2004 Chevrolet Tahoe Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Engine
  8
• Exhaust system
  3
• Cooling system
  3
• Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
  1
• Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  717%
• 25k–50k
  25%
• 50k–75k
  25%
• 75k–100k
  1024%
• 100k–150k
  1639%
• 150k+
  410%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that ten minutes after the vehicle was parked, it caught fire. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. The contact was unsure as to where the fire originated. A fire report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a tow facility. It was unknown yet if the vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Vehicle begins to idle rough, noticed Tahoe consumes coolant at an abnormal rate, approximately 1gal/month!! Our local Chevy dealer coded for flex fuel sensor replacement $1400! No change in condition of vehicle. Idle is now very very low! My wife picks up our kids, Tahoe would stop running while making a turn at an intersection!!! No power = no power steering!! She barely avoids an accident!! She along with the kids will not ride in the (family car) the Tahoe until it is fixed. Don't trust our local Chevy dealership, due to lack of integrity!! We were proud and loyal Chevy owners, we also own a 91 GMC sierra 1500 5.7l with 232000 mi. And a 98 Chevy 1500 v-6 113590 mi pick-up, both still running very strong with absolutely no issues! …

The exhaust manifold bolts that thread into the cylinder heads holding the cast iron exhaust manifolds in place onto the heads break off under normal road conditions. The bolts break off and were causing an exhaust leak. My vehicle's exhaust was coming inside the vehicle making occupants ill. The steel manifold bolts are undersized for the application, and being used on iron manifolds mating to aluminum cylinder heads. I have to pay the $1000+ repair cost to fix an apparent manufacturing failure that should be recalled. No only do the broken bolts cause exhaust leaks and noise, but puts the vehicle in this condition as a possible fire risk.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the engine warning light illuminated. The contact discovered that the engine overheated because the coolant reservoir was empty. The contact dispensed coolant into the reservoir. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed that the engine block and the cylinder head were improperly designed and contributed to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000. The VIN was not available.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving 40 MPH, the warning light illuminated a "low power mode" message. The contact stated that steam was emitting from under the hood. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and lifted the hood for the vehicle to cool off. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the cylinder head cracked around the oil drain holes. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000. Updated 09/29/16 updated 06/15/18

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the vehicle used excessive anti freeze. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle had a defective castech head that leaked coolant. The technician also diagnosed that the castech heads needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000. The VIN was not provided.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the contact's residence where an independent mechanic diagnosed that the fuel injectors and spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.

I was driving down the road when my 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe caught on fire burning to the ground. The report from the fire department says that the fire started due to failure of equipment or a heat source and that there were no human factors contributing to the fire.while looking on the internet I have found at least one other person that has encountered the same problem with her 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolettahoe. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the engine stalled without warning. The contact managed to pull over and stop the vehicle. The vehicle was able to restart on the second attempt. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,498.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning and caused all the instrument panel lights to illuminate. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not provided. The failure mileage was 126,000.

Engine complaints in other Tahoe years