Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 204 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 204 · page 1 of 9
Front passenger dash airbag spontaneously deployed without any inciting event. The vehicle is at the Team Chevrolet Goldsboro dealership. A case has been opened with General Motors Case Number XXX. No prior warning - it smoked for a few seconds then deployed. No prior warning lights.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the instrument panel gauges, and warning lights functionality became inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph he noticed the temperature gauge increased to the high indicator. The engine coolant hot message was displayed. The contact stated that while attempting to pull over there was an abnormal popping noise and smoke was detected. The air bag warning light illuminated and the driver's side air bag deployed without impact or crash and struck the driver in the face, chest, and right hand. There was no medical attention provided, or a fire or police report filed. The vehicle was left on the side of the road. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Brake/abs light on and ecbm for abs not working no anti lock brake system and for the electrical vehicle has all kinds of electrical issues had to remove fuse to radio because of it going bonkers and it wouldn't turn off or down sounds like a fax machine or old school dial up internet sounds all the time and siren sounds were coming from radio and speakers only way to make it stop was to pull the fuse and have had to get multiple four wheel alignments because of steering and steering has to much play in it before suburban turns
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THERE WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 238,239.
THE HYDRO BOOSTER IS DEFECTIVE. THE CAR TRIGGERS MY BREAKS AND MAKES NOISES MAKE STEERING BRAKING DIFFICULT. IT HAPPENS EVERYFAY THROUGHT THE DAY WHILE IM DRIVING
ABS BREAKS KICKING IN AT LOW SPEED AND NOT STOPPING ALMOST WRECKED SEVERAL TIMES
REAR TAILGATE GLASS HAS SEPARATED FROM THE GLUED ON HINGES AND DROPPED DOWN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING DESIGN, QUALITY ISSUE AND HAS HAPPENED ON A LARGE NUMBER OF SUV STYLE CHEVROLET VEHICLES AS CAN BE SEEN USING A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH CONCERNING THIS ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH FORCE. A YELLOW SUBSTANCE EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEPLOYMENT OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.
THE TRUCK FAILS TO RESTART AFTER DRIVING IT AN AT FIRST IT WOULD RESTART AFTER 15 - 20 MINUTES AFTER IT SITS AN NOW IT DOES NOT START AT ALL SO FAR I KNOW IT IS HAPPENING TO MORE THAN 20 VEHICLES INCLUDING THE STATE PATROL 2016 SUBURBANS AND SEVERAL OF THE PICKUPS
CRACKED DASH, NEVER REMOVED, GARAGE KEPT. CRACKED RUNS THROUGH DASH FROM FRONT WINDOW TOWARDS RADIO CLUSTER. DASH HAS SHARP PIECES THAT IN ACCIDENT CAN EASILY BE BROKEN OFF.
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS HAVE SNAPPED OFF, 4 OF THEM TO BE EXACT. EXHAUST FUMES CAN NOW LEAK INTO TO THE CAB AND POISON OCCUPANTS.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SHORTS OUT AND GEAR INDICATOR GOES BLANK. NO MESSAGE CENTER INFORMATION WARNINGS ARE DISPLAYED. PART IS DEFECTIVE AND CAR MAKERS SHOULD REPLACE IT. NOT KNOWING WHAT GEAR VEHICLE IS IN CAN LEAD TO DEATH IF VEHICLE LEFT IN NEUTRAL AND ROLLS AWAY. GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. ALSO 4L60E TRANSMISSION ON THESE VEHICLES FAILS AND STARTS SLIPPING BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE SUN SHELL AND REAL PISTON SEAL. GM SHOULD RECALL ALL THESE BAD TRANSMISSIONS. WARRANTY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR LIFE. WHY SHOULD SUCH AN EXPENSIVE PART TO REPAIR FAIL UNDER NORMAL USE? RECALL ! BOTH THESE PARTS FAIL WHEN DRIVING. ALL WARNING OF VEHICLE CONDITIONS ARE SENT TO FAILED CLUSTER. VEHICLE WAS MADE IN MEXICO FOR RE-IMPORTATION AND SALE IN USA AND MAYBE PARTS SUPPLIERS IN MEXICO PROVIDED DEFECTIVE PARTS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED FINANCIAL LOSS TRYING TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS, LASTLY, THE EMISSION SOLENOID NEAR THE TANK ALSO FAILS. VEHICLE MAY NOT PASS EMISSION. *TR
WHILE AVOIDING ANOTHER VEHICLE I APPLIED MY BRAKES SUDDENLY. THE BAKE LIKE CONNECTING THE ABS UNIT AND THE REAR BRAKES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION/RUST THAT WAS NOT OBSERVABLE DUE TO THE LINE BEING RAN BETWEEN THE VEHICLES FRAME AND BODY AND GAS TANK. ALTHOUGH THIS LOCATION MIGHT HAVE MADE FOR EASY MANUFACTURING IT HAS LED TO THE LINE BEING IN A LOCATION THAT CANNOT BE VISUALLY INSPECTED TO PREVENT DANGEROUS CONDITIONS FROM BUILDING UP FROM LACK OF AWARENESS. .
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE (VEHICLE HAS 95,387) MILES) AT 40 MPH IN MOTION. STABIL-TRAC LIGHT INDICATED AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, SERVICE BRAKE INDICATOR ON DISPLAY INFORMATION CONSOLE. . DEPLOYED 4WD LOW, DROPPED TO LOWER GEAR AND HIT EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON SHOULDER OF ROAD. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE SAW BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE SKIDS AND FRAME. CAUSE: TOWED TO LOCAL SHOP INDICATED THAT BRAKE LINES ON DRIVER SIDE AND LINES GOING TO FRONT WHEEL WERE COMPLETELY RUSTY AND "LIKE PAPER". THIS WAS UNSETTLING I DON'T LIVE NEAR SALTWATER BUT DRIVE THE VEHICLE A LOT IN WINTER. HAD I BEEN IN A DENSELY POPULATED AREA, THERE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN LOSS OF LIFE. THIS VEHICLE WEIGHS OVER 6000 LBS AND NO BRAKES IS LIKE TO TRYING TO STOP A TRAIN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE SIMILAR FAILURES AS THIS FAILURE IN SIMILAR VEHICLES/ANY VEHICLE COULD CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE.
2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN - SUDDEN & COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. VEHICLE BRAKES WERE INSPECTED IN JULY THROUGH THE VA STATE INSPECTION PROGRAM - NO ISSUES FOUND - TODAY ON 8/30/16 WHILE EXITING A FREEWAY RAMP AT 60MPH TRAFFIC CAME TO SUDDEN STOP. WHEN THE SERVICE BRAKE WAS APPLIED IN WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A STAB/EMERGENCY BRAKING MANEUVER THERE WAS A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE - PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING, BRAKE WOULD NOT PUMP UP ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO SLOW VEHICLE. I HAD TO USE A COMBINATION OF PARKING BRAKE APPLICATION AND UTILIZING THE SOFT SHOULDER AND DITCH TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR (RED) AND SERVICE INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL AFTER THE THIRD OR FOURTH APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. SUBURBAN WAS TOWED. CAUSATIVE FACTORS = RUPTURED BRAKE LINE.
BRAKE LINE (HARD LINE) CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. UNABLE TO STOP ON COMING TO HIGHWAY INTERSECTION USING HYDRAULIC BRAKES. HAD TO RESORT TO APPLYING PARKING BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. ON INSPECTION MAIN BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINE RUPTURED- FLUID SPEWED ON ROADWAY AND APPROXIMATELY 1/2 OF FLUID FROM MASTER CYLINDER. LIMITED RESIDUAL PRESSURE FROM SECONDARY WAS UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WITHOUT MECHANICAL ASSIST FROM PARKING BRAKE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
DRIVING AS NORMAL ATTEMPT TO STOP AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES. COASTED TO STOP LUCKILY NOT TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED. INSPECTION REVEALED RUSTED THROUGH BRAKE LINES. AND ALL FLUID GONE FROM MASTER CYLINDER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES SEIZED. THE SERVICE BRAKES WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
BRAKE LINE FAILED WHILE TOWING BOAT ON CITY STREET NORMAL BRAKING LOST 3/4 BRAKING POWER, PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR, JUST STOPPED IN TIME BEFORE REAR ENDED SOMEONE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE ROAD SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FRONT BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WENT TO STOP AND BRAKE PEDAL SUNK TO THE FLOOR ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK OPENED THE HOOD THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FLUID THEN LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM 1 OF THE 2 STEEL RUSTED LINES HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP THE SHOP SAID THE 2 LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS BLOCK HAD SEVERE CORROSION AND THE REST OF THE BRAKE LINES AREN'T MUCH BETTER IM SORRY GUYS BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM TO ME I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE IM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES I GUESS SO NOW THE TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP HAVING ALL THE BRAKE LINES CHANGED FOR A COST OF $ 600.00 AND GUESS WHAT WE ALSO OWN A 2003 TAHOE WITH 90000 MILES ON IT I GUESS THEY WILL HAVE TO BE CHANGED ALSO SAME CONDITION ALL BRAKE LINES RUSTED BADLY HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ITS WIDE SPREAD LOOK ON LINE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS ITS A SHAME MAKE G.M DO THE RIGHT THING HERE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO START THE ENGINE, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST AND FACIAL BRUISES AND LACERATIONS. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES AND LACERATIONS TO BOTH ARMS AND HANDS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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