WHEELS:HUB
2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 182 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and steering categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 99 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2009 | 2 | 83 |
| Aug 2009 | 2 | 85 |
| Sep 2009 | 3 | 88 |
| Oct 2009 | 1 | 89 |
| Nov 2009 | 1 | 90 |
| Dec 2009 | 1 | 91 |
| Jan 2010 | 2 | 93 |
| Feb 2010 | 3 | 96 |
| Mar 2010 | 4 | 100 |
| Apr 2010 | 3 | 103 |
| May 2010 | 3 | 106 |
| Jun 2010 | 4 | 110 |
| Jul 2010 | 1 | 111 |
| Sep 2010 | 1 | 112 |
| Oct 2010 | 1 | 113 |
| Dec 2010 | 2 | 115 |
| Jan 2011 | 3 | 118 |
| Feb 2011 | 1 | 119 |
| Jun 2011 | 2 | 121 |
| Jul 2011 | 3 | 124 |
| Aug 2011 | 1 | 125 |
| Oct 2011 | 2 | 127 |
| Nov 2011 | 2 | 129 |
| Dec 2011 | 1 | 130 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 131 |
| Feb 2012 | 1 | 132 |
| Mar 2012 | 1 | 133 |
| May 2012 | 2 | 135 |
| Aug 2012 | 1 | 136 |
| Nov 2012 | 1 | 137 |
| Jan 2013 | 1 | 138 |
| May 2013 | 1 | 139 |
| Jun 2013 | 2 | 141 |
| Jul 2013 | 1 | 142 |
| Aug 2013 | 2 | 144 |
| Sep 2013 | 2 | 146 |
| Oct 2013 | 2 | 148 |
| Nov 2013 | 1 | 149 |
| Jan 2014 | 1 | 150 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 151 |
| May 2014 | 1 | 152 |
| Jun 2014 | 2 | 154 |
| Jul 2014 | 2 | 156 |
| Aug 2014 | 2 | 158 |
| Sep 2014 | 4 | 162 |
| Oct 2014 | 2 | 164 |
| Dec 2014 | 1 | 165 |
| Apr 2015 | 1 | 166 |
| Jun 2015 | 1 | 167 |
| Aug 2015 | 3 | 170 |
| Oct 2015 | 2 | 172 |
| Jan 2016 | 1 | 173 |
| Mar 2016 | 2 | 175 |
| Sep 2016 | 1 | 176 |
| Apr 2017 | 1 | 177 |
| Jun 2017 | 1 | 178 |
| Oct 2017 | 1 | 179 |
| Nov 2017 | 1 | 180 |
| Jul 2018 | 1 | 181 |
| Nov 2018 | 1 | 182 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical8440.2%
- Brakes3818.2%
- Steering136.2%
- Driver assistance115.3%
- Engine115.3%
- Tires & wheels94.3%
- Visibility83.8%
- Fuel system62.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govRecent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TAKATA RECALL. THE GAUGE CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING. NOW THE IGNITION AND AC WILL NOT WORK. OIL PRESSURE SENSOR READING WRONG. TOOK IT TO GET CODE READ AND 35 CODES CAME UP. HAD TO PUT ON A TOGGLE SWITCH JUST TO START IT. CANT SEE SPEED AND THAT MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT. THINK ALL OF THIS IS DUE TO WATER LEAK ON DRIVERS SIDE. STEERING CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING TODAY. THIS REALLY NEED TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN TO THE MANUFACTURER AS IT COULD REALLY GET SOMEONE HURT OR KILLED.
- NHTSA ID
- 11155129
- Incident
- Nov 30, 2018
- Mileage
- 200,000 mi
RUSTED BREAKE LINES, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY COULD NOT USE BRAKES AFTER STARTING THE CAR
- NHTSA ID
- 11115028
- Incident
- Jul 31, 2018
- Mileage
- 152,000 mi
THIS PROBLEM CONCERNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE SEAT HEATER SWITCH, LOCATED ABOVE THE DRIVER'S DOOR ARMREST, TURNS ITSELF ON WHEN THE CAR IS OPERATING. THE HEATED SEAT BECOMES EXTRAORDINARILY HOT RAPIDLY AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF - EVERY BUMP AND JAR IN THE ROAD TURNS THE LIGHT AND THE SEAT BACK ON. THE LIGHT'S LOCATION WHICH INDICATES THE OPERATION OF THE HEATED SEATS IS DIFFICULT TO SEE AS WELL - ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SUN IS STRONG & I'M WEARING SUNGLASSES. LOOKING DOWN AND AWAY FROM THE ROAD AND TRAFFIC IS FAIRLY DANGEROUS. THIS DISTRACTION COULD EASILY EVOLVE INTO AN ACCIDENT AS THE DRIVER IS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO TURN THE HEATED SEAT OFF. I HAVE HAD THIS ITEM "REPAIRED" ONCE, YET THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT WAS TRYING TO DRIVE IN A TORRENTIAL RAINSTORM ON THE INTERSTATE. I PULLED OVER FOR SAFETY BEFORE I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT. THE MINUTE I PULLED BACK ONTO THE INTERSTATE, THE HEATED SEAT TURNED ITSELF BACK ON AND STAYED ON FOR THE NEXT 250 MILES. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH A 2004 SUBURBAN THAT SUFFERS FROM THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE TAKEN THE FUSE OUT OF THE CAR THAT CONTROLS THE HEATED SEATS, BUT THAT ALSO AFFECTS THE ABILITY TO READJUST THE SEAT POSITION FOR THE INDIVIDUAL DRIVERS. THE HEATED SEAT DISTRACTION COMBINED WITH THE LOCATION OF THE SWITCH ARE DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED.
- NHTSA ID
- 11048367
- Incident
- Jun 15, 2008
- Mileage
- 13,000 mi
THE BRAKE FLUID LINES RUSTED AT THE AREA UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL, CAUSING THE FLUID TO LEAK UNEXPECTEDLY, THUS RENDERING NO BRAKES. THE LEAK HAPPENED ON MY VEHICLE AND ANOTHER IN THIS SAME AREA. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE COULD BE IS A PROBLEM IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE LINES DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND BECAUSE ITS TOO CLOSE TO THE WHEEL SALT AND ROAD CONDITIONS CAUSES THIS AREA TO RUST MORE EASILY. HE'S HAD A NUMBER OF CHEVY SUB. WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM IN FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT.
- NHTSA ID
- 11040025
- Incident
- Oct 15, 2017
- Mileage
- 135,000 mi
VEHICLE GAS GAUGE AND ODOMETER GAUGES CLUSTERS ARE NOT WORKING THIS PUTS US IN DANGER I DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I NEED AND HOW FAST I WAS GOING THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE IT WAS A CLUSTER DEFECT
- NHTSA ID
- 10993648
- Incident
- Jul 5, 2016
- Mileage
- 65 mi
BRAKE MODULATING SYSTEM SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. ONCE THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER START.
- NHTSA ID
- 10980422
- Incident
- Apr 25, 2017
- Mileage
- 135,000 mi
STEEL BRAKE LINES: DIRECTLY UNDER DRIVERS FEET BENEATH VEHICLE IS CLUSTER OF FOUR BRAKE LINES HELD IN PLACE BY A PLASTIC BRACKET.THESE BRAKE LINES ARE HIDDEN BY A LARGE CORRUGATED BLACK WIRING HARNESS. ALL FOUR LINES ARE EXTREMELY CORRODED AT BRACKET AND AT LEAST ONE OF THEM FAILED COMPLETELY AND INSTANTANEOUSLY. UNLIKE GM REPORTS THAT IT'S A DUAL BRAKE SYSTEM AND VEHICLE WILL RETAIN BRAKING CAPABILITIES IN OUR CASE THIS IS FALSE . WORD NEEDS TO GO OUT ABOUT THESE VEHICLES BUT PREFERABLY A RECALL. MY 15 YEAR OLD NEWLY ISSUED PERMIT HOLDER WAS AT THE WHEEL AND WE WERE ONE LEFT TURN FROM DESCENDING A 200 FOOT TALL 6% GRADE HILL WITH A BUSY INTERSECTION AND STOP LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM. ALSO LIVING IN MINNESOTA KNOWING CLASSIC CAR OWNERS WITH ORIGINAL STEEL BRAKE LINES WITH NO ISSUES I'M LED TO BELIEVE DESIGN IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THESE BRAKE FAILURE ISSUES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10907442
- Incident
- Sep 17, 2016
- Mileage
- 125,000 mi
THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHTS IN THE GM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ARE NO LONGER WORKING. THIS CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DRIVER CAN SHIFT INTO THE INCORRECT GEAR ACCIDENTALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR IN THE VEHICLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10850361
- Incident
- Mar 1, 2016
- Mileage
- 152,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.
ENGINE
This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
ENGINE
This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 52.6 |
| 2025 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 43.9 |
| 2024 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 37.6 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2011 | 80 | 2 | 0 | 43.2 |
| 2010 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 35.3 |
| 2009 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 30.0 |
| 2008 | 101 | 0 | 2 | 40.3 |
| 2007 | 190 | 0 | 2 | 46.6 |
| 2006 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 45.9 |
| 2005 | 94 | 1 | 0 | 37.1 |
| 2004Viewing | 182 | 1 | 0 | 36.7 |
| 2003 | 175 | 1 | 0 | 37.8 |
| 2002 | 120 | 1 | 0 | 38.7 |
| 2001 | 92 | 1 | 0 | 45.8 |
| 2000 | 67 | 1 | 0 | 46.8 |
| 1999 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 38.2 |
| 1998 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 27.1 |
| 1997 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 32.3 |
| 1996 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.