2004 Chevrolet Suburban Engine Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11499926

Incident

Jan 3, 2023

Mileage

200,000 mi

1ST COMPLAINT: AFTER PASSING A VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY (THIS REQUIRED THE SUBURBAN TO GO INTO THE PASSING GEAR), THE SUBURBAN'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND ENGINE AUTOMATICALLY SHUT DOWN RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS FORCED TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER IN ORDER TO AVOID BE HIT BY PASSING VEHICLE. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, THE SUBURBAN STARTED UP AGAIN. WE STARTED DRIVING AGAIN BUT AGAIN ONCE I TRIED TO ACCELERATE OR PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE THE SUBURBAN WOULD SHUT DOWN AGAIN. AUTO MECHANIC HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO DO THIS. VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS IF THIS HAPPENS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OR FREEWAY. 2ND COMPLAINT: CLUSTER PANEL WENT HAYWIRE. SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, OIL GAUGE NOT READING PROPERLY ETC. EVENTUALLY, THE ENTIRE CLUSTER PANEL SHUT DOWN. HAD TO REPLACE IT AT A COST OF ABOUT $500. 3RD COMPLAINT: DRIVERS SEAT FUNCTIONS AND HEATING MECHANISIM MALFUNCTIONED. THE DRIVERS HEATED SEAT STOPPED WORKING AND THE SEAT CONTROLS MALFUNCTIONED. THE SOME OF THE DRIVERS SEAT CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING OR ARE REVERSED. EXAMPLE; WHEN YOU PUSH THE LEVER TO MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD IT GOES BACKWARD AND VIS VERSA. THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT STOPPED WORKING AND IT WILL CANCEL OUT THE PASSENGERS SIDE HEATED SEAT. EXAMPLE; IF THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATED SEAT IS SELECTED, IT WORKS BUT ONCE YOU SELECT THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT IT WILL CANCEL OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE STILL DOESN'T WORK. AUTO MECHANIC CLAIMED THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT WAS BAD. HAD IT REPLACED AT A COST OF $300 BUT STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE ORIGINAL HEATED SEAT ELEMENT WAS NOT BAD EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10655267

Incident

May 17, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

GM TSB 06-06-019B GRADUAL COOLANT LOSS (JUNE 2007) MY VEHICLE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF COOLANT LOSS. SAMPLED OIL VIA CATERPILLAR, RESULTS SHOW COOLANT IN OIL. CHANGED OIL AND FOUND SLUDGE IN OIL FILTER. BOUGHT VEHICLE FROM A DEALER "AS IS-NO WARRANTY" . CANNOT BELIEVE A PROFESSIONAL SHOP "MISSED THIS" ON THEIR VEHICLE INSPECTION/PREP FOR RE-SALE. WILL BE TAKING TO DIFFERENT DEALER FOR COOLANT PRESSURE TEST 09.09.14 TO VERIFY WHAT I ALREADY KNOW. MY VEHICLE HAS THE CASTECH CYLINDER HEADS. THIS IS A REPAIR THAT I CANNOT PAY FOR OUT OF POCKET AT THIS TIME. I'M HOPING FOR OUT OF WARRANTY ASSISTANCE TO HELP W THIS REPAIR. FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ON-LINE AND IN GM FORUMS. SOMEONE WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE AN ENGINE SEIZE OR CATCH FIRE ON THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630904

Incident

Aug 15, 2014

Mileage

109,000 mi

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AT 60 MPH WHEN THE DISPLAY SAID "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND MY VEHICLE DECREASED IN POWER. IT DIDN'T MATTER HOW MUCH I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO 10 MILES AN HOUR. I PULLED OVER, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. STARTED IT AGAIN, IT DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 2 MILES THEN THE SAME MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. I TURNED AROUND AND HEADED HOME DRIVING 10 MILES AN HOUR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607228

Incident

Jun 29, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE CEASED RUNNING. PULLED OFF ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO GARAGE. NO VEHICLE FUNCTION WORKED EXCEPT EMERGENCY FLASHERS. VEHICLE JUST "DIED" AND STOPPED OPERATING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593368

Incident

May 17, 2014

Mileage

131,236 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, PEDAL SENSOR, AND WIRING HARNESS WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. GM WANTS 150 JUST TO PLUG IT INTO THEIR COMPUTER TO TELL ME WHAT I CAN GET DOWN FOR FREE WITH MY BUDDIES CODE READER....NO I WON'T LET MY WIFE OR CHILDREN DRIVE THE CAR. I ONLY DRIVE IT TO AND FROM WORK. HAD TO GO OUT AND BUY A TOYOTA JUST TO KEEP MY MIND AT EASE SO MY WIFE AND OR KIDS WON'T GET KILLED FROM THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS LIKE CHEVY/GMC DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE UNTIL MULTIPLE PEOPLE DIE FROM THIS. I HOPE TO SEE THAT THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. THINKING OF CONTACTING MY CONGRESS REPRESENTATIVE TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP OUT US THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE. NOBODY ELSE IS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587108

Incident

Mar 15, 2012

Mileage

65,250 mi

THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF AT INTERSTATE AND LOW SPEEDS AND SHOW REDUCED POWER AND STABILITY SYSTEM DISABLED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, I WAS NEARLY KILLED ON THE INTERSTATE BY AND 18 WHEELER COMING UP BEHIND ME WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473659

Incident

Sep 15, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER STABILITY WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY, THROTTLE BODY SENSORS AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,632.

NHTSA ID

10427656

Incident

May 5, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN W/80,000 MI. USED FOR TOWING RV-"REDUCED ENGINE POWER". CODES ARE NOT SPECIFIC FOR THE PROBLEM AND MULTIPLE REPAIRS HAVE NOT FIXED PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXTREME HAZARD WHEN TOWING AS RIG CANNOT MOVE OFF THE ROAD WITH SO LITTLE POWER. I AM READING MANY POSTS ONLINE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10392185

Incident

Aug 12, 2010

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED REDUCED ENGINE POWER. SHE ENGAGED HER HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAITED A FEW SECONDS AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. WHEN SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE REDUCED ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AGAIN AND RESTARTED IT. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,788.

NHTSA ID

10382823

Incident

Feb 14, 2011

Mileage

104,788 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10210000

Incident

May 1, 2005

Mileage

95,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10184760

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

Mileage

30,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER ALARM RINGS AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY LOSES POWER. THE POWER RETURNS AFTER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON. THE DEALERSHIP REWIRED THE VEHICLE, REPLACED THE MODULATOR, SENSOR AND RELAY. THESE ATTEMPTS HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10160013

Incident

Jun 16, 2006

Mileage

53,599 mi

2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN EXHAUST SYSTEM PRODUCES NOISE AT IDLE ;DRIVING;AND AFTER SHUT DOWN. GM CLAIMS NOISE (POPPING) IS FROM MUFFLER HEAT SHIELD EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION. TSB TO CORRECT NOISE (MODIFYING HEAT SHIELD) IS INEFFECTIVE. IN 2004 MOTOR MAGAZINE REPORTED GM ACKNOWLEDGED THE NOISE CAME FROM TRAPPED WATER INSIDE THE MUFFLER. THE WATER TURNS TO SUPER HEATED STEAM AND PRODUCES A POP OR BANG INSIDE THE MUFFLER. GM WILL NOT REPLACE THE MUFFLER AS THE PROBLEM GOES BACK TO 2000 MODEL YEAR. MOREOVER PEOPLE ASK WHAT THAT STRANGE NOISE IS FROM MY SUBURBAN, I TELL THEM A DEFECTIVE MUFFLER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10144771

Incident

Jan 20, 2005

THERE IS A "LACK OF POWER" WITH MY 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. MY PREVIOUS 1999 CHEVY TAHOE TOWED MY BOAT AND TRAILER EASILY MY NEW SUBURBAN WITH 40 MORE HORSEPOWER HAS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME TOWING THE TRAILER. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF LOWER GEARS. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER IF I AM IN TOW MODE OR NOT. WITH 40 MORE HP. THAN THE OTHER VEHICLE AND THE SAME AMOUNT OF TORQUE THIS SHOULD BE EASY FOR THIS TRUCK. MORE IMPORTANTLY THERE IS A GREAT LACK OF ACCELERATION WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE PEDAL. I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT A BIG LAG. I AM TOLD THIS IS CALLED "TORQUE MANAGEMENT." WELL TORQUE MANAGEMENT ALMOST GOT MY FAMILY KILLED THE OTHER DAY! WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC A CAR CAME OVER THE HILL RATHER QUICKLY I STEPPED ON THE GAS .....AND NOTHING HAPPENED IT WAS LIKE I WAS DRAGGING AN ANCHOR. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IS THE WAY THEY ARE DESIGNED AND COMPUTER CONTROLLED AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10133100

Incident

Aug 7, 2005

Mileage

10,000 mi

VEHICLE HAD AN ODOR THAT SMELLED LIKE ANTIFREEZE. CONSUMER AND ALL OF HER FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS BECAME ILL AFTER RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. THEY HAD HEADACHES/BURNING EYES/NUMBNESS, AND SORE THROATS. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED, AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE THERE WAS AN ANTIFREEZE SPILL, AND SHE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THAT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. CONSUMER STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10117111

Incident

Aug 9, 2004

Mileage

27 mi

NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER TURNING IT OFF. THEN BEGAN TO NOTICE FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER RIGHT REAR QUARTER BEHIND THE WHEEL. TOOK VEHICLE TO WEBB CHEVROLET. DIAGNOSIS WAS FAULTY COOLANT LINES RUNNING INTO OTHER LINES FORCING A LEAK OF COOLANT. I WASN'T TO CLEAR ON DIAGNOSIS, BUT THEY HAD TO ORDER PARTS AND WE LOST THE VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10109860

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

Mileage

12,500 mi

UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE ON, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10105474

Incident

Dec 21, 2004