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U.S. public vehicle records

2004 Chevrolet SUBURBAN problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

204 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

63,200 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 167 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 41 of 204 complaints (20.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior5828.4%
Steering behavior209.8%
Electrical and battery issues178.3%
Transmission and shifting115.4%
Engine operation94.4%
Fuel system concerns94.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
41
Service Brakes
32
Electrical System
25
Vehicle Speed Control
11
Steering
10
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9
Air Bags
8
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel41
Service Brakes32
Electrical System25
Vehicle Speed Control11
Steering10
Service Brakes, Hydraulic9
Air Bags8
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)8

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 41; Service Brakes: 32; Electrical System: 25; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Steering: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 9; Air Bags: 8; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
33
25,000 to 49,999
27
50,000 to 74,999
34
75,000 to 99,999
24
100,000 to 149,999
27
150,000 and above
22
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00033
25,000 to 49,99927
50,000 to 74,99934
75,000 to 99,99924
100,000 to 149,99927
150,000 and above22

Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 27; 50,000 to 74,999: 34; 75,000 to 99,999: 24; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 22

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (34). 37 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2004
15
2005
31
2006
18
2007
36
2008
12
2009
9
2010
6
2011
13
2012
13
2013
5
2014
15
2015
11
2016
6
2017
2
2018
2
2019
4
2020
1
2021
1
2022
1
2023
1
2024
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200415
200531
200618
200736
200812
20099
20106
201113
201213
20135
201415
201511
20166
20172
20182
20194
20201
20211
20221
20231
20241
20261

2004: 15; 2005: 31; 2006: 18; 2007: 36; 2008: 12; 2009: 9; 2010: 6; 2011: 13; 2012: 13; 2013: 5; 2014: 15; 2015: 11; 2016: 6; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 4; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 58 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10056005 · 2004-01-28 (January 28, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES FAILED WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP. DRIVER AVOIDED A COLLISION BY CONTINUING TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056005 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10066980 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)

BRAKES FAILED WHEN APPLIED AT LOW SPEED WITH PLENTY OF ROOM TO SPARE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. *PH CONSUMER MADE A SEARCH IN THE INTERNET AND FOUND A SIMILAR COMPLAINT (ODI: 10056005). *LA

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066980 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10072551 · 2004-05-13 (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

Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072551 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10074967 · 2004-06-08 (June 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 THER…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074967 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10100234 · 2004-11-19 (November 19, 2004)

UPDATE TO COMPLAINT 10098773. BRAKES FAILED TO STOP 2004 SUBURBAN DURING HARD STOP AT UNDER 40 MPH. LOST POWER ASSIST AND SOME STEERING CAPABILITIES. FELT LIKE THE ROTORS WERE DEFECTIVE. BRAKE PEDEL WAS FIRM BUT WOULD NOT SLOW. IMPACT @ AROUND 20MPH CAUSE OVER $10,000 DAMAGE INCLUDING A BENT FRAME. I HAD A DAVIS INSTRUMENTS CARCHIP READER RECORDING SEVERAL METRICS INCLUDING SPEED. CAR WAS NEW IN AUGUST WITH LESS THAN 8,000 MILES. I HAVE ALL THE CARCHIP LOGS FOR THIS CAR FROM AROUND THE TIME I ACQUIRED IT. HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DEALER FROM DAY …

Owner-reported narrative. 6,766 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100234 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10105605 · 2005-01-02 (January 2, 2005)

UPDATE TO PRIOR COMPLAINT BASED ON ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH D BOYD. 2004 SUBURBAN FAILED TO SLOW DURING HARD STOP BETWEEN 40 AND 20 MPH. I BELIEVE THAT MY ORIGINAL CONCLUSION IS PROBABLY ACCURATE GIVEN THAT THE 2004 CADILLAC SRX ABS ECU AND THE INTERNATIONAL ABS ECU FAILURES WERE WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD MY SUBURBAN WAS MANUFACTURED. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE AND OCCURS DURING WET CONDITIONS AFTER TWO CONSECUTIVE BRAKE ATTEMPTS. GM IS STONE WALLING ME BUT I'D LIKE TO HANDLE THIS WITHOUT GETTING CLARENCE DITLOW @ THE CENTER…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105605 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10068205 · 2004-05-03 (May 3, 2004)

I HAD MY 2004 CHEV SUBURBAN PARKED IN MY GARAGE. MY 8 YEARS OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT LISTENING TO THE RADIO. I HAD THE GEAR IN PARK AND THE KEY IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION SO SHE COULD LISTEN TO THE RADIO. FROM THE BACK SEAT SHE REACHED UP TO TURN OFF THE RADIO AND ACCIDENTLY HIT THE GEAR SHIFT. THE CAR WENT INTO REVERSE. THE DRIVES SIDE REAR DOOR WAS OPEN. WHEN THE SUBURBAN ROLLED OUT OF THE GARAGE THE REAR DOOR CAUGHT ON THE GARAGE DOOR KEEPING IT FROM ROLLING INTO THE STREET, INTO A PEDESTRIAN OR INTO THE HOUSE ACCROSS THE STRE…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068205 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10081267 · 2004-07-17 (July 17, 2004)

MU SUV STALLED ON THE I-15 FREEWAY. I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH. OUTSIDE TEMP. WAS 95F. ELEVATION 5000 FT. AT THE TOP OF CAJUN PASS. I WAS GOING TO HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE DEALER REPLACED TH FUEL PUMP. THE SUV HAD 1200 MILES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081267 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10105842 · 2005-01-06 (January 6, 2005)

2004 SUBURBAN LT WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE. OCCAISIONAL LOSS OF POWER WHEN TURNING AND ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC. USUALLY LASTS ABOUT TWO SECONDS BEFORE POWER RETURNS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. CHEVROLET HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP , A TIMING DEVICE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND AN AIR SENSOR OVER THE COURSE OF SIX TRIPS TO THE SHOP. I WAS TOLD YESTERDAY THAT THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO GM ENGINEERS AS THE FOUR WHEEL AUTOMATICALLY SENSING A NEED TO SHIFT , AND THAT THERE WAS NO KNOWN FIX. I HAVE AND ACTIVE COMPLAINT WITH GM, C…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,497 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105842 at NHTSA ↗