2004 Chevrolet Suburban Complaint Log

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL IN A 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN WAS DIAGNOSED BY A GM DEALERSHIP AS DEFECTIVE ON 3/4/2009 WITH 70,400MILES. OIL GAUGE AND BATTERY GAUGE FAILS TO READ PROPERLY OFTEN BOUNCING AROUND/FLUTTERING AROUND DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. GAUGES DO NOT RETURN TO ZERO WHILE VEHICLE IS NOT OPERATING. GAUGE FAILURE WAS NOTED ON 2/10/2009. GM HAS YET TO AGREE TO REPLACE CLUSTER PANEL THOUGH A LETTER WAS SENT TO GM OWNERS REGARDING MATTER. LETTER CLEARLY STATES NOT TO BRING VEHICLE IN TO HAVE CLUSTER PANEL CHECKED UNTIL THERE IS BELIEVED TO BE AN ISSUE. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN TRAVELING ONLY 50 MPH IT READS 91 MPH. CAN'T TELL HOW FAST I'M DRIVING. *TR

SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK. UNSURE OF MY SPEED VERY UNSAFE. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT ALWAYS START AT 0 SOMETIMES IT STARTS AT 20MPH SOMETIMES AT 30MPH . WHEN YOU START THE VEHICLE IT DOES THIS. ALSO THE OIL GAGE IS AT 40 WITH THE VEHICLE AND GOES OVER 80+ I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. CAN YOU HELP ME . *TR

VEHICLE IS A 4WD MODEL, EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED TRANSFER CASE. THE CONTROL ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN A SNOWSTORM AND UNABLE TO USE THE 4WD. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAD THE CONTROL REPAIRED ONCE, BUT THE PROBLEM QUICKLY RETURNED. I AM TOLD THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 4WD CHEVROLET AND GMC TRUCKS, FOR MANY MODEL YEARS. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING BACK FROM THE AIRPORT, 60 MILES FROM OUR HOME. BEFORE WE LEFT THE AIRPORT AREA WE HEARD A NOISE. AS WE ARE HEADED HOME APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE STABILITY NOTIFICATION AND THE ABS LIGHTS COME ON. FIRST TIME THEY HAD COME ON. EVERY NOW AND THEN WE HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. THE NOTIFICATION AND LIGHTS CUT OFF AND ON ALL THE WAY TO OUR DESTINATION. APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES FROM OUR HOME, WE HEAR A NOISE AS IF SOMETHING CAME OFF BUT YET THE SUBURBAN WAS DRIVING OKAY FOR THE EXCEPTION OF NOISE AND GRINDING. WE DECIDED TO KEEP DRIVING AS WE ARE IN A HORRIFIC CONSTRUCTION ZONE. THE NEXT DAY I CALL FOR AN APPT FOR INSPECTION AT A PRIVATE WHEEL AND BRAKE SHOP FOR AN ESTIMATE. THEY SAID I HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES AND THE FRONT WHEEL TIRE WAS JUST ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THEY SAID THEY WERE EVEN APPREHENSIVE ABOUT MAKING IT FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING, INSIDE. I CALL THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THE HUB ASSEMBLIES AND IT WOULD COST APP $560 TO $600 PER WHEEL FOR REPAIR. I COULD NOT AFFORD THIS SO I TOOK IT TO REPAIR AT THE WHEEL SHOP. MY VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY AT THE TIME 54,000 MILES. I DO HAVE THE OLD PARTS FOR INSPECTION. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN THAT HAS A BAD VIBRATION AND CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATE THEIR IS NO RECALL, BUT I KNOW OF 4 PEOPLE WITH CHEVY TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND MULTIPLE PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. I AM NOT SURE IF LEFT UNFIXED WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN, BUT I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT AND HURT MYSELF OR OTHERS. I ONLY HOPE WITH YOUR HELP WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET VEHICLES. THANK YOU. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER REGULARLY FAILS TO WORK, USUALLY READING AN INCORRECT SPEED (CHECKED AGAINST A HANDHELD GPS DEVICE) AND OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. *TR

SPEEDOMETER JUMPED FROM APPROX.69 TO 110 AND CONTINUED TO STAY HAYWIRE AND IS NOT READING ACCURATELY. APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM BY CHEVY BUT THEY ARE ONLY REPAIRING IN 7 YEARS 70,000 MILES. OF COURSE I AM AT 4 YEARS AND AT 77,000. I WAS OVER 74K MILES WHEN NOTICE CAME OUT SO EVEN THEN WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET KNOWN DEFECT FIXED. *TR

2004 SUBURBAN HAD LEAK IN GAS TANK. EVAP LINES ON TOP OF FUEL TANK LEAKING GAS OVER TANK AND ON GROUND. HAD LINES REPLACED ON DEC.16, 2008 AND LEAK HAS REAPPEARED JAN. 11, 2009. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1500 WITH 90K MILES. IN NOVEMBER 2008 AT 80K MILES I NOTICED THE HEATER WASN'T HEATING. CHECKED AF TO FIND IT WAS A GAL LOW. NO LEAKS DETECTED ANYWHERE AND NO SMOKING FROM EXHAUST. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO 3 GARAGES INCLUDING ONE AUTHORIZED GM DEALER, ALL DIAGNOSTIC TEST WERE NEGATIVE FOR CRACKED HEADS OR HEAD GASKETS. SUGGESTIVE OF PROBLEM BUT NOT DEFINITIVE. THE GM DEALER STARTED AN OIL CONSUMPTION STUDY D/T HAVING TO ADD 1 - 1.5 QUARTS OIL EVERY 1500 - 2000 MILES. IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP UNTIL JUNE 2009 WHEN WE EXPERIENCE SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING BUT NOT SMOKING. I CHANGED THE OIL AGAIN AND DROVE THE VEHICLE THE NEXT MORNING. MADE IT 25 MILES WHEN OIL PRESSURE DROPPED AGAIN AND ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. I ACTUALLY DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME UNDER FULL POWER BUT ALARMS GOING OFF AND NO OIL PRESSURE. I PULLED THE OIL PAN OFF AND FOUND THE ROD BEARINGS BURNED AND CRYSTALLIZED. NOW LOOKING AT NEW ENGINE. GM DENIES PROBLEM WITH THAT MODEL ENGINE AND REFUSES TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. JUST PRIOR TO EXPERIENCING THE ENGINE PROBLEMS WE DID HAVE TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ALL OF INSTANCES STARTED AROUND 80K MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INOPERATIVE AND DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF OVER $300. AS OF MARCH 17, 2009, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 04-14-09 *BF UPDATED 04/15/09.*JB

OUR FAMILY WAS NOT HOME, THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AS NORMAL. MY NEIGHBORS WERE IN THE YARD AND SUDDENLY HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. THEY LOOKED OVER AND THE REAR WINDOW HAD SHATTERED AND BLEW THE GATE OPEN. IT ALSO MELTED THE PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THE GLASS. IT SEEMS AS IF POSSIBLY THE REAR DEFROSTER MAY HAVE BEEN FAULTY ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN MOVED IN 3 DAYS. GLAD SOMEONE WAS NOT STANDING BEHIND IT. IT BLEW GLASS ABOUT 10 FT. WAITING ON INS TO CALL BACK. *TR

SPEEDOMETER NOT REGISTERING ACCURATELY. WHILE IN NEUTRAL 90 MPH. *TR

MY FAMILY AND I WERE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE IN OUR 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN WHEN MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED FLUCTUATING FROM 20 MPH TO 70 MPH TO 120 MPH. THE ENGINE DIDN'T SEEM TO CHANGE ITS RUNNING SPEED AS THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATIONS WERE OCCURRING. I ONLY HAVE 40K MILES, AND I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER. MY WIFE MAINLY DRIVES IT TO TAKE OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND THEIR ACTIVITIES, AND ERRANDS. WILL THE DEALER REPAIR FOR FREE? *TR

SPEEDOMETER ERRATIC, STUCK ON 71MPH. WILL NOT FUNCTION, SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD AND COMMON TO MANY OTHER CHEVROLET OWNERS. *TR

MY 2004 SURBURBAN, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN FAILING AT 75,000 MILES. IT IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE OF THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWING INCORRECT SPEED, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IS PEGGED MOST OF THE TIME. *TR

THE TOP NUT WHICH HOLDS THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIBER BRACKET CAME OUT ON MY VEHICLE. THE RESULT CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY STOP SEVERELY JERKING THE PASSENGERS IN THE TRUCK. THE BRACKET ALSO PUNCTURED SEVERAL CRACKS TO THE INSIDE OF MY RIM CAUSING MY TIRE TO DEFLATE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THE CALIPER NUTS REMOVED ON MY VEHICLE. THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF IS THE NUT MUST HAVE VIBRATED LOOSE. THE LOWER NUT WAS LOOSE AS WELL. THE LOOSE LOWER NUT WAS DISCOVERED AFTER REMOVING THE WHEEL TO REPAIR THE DEFLATED TIRE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2008 AT 1:30 AM. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME FOR REPAIR. A NEW RIM AND BRAKE CALIPER NUT HAD TO BE PURCHASED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. *TR

THE STEERING COLUMN HAS SOME FLAW IN IT CAUSING A LOOSE CONNECTION ON THE COLLAPSIBLE SHAFT. GE IS CLAIMING THAT A "CORRECTED OR REVISED" SHAFT IS THE FIX BUT THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY PAYING FOR THE "FIX". THIS IS A 2004 CHEVY. SUBURBAN *TR

A SHORT IN THE WIRING THAT POWERS THE HEATED SEATS AND POWER DRIVERS SEAT. CONNECTOR IS BURNED AND MELTED. AS A RESULT OF THE SHORT, MY BATTERY HAS BEEN DRAINED TWICE. LUCKILY THIS WAS FOUND BEFORE A FIRE OR SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

REAR HEATER HOSE RUBBING ON THE FRAME OF VEHICLE CAUSED A FAILURE. *TR

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM INFORMING ME OF A POTENTIAL DEFECT ON THE SPEEDOMETER OF ANY 04 CHEVY SUBURBAN, BUT IT STATED THAT I SHOULD NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP UNLESS THERE IS A PROBLEM. YESTERDAY 9-22-08 COMING BACK FROM MY SON BALL GAME THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK ON 70 AND WHEN MY HUSBAND APPLIED THE BRAKE INSTEAD OF DECREASING THE SPEEDOMETER WAS GOING TOWARD THE 120 MARK AND WE WERE ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP. NOW GM DID SEND INFORMATION THAT THERE MIGHT BE PROBLEMS BUT DON'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS YOU SUSPECT PROBLEMS. ANYWAY I HAVE 78,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND GM SENT A LETTER THAT THEY WILL FIX IT NO CHARGE IF IT IS UNDER 70,000. ITS A DEFECT THERE SHOULDN'T BE A TIME LIMIT TO GET IT REPLACED A DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN CHILDREN ARE IN THE VEHICLE. WHY SHOULD ANYONE PAY FOR AN ITEM THAT IS DEFECTIVE. IT SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS I HAVE HAD. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE SUCH AS A RECALL INSTEAD OF A POSSIBLE DEFECT LETTER. PLEASE HELP! *TR

UNDER WARRANTY, BROUGHT CAR IN FOR LOOSE, VIBRATING STEERING WHEEL IN 2006. DEALERSHIP BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THE NEED TO REPLACE A BOLT ON THE STEERING SHAFT, WAS A WARRANTY REPAIR COVERED BY GM AND WE DID NOT HAVE TO PAY (ISSUED AS RECOMMENDED REPAIR ONLY IF CONSUMER BROUGHT TO ATTENTION. PROBLEM WENT AWAY. PROBLEM RECURRED IN FALL 2008 (CAR NOW OUT OF WARRANTY) IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS AS BEFORE. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AGAIN TO COMPLAIN, THEY STATED, OUT OF WARRANTY HAVE TO PAY FOR NEW PART REPLACEMENT. FEEL THIS IS A FLAWED ENGINEERED COMPONENT ON VEHICLE FROM START, SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT SAFE IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

WE OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WITH APPROXIMATELY 50,000 CURRENT MILES. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED AT 20,000 MILES. AT SOME POINT AFTER 36000 WE STARTED NOTICING A "CLUNKING" IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN WE WOULD TURN THE WHEEL. I AN EMPLOYED AT A SCHOOL AND IT HAS HAD TO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM REPAIRED ON 3 OF IT'S 2004 CHEVROLET 1500 SUBURBANS, EACH WITH JUST OVER THE 36,000 WARRANTY MILEAGE. EACH COST ABOUT $370.00 TO REPAIR. *TR

SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC. *TR

CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, DEALER SAID IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, CALLED CHEVROLET (THEY GAVE ME A CASE #)SINCE INTERNET SEARCH EXPOSED MANY OTHERS SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAVE A TSB #000235003 ABOUT THIS AND HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CHEVROLET WANTS ME TO PAY A $99 DIAGNOSIS FEE AND THEY MIGHT HELP ME WITH THE PROBLEM. *TR

2004 SUBURBAN 85,000 MILES - SPEEDOMETER SKIPPED UNDER DECEL FROM 55 MPH, INACCURATE READINGS OF 20, 40, 60 MPH WHEN STOPPED. SPEEDOMETER NOW READS PAST 120 MPH & IS COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A RATHER COMMON OCCURRENCE - A VERY COSTLY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPAIR DOES NOT MEAN THE ISSUE IS CORRECTED (IT MAY REOCCUR). *TR

THE COOLANT LEVEL IN THE RESERVOIR CONTINUED TO DROP, PROMPTING ME TO REFILL IT WEEKLY. SERVICE SHOP WORKED ON THIS ON AND OFF FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. AFTER SEVERAL ENGINE OVERHEATING SITUATIONS, WE TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT SHOP. TURNS OUT OUR HEADS ARE CRACKED. THEY WERE MANUFACTURED BY CASTECH AND ARE KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE ACCORDING TO GM BULLETIN #06-06-01-019B (DOCUMENT ID 1986750). THERE IS NOW SO MUCH ANTI-FREEZE IN OUR ENGINE THAT THE ENTIRE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE CORROSIVE NATURE OF THE FLUID. GM SAID THAT THEY WOULD PAY NOTHING TOWARDS OUR REPAIR. THE ENGINE ONLY HAS 91K MILES AND NOW NEEDS TOTAL REPLACEMENT B/C OF AN ISSUE THAT GM KNEW ABOUT SINCE 6/12/07 BUT NEVER CONTACTED US ABOUT. HAD THE REPLACED THE HEADS BACK IN 2007, WE MOST CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE FACING TOTAL MOTOR REPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME. *TR

MY 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN JUST DIES WHILE DRIVING, I LOOSE POWER STEERING & MY BRAKES. IT HAS HAPPENED 2X IN 2 DAYS. IT PRESENTS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, FOR MYSELF & OTHER DRIVERS. WHEN A DIAGNOSTIC IS RUN IT IS NEGATIVE, NOTHING SHOWS UP. ALL OF THIS OUT OF NOWHERE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY AND I NOTICED THAT ON THE COMPUTERIZED DASHBOARD, THE SERVICE TIRE MONITOR WAS FLASHING. I WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE SPEEDOMETER, THE GAUGE WENT UP TO 120 MPH AND EVEN THOUGH I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF THE GAUGE IS STILL AT 120 MPH. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY GAUGE IS NOT WORKING, BECAUSE THE GAUGE IS NOT MOVING AT ALL AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE RPM GAUGE, I WAS ONLY PRESSING THE GAS SLIGHTLY, THE RPM GAUGE WENT UP TO THE MAXIMUM LEVEL. WHEN I WAS COMING BACK HOME FROM WORK THE SAME DAY, WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE I FELT IT RIGHT AWAY THAT WHENEVER I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS, THE VEHICLE IS JUST MOVING SLOWLY, UNTIL IT STOPPED MOVING. I HAVE IT TOWED TO BILL HEARD DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION WAS TORE AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I NEED TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 67,880 MILEAGE AND WE ONLY HAVE THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 1/2 YEARS. FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM, ABOUT A CONDITION THAT MAY DEVELOP ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS WHERE ONE OR MORE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE NEEDLES MAY STICK, FLUTTER OR BECOME INOPERATIVE AND MAY CAUSE INACCURATE READINGS, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE FUEL GAUGE. I HAVE KEPT THAT LETTER AND CALLED THE GM AND I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS JUST WANDERING, BECAUSE IT ALL HAPPENED IN ONE DAY. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT A LOW UNKNOWN SPEED ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE "TRACTION" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SUDDENLY, SHE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY AN UNINTENDED SURGE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE OPERATION. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 02/17/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/18/10

2004 CHEVROLET SURBURBAN. THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STICKS. AT FIRST IT ONLY HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY. A MONTH LATER IT IS STICKING AT 0 MILES PER HOUR MOST OF THE TIME. MANY COMPLAINTS TO GM. THEY FINALLY ISSUED SPECIAL POLICY BUT WILL NOT FIX MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ODOMETER READS 79,216. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT ON MANY GM MODELS YEAR 2003-2004. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT EVEN DISCUSS THE ISSUE. THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE THAT GM SHOULD TAKE CARE NO MATTER THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD. THE REPAIR WILL COST BETWEEN $800 - $1000 OR MORE. *TR

THIS PROBLEM CONCERNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE SEAT HEATER SWITCH, LOCATED ABOVE THE DRIVER'S DOOR ARMREST, TURNS ITSELF ON WHEN THE CAR IS OPERATING. THE HEATED SEAT BECOMES EXTRAORDINARILY HOT RAPIDLY AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF - EVERY BUMP AND JAR IN THE ROAD TURNS THE LIGHT AND THE SEAT BACK ON. THE LIGHT'S LOCATION WHICH INDICATES THE OPERATION OF THE HEATED SEATS IS DIFFICULT TO SEE AS WELL - ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SUN IS STRONG & I'M WEARING SUNGLASSES. LOOKING DOWN AND AWAY FROM THE ROAD AND TRAFFIC IS FAIRLY DANGEROUS. THIS DISTRACTION COULD EASILY EVOLVE INTO AN ACCIDENT AS THE DRIVER IS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO TURN THE HEATED SEAT OFF. I HAVE HAD THIS ITEM "REPAIRED" ONCE, YET THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT WAS TRYING TO DRIVE IN A TORRENTIAL RAINSTORM ON THE INTERSTATE. I PULLED OVER FOR SAFETY BEFORE I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT. THE MINUTE I PULLED BACK ONTO THE INTERSTATE, THE HEATED SEAT TURNED ITSELF BACK ON AND STAYED ON FOR THE NEXT 250 MILES. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH A 2004 SUBURBAN THAT SUFFERS FROM THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE TAKEN THE FUSE OUT OF THE CAR THAT CONTROLS THE HEATED SEATS, BUT THAT ALSO AFFECTS THE ABILITY TO READJUST THE SEAT POSITION FOR THE INDIVIDUAL DRIVERS. THE HEATED SEAT DISTRACTION COMBINED WITH THE LOCATION OF THE SWITCH ARE DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED.

I DRIVE A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Z71. WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRANSFER CASE SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL. I DIDN'T TOUCH THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROLS OR ANYTHING IT JUST GOES INTO NEUTRAL. IT WORKS JUST FINE IN AUTO 4WD, 4HI, AND 4LO. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHILE DRIVING IN 2HI. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYTHING FIXED YET BECAUSE ELECTRONICALLY IT APPEARS THAT EVERYTHING IS WORKING NORMALLY. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE APART MY TRANSFER CASE AND I CANT AFFORD IT. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS WAS SOME KIND OF MANUFACTURER DEFECT OR SOMETHING BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DO THIS ALL THE TIME. THE PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE OFF-ROAD OR HAVE HAD TO USE THE 4WD FOR ANYTHING. IT JUST SEEMS ODD BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 70000 MILES ON IT. I WOULD THINK THAT SOMETHING LIKE A TRANSFERCASE WOULD BE BUILT TO LAST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER. IT HASN'T CAUSED AN ACCIDENT YET BUT HAS COME CLOSE A COUPLE OF TIMES LIKE WHEN IT FAILS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 SUBURBAN WITH 60K MILES. ABOUT 1 MONTHS AGO, THE REAR WINDOW BEGAN MAKING A WHISTLING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I INSPECTED IT I FOUND THAT THE HINGE WAS SEPARATING FROM THE WINDOW. I HAVE TRIED TO GO THROUGH GM WITH NO AVAIL. THEIR ANSWER IS "IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED", BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

IN RESEARCHING ONLINE I'VE NOTICED THIS ON MANY DIFFERENT CHEVY 2004 MODELS. THE TACHOMETER, FUEL GAGE, AND SPEEDOMETER ARE WHAT I NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH AND WHAT OTHERS HAVE SEEN PROBLEMS WITH THOUGH THE SPEEDOMETER IS THE MOST PREVALENTLY NOTICED ITEM. THE GAUGE MOTORS ARE NOT STEPPING BACK DOWN WHEN RPMS, SPEED, OR FUEL LEVELS DROP THUS LEADING DRIVERS TO RESPOND IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WAYS. IN MY OWN CASE I ALMOST CAUSED A PILE UP WHEN I THOUGHT I HAD LOST MY SENSES AND APPLIED MY BRAKES A LITTLE HARDER THAN I SHOULD HAVE, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND CERTAINLY AGITATED THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME WHEN THEY ALMOST HIT MY VEHICLE. I DON'T TYPICALLY GET THIS PROBLEM AS I TYPICALLY DRIVE LESS THAN 10 MILES A DAY. WHEN I DO HAVE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 60 MILES I TEND TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED TO BE MORE PREVALENT IN COLD CONDITIONS WHICH FITS WITH THE EXPLANATION I HAVE HAD THAT IT IS THE HOUSING OF THE GEAR MOTORS BREAKING DOWN AND JAMMING THE GAUGE GEARS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC USED IN THE HOUSING OF THE GEAR MAGNETS; "THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE PLASTIC MATERIAL THAT HOLDS THE PERMANENT MAGNET FOR THE ROTOR OF THE STEPPER MOTOR." NOW THAT I AM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE ASKED AROUND ABOUT FIXES I HAVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY AND TURN IT OFF. FROM THERE I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY ENOUGH TO BRING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MOMENTARILY ON AND THEN BACK OFF. IT STEPS THE TACHOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, AND FUEL GAUGE BACK DOWN, (BIT BY BIT WITH EACH TURN OF THE KEY) WHICHEVER IS HAVING THE PROBLEM. THIS SOLUTION HAS BEEN REPORTED TO STOP WORKING AS THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST ESTIMATE OF OVER $450 FROM A PRIVATE SHOP AND AT OVER $800 FROM THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP. A GPS FOR SPEED AND A LOG BOOK W/ CALCULATOR CAN GET TWO OF THE THREE SOLVED FOR ME AT A PRICE OF LESS THAN $200; IT'S JUST NOT SAFE TO BE WRITING LOG BOOK ENTRIES WHILE I'M DRIVING. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

BAD KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURN STEERING WHEEL VERY SCARY NO MATTER WHO OR WHICH DIRECTION YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL THERE IT IS THIS HORRIBLE NOISE COME ON CHEVY THIS IS A FAMILY CAR IT SHOULD BE SAFE IS SCARY CHEVY DON'T BE A BLE TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IS ALREADY AT 75,000 AND I HAVE THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS 23K MILES WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU CHEVY PEOPLE. *TR

MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING NO WARNING WHILE ON HIGHWAY WENT FROM 70 MPH TO 120 MPH. *TR

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE LEADING TO HAZARDOUS OPERATING CONDITIONS. IN REVIEWING THE INTERNET, SPEEDOMETER FAILURES ARE PROBLEMATIC FOR CHEVROLET SUBURBANS AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR REPAIR THE DEFECT. *TR

BOUGHT MY 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN IN FEB. 2008. IT HAD 75,000 MILES ON IT. DROVE IT FOR A MONTH AND THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD FLUCTUATE 3-4 MPH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE WORK FINE FOR A WEEK OR SO BEFORE ACTING UP. AT 92,000 MILES SPEEDOMETER WENT TOTALLY OUT, READING 0 ONE MINUTE AND BOUNCING TO 120 THE NEXT. NOW IT JUST SITS ON ZERO FOR MOST OF THE TIME. WOULD NOT KNOW IF IT EVER READ THE CORRECT MPH IF IT WASN'T FOR THE GPS. HAVE NOT REPLACED ANYTHING YET. BUT WILL HAVE TO SHORTLY BECAUSE THE TEXAS SAFETY INSPECTION IS DUE IN NOVEMBER. I THINK THIS IS WHY THE PREVIOUS OWNER TRADED IT IN AND DIDN'T TELL ANY ONE. *TR

STARTED SUDDENLY.. SPEEDOMETER REGISTERING MUCH GREATER SPEED(S) THAN ACTUAL SPEED. EVEN OFF/PARKED REGISTERING IN EXCESS OF 80 MPH. RPM GAUGE WAS STICKING ON & OFF BUT ALL OTHER GAUGES AS OF NOW SEEM TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR

SPEEDOMETER HAS NOT WORKED FOR OVER A YEAR. THE NEEDLE IS ALWAYS PINNED. ONCE IN A WHILE IT WILL START AT APPROXIMATELLY 30MPH AT IDLE. LOCAL DEALER ADVISED APPROX. 500.00 TO FIX. *TR

2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN - ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO AGO MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED ACTING UP. IT WOULD SAY I WAS DOING 10 MPH WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY OR I COULD BE GOING 30 OR 35 AND IT WOULD SAY I WAS GOING 110 MPH. THIS WENT ON FOR MONTHS BEFORE IT FINALLY JUST QUIT WORKING. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH A GPS JUST TO KNOW HOW FAST I'M GOING. I HAVE HEARD AND READ OF MANY OTHER CASES EXACTLY LIKE THIS. SEEMS TO ME THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR A DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER. I DON'T HAVE THE $400 OR $500 THEY WANT TO FIX IT. *TR

2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1500 4WD NORMAL DRIVING SECONDARY ROADS. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED NORMALLY THROUGH SECOND GEAR. IMMEDIATELY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE 2-3 SHIFT RESULTED IN SEVERE SLIPPAGE. THERE WAS NO NOISE, NO FLUID LEAKS OF ANY KIND AND NO FLUID CONTAMINATION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE SELLING DEALER AND HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AN TWO OCCASIONS BY THE DEALER. A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT ERRATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AND BEHAVIORS WERE NOTED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND SCHEDULED SERVICE. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEMS COMPLAINED ABOUT. UPON RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE SELLING DEALER AND AUTHORIZING REMOVAL AND TEAR-DOWN OF THE TRANSMISSION WE WERE TOLD IT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NEEDED COMPLETE REBUILDING. THE VEHICLE WAS PHRASED NEW, HAS HAD ONE DRIVER, NEVER TOWED ANYTHING, HAS HAD COMPLETE AND TIMELY SERVICE BY THE SELLING DEALER. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WAS 85,000. WE HAD A GM EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH EXPIRED AT 75,000. THE DEALER WON'T COVER IT AND AFTER ASKING THEM TO CONTACT THE CHEVY ZONE OFFICE TO SEEK SOME SUPPORT, I WAS TOLD THAT WAS DENIED. WHEN I ASKED FOR THAT DENIAL IN WRITING THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE ZONE OFFICIAL REFUSED TO DO SO. THEY ARE SEEKING BETWEEN $2800 - $3,400.00 FOR REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

POWER SEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE QUIT WORKING ALONG WITH SEAT WARMERS ON BOTH FRONT SEATS. EXAMINATION FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL FEED AT THE REAR OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD FAILED IN SOME MANNER, CAUSING HIGH RESISTANCE IN THE POWER AND GROUND CIRCUITS WHICH IN TURN LED TO ARCING AND BURNING OF THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE CONNECTOR AND ITS PROXIMITY TO CARPETING AND POTENTIAL CONTENTS IN THE VEHICLE RAISES CONCERNS OF A POSSIBLE INTERIOR FIRE. *TR

MY 2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER IS MALFUNCTIONING, SOMETIMES IT WORKS OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT MOVE OR IS INDICATING THE INCORRECT SPEED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BEGAN MAKING NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,966 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 02-12-08 *BF UPDATED 02/12/08 *TR

ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2008, I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN ON I-285 IN ATLANTA, GA. WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. I-285 IS AN EXTREMELY CONGESTED , SIX LANE WIDE, DANGEROUS ROADWAY. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER EXPOSED ME AND 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC VEHICLE COLLISION. ALTHOUGH THIS VEHICLE HAS 130,000 MILES, IT IS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED TO AVOID JUST THE VERY SITUATION THAT HAPPENED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING OF IMPENDING POWER LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DALTON, GA. ( ABOUT 90 MILES NORTH OF ATLANTA) AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. I HAVE HAD NO DRIVABILITY ISSUES SINCE. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 2004 AND PURCHASED IT WITH 4000 MILES. *TR

ANOTHER 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. IT WENT TO 60MPH WHEN I WAS STOPPED, THEN PAST 120MPH AND STUCK THERE. NOW IS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE STUCK AT 120MPH. *TR