RoadVitals

2004 Chevrolet Tahoe Interior & seats Problems

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

Data refreshed

Interior & seats 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.
13
Latest Mar 3, 2017
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.
3%
of 466 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.
1
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 seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 interior

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

Interior & seats
Filed Mar 3, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE THIRD ROW SEAT MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LATCHES THAT LOCK THE SEAT WERE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO MOVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCHES WERE FRACTURED, AND THAT THE RIGHT AND LEFT IN-HAND LATCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10958549
Incident
Jun 17, 2016
Mileage
150,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 16, 2015

THE REAR SEAT RELEASE CABLE IS FAULTY AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE BACK COMPARTMENT (AFTER THE DOOR HATCH WAS CLOSED). THIS IS HAZARDOUS BECAUSE THE THIRD ROW SEATING AREA IS BACK THERE, AND WITHOUT A MEANS OF EASY RELEASE A PASSENGER MIGHT BE TRAPPED IN AN EMERGENCY.

NHTSA ID
10764197
Incident
Sep 16, 2015
Mileage
147,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSteering
Filed May 21, 2014
Crash reported

I HAVE BEEN SEEING COMMERCIALS ABOUT AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING ON CHEVY VEHICLES. MY DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN MY 04 CHEVY TAHOE WHERE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE AND ALSO ANOTHER PERSON WAS IN THE CAR AS WELL. AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE TRUCK FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DRIVERS SEAT ALSO LIFTED UP AND WAS SPLIT IN TO. WE ASKED THE INVESTIGATORS AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO CHECK INTO WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL, BUT WE KNEW OTHERWISE. THEY DID NOT TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593235
Incident
Jun 22, 2009
Mileage
102,500 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 25, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOCK MECHANISM SUFFERED A MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10456434
Incident
Apr 9, 2012
Mileage
77,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 20, 2011
1 injury reported

THE SEAT HEATER ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT GETS TOO HOT, MY BROTHER WAS BADLY BURNED ON A ROAD TRIP VERY QUICKLY, INSTANT HUGE BLISTER, HE COULDN'T ADJUST THE HEAT BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH MY TAHOE AND THERE WAS NO WHERE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10383377
Incident
Nov 16, 2009
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 29, 2010

HI THIS IS REGARDING A DEFECT IN THE LOCKING SYSTEMS OF PARTICULAR GM TRUCKS AND SUVS THE FACT THAT THE DOOR LOCKS ON MY TAHOE AND OTHER SIMILAR SUVS AND TRUCKS CAN BE PUNCHED IN WITH A SCREWDRIVER AND THAT SIMULATES A KEY. THAT MAKES THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES EASY TARGETS FOR ROBBERY (ESPECIALLY THE THIRD ROW SEATS) WHICH ACCORDING TO THE POLICE OFFICER WHO I FILED THE REPORT WITH IS HAPPENING A LOT WITH THESE VEHICLES. I CONTACTED MY CHEVY SERVICE REP AND HE CONVEYED THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT DEALERSHIP ACTUALLY OFFERS AN AFTERMARKET BRACKET FOR THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT THE LOCK FROM BEING PUNCHED IN AT A COST OF $189. HERE IS THE PROBLEM MY TRUCK AND THE OTHERS THAT FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY ESCALADE, TAHOE, SUBURBAN, ETC ARE EXPENSIVE VEHICLES AND SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE AN AFTERMARKET PART (USUALLY AFTER ARE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BROKEN INTO) FOR A DEFECT IN THE LOCK SYSTEM . I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND EVERY TIME A THIRD ROW SEAT IS STOLEN IT IS ABOUT A $2500 REPLACEMENT AND USUALLY REQUIRES A CLAIM THROUGH INSURANCE AND THAT LEAVES THEM OUT A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE OF THIS LOCK DEFECT. I CONTACTED GM AND TO SEE WHAT GM INTENDS TO DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION IF ANYTHING AT ALL GM RESPONDED WITH A SIMPLE CANT HELP YOU NOT OUR PROBLEM. I AM OUT ABOUT $600 WHICH INCLUDES ME REPLACING MY DOOR HANDLE WITHOUT THE KEY ENTRY AS I SEE THIS BEING THE ONLY WAY TO DETER FURTHER BREAK-INS AND WHAT WAS STOLEN FROM MY TRUCK AND I KNOW THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION. I FEEL THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GM NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND ADDRESS THE SITUATION AS IT IS COSTING CUSTOMERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES TONS OF MONEY BECAUSE GM WILL NOT CHANGE THIS DOOR LOCK. THE OFFICE SAID THIS HAS BEEN A GROWING PROBLEM AS CRIMINALS LEARN HOW EASY IT IS TO BREAK IN THESE VEHICLES WITH A SCREWDRIVER AND OUR ALARM, SECURITY DEVICES WILL NOT ACTIVATE AND IF MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS TO OFFER AN AFTERMARKET BRACKET TO TRY TO FIX IT THERE IS A PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT! *TR

NHTSA ID
10340631
Incident
May 24, 2010
Mileage
105,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 9, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE CONTACT FIRST NOTICED THE FAILURE NOVEMBER 2009. THE DOOR WOULD OPEN AT TIMES AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK AT ALL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE TO FEE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10335445
Incident
Nov 16, 2009
Mileage
85,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Mar 15, 2010

I HAVE A 2004 TAHOE WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES ON IT. IT HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED, DRIVEN SPORADICALLY AS THE MILEAGE WILL ATTEST, AND THE REAR WINDOW GLASS HAS BEEN OPENED LESS THAN HALF DOZEN TIMES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. ONE OF THE HINGES HAS BROKEN/SEPARATED FROM THE TOP OF THE LIFT GATE GLASS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CLOSE WHEN IT IS OPENED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER THAT TOLD ME IT WAS A 'COMMON' HAPPENING ON THIS AND SUBURBAN MODELS. THE 'FIX' IS A FULL GLASS REPLACEMENT TO THE TUNE OF AROUND $1000. ANOTHER OPTION IS A THIRD-PARTY FIX WHICH 'MIGHT' WORK AND INVOLVES REGLUING THE HINGE TO THE WINDOW. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHEVY AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM A REP WHO DISAVOWED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF 'ANY' COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AS WELL AS TWO OTHER DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES (DIFFERENT DEALERS) ALL KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND THE FIX. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THIS COULD CAUSE THE GLASS TO BREAK LOOSE AND FLY OFF WHILE DRIVING, MOST LIKELY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. YET CHEVY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL, AND THOUGH I TALKED AT LENGTH TO THEIR REP (WHO COULDN'T EVEN PRONOUNCE TAHOE CORRECTLY) THEY REFUSED TO OFFER ANY HELP AT ALL WITH THE REPAIR, LEAVING ME WITH THE PROBABILITY OF A $1000 REPLACEMENT COST OF A PERFECTLY GOOD REAR GLASS JUST TO FIX A HINGE WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. I HAVE OWNED MORE THAN 20 CHEVYS AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY VEHICLE OF CHOICE, BUT THEY NEED TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND FIX WHAT THEY KNOW IS A PROBLEM IN THEIR DESIGN AND THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE OWNER/DRIVER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10319986
Incident
Nov 16, 2009
Mileage
46,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 16, 2010

WHEN I PULL THE DOOR HANDLE OUT TO OPEN THE DOOR IT DOES NOT GO BACK IN. THEREFORE, THE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH CLOSED AND IT FLIES OPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND IS NOW DOING THE SAME THING ON THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR (WHICH IS RARELY USED). BETWEEN THE 2 DOORS, THEY HAVE FLOWN OPEN THREE TIMES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THANK GOODNESS THE INDIVIDUALS HAD THEIR SEATBELTS ON AND WERE NOT THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE. I VISITED A CHEVY DEALER AT WHICH TIME THE SERVICE PERSON OILED THE HANDLE. IT DID NOT HELP NOR DID IT CHANGE ANYTHING THIS INDIVIDUAL STATED SEVERAL TIMES "I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS AT ALL" AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT GM FOR ASSISTANCE ON THE REPAIR COSTS. UPON CONTACTING GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINING THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD DENY MY CLAIM AND ARE UNWILLING TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I AGAIN EXPLAINED THAT THIS DEFECT COULD IN FACT KILL SOMEONE AND THEY DID NOT SEEM TO CARE. I WAS TOLD IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC AND THE REPAIRS. THE FACT THAT THE DOORS DO NOT LATCH SHUT AND FLY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT ANY SPEED IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING INTO GETTING IT REPAIRED VIA A LOCAL MECHANIC. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND CERTAINLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE HAVING A PASSENGER WITH ME. I CURRENTLY HIT THE HANDLE BACK IN EVERY SINGLE TIME I ENTER THE VEHICLE. I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW UNSAFE THIS IS. THANKFULLY THERE HAVE BEEN NO DEATHS OR INJURIES YET. HOPEFULLY NO ONE ELSE THAT OWNS A TAHOE HAS EXPERIENCED ANY. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10310809
Incident
Feb 12, 2010
Mileage
66,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 14, 2009

2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE Z71. 69K MILES. DRIVER'S POWER SEAT AND BOTH FRONT SEAT HEATERS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. FOUND BURNED ORANGE WIRE IN CONNECTOR AT REAR OF DRIVER'S SEAT BURNED AND CONNECTOR MELTED AT ORANGE WIRE LOCATION. ALSO SAW AREA ON ORANGE WIRE THAT APPEARED TO BE A LOCATION WHERE WIRE WAS PINCHED BY SEAT ADJUSTER MECHANISM. REPAIR OF WIRE AND RELOCATION OF HARNESS AWAY FROM SEAT MECHANICAL PARTS CURED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10295593
Incident
Dec 9, 2009
Mileage
69,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Dec 15, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTIVATED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MECHANISM FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. RECENTLY, THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATS FAILED TO RECLINE BACKWARDS. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS WATER LEAKING FROM THE SUNROOF NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR. FINALLY, THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW AND HEATED SEAT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10251837
Incident
Oct 20, 2008
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Sep 22, 2005

MEMORY SEAT DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. WHEN YOU USE FOB OR KEY TO ACCESS VEHICLE SEATS, CLIMATE, MIRRORS AND RADIO RANDOMLY CHOOSE THEIR OWN POSITIONS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10137280
Incident
Sep 21, 2005
Mileage
5,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 22, 2005

MEMORY SEATS WILL NEVER RECALL POSITION AND RANDOMLY CHOOSE MULTIPLE POSITIONS. MIRRORS, PEDALS, RADIO PRESETS ALSO RANDOMLY SELECT WHEN REMOTE KEY FOB IS USED OR WHEN KEY IS PUT INTO IGNITION. ALL SEATING POSITIONS, PEDALS, MIRRORS MUST BE RESET EACH TIME DRIVER ENTERS VEHICLE. TSB REPORTEDLY ON FILE FOR ONE YEAR+ WITH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, BUT GM SAYS NO FIX.*AK

NHTSA ID
10114448
Incident
May 10, 2004

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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .