2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Owner Complaints

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

THE GM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STEPPER MOTORS AND LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. THIS RESULTS IN A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FUEL LEVEL AS WELL AS OTHER IMPORTANT ENGINE INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

10850358

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH WOULD NOT OPEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 04/20/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10818148

Incident

Dec 27, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi

BRAKES FAILED UNDER HARD STOP (HIGHWAY, IN MOTION). INTERMEDIATE STEEL BRAKE LINE FAILED TO REAR BRAKES IN A MODE OF RUPTURE DUE TO CORROSION. ALL OTHER STEEL LINES WERE CORRODED AND CONTACTED GM. 2 OTHER SILVERADO LINE VEHICLES OWNED ALSO FAILED THIS YEAR DUE TO CORROSION. GM RESPONSE WAS THAT NO RECALL EXISTED. REPLACED ALL STEEL BRAKE LINES IN VEHICLE WITH STAINLESS AFTERMARKET LINES. AFTER MULTIPLE CONTACTS WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE, I WAS TOLD TO SAVE MY RECEIPTS FOR REPAIRS. THIS IS AN INCORRECT MATERIAL SPECIFICATION, LATENT DEFECT AND GM NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. SAVED BRAKE LINES FROM THIS VEHICLE FOR ANY POTENTIAL USE. 3 VEHICLES THAT I OWN WITH THE SAME REPAIR IN 8 MONTHS. INEXCUSABLE!

NHTSA ID

10786235

Incident

Oct 4, 2015

Mileage

167,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY, RAN INTO A DITCH, WENT AIRBORNE AND FLIPPED ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS: PIT3598 (SEAT) FOR ADJUSTMENT TO THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ID

10781063

Incident

Apr 20, 2015

Mileage

129,000 mi

BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND LEAKED FLUID FROM SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

10749332

Incident

Aug 11, 2015

Mileage

180,000 mi

THE BRAKE LINES ON MY 2004 SUBURBAN HAVE NOW FAILED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME ONE OF THE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $1000, THE SECOND TIME A SEPARATE LINE WAS PATCHED, AND NOW THE THIRD TIME THE SAME SECOND LINE THAT WAS PATCHED HAS FAILED AGAIN. ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES ARE INCREDIBLY CORRODED, SO MUCH SO THAT A FRIEND OF MINE WONDERED IF IT HAD BEEN SUBMERGED DURING HURRICANE KATRINA. BUT NOW UPON READING UP ON THE SUBJECT IT APPEARS THAT IS IS ALL GMS OF THAT TIME FRAME THAT LIVE IN SALTIER AIR. WHILE GM APPEARS TO THINK THAT THESE ARE COMPONENTS THAT SHOULD WEAR DOWN OVER TIME, THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN THE 30 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED CARS TO FIND THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10749276

Incident

Jun 20, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A TWO LANE HIGHWAY AT 50 MILES PER HOUR A DOG RAN OUT IN FRONT OF MY SUV, I HIT THE BRAKES HARD AND NOTICED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE GROUND. DROVE THE CAR HOME CAREFULLY. WHEN I GOT IT IN THE GARAGE FOUND RUSTED THROUGH BRAKE LINES GOING TO THE REAR OF THE CAR LEAKING. THERE IS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE LINES AND AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS THAT GOES TO THE GAS TANK HAS RUBBED A HOLE IN THE LINE.

NHTSA ID

10748918

Incident

Aug 14, 2015

Mileage

190,650 mi

THE BRAKE LINE FROM THE FRONT TO REAR RUSTED AND RUPTURED RESULTING IN VIRTUALLY NO BRAKING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE BRAKE LINES ARE ALL BADLY RUSTED AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. VERY UNFORTUNATE GM CHOSE TO USE SUCH AN INFERIOR MATERIAL FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION GM SHOULD BE MAKING OWNERS AWARE OF.

NHTSA ID

10730425

Incident

Jun 24, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

SPEED READS 120MPH AND NOT MOVING . *TR

NHTSA ID

10703643

Incident

Dec 27, 2014

Mileage

78,457 mi

I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE AND YEARLY STATE INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE PASSED THE STATE INSPECTION/EMISSIONS CONTROL TEST. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT THERE WERE ANY ISSUES CONCERNING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 5 MILES TO HOME. TWO DAYS, STARTED THE CAR, BUT HAD NO BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. A WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THERE WERE PUDDLES OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE DRIVEWAY. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT TE BRAKELINE HAD COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE COST FOR REPAIR WAS QUOTED AT $800. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS SUDDEN AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE COULD HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME, EVEN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668806

Incident

Dec 28, 2014

Mileage

81,783 mi

ABS LIGHT , BRAKE LIGHT AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON. ALSO SAYING CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM SOON CAME ON. WENT TO DEALER 10/15/2014 AND WAS TOLD NEED TWO COMPUTERS FOR ABS. ABOUT 1500.00 BUT CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTY AND MAY BREAK. IF THEY WERE TO BREAK ABOUT A 4500.00 REPAIR BILL. WAS TOLD OK TO DRIVE AND THE ABS WOULD JUST DISABLE ITSELF. BRAKE LINES USED TO BE MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL. HAS ALMOST 119,000 MILES. ALSO WAS TOLD MAYBE TIME FOR A NEW VEHICLE. I BOUGHT NEW AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS DONE AND MAINT ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648372

Incident

Oct 14, 2014

Mileage

118,800 mi

I WAS TWO BLOCKS FROM HOME WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES AS I APPROACHED A CURVE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARDS. USING LOW GEAR AND PARKING BRAKE I MANAGED TO GET THE SUBURBAN HOME WITH NO INCIDENT. BRAKE LINES FRONT TO BACK WERE REPLACED BY SERVICE CENTER. CAUSE ,RUST THRU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641653

Incident

Oct 2, 2014

Mileage

51,098 mi

BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE FIRST INCIDENT. I DROVE IT HOME FROM OVER TWO HOURS AWAY, DROVE IT ALL AROUND THE DAY BEFORE, NO PROBLEMS. THEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BYPASS AT ABOUT 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF! I HAD NO POWER STEERING, NOTHING! I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, SHUT IT OFF AND ONCE I TURNED IT BACK OVER IT WAS JUST FINE. SO I CAUTIOUSLY STARTED DRIVING, IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD ONLY THIS TIME IT STALLED THEN REGAINED POWER AND QUICKLY SHUT OFF AGAIN. ONCE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT WAS FINE, IT DID THIS TO ME 5 TIMES WITHIN 5 MILES. I ALMOST GOT HIT TWO OF THOSE TIMES BY OTHER VEHICLES, ONCE WHEN I WAS TURNING ONTO A ROAD. I AM GLAD MY KIDS WERE NOT IN IT. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE ON TWO LANE ROADS WITHOUT ROOM TO PULL OVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10639720

Incident

Sep 28, 2014

Mileage

174,348 mi

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY COMING TO RED LIGHT DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE BEFORE GOING THROUGH RED LIGHT, HELD DOWN VEHICLE HORN TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS WHICH SAVED ME FROM INJURING/KILLING SOMEONE ELSE OR MYSELF. AFTER GETTING VEHICLE ON SHOULDER OF ROAD NOTICED BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING DOWN THE FRAME RAIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN FRONT OF REAR TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10639527

Incident

Sep 27, 2014

Mileage

160,334 mi

ON 8/30/14 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN A CAR CAME OUT FROM A STREET ON THE LEFT SIDE AND PULLED IN FRONT OF ME WITHOUT LOOKING, I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKES QUICK AND SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING HIM, HE HAD NO IDEA AS I WAS SWERVING OUT OF THE WAY TO NOT HIT HIM, HE WAS MAKING HIS TURN, I GOT ON THE HORN AND HE JUST PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT AND GAVE ME A WAVE AS TO SAY HE WAS SORRY. ANYWAY, WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE FAST, IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, I HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, ALL THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE CHASSIS, THERE WAS NO STOPPING THIS TRUCK. I DON'T SEE HOW THEY CAN SAY YOU ARE STILL ABLE TO USE THE BRAKES, YOU CAN'T PUMP THEM. IT IS NOW SITTING AT THE MECHANICS GETTING FIXED, SO FAR HE TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $600-$800 LABOR, I HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK THE TRUCK YET AS I WRITE THIS. THE BRAKE LINES WERE SO ROTTED, IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME, AND I ONLY BOUGHT THIS 9/17/13, THE TRUCK ORIGINALLY CAME FROM PENNSYLVANIA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630818

Incident

Aug 30, 2014

Mileage

112,000 mi

EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON BOLTS BROKEN ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630648

Incident

Jun 18, 2014

Mileage

224,000 mi

I WAS TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY WHEN I HEARD A POP THAN SOME GRINDING SO I LISTENED AND IT WAS COMING FROM FRONT TIRE. I JACKED IT UP THE WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND WHEN U FREELY TURNED THE WHEEL U HEARD GRINDING FROM THE BEARINGS BEING NO GOOD. I THINK THE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY IS OUT I WAS LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT PART WHEN I NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL FROM 2007NFOR THEM THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 07E106000 I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS THIS TRUE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10629662

Incident

Aug 30, 2014

Mileage

176,612 mi