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1.3

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
128,283 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2004 Chevrolet Suburban Owner Comments

problem #10

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 #9

Sep 282014

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 174,348 miles
Bought this vehicle a few days before the first incident. I drove it home from over two hours away, drove it all around the day before, no problems. Then I was driving down a bypass at about 60 miles an hour and the engine shut off! I had no power steering, nothing! I was able to pull over, shut it off and once I turned it back over it was just fine. So I cautiously started driving, it happened again a few miles down the road only this time it stalled then regained power and quickly shut off again. Once engine was turned off and restarted, it was fine, it did this to me 5 times within 5 miles. I almost got hit two of those times by other vehicles, once when I was turning onto a road. I am glad my kids were not in it. I am scared to drive on two lane roads without room to pull over.

- Dalton, GA, USA

problem #8

Aug 152014

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 109,000 miles
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.

- Brownton, MN, USA

problem #7

Jun 182014

Suburban 4WD 8-cyl

  • 224,000 miles

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

Exhaust manifold leak check engine light on bolts broken on exhaust manifold.

- Tiverton, RI, USA

problem #6

Jun 292014

Suburban

  • 75,000 miles
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.

- Devine, TX, USA

problem #5

May 012014

Suburban

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. The contact stated while starting the ignition, a loud knocking noise emitted from the engine. In addition, coolant was dispensed into the radiator reservoir every two days without coolant visible on the ground. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who stated that the water pump would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the failure persisted. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

problem #4

May 172014

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 131,236 miles

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

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.

- S. Plymouth, NY, USA

problem #3

Mar 152012

Suburban 8-cyl

  • 65,250 miles
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.

- Brentwood, CA, USA

problem #2

Aug 202012

Suburban

  • 154,000 miles
The rear exhaust manifold bolts on both the driver's side and passenger side are broke and now the vehicle has an exhaust leak.

- Big Spring, TX, USA

problem #1

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

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