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2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 525.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

700 reports with mileage · 97 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 267 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 229 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

33 crash reports8 fire reports17 injury reports

Engine complaints

18 reports
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156,000 miles · Feb 20, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED CAUSING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO INCREASE TO 240 DEGREES. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HEADS WERE CRACKED. THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED CAUSING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO INCREASE TO 240 DEGREES. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HEADS WERE CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ODI #10689522

134,760 miles · Aug 23, 2014
Engine

I HAVE HAD A SLOW COOLANT LOSS RECENTLY WITHOUT AND LEAK VISIBLE. FOUND OUT ITS MY HEADS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CRACKS. READ A LOT OF ARTICLES OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS TO ME GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR INSTALLING HORRIBLE HEADS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627678

15,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014
Engine

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE FIRST TIME I WAS ACCELERATING GOING UP A MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY ; IT WAS NOT A VERY STEEP GRADE BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORTH USING. THE ENGINE IS A V-8. I HAD IT LOOKED AT A DEALERSHIP . THEY FOUND NOTHING AND COULD NOT GET THE LIGHT TO COME BACK ON. AFTER A FEW DAYS IT WAS BACK ON. THE CHE…

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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE FIRST TIME I WAS ACCELERATING GOING UP A MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY ; IT WAS NOT A VERY STEEP GRADE BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORTH USING. THE ENGINE IS A V-8. I HAD IT LOOKED AT A DEALERSHIP . THEY FOUND NOTHING AND COULD NOT GET THE LIGHT TO COME BACK ON. AFTER A FEW DAYS IT WAS BACK ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO OUT OVER NIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ON WHEN I STARTED DRIVING TO WORK AND THEN AFTER A WHILE IT WOULD COME ON. I HAVE CHANGED OIL , AIR FILTERS AND HAD MECHANICS CLEAN THE SENSOR. IT WILL GO OUT FOR A FEW MILES AND THEN COME BACK ON. ONCE IT HAS STARTED COMING ON AFTER A FEW MILES IT WILL COME AS SOON AS I START THE ENGINE EVERY TIME. AS I HAVE DRIVEN THE TRUCK NOW FOR 109,000 + MILES THE LIGHT STAYS ON. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO MEAN ANYTHING BUT, I ALWAYS WONDER IN THE BACK OF MY MIND..."IS THIS THE TIME THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REALLY IS WARNING ME?" I HAVE READ ON SOME WEBSITES THAT THIS IS A COMMON THING FOR THE 2004 1500 SILVERADO BUT THAT CHEVROLET CHARGES $1,000 + TO FIX IT. THIS IS THE ONLY COMPLAINT I HAVE ABOUT MY 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO. THIS IS MY 6TH CHEVY TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605379

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2014
Engine

ANTI-FREEZE ALWAYS LOW, BUT NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. DUE TO BAD HEADS ON VEHICLE CAUSING COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE CAUSING SLUG DAMAGE, WHICH DESTROYED THE VALVES. THIS IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF. GM KNEW THAT THEIR MANUFACTURER OF THE HEADS KNEW IT WAS AN ISSUE AND …

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ANTI-FREEZE ALWAYS LOW, BUT NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. DUE TO BAD HEADS ON VEHICLE CAUSING COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE CAUSING SLUG DAMAGE, WHICH DESTROYED THE VALVES. THIS IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF. GM KNEW THAT THEIR MANUFACTURER OF THE HEADS KNEW IT WAS AN ISSUE AND POSTED A BULLETIN, BUT REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE AND RESULTING IN US TAKING IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CONTACTED GM, ON JUNE 7, 2014 AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP, TO HELP WITH THE REPLACEMENT COSTS AND GOT NO HELP WHATSOEVER DUE TO AGE OF VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. I EVEN ASKED IF THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE ENGINE IF I PAID FOR THE LABOR TO HAVE IT INSTALLED. THEY REFUSED. PLEASE GM OWN UP TO YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES, STAND BY YOUR PRODUCT, AND FIX THE ISSUES AT HAND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596861

130,000 miles · Mar 19, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngineCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE WHILE HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AFTER A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO THE LEFT LANE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, NECK AND RIGHT HAN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE WHILE HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AFTER A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO THE LEFT LANE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, NECK AND RIGHT HAND. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/29/14*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10573550

80,000 miles · Dec 11, 2013
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. TOOK TO SHOP HAD BEEN TOLD SPEED SOLENOID, REPLACED BOTH, FLUSHED TRANNY & CHANGED OIL. ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FROM THE MINUTE WE TOOK THE PLASTIC OF THE SEATS. BRAKES, BEARINGS FUEL LINES, SPRINGS WATER PUMP ETC YOU NAME…

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TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. TOOK TO SHOP HAD BEEN TOLD SPEED SOLENOID, REPLACED BOTH, FLUSHED TRANNY & CHANGED OIL. ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FROM THE MINUTE WE TOOK THE PLASTIC OF THE SEATS. BRAKES, BEARINGS FUEL LINES, SPRINGS WATER PUMP ETC YOU NAME IT HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ALL OF IT. UNDER WARRANTY & AFTER. THIS TRUCK IS A LEMON. GMC WILL DO NOTHING, DEALER JUST PUTS HEAD DOWN & WALKS AWAY BECAUSE HE KNOWS MAJOR ISSUES IN THE FIRST 90 DAYS OF OWNING & CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. THIS PICKUP HAS NEVER LEFT THE BLACKTOP. NO OFFROADING, NOT HUNTING OR ANYTHING ELSE, NO VACATIONS IN FEAR OF BEING STRANDED. JUNK JUNK JUNK & NOW I GET TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WHEN CHRISTMAS IS 10 DAYS AWAY. I DON'T THINK MY CHILDREN WANT A NEW CHEVY VEHICLE EVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555760

85,000 miles · Apr 18, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508706

91,000 miles · Jan 25, 2013
EnginePower Train

NOTICED COOLANT LEVEL WOULD GET LOW. FOUND WATER PUMP MOUNTING GASKET LEAKING, REPLACED WATER PUMP AND GASKETS, BUT CONTINUED LOSING COOLANT. FOUND OUT THERE IS A KNOW DEFECT WITH CHEVY 4.8 AND 5.3 VORTEX ENGINE HEADS CRACKING AROUND THE MOUNTING BOLT HOLES. CHEVY ISSUED A TSB BUT WILL NOT WARRANTY A KNOW DEFECT. IT STRANGE THEY…

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NOTICED COOLANT LEVEL WOULD GET LOW. FOUND WATER PUMP MOUNTING GASKET LEAKING, REPLACED WATER PUMP AND GASKETS, BUT CONTINUED LOSING COOLANT. FOUND OUT THERE IS A KNOW DEFECT WITH CHEVY 4.8 AND 5.3 VORTEX ENGINE HEADS CRACKING AROUND THE MOUNTING BOLT HOLES. CHEVY ISSUED A TSB BUT WILL NOT WARRANTY A KNOW DEFECT. IT STRANGE THEY WILL COVER A HVAC BLOWER MOTOR ISSUE THAT IS KNOW BUT NOT A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH HEADS CRACKING WITHOUT ANY FAULT OF THE OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10494776

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.