2004 Chevrolet Tahoe Body & Structure Problems

LEAVING TO GO ON VACATION AND PUTTING THINGS IN THE REAR OF CAR WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THE HINGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LIFTGATE WAS BROKEN. WE MANAGED TO SECURE THE WINDOW AND HAD TO GO ANYWAY. NEVER OPENED THE REAR AGAIN UNTIL LEAVING TO COME HOME FROM VACATION AND NOTICED THAT THE OTHER SIDE HAS BROKEN OFF . WE MANAGED TO SECURE THE WINDOW AND DROVE HOME VERY CAUTIOUSLY PRAYING THAT THE WINDOW WOULD STAY IN PLACE. CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. , BUT I DID SEE WHERE THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE HINGE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 196,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND RELEASE THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE WHERE THE CONTACT PURPOSELY HAD TO FRACTURE A MECHANISM IN ORDER TO DETACH THE SPARE TIRE FROM THE CABLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000.

I HAVE A 2004 TAHOE WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES ON IT. IT HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED, DRIVEN SPORADICALLY AS THE MILEAGE WILL ATTEST, AND THE REAR WINDOW GLASS HAS BEEN OPENED LESS THAN HALF DOZEN TIMES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. ONE OF THE HINGES HAS BROKEN/SEPARATED FROM THE TOP OF THE LIFT GATE GLASS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CLOSE WHEN IT IS OPENED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER THAT TOLD ME IT WAS A 'COMMON' HAPPENING ON THIS AND SUBURBAN MODELS. THE 'FIX' IS A FULL GLASS REPLACEMENT TO THE TUNE OF AROUND $1000. ANOTHER OPTION IS A THIRD-PARTY FIX WHICH 'MIGHT' WORK AND INVOLVES REGLUING THE HINGE TO THE WINDOW. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHEVY AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM A REP WHO DISAVOWED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF 'ANY' COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AS WELL AS TWO OTHER DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES (DIFFERENT DEALERS) ALL KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND THE FIX. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THIS COULD CAUSE THE GLASS TO BREAK LOOSE AND FLY OFF WHILE DRIVING, MOST LIKELY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. YET CHEVY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL, AND THOUGH I TALKED AT LENGTH TO THEIR REP (WHO COULDN'T EVEN PRONOUNCE TAHOE CORRECTLY) THEY REFUSED TO OFFER ANY HELP AT ALL WITH THE REPAIR, LEAVING ME WITH THE PROBABILITY OF A $1000 REPLACEMENT COST OF A PERFECTLY GOOD REAR GLASS JUST TO FIX A HINGE WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. I HAVE OWNED MORE THAN 20 CHEVYS AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY VEHICLE OF CHOICE, BUT THEY NEED TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND FIX WHAT THEY KNOW IS A PROBLEM IN THEIR DESIGN AND THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE OWNER/DRIVER. *TR

THE HINGE THAT HOLDS THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW ONTO THE VEHICLE HAS BROKEN/SEPARATED FROM THE GLASS DUE TO STRESS OR IMPROPER INSTALLATION. THE WINDOW IS IN TACT, BUT THE WINDOW PART OF THE LIFT GATE CANNOT BE OPENED AND CLOSED PROPERLY AND WHEN CLOSED, IT IS NOT SEATED IN THE PROPER POSITION. THIS PART OF THE LIFT GATE HAS PROBABLY BEEN USED ABOUT 5 TIMES IN THE LIFE OF THE TRUCK WHICH NOW HAS ABOUT 53,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO CHEVROLET WHICH DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER VEHICLES. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE WINDOW BREAKING LOOSE ENTIRELY DURING THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. CHEVROLET'S ONLY OPTION IS TO 'TRY' TO GLUE THE PART BACK ONTO THE WINDOW OR REPLACE THE WINDOW ENTIRELY AT MY COST OF NEARLY $1000. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND IN MY OPINION, IS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL ISSUED TO HAVE THIS TAKEN CARE OF. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A TURN, THE REAR HATCH WINDOW FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE HINGE AND REPLACED THE REAR WINDOW. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT SOLIDLY FASTENED TO THE FRAME. *MR *SC *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVES A SHOCK OF STATIC ELECTRICITY WHEN EXITING 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE.*MR NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CONSUMER WITH A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER PURCHASE RUBBER FLOOR MATS AND STATIC GUARD SPARY. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE TAILGATE WINDOW FELL INWARD AND CRASHED ON THE FLOOR.*AK