2004 Chevrolet Tahoe: engine failure

5 of the 467 complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe describe engine failure.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 1%
typical mileage: 108,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 122 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Engine failure by model year

2026
12
2025
13
2024
19
2023
75
2022
32
2021
56
2020
6
2019
7
2018
6
2017
1
2016
6
2015
11
2014
1
2013
2
2012
1
2008
2
2007
7
2005
4
2004
5
2003
2
2002
1
2001
2
1999
6
1998
2
1996
5

What owners say

Filed May 26, 2014 · Engine · 75,000 miles · MA

The engine cylinder heads for the 5.3l gm motors built by castech leak coolant into the engine causing engine overheat and internal engine failures. Gm has issued a technical bulletin #060601019b to address the issue and diagnose the issue. Gm will not offer customers any financial help in the replacement of the defective parts. This issue effects the safety of the vehicle and the safety of the persons in and around the vehicle. The fouled engine oil causes the lifters to fail, the oil pressure to drop and the engine to lock up due to lack of lubrication by the fouled oil and the driver has no way of knowing this is happening as there is no external indicators.

Filed Mar 31, 2014 · Engine · 108,000 miles · NC

Drove vehicle out of town on christmas holiday trip. After being parked overnight starting vehicle next am big cloud of white gray smoke upon start. Coolant low. Refilled coolant and drove home. Now vehicle constantly leaks coolant with no apparent leak under vehicle or in engine compartment. Oil sludges between oil changes. White smoke after a 30 min drive every time. Gm has bulletin out for bad heads installed and the part number and symptoms matched cracked heads on my vehicle. Dealer aware and sees often not only in this vehicle but all 5.3 engines from a certain time span. Dealer states will only fix at cost of consumer even though bulletin is known. This could cause an overheat situation or engine failure at a bad time or worse. Why are they not made to stand behind this when problem is known? A quick search on google will overwhelm a computer with so many accounts of this problem.

Filed Feb 19, 2014 · Engine · 122,562 miles · TX

Gm used defective engine cylinder heads for millions of 4.8/5.3 liter v8 engines from 2001-2006. The cylinder heads crack causing coolant to flow into the oil and cause excessive sludge to form and cause engine failure. Gm knows about the problem and issued tsb to it's service departments:1 information on gradual coolant loss over time with no evidence of leak found #06-06-01-019b - (06/12/2007). These defective cylinder heads can cause overheating and complete engine failure.

Filed Oct 27, 2010 · Engine · 128,000 miles · TX

Filed Sep 4, 2008 · Engine · 79,000 miles · AR

2004 tahoe, 79,000 miles. Engine overheated which could have caused fire if I had not noticed and stopped. Gm dealer says overheaing due to crack in cylinder head and confirmed tsb 06-06-01-019b (06/12/2007) applies to vehicle, which admits there is known manufacturing defect in certain cylinder heads which can cause engine coolant to leak internally causing overheating and potential engine failure. Dealer refuses to cover repair. I have pending complaint with gm customer service to pay for damage. I think this should be a recall as it can lead to overheating, engine failure and potential fire. There are multiple reports on internet of same problems by other owners.