Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Chevrolet Suburban owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the instrument panel gauges, and warning lights functionality became inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
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
I own a 2004 Chevy Suburban. My son was detailing the car in the driveway. My other son was detailing his truck behind it. My son detailing the Suburban had the key turned to "accessory" and was listening to music while working. As he was wiping the dash board off, his arm hit the steering wheel shifter and popped the truck out of gear! It rolled down the driveway hitting my other son's truck, luckily missing him! Come to find out, GM had produced this vehicle with the accessory position unlocking the shifter. I checked the manual and found no warning or reference to this situation. I own a 2002 GM truck and it put in accessory does not unlock the shifter. I contacted GM to investigate and warn it's owners, but they found on March 17, 2005 by letter to me that the Suburban was "operating as designed". No other vehicle has ever unlocked the shifter in the accessory position. …
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. …
New, 6 month old vehicle caught fire while in a parking lot. Was in parking lot for approx 1 1/2-2 hrs before fire, windows up, doors locked. Insurance appraiser and fire marshal says electrical fire, accidental. Fire marshal says driver's seat control, insurance says driver's door or window control. Never heard what GM says caused by. GM took no responsibility - insurance had to pay off. Was reported to fire dept, fire marshal investigated. GM send someone to investigate about 2-3 weeks later. I met him at dealership. He pulled off seat control box and said it didn't cause the fire. Pulled off driver's door cover and looked. Never said what he thought caused fire.
Tl* 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
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 suburbans and several of the pickups
A fire started in the electrical system behind the glove compartment while driving 20 MPH. Consumer extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. Vehicle was towed to the dealer, but dealer did not determine the cause of the fire.
The vehicle caught fire in the engine compartment while the consumer was waiting at a traffic light. The fire was extinguished . The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The cause was determined to be a faulty ground wire.
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.
Electrical complaints in other Suburban years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban?
NHTSA has 72 complaints about the electrical system of the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban, 35% of the model year's 204 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (41 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Chevrolet Suburban electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Suburban electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 4 fires and 2 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.