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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
129,470 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 Tahoe brakes problems

brakes problem

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2004 Chevrolet Tahoe Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #59

Aug 192019

Tahoe 8-cyl

  • 230,000 miles

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

This is in reference to complaint # 11327456 the address and the mph are incorrect. Please see form attached to this complaint # affected parts: Steering, brakes, electrical, elec, stability control and speed control this site wouldn't let me check more than 3.

- Menifee, CA, USA

problem #58

Aug 192019

Tahoe 8-cyl

  • 230,000 miles
There is a recall #04004. "brake hydro-boost relief valve" but my VIN# is not on the list. Over 64,000 vehicles were affected and there is a "#1" on the mounting surface. All of the units detected a machining error in the relief bore cavity for modules produced from a machine identified as "fadal #1" this can and has caused my 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe to have no power assist with my steering and no power brakes. I have found myself holding two feet on the brake pedal at a red light. And can not operate in small spaces such as parking garages and certain parking stalls. I wanted to know if there is something more that I can do in regards to this particular recall and find out if there is some mistake as far as my VIN# not being recognized but yet experiencing the same problems. My vehicle has become inoperable for that it is unsafe to drive with the no power assist and could cause a major accident...I want to see about receiving some aid in all this. This has been a issue since August of 2019. It has caused me to lose work for a lack of transportation. My credit has fallen behind because of not being able to make it to work and spending my savings on trying to guess at what is wrong with it. For it is my only vehicle. Now that the covid-19 is here is a double whamy! in dire straits - cali lovin my 4X4 - [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Menifee, CA, USA

problem #57

Mar 182020

Tahoe

  • 230,000 miles
Brakes not working when pressed caused an accident

- Bertram, TX, USA

problem #56

Dec 312018

Tahoe

  • 115,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when it was depressed. Also, "stability system disabled- service brake system" flashed on the instrument panel. The contact had to apply force to the brake pedal to maneuver the vehicle out of a drive-thru area of a business establishment. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was parked at the contact's residence due to the failure. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V045000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #55

Oct 192018

Tahoe

  • 127,617 miles
Driving down the road around 25 to 30 mph and a kid ran out between two cars and I slammed on the brakes and they partially failed. The truck eventually stopped, but immediately got a brake failure warning and I had to hold the peddle to the wall to stop the remaining mile or so home. I get home and look under the drivers door to investigate a puddle and I see smoke where the ruptured brake line had been spraying brake fluid on the catalytic converter. Thought for sure the truck was going to catch on fire. The brakes were just serviced, pads and rotors a year or so ago, so I had no clue the lines were bad. Just got home to search on this and see that the NHTSA has been investigating this, but not much has happened with this since 2014. Very distressing. Seems the only thing that has been done is GM is offering the replacement lines for sale, but no mention that the dealers want $2,000 or more to install them"? I am very thankful that this kid is still alive and we both did not have to endure a death due to the close call. However, I'm extremely disturbed that this is a known issue with millions of these trucks on the road and nothing is being done with this ticking time bomb. Every single such affected truck will eventually run into the same issue, and people are going to get killed. GM is clearly not addressing this or even warning people of the hidden problem. Why won't you guys do anything about this big problem? you've know about this for 4 years and nothings been done" I'm shocked, that GM has been able to avoid all responsibility due to a mfrs defect by using cheap and inferior products that do not hold up in the northern climates. Coated brake lines should be mandated!!! just came back from the next page to qualify: No crash - by about 1 foot. No fire - very lucky. No injury/fatality - this very close! I would like a call back.

- Hawthorn Woods, IL, USA

problem #54

Jul 292018

Tahoe

  • miles
Complete brake failure pedal straight to the floor main brake line midway of the truck completely blew apart my son just drove 2 hours pulled in the driveway I went to move his car thank goodness put the brake pedal to the floor and fluid was everywhere I have read that this problem is a 1 + 1,000 on Chevy trucks however I have purchased a Chevy 2005 Tahoe 1 year difference and this weekend the same exact thing happened traveling back from a weekend away and complete brake line failure brake line completely busted halfway down and fluid everywhere so I guess I am too in 2000 seems a little coincidental I am in Ohio and I have read about the salt brine and everything however I have one of the cleanest trucks around we are detail freaks every one of our cars is taken care of something is definitely wrong with these years of Tahoe and it's going to kill somebody once again we were on a two-hour trip home stop to use the bathroom the next time we hit the brakes they were totally gone had to use emergency brake to stop and pull over we feel the divine intervention on both incidences and are blessed that someone was looking out for us and it sure wasn't Chevy

- Grove City, OH, USA

problem #53

Nov 202017

Tahoe

  • 112,000 miles

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

Brake line rusted. Lost fluid and brakes while driving. Have been driving for 53 years. Never had this happen with any other vehicle.

- Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA

problem #52

Oct 032017

Tahoe

  • 132,011 miles
Was at Chevy dealer to look for a new car, when leaving put foot on brake and pedel went to the floor got out and found fluid on ground under driver side. Dealer examined and found blown brake line, and said all lines were in bad shape and need to replace at a cost of $4200. Had them replace only ones that were leaking. This is very dangerous and I have heard lots of problems from other people. Chevy should be correcting these issues.

- Bayshore, NY, USA

problem #51

Aug 142017

Tahoe

  • 128,500 miles
Brake lines are rusted and leaking. Completely rusted from front to back... I am the original owner.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #50

May 282017

Tahoe

  • 145,000 miles
On 11-11-15 I was sitting at an atm with my foot on the brake pedal. Without warning the brake pedal went completely to the floor. Limped to our mechanic. The mechanic advised that the front brake lines were completely rusted. Replaced the front brake lines at a cost of $580. On 5-28-17 my husband had pulled into a convenience store and was letting my son out of the vehicle, had his foot on the brake and yet again, the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. Got the vehicle home, checked the brake fluid reservoir and only 2" of fluid was left, checked brake lines and found rusted out places with fluid leaking out. Got the vehicle to our mechanic, same one that replaced the front lines, he advised the same problem, rusted out lines. Estimate to replace rear lines $540. He also told me that this was a "flaw" with that year Tahoe and pick up trucks. My question is if the manufacturer knows this is a flaw with the brake lines why isn't there a recall to have the brake lines replaced"?" it appears to be a major problem, no brakes is not a good situation!!!!!!! something need to be done with this problem.

- Powhatan, VA, USA

problem #49

Apr 012017

Tahoe 8-cyl

  • miles

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

2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. Consumer writes requesting information on recalls related to their vehicle. The consumer stated while checking for a recall on brake boosters, discovered several other recalls for the vehicle. The consumer was not notified of any recalls for the vehicle. Updated 05/11/2017

- Westminster, CA, USA

problem #48

Sep 042016

Tahoe

  • 74,000 miles
Brake lines are all rusted out got into accident

- Quincy, MA, USA

problem #47

Sep 042016

Tahoe

  • 73,000 miles
Lost brakes..brake line rotted out.got into accident.no help from

- Quincy, MA, USA

problem #46

Sep 042016

Tahoe

  • 73,000 miles
Brake line burstwhile driving got into accident very dangerous should be recall before some get killed

- Quincy, MA, USA

problem #45

Sep 042016

Tahoe

  • 73,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving, the brakes failed. The contact's vehicle came to a stop after bumping the preceding vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic where it was diagnosed that the brake line was corroded. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 73,000.

- Quincy, MA, USA

problem #44

Sep 042016

Tahoe 4WD 8-cyl

  • 73,000 miles
Lost brakes on highway. Got in accident. Now all brake lines have to be replaced. Never going to buy another GM piece of [xxx]. and only has 73,000 miles on it. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Quincy, MA, USA

problem #43

Sep 032016

Tahoe

  • 213,000 miles
On September 3 2016 while pulling into a bank parking lot the brake pedal depressed to the floor. Fortunately I was going slow enough to stop the vehicle with the parking brake. Brake fluid was on the ground behind the left front wheel. It appears a brake line ruptured causing instant catastrophic failure of the brake system. The vehicle was towed to jim price Chevrolet in charlottesville for diagnosis. Total mileage is about 213000. Being a holiday weekend the vehicle will not be checked until Tuesday September 6. if I hadn't pulled into the bank I would have been in an 8 lane intersection with rio rd and rt 29 and probable not here to send this report.

- Charlottesville, VA, USA

problem #42

Jul 042016

Tahoe

  • 129,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving 10 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to immediately stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure occurred in a parking lot and the vehicle was able to stop after the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake lines failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

- Newburgh, IN, USA

problem #41

Jul 312016

Tahoe

  • 66,434 miles
Trying to come to a complete stop coming down a hill approaching stopped vehicles ahead when the the brake system failed the pedal went to the floor I fortunately was able stop before hitting anything or anyone including myself and my pets....used emergency break and put in park conducted investigation..1st checked the brake fluid and even though it was just topped off it was down to the minimum levels I next looked under the undercarriage and saw fluid leaking underneath. Since have had it looked at by a mechanic and said my breakline blew and possibly the others because of corrosion.

- Coraopolis, PA, USA

problem #40

Nov 152015

Tahoe

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving approximately 40 mph and attempting to make a sudden stop, the braking system experienced a catastrophic and instant failure without warning. The vehicle did not slow down or stop, which caused the driver to crash into an embankment. A police report was filed. During the crash, the driver sustained a right knee injury that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the cause of the failure was due to corrosion and rusted brake lines. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- Sandy Hook, VA, USA

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