2004 Chevrolet Tahoe Steering Problems

Your Tahoe's power steering and power brakes have stopped working, leaving you unable to steer easily or brake effectively—you've had to press the brake pedal with both feet at stops and can't maneuver in tight spaces like parking garages. There's a recall (#04004) for a brake hydro-boost relief valve defect affecting over 64,000 vehicles, but your VIN isn't listed on the recall even though your vehicle shows the same symptoms and manufacturing error. The fix will likely involve inspecting and replacing the brake hydro-boost assembly to restore power steering and braking function.

Your steering, brakes, and electronic stability/speed control systems may not be working properly. The owner is clarifying that their original complaint included issues with multiple systems including electrical components, but the form only allowed them to select three affected parts.

WHILE DRIVING I HAD A REAL BAD CLUNKING NOISE IN MY STEERING WHEEL.I TOOK IT TO THE VICTORY LAYNE CHEVY DEALER AND SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND COLUMN BEARING REPLACED BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT. NOW MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FUEL GUAGE IS DEFECTIVE,THE ABS LIGHT& PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T COME ON WITH THE KEY ON OR AT ALL AND THERE ARE NO CODES FROM THE DEALER.

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. *TR

HUB BEARING L/F NOISE HAVE TAKING TO SHOP WHEEL FALLING OFF.450.TO FIX.GOOD THING I COULD HAVE GOT INTO A ACCIDENT OR KILLED SOMEONE OR MYSELF. *TR

STEERING WHEEL MAKES RATTLING OR VIBRATION NOISE ALL THE TIME IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SPEED I AM TRAVELING AT. VEHICLE FEELS ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL. CONSTANTLY HAVE TO MOVE THE WHEEL TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. NO OTHER ISSUES OTHER THAN STANDARD WEAR AND TEAR BUT THIS ISSUE ALONE MAKES ME WANT TO JUNK THE VEHICLE AS I SURE DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE DRIVING IT AND FEELING AS INSECURE AS I DO. *TR

LOSS OF RIGHT TURN STEERING ASSIST AT IDLE SPEEDS (E.G. WHILE PARKING). THIS ISSUE IS WIDELY REPORTED THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET. WE LENT A TON OF MONEY TO GM AND THEY NEED TO BE CALLED TO THE CARPET TO REMEDY THESE ISSUES PROMPTLY. PLEASE HAVE BARACK CALL ME. *TR

TL*THE 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. *LJ UPDATED 07/14/10.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000.

2004 CHEVY TAHOE POWER STEERING FAILURE AND SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF POWER BRAKES! IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER IF I HAD BEEN GOING FAST OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC! *TR

TL*THE 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. 4/01/09 *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE IS STILL EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, NOISE AND UNCONTOLLED MOTION IN THE TIRES. UPDATED 04/07/09. *JB

THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A BUMPING FEEL IN IT WHEN TURNING LEFT. AFTER HAVING THE STEERING COLUMN LUBRICATED THE BUMPING FEEL RETURNED. *TR

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. *TR

TL*THE 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.

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY TAHOE THAT HAS 98000 MILE, IM 2ND OWNER. THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS MAKING A CLUNKING AND KNOCKING NOISE, WHICH COME TO FIND OUT HAS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH GENERAL MOTORS. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A NEW GM REP AND SHE WILL NOT ALLOW ANYMORE GOOD FAITH REPAIRS. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN GM FOR LETTING SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN. THEY PREACH THAT THEY HAVE THE BEST VEHICLES. WHAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST IS THAT THEY WERE REPLACING THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS FOR A WHILE, BECAUSE THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WONT! THAT'S BULL !@#$. I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO GET REIMBURSED. 182.00 IS NOT ALOT TO GM BUT IT IS ALOT TO ME. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME IN WHAT I SHOULD DO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VALVE O-RING SEAL FRACTURED. THE STEERING WAS SLIGHTLY AFFECTED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. THE VEHICLE BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO STOP AND TOOK LONGER TO DECELERATE THAN PRIOR TO THE SEAL FRACTURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. UPDATED 4/21/08 *CN UPDATED 04/21/08 *TR

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 ?!@#$%! THEY NEED TO EXTEND THERE WARRANTIES BECAUSE THERE CARS DO NOT LAST AS THEY MISLEAD YOU TO BELIEVE!!! *TR

STEERING COLUMN MAKING KNOCKING NOISE AND NEEDS TO BE LUBED FREQUENTLY. SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

THERE HAS BEEN A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FROM MY 2004 TAHOE. THE SOUND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR LIKE WHEN I MAKE A SHARP TURN PARKING ETC. I KNOW OF THIS HAPPENING TO A FEW OF MY FRIENDS CHEVY TRUCKS FROM 02-06. ODD THAT IT HASN'T BEEN FIXED YET. *JB

2004 TAHOE WITH WOBBLE IN THE STEERING MECHANISM. CUSTOMER STATES THE STEERING MECHANISM WOBBLED WHILE ON THE WAY TO FLORIDA. CUSTOMER HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AND CARRIER BEARINGS. *KB THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A WOBBLING IN THE STEERING MECHANISM AND THE CHEVROLET DEALER CORRECTED THE DEFECT IN JANUARY 07. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAD AN INSPECTION PERFORMED IN MAY 2007 AT THIELEN MOTORS WHICH ENTAILED A FRONT DIFFERENTIAL PINION, CARRIER BEARINGS, A RELATED DRIVE TRAIN ELEMENTS AND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT WHICH MEANS POSSIBLE DEFECT. THE CONSUMER STATED WOULD LIKE THE DEFECTS INVESTIGATED AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STEERING ESPECIALLY IN A PARKING SITUATION WHEN YOU HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL HARD. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE POWER STEERING SHAFT AND THE BRAKES WERENOT OPERATING NORMALLY. THE BRAKE CALIPERS, ROTORS, PADS AND BRAKE LINES WERE REPAIRED, DUE TO THE PASSENGER FRONT BRAKE SMOKING WITH A LIFT FLAME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE THE FAILURES SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 26,000.*AK

DEALER INFORMS ME OF PROBLEM WITH STEERING COLUMN. REQUIRES OVER $100 TO FIX. SERVICE REP INDICATES THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS NUMEROUS TIME PER MONTH IN THEIR SHOP. I HAVE FRIENDS WITH LIKE VEHICLES THAT SAY THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I POSTPONED SERVICE THIS TIME AS I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN WITH LUBRICANT "FIX" TO EXPECT REPEATED AND CONTINUAL REPETITIONS OF THIS PROBLEM. I AM ALSO WAITING FOR A RECALL TO BE ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS SO PREVALENT. *NM

SO MANY... WHERE DO I START? 1) AT 9,000 MI. INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED DUE TO A POPPING FEELING IN THE STEERING, AT 16,000 MI. IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. 2) AT 9000 MILES THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY TACH MOTOR MAKING A BUZZING/RATTLING SOUND, STARTED MAKING NOISE AGAIN AT 13,000 MILES TOOK TO DEALER AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. 3) HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF ON TURNS HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES SINCE IT HAD 9000 MI. 1ST 2 TIMES REPLACED A PLUG ON ALTERNATOR AND SAID IT WAS FIXED, WAS NOT THEN SAID THE FOUND A BAD CONNECTOR STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS CONTACTED GM AND THEY WERE NO HELP. 4) EXHAUST HAS BEEN POPPING SINCE NEW AND SOMETIMES AFTER COOL DOWN SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING EXPLODED 5) ENGINE MAKES A NOISE WHEN WARMED UP TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AT 12000 MILES AND THEY CLEANED OIL PUMP PICKUP TUBE AND SAID THE OIL PRESSURE WAS NOT CORRECT. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM TOOK BACK IN AT 15000 AND THEY STATED NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE NOISE WAS NORMAL. 6) THE BRAKES PULSATED WHEN NEW TOOK BACK AT 59 MI. I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT AND IT WOULD GET BETTER. STARTED AGAIN AT 9000 MI. AND THEY TURNED THE ROTORS. BRAKES STARTED MAKING A CRACKING NOISE IN THE FRONT TOOK IN 3 TIMES FOUND NO PROBLEM YET WHEN I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP THE LAST TIME AT 15,000 MI THE NOISE WENT AWAY ONLY TO COME BACK A WEEK LATER. 7) WHEN IDLING THE VEHICLE VIBRATES BAD!!!! DASH WILL RATTLE AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL WHEN THE A/C WAS ON YET IT'S WORSE WHEN THE A/C IS OFF. NOW THAT A/C IS MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INSIDE THE CLIMATE CONTROL BOX AREA. 8) ENGINE HAS A MISS AT IDLE. *JB

A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE NOISE CONTINUED WHILE DRIVING, AND CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE WITH THE MAKE/MODEL, AND YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. A SOLUTION WAS TO PACK THE STEERING SHAFT WITH GREASE. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM,BUT THERE WAS NO CURRENT SOLUTION. *AK

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. *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING ASSEMBLY PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

LOSS OF MOST STEERING AND SERVICE BRAKES SIMULTANEOUSLY. STEERING FLUID LOSS DUE TO IMPROPERLY INSTALLED STEERING FLUID HOSE CLAMP. AN ASSEMLY CLIP WAS LEFT ON THE HOSE CLAMP AT THE FACTORY WHICH PREVENTED HOSE CLAMP FROM TIGHTENING. THE SIMULTANEOUS LOSS OF MOST STEERING AND BRAKING WOULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOS ACCIDENT IF EVENT HAD OCCURED ON MOUNTAINOUS ROAD OR IF VEHICLE WAS OPERATED BY PERSON WITH LESS STRENGTH. NO WARNING LIGHT OR INDICATION ON DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER APPEARED. SHOULD NOT THESE TWO CRITICAL SYSTEMS FUNCTION INDEPENDANTLY? *AK