14 complaints reported

2004 Chevrolet Suburban Steering

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
14
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2014

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN HER SUB DIVISION. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE PUSHED INTO HER DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 100,000.LJ

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2014
Feb 2013

IT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2013
Apr 2009

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2008
Apr 2009

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2009
Jan 2009

UNDER WARRANTY, BROUGHT CAR IN FOR LOOSE, VIBRATING STEERING WHEEL IN 2004. DEALERSHIP DID SOMETHING TO MAKE IT QUITE BUT 3 MONTHS LATER IT WAS DOING IT AGAIN. TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY SAID TO GET THE CAR GREASED. IT ONLY LASTS A LITTLE WHILE. SO HAS TO BE REPEATEDLY DONE. I'M AFRAID SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jul 2004
Dec 2008

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2008
Oct 2008

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2008
Jun 2008

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2008
Mar 2008

KNOCKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE STEERING SYSTEM. MY BROTHER HAD A 2004 CHEVY ALSO AND IT HAPPENED TO HIS VEHICLE ALSO. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER THE 36 K WARRANTY THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THIS. I AM SURE THIS IS OCCURRING IN OTHER 2004 CHEVY SUBURBANS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2007
Jan 2008

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2008
Jun 2007

2004 CHEVY SUBURBAN 2500 SERIES WITH QUADRASTEER. THE REAR WHEEL STEERING FAULTS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 5 MILES, OFTEN WHEN EXITING A TURN. THIS CAN LEAVE THE REAR WHEELS FULL LEFT (OR RIGHT) IF THE TURN WAS TIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRAB DOWN THE ROAD SIDEWAYS. IF THE ROAD IS NOT WIDE AND THE DRIVER IS NOT EXTREMELY AWARE A SIDESWIPE ACCIDENT COULD EASILY OCCUR. THE REAR WHEELS SLOWLY SELF CENTER AFTER 10 TO 15 SECONDS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES. THEY EITHER SAY THEY HAVE REPLACED A SENSOR, TIGHTENED A LOOSE CONNECTION, OR NO PROBLEM FOUND. SOMETIMES IT WILL BE OK FOR 20 MILES OR SO BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RECURS. UNABLE TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2004
Apr 2007

ORIGINAL DATE WAS IN 2005 WHEN I COMPLAINED REGARDING THE CLICKING NOISE WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED TO THE LEFT. SERVICE PERSONNEL STATED THEY HAD LUBRICATED THE STEERING WHEEL BOLTS. WELL AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK ON 12/01/06 FOR 30K MILE INSPECTION THE CLICKING NOISE IS NOW BACK, BUT WORSE WHEN REVERSING NOT ONLY HAS THE CLICKING NOISE RETURNED, BUT WHEN REVERSING HAVING MY STEERING WHEEL TURN LEFT I CAN FEEL THE TIRES SLIDING. AFTER TALKING TO SAME PERSONNEL IN SERVICING SHE IS BEING TOLD NOT TO LUBRICATE OR LOOSEN THE BOLTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL SINCE IT WILL NOT IMPROVE THE SITUATION. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE PERSONNEL SHE JUST RECEIVED (01/04/06) A NOTICE STATING THAT CHEVROLET IS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM UNFORTUNATELY THEY (CHEVROLET/GMAC) WILL GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO MAKE A PART THAT WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED TO VERONICA OF MY FEARS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, BUT SHE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE. I DID NOTIFY THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AS WELL AS THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP (WHERE THE WORK IS BEING DONE AND WAS PURCHASED FROM) THAT MY FEAR OF HAVING TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN OR REVERSING HAVING THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED LEFT WHAT IS THE GUARANTEE THAT THE TIRES WILL NOT SLIDE MAYBE HITTING SOMETHING FROM BEHIND. BOTH SERVICE PERSONNEL AND THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT CHEVROLET WOULD NOT SAY IT WAS SAFE FOR SOMEONE TO DRIVE WHEN IN FACT IT ISN'T. NOTHING CAN BE DONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE SINCE THERE IS NO PART ON THE MARKET TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. MY COMPLAINT IS BASICALLY I FEEL THAT SINCE THERE ISN'T A PART CURRENTLY MADE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM MAKING A LEFT TURN OR REVERSING THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY FIVE CHILDREN. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2006
May 2006

THE STEERING COLUMN U JOINT THAT CONNECTS TO THE STEERING BOX HAS LOOSENED CAUSING A CLUNKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE U-JOINT HAS NOT FAILED AS OF THIS TIME, BUT A FAILURE OR BINDING COULD EASILY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PART AND OFFER A "GREASE KIT" TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, GREASE WILL NOT TAKE THE PLAY OUT OF A LOOSE U-JOINT. THIS IS A COVER-UP REMEDY TO MAKE THE LOOSENESS LESS OBVIOUS. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS OVER $300 FOR A REPLACEMENT PART ALONE AND CLAIMS IT IS A RESTRICTED PART SINCE IT IS PART OF THE ENERGY ABSORBING SYSTEM IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. THE LOOSENESS WAS FIRST NOTICEABLE WITH ONLY 13000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO WORSEN SINCE FIRST NOTICED. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Apr 2005
May 2004

NEW 2004 SUBURBAN HAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND SHIFT LEVER UNLOCKED WHEN VEHICLE KEY IS PUT INTO ACCESORY POSITION WITH NO SHIFT INTERLOCK INTERVENTION. 1ST NIGHT HOME WITH VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND EXAMINING VEHICLE FEATURES MY 2 YEAR SOLD SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS IN DRIVEWAY!!!!*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2004

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2004 Chevrolet Suburban has 14 Steering complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.