAN. PROVIDED UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS WHERE VEHICLE SPEED WAS AT AN ALL TIME IMPORTANCE. SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE MORE ANXIOUS AT THE WHEEL, NOT KNOWING EXACTLY HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS GOING ON THE HIGHWAY OR RESIDENTIAL STREET TRAFFIC.*AK

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Mar 19, 200756,000 milesMD

SPEEDOMETER ON 2004 SUBURBAN PEGS OUT AT 120 WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY AND IT NEVER RETURNS TO 0. BASED ON WEB SEARCHES THIS IS TYPICAL FAILURE MODE OF GM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHICH REQUIRES $400-$500 TO REPLACE. I, LIKE MANY OTHERS CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS AND THEREFORE DRIVE AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Mar 12, 200751,000 milesAR

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN LT AND THE SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AND RUNS WILDLY ON OCCASION. RARELY FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT WILL COST $500+ TO REPLACE AND IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. VEHICLE HAD 51K MILES WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED. I THINK THIS IS A DEFECT BUILT INTO THE CAR AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT! *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 11, 200730,000 milesMD

OWNER OF A 2004 CHEVY TAHOE Z71 4X4 LAT AUGUST 2006 MY VEHICLE WILL NOT START AFTER AN OVERNIGHT STAY. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2004, I HAD TO REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER. AFTER TOWING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, 5 TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A BAD INTAKE MANIFOLD AND IT WAS CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO NOT START. THEY REPLACED IT. A FEW WEEKS LATER. ABOUT A MONTH LATER MY VEHICLE DID NOT START. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. 3 WEEKS LATER THE PROBLEM EMERGED AGAIN, THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT MY BATTERY WAS BAD, THEY REPLACED IT. NOW THIS WEEKEND OF MARCH 10, THE SAME PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS DEAD AND WILL NOT START. I AM VERY ANAL ABOUT TAKING MY VEHICLE FOR REGULAR CHECKUPS. WHY IS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER CANNOT FIND OR FIX IT. I CANNOT RELY ON Y VEHICLE, I MAY GO TO WORK OR TO STORE ETC. EXPECT TO GET IN MY VEHICLE TO COME HOME OR EVEN ON VACATION. THE POINT IS THAT I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO START OR HALT ON ME. *JB

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Mar 9, 200757,841 milesWA

FAULTY SPEEDOMETER. WHILE IDLING, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD BEGIN AT APPROX 80 MPG AND GO HIGHER AS I STARTED TO DRIVE (30 MPH READ 110 MPH). THEN IT WOULD GRADUALLY GO DOWN EACH TIME THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. IT WOULD TAKE 5 - 10 STOPS BEFORE IT WOULD FINALLY GO TO ZERO. THIS OCCURRED OVER A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND FINALLY THE SPEEDOMETER COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING. *JB

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Feb 17, 200755,276 milesOH

4 DAYS AGO I NOTICED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER ARROW WAS ALL THE WAY TOP THE RIGHT. SHUT OF THE CAR AND THE NEEDLE RESET TO 30 MPH AND THEN IT WENT UP AS I INCREASED MY SPEED. YESTERDAY IT WAS STUCK ON 0 EVEN THOUGH I WAS MOVING. THEN IT WORKED OKAY LATER THAT EVENING. LATER IT REGISTERED THE WRONG SPEED. *JB

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Feb 11, 200752,400 milesWI

2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER ERRATIC. READING 40 MPH PARKED. FOUND LONG LIST OF OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME COMPLAINT AT HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-TAHOE/T2BGKBGI55EKNU77C/P8 . *NM

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Feb 10, 200743,000 milesOR

SPEEDOMETER BECAME ERRATIC. JUMPING TO 120 MPH WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. SHOWING 70 MPH WHILE STANDING STILL. I HAVE VIDEOS OF THIS PHENOMENON. DEALER STATED IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE, HAD TO PULL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FROM DASH AND ULTIMATELY REPLACE IT AT A COST OF $595. *JB

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Feb 9, 2007WI

2004 CHEVY TAHOE THAT HAS A SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE IS GOING 120 MPH WHEN IT IS SITTING STILL.. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND GM HAS YET TO HAVE A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM..I BELIEVE THEY ARE WAITING FOR CONSUMERS TO DIE BEFORE THEY BRING THIS ISSUE TO THE FOREFRONT..CURRENT FIX IS A REPLACEMENT BEZEL FOR 600.00 ..IF THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE THEN WHY AREN'T WE FIXING IT?? *JB

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Feb 5, 2007CO

MY SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 55 TO 120 IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. THEN IF YOU GIVE IT A COUPLE OF DAYS IT WOULD BE RIGHT AGAIN. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND IT WOULD GO TO 120 AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER AND THEY SAID THEY "REBOOTED THE CLUSTER" AND IT'S WORKING FOR NOW. THEY SAID A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AND IT MAY ONLY BE A TEMPORARY FIX. SO WHAT IF I HAVE MY CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 AND THEN MY SPEEDOMETER GOES TO 120? I SEE AN INSTANT ACCIDENT HAPPENING! CHEVROLET SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *JB

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Feb 1, 200741,000 milesMD

SPEEDOMETER IS DEFECTIVE. REGISTERS BETWEEN 35 AND 120 MPH WHEN CAR IS STOPPED. *NM

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jan 24, 200764,355 milesGA

SPEEDOMETER ON 04 TAHOE STOPPED WORKING. *NM

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jan 18, 200756,000 milesTX

04 SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. SPEEDOMETER SAID 120 MPH WHEN SITTING STILL. THEN GOT STUCK ND WOULD DROP SLOWLY. NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. IT SITS ON ZERO. *JB

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jan 12, 200749,000 milesID

OUR SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING AND WOULD EITHER SHO US GOING MUCH SLOWER OR MUCH FASTER THAN WE REALLY WERE. WE WERE HOPING THAT IT WAS JUST A SENSOR, BUT IT WAS THE WIRING IN THE DASH, THEY REQUIRED THAT WE SEND IN THE WHOLE FRONT MODULE AND THEY SENT US A NEW ONE WITH OUR OLD ODOMETER MILES ALREADY SET. THEY ALSO REQUIRED THAT WE SEND IN THE OLD ONE. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US THAT THEY HAD JUST HAD TO REPLACE A PICKUPS SPEEDOMETER AS WELL. SAME YEAR, AND SIMILAR MODEL. *NM

Tires › Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
Filed Jan 10, 200755,391 milesMI

I HAD A FLAT TIRE ON A 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN. AFTER ABOUT 1 HOUR OF TRYING, I WAS NOT ABLE TO RELEASE THE SPARE TIRE HOIST ON THE VEHICLE. SINCE I COULD NOT ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE, I HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ALSO COULD NOT GET THE SPARE TIRE TO RELEASE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE "BAD" HOIST. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO USE THE SPARE HOIST SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AGREED. THE DEALER ALSO SAID IT WAS MY FAULT FOR ABUSING THE HOIST (DRIVING ON DIRT ROADS) AND NOT PROPERLY SERVICING THE HOIST. NO WHERE IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES IT TALK ABOUT SPARE TIRE HOIST MAINTENANCE. THE TOTAL COST FOR A FLAT TIRE WAS OVER $400 AND 7 HOURS OF MY TIME. *JB

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Jan 4, 2007CA

ORIGINAL DATE WAS IN 2005 WHEN I COMPLAINED REGARDING THE CLICKING NOISE WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED TO THE LEFT. SERVICE PERSONNEL STATED THEY HAD LUBRICATED THE STEERING WHEEL BOLTS. WELL AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK ON 12/01/06 FOR 30K MILE INSPECTION THE CLICKING NOISE IS NOW BACK, BUT WORSE WHEN REVERSING NOT ONLY HAS THE CLICKING NOISE RETURNED, BUT WHEN REVERSING HAVING MY STEERING WHEEL TURN LEFT I CAN FEEL THE TIRES SLIDING. AFTER TALKING TO SAME PERSONNEL IN SERVICING SHE IS BEING TOLD NOT TO LUBRICATE OR LOOSEN THE BOLTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL SINCE IT WILL NOT IMPROVE THE SITUATION. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE PERSONNEL SHE JUST RECEIVED (01/04/06) A NOTICE STATING THAT CHEVROLET IS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM UNFORTUNATELY THEY (CHEVROLET/GMAC) WILL GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO MAKE A PART THAT WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED TO VERONICA OF MY FEARS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, BUT SHE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE. I DID NOTIFY THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AS WELL AS THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP (WHERE THE WORK IS BEING DONE AND WAS PURCHASED FROM) THAT MY FEAR OF HAVING TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN OR REVERSING HAVING THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED LEFT WHAT IS THE GUARANTEE THAT THE TIRES WILL NOT SLIDE MAYBE HITTING SOMETHING FROM BEHIND. BOTH SERVICE PERSONNEL AND THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT CHEVROLET WOULD NOT SAY IT WAS SAFE FOR SOMEONE TO DRIVE WHEN IN FACT IT ISN'T. NOTHING CAN BE DONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE SINCE THERE IS NO PART ON THE MARKET TO F

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Dec 28, 200643,000 milesCT

2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WINDOW MOTOR REPLACEMENT**CC THE RIGHT POWER WINDOW WAS SLOW GOING UP. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A MOTOR AND REGULATOR WAS NEEDED. THE FRONT TIRES WERE SEVERELY WORN ON THE INSIDE. AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED AND THE TIRES WERE ROTATED. *JB

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Dec 22, 2006TX

STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER READING INCORRECT SPEED AT ABOUT 40K MILES. CURRENTLY HAVE 55K MILES ON MY 2004 SUBURBAN. THE SPEEDOMETER OFTEN READS OVER 100 MPH SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR AFTER 30+ MINUTES OF CONTINUED DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY, THE TACHOMETER BECOMES ERRATIC AND SOMETIMES JUST DROPS TO 0 WHILE DRIVING. *NM

Electrical System
Filed Nov 22, 200661,000 milesCO

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WITH APPROX. 60,000 MILES. THE SPEEDOMETER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO REGISTER AND OTHER TIMES NOT AT ALL. WHEN "WORKING", THE SPEEDOMETER STEPS OR JAGGEDLY MOVES. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT EVEN IF IT IS "WORKING" IT IS NOT ACCURATE. I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A HIGH NUMBER OF SIMILAR CASES. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS IN A FRIEND'S SUBURBAN LAST WEEKEND AND HE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN. HE HAD APPROX. THE SAME MILEAGE (60,000 MILES). VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING AT ANY GIVEN TIME. *NM

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Nov 21, 200644,000 milesKY

2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER GOES CRAZY,SOMETIMES SET AT 120 MPH WHILE SETTING STILL. WHILE DRIVING I NEVER KNOW THE SPEED I'M GOING. ONE DAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER JUST KEPT CLIMBING TO 120 MPH , THAT IS WHEN IT STARTED. SOMETIMES THE SPEEDOMETER GOES DOWN TO 0 MPH THEN WHILE DRIVING SAY 30 MPH I GUESS IT MAY TAKE YOU TO 60 MPH, 80 MPH WHILE AT THE SAME RPM. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ,IT HAS 44000 MILES THEREFORE MY WARRANTY IS OUT I HAVE TO SEE IF THE EXT WARRANTY I GOT COVERS THIS, ALSO I HAVE BEEN CHECKING THE INTERNET IF ANYONE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE ON TOPIX.NET . THANK YOU FOR YOU'RE TIME. *NM

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Nov 15, 2006TX

2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN - SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DOES NOT GIVE THE RIGHT SPEED. MAY BE GOING 30 BUT SAYS 70 AND VICE VERSA. *NM

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Nov 13, 200638,000 milesCA

SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ON 2004 CHEVY Z71 TAHOE. IT IS EITHER PEGGED AT 120 MPH, READS TOO HIGH , OR READS TOO LOW. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Nov 12, 2006OR

LAST NIGHT THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TICKING LOUDLY AND MOVING WITH SUDDEN JERKING MOVEMENTS. IT THEN SHOWED I WAS GOING 85 MPH WHEN I WAS ACTUALLY GOING LESS THAN 45. THIS GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS I CONTINUED, TO THE POINT IT SHOWED I WAS GOING OVER 120 MPH WHEN STOPPED. NOW IT IS ALL THE WAY TO FAR RIGHT SIDE AND IS STUCK. IT WILL NOT RESET WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. *NM

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Sep 21, 200639,000 milesIL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, THEN BOTH FEET WERE USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM FAILED AND BOTH COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED.

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 18, 200660,000 milesIA

ON MY 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN THE HOUSING UNIT FOR THE SPARE TIRE WILL NOT RELEASE THE SPARE TIRE TO COME DOWN, SO YOU CAN FIX A FLAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T GET THE SPARE TIRE DOWN, YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE FLAT--& YOU WILL BE STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN--WE HAD NEVER USED THE SPARE TIRE BEFORE--BUT WHEN WE NEEDED IT, IT WAS INOPERABLE. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jul 2, 200631,000 milesCO

6-2006, 98 DEGREES, CENTENNIAL, COLORADO 2004 CHEVY 8.1 LITER SUBURBAN, DRIVING 55-60 MPH FOR APPROX. 1 HOUR(NO TRAILER) VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS POWER, I HAD TO PULL OVER AND HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO CHEVY DEALER. (DEALER STATED CODES INDICATED MISFIRING) FURTHER TESTING, SERVICE WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE ISSUE AND LOCATE A BULLETIN OUTLINING THE PROBLEM. PER DEALER, FAULTY FUEL PUMP, GM ADVISED TO SWITCH FUEL PUMP TO A HIGH ALTITUDE PUMP, TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. WHICH WAS DONE, AND IT FIXED THE ISSUE. AS THE 8.1 LITER SUBURBAN IS A VEH. PRIMARILY USED FOR TOWING, THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR CAMPAIGN TO WARN PEOPLE. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL COULD BE CATASTROPHIC IN NATURE. *NM

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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