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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
79,446 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Chevrolet Suburban electrical problems

electrical problem

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2004 Chevrolet Suburban Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #62

Mar 012020

Suburban

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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

- Ore City, TX, USA

problem #61

Dec 102016

Suburban

  • 158,000 miles
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 Suburban and several of the pickups

- Janesville, WI, USA

problem #60

Nov 302018

Suburban

  • 200,000 miles
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.

- Claremore, OK, USA

problem #59

Jul 052016

Suburban

  • 65 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

problem #58

Jan 082016

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 190,000 miles
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.

- Tacoma, VA, USA

problem #57

Mar 012016

Suburban

  • 152,000 miles
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.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #56

Mar 012016

Suburban

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #55

Sep 252013

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 174,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the vehicle would intermittently blow hot air due to a failure with the air conditioner blower motor. The contact stated that the blower resistor module and the wiring harness were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 174,000. Updated 12/03/15 updated 11/17/2017

- Manvel, TX, USA

problem #54

Dec 272014

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 78,457 miles
Speed reads 120mph and not moving.

- Wurtsboro, NY, USA

problem #53

Feb 122015

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
Was driving down interstate looked at speed it was pegged out way past 120 I know I was not going that fast I was getting passed then when I stopped it only come down to about 110 says U R running 100 sitting still.

- Lafayette, GA, USA

problem #52

May 172013

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Park City , UT, USA

problem #51

Sep 242014

Suburban

  • 164,900 miles
At first I got a check engine light on with code P0430, O2 sensor lower bank 2, then bank 1. replaced those two work for a week then RPM and speedometer gauge fluctuate up and down. I drove home from the airport one night and all gauge reading went all the way up. I was traveling on an interstate with a speed limited of 55mph and the reading in my car was over 120mph. Took to in shop, shop recommend I need speedometer sensor replaced. Replaced that, now all the instrument gauge jump up and down. Sometime all the way full sometime all the way down. Finally got tire of trying to fix it myself and took the car to the dealer and they found out it was a bad dash instrument and bad catylete-conveter. Thanks to Chevy it cost me headache, guessing time, giving false reading and most of all thousands of dollars to get it fix right.

- Kannapolis, NC, USA

problem #50

Jun 262014

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 111,700 miles
After replacing temperature sensor on engine by garage, the temperature gauge continues to act with high readings & now it has pegged to maximum high temp. This is disconcerting and my wife & I are very nervous to drive it in not knowing if it is a real issue of concern. Even though we are not original owners, and that there has been related issues with speedometer, temp gauge, sensor, and more covered by company, they will not do so now according to local Chevy dealership & ethically I think once the repairs have been noted and then show up should be honored. I believe that the company would have set aside the parts and money to install. Video of repair looks like a skilled mechanic could reset original miles on current bad gauge set to replacement and pop in within 15-30 minutes. Cost for panel is about $300 and if I ship it out to an online repair center they'll charge about $90 for replacement part with upgraded parts for durability. As a veteran who had to retire from a civilian job early due to my disabilities and the money these car companies received from bank crashes stabilization in the time of offered replacement wouldn't I be eligible based on that?

- Plattsburgh, NY, USA

problem #49

Mar 012011

Suburban

  • 89,000 miles
The speedometer is completely gone along with several gauges such as the oil, gas, and RPM meters. I am unable to tell how much gas I have or how fast I am going. This has happened a lot to these vehicles over the past 10 years. GM offered a repair but only for vehicles who were not over a certain mileage. This is a safety issue and needs to be repaired in all vehicles. Additional, the electrical system is out of whack. My heated seats turn all the way up to high without me pressing anything. My tv system is not working. Everything seems to be falling apart.

- Elkton, MD, USA

problem #48

Jun 122013

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 98,981 miles
Speedometer reads that I'm going faster than I am. I cannot tell how fast I am going. When the vehicle is off it registers 10mph. This concerns me greatly since this is my only vehicle and I have three children that ride with me everywhere I go. I researched this on the internet have found many problems with the speedometer on this vehicle. Should be a recall. This is dangerous!!!!

- Vero Beach, FL, USA

problem #47

May 062011

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 68,000 miles
Instrument cluster failed.took vehicle to dealer, they wanted $500 to replace. Took it back several months later and tried to negotiate a lower price and also found that this has been a widespread problem and that some customers report online that they have got the dealer to replace at no cost. My cluster has not been repaired and I am seeking to have GM repair it for free..

- Marion, MA, USA

problem #46

Sep 152011

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
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..

- Mandeville, LA, USA

problem #45

Aug 062010

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 91,717 miles
Speedo does not read correct, it gets stuck at various numbers...while driving or parked on or off (speed can be plus or minus actual speed by 5-55 mph at any given time. And you never know when, also the oil pressure gauge will go past the marked limit when the truck is off, no key in the ignition.

- Cedar Falls , IA, USA

problem #44

Oct 172011

Suburban

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the gauges in the instrument panel were inoperable. The alternator and temperature gauge would display that the vehicle was overheating. The dealer diagnosed that the instrument cluster panel would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 67,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #43

Dec 202010

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
Instrument cluster failed after extreme cold temperatures, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge and battery charging system gauge. GM knows about the faulty gauges and as of this date has not made a recall of the instrument panel. Considering all legal remedies afforded by law as this is a problem that can be rectified by GM by replacing the aforementioned faulty factory equipment.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

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