2004 GMC Envoy XUV Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2004 GMC Envoy XUV most often describe instrument cluster trouble: the speedometer sticking, jumping or reading speeds the vehicle is not doing, sometimes along with the fuel and oil pressure gauges. A second recurring theme is a fuel odor or visible fuel leak around the rear of the fuel tank, typically at the inlet or filler neck area, and several complaints also describe rear glass, power window and tailgate problems.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Speedometer and instrument cluster gauge failure

   • 62 complaints (41%)
   • median 51,500 mi at 5.1 yrs old (56 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $511 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2014

   Owners report that the speedometer sticks, jumps to very high readings or reads far above or below the actual speed, sometimes while the vehicle is parked. Some say the needle can be walked down only by switching the ignition on and off repeatedly, and that the fuel gauge and oil pressure gauge act up at the same time. Complaints describe dealers attributing it to the instrument cluster or a stepper motor inside it, with several owners saying the repair was quoted at their own expense and that they were told no campaign covered the Envoy. Some also link stalling, warning lights that stay on, or an ignition switch diagnosis to the same electrical trouble. Reported from roughly 20,000 to 150,000 miles, with many complaints in the 40,000-90,000 range and some owners noting it began in cold weather.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the key on and the engine running, watch whether the speedometer sits at zero and tracks a GPS speed reading; also cycle the ignition and check that the fuel and oil pressure gauges return to rest. Ask whether the instrument cluster has already been repaired or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2004 Envoy Xuv speedodometer stuck at 55mph. I spoke to dealer technician and was told I had to replace the instrument cluster because of a small thing called a stepper motor. This seems to be an on going problem with GM vehicles. I strongly suggest a safety recall because this is failing on thousands of vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10372267, filed 2010-12, 88,000 miles

   “The speedometer on my Envoy Xuv jumped from 75mph to 120moh as I slowed down to exit the interstate. It continued to increase, although it was past the point of registering any speed. It has lowered some, but is still acting erratically. This vehicle is only 4 years old, and I'm looking at a $500+ repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #10247775, filed 2008-11, 90,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell or leak at fuel tank inlet and filler neck

   • 26 complaints (17%)
   • median 81,500 mi at 7.3 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,150 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2017

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell after refueling or while parked, and in some cases fuel dripping or pooling under the rear of the vehicle. Complaints say the cause was traced to the tank inlet check valve, the filler neck hose connection or corrosion of the lines at the top of the tank, and that the fuel tank had to be replaced because the inlet is built into it. Several owners mention a check engine light with codes indicating an evaporative emission leak, and some report an extended coverage for fuel line corrosion. Mostly reported between about 38,000 and 170,000 miles, often noticed after refueling or while the vehicle sits parked.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Smell around the rear wheel and under the tank right after fueling, and look for wet or stained areas at the front and top of the tank. Have any stored evaporative emission codes read, and ask whether the tank, inlet valve or filler neck has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was doing a rear brake job and smelled gasoline, so I went under the vehicle and observed there was a wet spot on the rear of the fuel tank. Upon closer examination I found the inlet part of the fuel tank was broken and allowing fuel to exit the tank, can we say fire risk, so I went online to try to purchase a replacement tank and I found where several people had had this sameproblem, but no recall is in place ?????”

   NHTSA complaint #10953971, filed 2017-02, 159,000 miles

   “Went to replace head light bulb to find out that I had to replace the wiring do to it was melted. The filler neck on the fuel tank is cracked, causing an evap leak in witch I found out through a garage and 5 diff. Salvage yards. And last, 6 diff. Times will driving I lost power will driving. I had to turn the ignition off, wait about 3 sec. Before it would start and go. The first time was in the middle of an intersection and the rest happened while on a regular road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10573870, filed 2014-03, 129,824 miles
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Rear window and power window regulator failures

   • 26 complaints (17%)
   • median 46,750 mi at 5.6 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $663 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2015

   Owners report that rear side or mid-gate windows drop on their own, sometimes overnight while parked, and then will not go back up because the regulator or motor has failed. A few describe the rear glass breaking or shattering with no impact, including shortly after the rear defroster or wiper was switched on. Complaints say repairs were quoted at several hundred dollars each and that the regulator was sometimes on back order. Reported from very low mileage (under 1,000 miles) up to about 130,000 miles, with several cases in the 20,000-50,000 range.

   What to check: Lower and raise every window, including the rear glass and mid-gate, several times and listen for slow movement or grinding. Ask whether any window regulator or motor has been replaced, and check the mid-gate glass for prior repair.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2004 Gmc envoy. It has two bucket seats and a second row bench seat and a trunk that is separated by a panel with a glass inside the panel. I guess I have rolled this window down 5 times since I have owned it and now the glass will not roll up or down. I took it to a shop and they said the part (regulator) is on back order from GM. This means only one thing that they have had nothing but problems with it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10174766, filed 2006-11, 40,000 miles

   “I had a 2004 Gmc Envoy Xuv and had several things going wrong. The speedometer was radical, some days it would work and other days not. The back window of the vehicle would be down for no reason at all when I was not even in or near the car. The engine light would come on and go off. Like a fool I just purchased a used 2004 Gmc Envoy Xuv, only owned it 2 days and smelled gas. Looked under the vehicle and the entire rear of the underside of it was covered in gasoline. There was a small puddle on the garage floor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10374050, filed 2011-01, 47,800 miles

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.