RoadVitals

2004 Chevrolet Suburban Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Jun 30, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 204 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 30, 2022

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

NHTSA ID
11471888
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Sep 2, 2020

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

NHTSA ID
11352858
Incident
Jul 22, 2020
Mileage
270,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 20, 2014

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN HER SUB DIVISION. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE PUSHED INTO HER DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 100,000.LJ

NHTSA ID
10565084
Incident
Jan 31, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Sep 8, 2011
1 injury reported

WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 70MPH, ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT LANE. ANOTHER CAR SPED UP THE RIGHT LANE TO PASS ME. TURNED STEERING WHEEL BACK TO LEFT LANE AND SUDDENLY HAD NO CONTROL OVER STEERING, BRAKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING. CAR ROLLED TWICE, OVER METAL MEDIAN AND TURNED 180 DEGREES FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON THE INTERSTATE W/ ROOF CRUSHED IN. NEITHER SIDE OR FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. FRONT AND SIDES SMASHED IN AND FRAME BENT. VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TO BE TOTALED BY STATE FARM. HAVE BEEN DRIVING 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN MY LIFE. ONLY GOOD THING WAS THE SEATBELT HELD TIGHT AS I WAS HANGING UPSIDE DOWN WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. THE DAY BEFORE THIS OCCURRED I NOTICED THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD RANDOMLY ENGAGE DURING STRAIGHT DRIVING ON A PERFECTLY DRY SURFACE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER IN 2004 AND THE CAR WAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. (IT LOOKED BRAND NEW). *TR

NHTSA ID
10424360
Incident
Jul 29, 2011
Mileage
90,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Aug 4, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL REQUIRED GREATER EFFORT TO TURN. THERE WAS A LOW POWER RESPONSE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE BRAKE BOOSTER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V043000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 23,400. UPDATED 08/28/09. *LJ UPDATED 08/31/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10279393
Incident
Aug 3, 2009
Mileage
23,400 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 28, 2008

UNDER WARRANTY, BROUGHT CAR IN FOR LOOSE, VIBRATING STEERING WHEEL IN 2006. DEALERSHIP BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THE NEED TO REPLACE A BOLT ON THE STEERING SHAFT, WAS A WARRANTY REPAIR COVERED BY GM AND WE DID NOT HAVE TO PAY (ISSUED AS RECOMMENDED REPAIR ONLY IF CONSUMER BROUGHT TO ATTENTION. PROBLEM WENT AWAY. PROBLEM RECURRED IN FALL 2008 (CAR NOW OUT OF WARRANTY) IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS AS BEFORE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AGAIN TO COMPLAIN, THEY STATED, OUT OF WARRANTY HAVE TO PAY FOR NEW PART REPLACEMENT. FEEL THIS IS A FLAWED ENGINEERED COMPONENT ON VEHICLE FROM START, SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT SAFE IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10246952
Incident
Sep 15, 2008
Mileage
45,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 6, 2008

THE STEERING COLUMN HAS SOME FLAW IN IT CAUSING A LOOSE CONNECTION ON THE COLLAPSIBLE SHAFT. GE IS CLAIMING THAT A "CORRECTED OR REVISED" SHAFT IS THE FIX BUT THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY PAYING FOR THE "FIX". THIS IS A 2004 CHEVY. SUBURBAN *TR

NHTSA ID
10244478
Incident
Oct 6, 2008
Mileage
100,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Aug 26, 2007

TERRIBLE KNOCKING IN TURNING STEERING WHEEL--REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY--STATES SHAFT, INTERMEDIATE REPLACE-MILEAGE WAS 35K NOW AT 55K SAME PROBLEM ONLY LOUDER AND WHEEL SEEMS LOOSE--CALLED DEALER--NEEDS TO REPLACE SHAFT AGAIN FOR A COST OF $300--I DRIVE MY GRANDCHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND TAKE LONG TRIPS--DEALER SAID CAR IS SAFE-I AM ABOUT TO MAKE ALONG TRIP AND CANNOT GET THE CAR SERVICED UNTIL MY RETURN IN A WEEK--THIS IS WORRISOME WHEN I FEEL I COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR IF SOMETHING SHOULD BREAK-WHY WOULD A SECOND DRIVE SHAFT BE FAULTY AS WAS THE FIRST. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND MY DEALER SAYS IT IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF 2004 SUBURBANS AND THEY EXPECT A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10200775
Incident
Aug 23, 2007
Mileage
35,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 4, 2007

ORIGINAL DATE WAS IN 2005 WHEN I COMPLAINED REGARDING THE CLICKING NOISE WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED TO THE LEFT. SERVICE PERSONNEL STATED THEY HAD LUBRICATED THE STEERING WHEEL BOLTS. WELL AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK ON 12/01/06 FOR 30K MILE INSPECTION THE CLICKING NOISE IS NOW BACK, BUT WORSE WHEN REVERSING NOT ONLY HAS THE CLICKING NOISE RETURNED, BUT WHEN REVERSING HAVING MY STEERING WHEEL TURN LEFT I CAN FEEL THE TIRES SLIDING. AFTER TALKING TO SAME PERSONNEL IN SERVICING SHE IS BEING TOLD NOT TO LUBRICATE OR LOOSEN THE BOLTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL SINCE IT WILL NOT IMPROVE THE SITUATION. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE PERSONNEL SHE JUST RECEIVED (01/04/06) A NOTICE STATING THAT CHEVROLET IS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM UNFORTUNATELY THEY (CHEVROLET/GMAC) WILL GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO MAKE A PART THAT WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED TO VERONICA OF MY FEARS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, BUT SHE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE. I DID NOTIFY THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AS WELL AS THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP (WHERE THE WORK IS BEING DONE AND WAS PURCHASED FROM) THAT MY FEAR OF HAVING TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN OR REVERSING HAVING THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED LEFT WHAT IS THE GUARANTEE THAT THE TIRES WILL NOT SLIDE MAYBE HITTING SOMETHING FROM BEHIND. BOTH SERVICE PERSONNEL AND THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT CHEVROLET WOULD NOT SAY IT WAS SAFE FOR SOMEONE TO DRIVE WHEN IN FACT IT ISN'T. NOTHING CAN BE DONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE SINCE THERE IS NO PART ON THE MARKET TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MY COMPLAINT IS BASICALLY I FEEL THAT SINCE THERE ISN'T A PART CURRENTLY MADE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM MAKING A LEFT TURN OR REVERSING THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY FIVE CHILDREN. *NM

NHTSA ID
10177826
Incident
Dec 1, 2006
BrakesSteering
Filed Sep 21, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, THEN BOTH FEET WERE USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM FAILED AND BOTH COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10168841
Incident
Sep 16, 2006
Mileage
39,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jan 19, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, WHILE TURNING THE CONTACT FELT A KNOCKING IN THE STEERING. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10148084
Incident
Jan 18, 2006
Mileage
44,119 mi
BrakesElectricalSteering+2 more
Filed May 26, 2005

THE VEHICLE LOST IT'S SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL AT 40 MILES PER HOUR MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR FOR THE FOURTH TIME, BUT THERE STILL CONTINUES TO BE A STEERING PROBLEM. *NM THERE WERE FIVE REPAIR ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE SYSTEM. THE BRAKES WOULD PULSE AND COME ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION FOLLOWED BY THE SERVICE STABILITY LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY AS IF IT WERE OUT OF CONTROL. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP AT TIMES. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS FOUND IN RE TO THE CLUTCH. THE FORWARD CLUTCH SEAL/PISTON DISS PUMP AS WELL AS THE SHIFT CABLE. THE YAW RATE SENSOR TABLE WAS REPLACED AND THE ABS MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED. THERE WAS POPPING COMING FROM THE LEFT WHEN TURNING DUE TO THE CROSSMEMBER. STATIC NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE DASH AT TIMES WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED. BOTH UPPER SHOCK INSULATORS WERE SQUEAKING. BOTH SHOCK INSULATORS WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED BY NEW STYLE INSULATORS. THE YAW RATE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN WITH ONE FORM A NEW UNIT, THE STEERING ROTATION SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THE STABILITY MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10108563
Incident
Sep 6, 2004
BrakesSteering
Filed Jun 8, 2004

AFTER TAKING 90-DEGREE RIGHT TURN FROM STREET INTO PARKING LOT THE ABILITY TO STEER AND BRAKE 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WAS LOST, ALTHOUGH FORWARD MOTION WAS STILL POSSIBLE (I.E. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL). AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE FORWARD MOTION WAS POSSIBLE BUT STEERING AND BRAKING WERE STILL NOT WORKING. UPON A SECOND RESTART STEERING AND BRAKING WERE RESTORED, ALTHOUGH SOME LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO APPLEWAY CHEVROLET IN SPOKANE, WA. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP INITIALLY INDICATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE DEFECTIVE BEHAVIOR. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS INSTRUCTED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS IDENTIFIED AND RESOLVED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10074967
Incident
Jun 6, 2004
Mileage
5,800 mi
Steering
Filed May 13, 2004

NEW 2004 SUBURBAN HAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND SHIFT LEVER UNLOCKED WHEN VEHICLE KEY IS PUT INTO ACCESORY POSITION WITH NO SHIFT INTERLOCK INTERVENTION. 1ST NIGHT HOME WITH VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND EXAMINING VEHICLE FEATURES MY 2 YEAR SOLD SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS IN DRIVEWAY!!!!*AK

NHTSA ID
10072551
Incident
May 12, 2004
Mileage
15 mi

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .