FaultScore

2004 Chevrolet Suburban acceleration problems

12 of the 265 complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban are about the throttle and cruise control — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 75,000 miles.

A

12

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 11 91.7%
Linkages 1 8.3%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Chevrolet Suburban year

1993 10 12.3%
1994 13 16.0%
1999 19 23.5%
2001 12 14.8%
2003 15 18.5%
2004 12 14.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 164,900 miles Kannapolis, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AT FIRST I GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WITH CODE P0430, O2 SENSOR LOWER BANK 2, THEN BANK 1. REPLACED THOSE TWO WORK FOR A WEEK THEN RPM AND SPEEDOMETER GAUGE FLUCTUATE UP AND DOWN. I DROVE HOME FROM THE AIRPORT ONE NIGHT AND ALL GAUGE READING WENT ALL THE WAY UP. I WAS TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE WITH A SPEED LIMITED OF 55MPH AND THE READING IN MY CAR WAS OVER 120MPH. TOOK TO IN SHOP, SHOP RECOMMEND I NEED SPEEDOMETER SENSOR REPLACED. REPLACED THAT, NOW ALL THE INSTRUMENT GAUGE JUMP UP AND DOWN. SOMETIME ALL THE WAY FULL SOMETIME ALL THE WAY DOWN. FINALLY GOT TIRE OF TRYING TO FIX IT MYSELF AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS A BAD DASH INSTRUMENT AND BAD CATYLETE-CONVETER. THANKS TO CHEVY IT COST ME HEADACHE, GUESSING TIME, GIVING FALSE READING AND MOST OF ALL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET IT FIX RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10643439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Devine, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AT 60 MPH WHEN THE DISPLAY SAID "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND MY VEHICLE DECREASED IN POWER. IT DIDN'T MATTER HOW MUCH I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO 10 MILES AN HOUR. I PULLED OVER, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. STARTED IT AGAIN, IT DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT 2 MILES THEN THE SAME MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. I TURNED AROUND AND HEADED HOME DRIVING 10 MILES AN HOUR.

NHTSA complaint #10607228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,250 miles Brentwood, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN "REDUCED ENGINE POWER". REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, PEDAL SENSOR, AND WIRING HARNESS WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. GM WANTS 150 JUST TO PLUG IT INTO THEIR COMPUTER TO TELL ME WHAT I CAN GET DOWN FOR FREE WITH MY BUDDIES CODE READER....NO I WON'T LET MY WIFE OR CHILDREN DRIVE THE CAR. I ONLY DRIVE IT TO AND FROM WORK. HAD TO GO OUT AND BUY A TOYOTA JUST TO KEEP MY MIND AT EASE SO MY WIFE AND OR KIDS WON'T GET KILLED FROM THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS LIKE CHEVY/GMC DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE UNTIL MULTIPLE PEOPLE DIE FROM THIS. I HOPE TO SEE THAT THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. THINKING OF CONTACTING MY CONGRESS REPRESENTATIVE TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP OUT US THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE. NOBODY ELSE IS.

NHTSA complaint #10587108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Lindon, UT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND IMMEDIATELY THE STABILITY SYSTEM DISENGAGE LIGHT WOULD COME ON ALSO. THE VEHICLE WOULD GO DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 1500 RPM AND DROP THE SPEED TO 50-55 MPH, ON THE FREEWAY. THE SPEED LIMIT IS 65 AND WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF 3 LANES. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES NOW. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC 3 TIMES. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS RAN EACH TIME AND EVERY TIME THERE DIFFERENT CODES THAT POP UP, ONE DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS.

NHTSA complaint #10466298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 149,000 miles Albany, OR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WAS DRIVING AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED; TRYING TO STOP WHEN WHAT FELT LIKE THE ANTILOCK BRAKES KICKED ON AND THE MESSAGE "TRACTION ACTIVE" APPEARED ON MY CONSOLE. THIS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THEN WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, VEHICLE WOULD LUG DOWN AND NOT WANT TO GO. THERE WAS ALSO A NOISE, LIKE A PUMP OR SOMETHING WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. TURNING OFF THE STABILITRACK SEEMS TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING, WHICH IN TURN MEANS I DO NOT HAVE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF TRYING TO MERGE, PASS THROUGH AN INTERSECTION OR WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.

NHTSA complaint #10454507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles LA Misa, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER STABILITY WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY, THROTTLE BODY SENSORS AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,632.

NHTSA complaint #10427656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntsville, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10228295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ridgefield, WA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE SPEEDOMETER HAS GONE OUT. I HAVE READ MANY ENTRIES ON A WEBSITE THAT THIS WA S AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET TAHOES., AND THE PRICE TO GET IT FIXED RANGED FROM $400 TO $1000. THAT WAS A BIT TO EXPENSIVE. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL . THIS CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING.

NHTSA complaint #10196069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Texarkana, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

ODOMETER FAILED AND I WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SPEED. IT COST ME APPROXIMATELY $750.00 TO REPAIR THE 2004 TAHOE. I OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS ITEM HAD TO BE REPLACED IN SEVERAL VEHICLES, BUT AT THIS TIME THERE WAS NO RECALL. SO I HAD TO PAY!

NHTSA complaint #10190431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,000 miles LA Porte, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TACHOMETER/SPEEDOMETER FAILED ON 2004 CHEVORLET SUBURBAN. PROVIDED UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS WHERE VEHICLE SPEED WAS AT AN ALL TIME IMPORTANCE. SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE MORE ANXIOUS AT THE WHEEL, NOT KNOWING EXACTLY HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS GOING ON THE HIGHWAY OR RESIDENTIAL STREET TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #10185716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 44,000 miles Union, KY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER GOES CRAZY,SOMETIMES SET AT 120 MPH WHILE SETTING STILL. WHILE DRIVING I NEVER KNOW THE SPEED I'M GOING. ONE DAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER JUST KEPT CLIMBING TO 120 MPH , THAT IS WHEN IT STARTED. SOMETIMES THE SPEEDOMETER GOES DOWN TO 0 MPH THEN WHILE DRIVING SAY 30 MPH I GUESS IT MAY TAKE YOU TO 60 MPH, 80 MPH WHILE AT THE SAME RPM. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ,IT HAS 44000 MILES THEREFORE MY WARRANTY IS OUT I HAVE TO SEE IF THE EXT WARRANTY I GOT COVERS THIS, ALSO I HAVE BEEN CHECKING THE INTERNET IF ANYONE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE ON TOPIX.NET . THANK YOU FOR YOU'RE TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10174027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,000 miles Montgomery, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED AN INCORRECT READING ON THE DASH PANEL GAUGE. THE INCORRECT DISPLAY WAS CONSTANT AND FAVORED NO PARTICULAR SPEED. HOWEVER THE MOST COMMON EVIDENCE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED THE GAUGE DISPLAYED AN OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH SPEED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #10147064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2004 Chevrolet Suburban problems

← Full 2004 Chevrolet Suburban report