Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
I have been seeing commercials about airbags not deploying on Chevy vehicles. My daughter was killed in my 04 Chevy Tahoe where the airbags did not deploy. She was thrown from the vehicle and also another person was in the car as well. Airbags on the drivers or passengers side did not deploy. The truck flipped several times. The drivers seat also lifted up and was split in to. We asked the investigators and our insurance company to check into why the airbags did not deploy and they said it was normal, but we knew otherwise. They did not take any further action.
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.
My brakes locked up with steering wheel and cause me to go off the road it's very unsafe and there should be recall immediately
Well where should I begin, the first problem was the clunking of the front end when going in and out of driveways,the first steering shaft was replaced, a couple of months later the speedometer started making noise,that was replaced,then the clunking noise reappeared, this time it supposedly needed to be lubed, it was fine, however noise reappeared, then the second shaft was installed,the tire sensor light intermittently comes on when ever it feels like it, and tire pressure is normal, now the windshield wipers will not shut off when it rains except when you turn the vehicle off, however they come back on when you restart the car after hours of sitting, my wife is expecting our second child and also drive my 5 year old in this vehicle, this car is piece junk, GM needs to take back pride in there craftsmanship step up to the plate like there consumers did and fix this ?!@#$%! …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact has experienced several failures with the steering shaft in her vehicle. While driving at any speed, the steering shaft fails and causes her to lose control of the steering. The vehicle will continue to drive forward and makes a loud humming noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the intermediate steering shaft failed. The vehicle was repaired at no charge. The vehicle failed two more times since the repair. The intermediate steering shaft has been replaced a total of three times. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that because there was no current recall on the failure, no compensation would be provided. The failure mileage was 12,000 and current mileage was 80,000. …
Chevrolet Tahoe. Swerved to miss a dog at 35 MPH and lost control. Car very unstable. The faster the speed , the harder it is to control. You have to be on the steering every second. If it is windy out, it will slide over to another lane without notice. Car very top heavy. Reported this to dealer in medford, oregon and they said that is was normal. Normal to lose control so easily?? Purchased new and only had 4,800 miles on it and sold it that day. I am a very good driver, no tickets or accidents and driving over 45 years. If my wife had been driving or a car had been coming the other way, someone would have been killed. If this had happened at 60 to 70 MPH, a certain roll over would have happened. Car very unsafe.
Just bought a used 2004 Chevy Tahoe z71 and my wife noticed as she was turning a bumping feel coming from the steering wheel. I investigated this and found out this is a very common problem in a number of GM vehicles not just this year Tahoe. There is something to do with the steering shaft. There are over 160 posts in one forum with GM owners complaining of the same incident. I will give a link if needed. Seems there is no fix for this other than GM adding lubricant to the axle, but it continues to happen again and again. I now need to get mine fix and it just seems that something should be done on a broad scale to fix this issue from occurring.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact experienced steering failure in his vehicle. While driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel felt as if it would come off due to constant vibrating. The failure seemed to worsen when making turns. The failure would not occur at high speeds. The mechanic stated that the failure was due to the intermediate steering shaft. The dealer acknowledged the failure, but stated that there was no recall. The contact was informed that if the vehicle is repaired, the failure would increasingly worsen. He paid $216 for the repair. The current mileage was 57,237 and failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe. Whenever he made a right or left turn while driving approximately 25 MPH or more, the steering wheel made a clanking noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they were unable to find cause of the failure or hear the noise in the vehicle. They also informed the contact that there were no safety defects. The cost of repair for this failure would be $200 and there were no warranty or recalls. The Chevrolet manufacturer was not called. The failure mileage was 28,276 updated 04/16/10. Updated 07/14/10.
Steering complaints in other Tahoe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the steering of the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe, 6% of the model year's 467 complaints. The component named most often is column (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe, though it has 2 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 Tahoe steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 54,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to steering 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.