2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 7%of 182 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the steering of the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500, 7% of the 182 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10222020, filed 2008-03, 26,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10284502, filed 2009-09, 40,000 miles“Bought this vehicle a few days before the first incident. I drove it home from over two hours away, drove it all around the day before, no problems. Then I was driving down a bypass at about 60 miles an hour and the engine shut off! I had no power steering, nothing! I was able to pull over, shut it off and once I turned it back over it was just fine. So I cautiously started driving, it happened again a few miles down the road only this time it stalled then regained power and quickly shut off again. Once engine was turned off and restarted, it was fine, it did this to me 5 times within 5 miles. …”
NHTSA complaint #10639720, filed 2014-09, 174,348 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10260761, filed 2009-03, 30,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10265388, filed 2009-04, 32,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10245395Nov 6, 2023This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing…
- 10025148Apr 1, 2008Clunking noise under hood and can be felt in steering wheel and/or steering column (replace upper intermediate steering shaft [I-shaft] assembly).
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 6% |
| 2010 | 2 | 4% |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% |
| 2006 | 1 | 3% |
| 2005 | 1 | 1% |
| 2004 | 13 | 7% |
| 2003 | 9 | 5% |
| 2002 | 8 | 7% |
| 2001 | 4 | 4% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% |
| 1999 | 4 | 5% |
| 1998 | 1 | 7% |
| 1997 | 2 | 13% |
Other parts of the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500
84 complaintsBrakes
38 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsEngine cooling
9 complaintsTires
9 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsWheels
4 complaintsEngine
3 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology