10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 78,829 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The main engine wiring harness was full of condensate and corroded. The vehicle would just shut off while driving. Took multiple trips to the mechanic shop for them to be able to duplicate and correct the issue. Online research shows many Tahoe owners experiencing the same issues.
- Port Arthur, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the electrical system in the vehicle stopped working without warning, which caused the battery to die. The contact replaced the battery multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 183,000.
- Red Oak, TX, USA
Leaving my drive all the lights on the dash board lit up for about 2 seconds then went off. A few miles later did the same thing then all the gauges stopped working. Next time I started it up the gauges would not work about a mile down the road all the lights on dash came on and then gauges would start working. Sometimes my battery will be dead when I go out in the mornings. The driver seat heat comes on and off whenever it wants to. If it's cold outside the radio will not work until the car has been warmed up for a while.
- Anniston, AL, USA
While driving I had a real bad clunking noise in my steering wheel.I took it to the victory layne Chevy dealer and spent a significant amount to pay for a defective intermediate steering shaft and column bearing replaced because I was concerned about driving it. Now my instrument cluster fuel guage is defective, the ABS light& parking brake lights don't come on with the key on or at all and there are no codes from the dealer.
- Ftmyers, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that unknown warning lights on the instrument panel illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The failure occurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they could not diagnose the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 128,000.
- Long Beach, CA, USA
When using the air conditioner it sometimes blows very hot air. Now that it is cold out when using the heater it sometimes blows ice cold air. If this happens I have to stop, turn off my vehicle, then when I restart the vehicle it does the right thing. Some times I have to do this more then once to get it to work. I got a recall notice a while back but the dealer said it is only for when it smells like smoke. Guess they want me to have an electrical fire before they will fix it.
- Port Orchard, WA, USA
While driving my electrical gauges all went crazy and then quit one by one. I have only 2 left that work. My windshield wipers do not turn off and intermittent does not work on them. My hub on front tires keep needing replaced. They come lose to point of tire nearly falling off. My engine light came on and never turned off.
- Whittier, NC, USA
On an exit ramp getting ready to merge with traffic and the engine cuts off. I was able to stop. Turned the key repeatedly, and though the radio and dash lights came on the engine would not turn over. I had the Tahoe in "park" my foot on the brake. Nothing. Shifted it to neutral and tried: Nothing. Movd the column up and down: Nothing. Pounded on the column: Amen it started. Drove to mechanic: Could not duplicate problem. No data in computer indicating any problem. 6 weeks go by and Tahoe will not start in my driveway. Go though the same litany again. Finally started. My wife takes my Tahoe to lowe's in January car will not start. She tried so many times she drained the battery. I hooked up the jumper cables and it started immediately. I take it to mechanic and he "thinks" it's part of the ignition module, but doesn't know for sure. The part alone is $250. I decline to spend money on a maybe. Then for 4 months no problems. May 31st 2015, Tahoe will not start. It started fine May 29th. Not only would it not start, but the battery was dead. Radio was out of sequence by 8 hours. Charged the battery and Tahoe still would not start. Had a friend who is a mechanic come over to look at it and here's the part the really ticks me off. I get in and without any fuss the darn thing started, turned it off and it started, did this 20 times, it started every time. I would conclude that it was the starter, except for the fact that two times it shut off while I was driving it. We own three Tahoe's. 2002, 2003, and 2004. I don't have this problem with the 2002, and 2003 Tahoe's. is this an ignition problem other's have experienced. Does it have any connection to the other Chevrolet ignition problems. I have two young son's and will not drive this Tahoe, with them in it.
- Roanoke, VA, USA
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.
- Sequim, WA, USA
Driving slow down a block and smelled electrical fire smoke. The smoke got worse and darker and it was coming up from under my legs (I was driving). I pulled over, put my emergency blinkers on and turned off the engine. Had a hard time getting my seat belt unbuckled, but finally got it off and jumped out of the car. The smoke got really bad and very rapidly the driver seat caught on fire. My brother was with me, he was out of the car as well, and he called the fire department. Police and fire department arrived and put the fire out. The car was towed. If I hadn't gotten out of the car as fast as I did I would have caught on fire as well.
- Newbury Park , CA, USA
Vehicle registered "reduced engine power" while I was on the highway, I was able to get to the shoulder, online research showed numerous incidents involving the throttle body sensor and the wires crimping, there was something about the wiring harness being covered by GM but it does not appear on a recall list.
- Lafayette Hill, PA, USA
The entire instrument cluster failed including the speedometer and fuel gauge.
- Rex, GA, USA
The dash for the past year will work for a month or two, then go out for a month or two. I can not read any of my dash gauges. I can't tell how fast I'm going or how much gas I have etc. I have read where numerous other Tahoe owners have experienced the same issue. It is very annoying and not safe for my teenage son to drive. With as many complaints as have been filed, can we get a recall?
- Cordova, TN, USA
This vehicle has had numerous, frequent, and persistent electrical problems. The approximate date given was with the air conditioning where it blew only hot air. Two "repairs" at the dealer and two subsequent repairs finally revealed electrical problems. The real safety issues that continue are with the instrument panel that has at times affected the speedometer, tachometer (continuous problem), oil pressure gauge (continuous problem), and no dash lights at night. Computer analyses and resets have not solved the problem. Many other people have had the same issue, as evidenced by testimonials on forums and complaints. The danger in this is lights going out to a blank dash at night, engine problems that could result from the lack of a functioning oil gauge, and inaccurate or no speed readings. Should be a recall for the control panel system at the least. Thank you.
- Raleigh, NC, USA
The voltmeter does not read and needle is stuck below the gauge and now the speedometer is starting to go out, this is a safety concern. There was an extended warranty on the instrument panel however we could not take it in until it showed signs of failure. The failure Accord now with 142,000 which is over the 80,000 extended warranty. I am the original owner of the vehicle and the best GM has offered to do for me is take $58 off a $475 repair. I have talked to my dealership about just paying for the labor if they would replace the part but nope. I just moved to the area and do not have a service record with a dealer however I have had my vehicle serviced at only GM dealerships across the country. The original dealership I purchased the vehicle from is no longer in business and the other dealership I use to go to in my other state offered to basically replace the part with myself paying the labor however I live over 700 miles away from the dealership to have it done. If that can be done there why can't the dealership offer the same where I am now? I bought the vehicle new in good faith and only have purchased Chevrolet products my entire life. I do not understand why GM cannot help me out, they know this part is faulty, plain and simple.
- Green Bay, WI, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the speedometer malfunctioned and she was unable to tell how fast she was driving. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 99,000 and the current mileage was 109,000.
- Fair Oaks, CA, USA
I was driving down the road when my 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe caught on fire burning to the ground. The report from the fire department says that the fire started due to failure of equipment or a heat source and that there were no human factors contributing to the fire.while looking on the internet I have found at least one other person that has encountered the same problem with her 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe.
- Moultrie , GA, USA
Speedometer is reading erratically. When engine is turned of it does not go to zero and when driving sometimes it reads faster than actual speed and sometimes lower.
- Kenesaw, GA, USA
A few weeks ago I was traveling down hwy 60 in southwest Missouri and the "reduced engine power" light came on. The vehicle immediately slowed to about 4-5 miles per hour and I was unable to accelerate. I crawled to the next exit where I barely made it up the incline and into a gas station. We checked the gas, oil, battery, etc. I turned off the vehicle and when I started it up again, it seemed fine. I continued home. The next day I took it to a mechanic who said that it all checked out perfectly and there was nothing wrong. This has happened 12-15 times in the last month and every time I take it to the mechanic, he tells me that the computer is not "throwing codes" and there is nothing wrong. This is not a figment of my imagination. This keeps happening. The most recent "episode" was last night. We took the boat down to the river to go gigging at night. When I went to pull the trailer up the boat ramp and park the vehicle, the "reduced engine power" light again came on and I could not pull up the hill. Every time I attempted it, the light came on and I actually went backwards towards the river!! my children were in the vehicle and I was scared we would be trapped it something further malfunctioned and we rolled back into the deep cold water!!! from what I have now researched GM is aware of this problem and I do not understand why a problem this potentially deadly has not been dealt with! I am not the first owner of this vehicle and have never had a problem like this. I am a single mother of three beautiful boys and I am scared to drive my car because of this. I cannot put them in a potentially deadly situation. So our only vehicle sits and waits in our driveway leaving me stranded a lot until GM can come up with a solution on their dime. This isn't fair that a problem is know and no one at GM will fix it. Please help fix this before someone dies!
- Mountain Grove, MO, USA
- Menifee, CA, USA