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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

Power Train complaints

27 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2024
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

I just replaced the battery in my 2004 chevy Silverado 1500 with only 97,000 miles on it, and i went to drive it down the road and the vehicle now loses power and cuts off making a left turn.. It did this twice and i parked it.. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE in my opinion.. PLEASE investigate the issue and report back to m…

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I just replaced the battery in my 2004 chevy Silverado 1500 with only 97,000 miles on it, and i went to drive it down the road and the vehicle now loses power and cuts off making a left turn.. It did this twice and i parked it.. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE in my opinion.. PLEASE investigate the issue and report back to me please..

NHTSA ODI #11597757

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2023
Power Train

Wholes are developing in the transfer case near the output shaft and all the fluid leaks out causing the transfer case to grenade.

NHTSA ODI #11551002

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2021
Power TrainService BrakesCrashInjury

# 1 is the 4l60E transmission that sits on the exhaust and runs next to it on the opposite side the heat from the trans itself and the exhaust overheat the gasket which causes weak spots that leak along with burning up the 3-4 clutch. Lost everything but 1&2,R,N on trip to Illinois on way back went to speed up to pass and all su…

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# 1 is the 4l60E transmission that sits on the exhaust and runs next to it on the opposite side the heat from the trans itself and the exhaust overheat the gasket which causes weak spots that leak along with burning up the 3-4 clutch. Lost everything but 1&2,R,N on trip to Illinois on way back went to speed up to pass and all sudden the engine started tacking out and leaking fluid. I applied fluid all the way home at a speed of 45mph in a 70 mph limit which caused a major safety hazard with traffic. Took to trans shop said the 3-4 clutch was fried and was no good due to overheating and loss fluid from damaged gasket that's split on the stamps from AC Delco. 2nd issue arises out 1rst, even more dangerous to point of dragging me down drive way and cutting into my leg leaving a small scar. When wheels are chalked , E brake applied the vehical should not move, so after doing so I climbed under and unhooked the shift cable from the trans instantly with dog in truck it began rolling right over me I grabbed the frame and stopped it for a few sec then boom it went again I had spin around or my legs or head would've be smashed to Oblivion. At that point it just kept going as it cut into my leg, I let it roll over me hopped up and tried trow it in park yet no cable attached it wouldn't stop and just kept going till it hit a small ditch at end my drive and half way in the road.My leg was cut and I was scratched up in many spots yet dog was ok. The trans quitting lead to the unhooking of the cable then the e/p brake not holding due to worn brake shins in the rear which have calipers so if the calpier would've held with the brake it'd been fine but under everything is a set small and thin pads that hold the truck when brake applied. There was a recall (#05042). Yet my vin was not included, chevy was called yet denied any responsibility of either matter or action to cure it. These defects could've killed me, decapitated, or killed my service dog!

NHTSA ODI #11431699

1,000 miles · Oct 26, 2017
Power Train

SINCE IT WAS NEW MY TRUNK SURGES UNCONTROLLABLY AND VIOLENTLY AT TIMES. ITS NORMALLY WHEN I FIRST START IT IN MORNING AND FOR FIRST BLOCK OR TWO. ITS VERY DANGEROUS, IF IT EVER HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY I WILL DIE. GM THREATENED TO BANKRUPT ME IF I SUED UNDER LEMON LAW.

NHTSA ODI #11039897

190,000 miles · Jan 27, 2015
Power TrainService Brakes

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS LITTLE BRAKING EFFORT AVAILABLE. AVOIDED A SEVERE ACCIDENT BY SWERVING INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE NEARLY COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER ONCOMING VEHICLE. SLOWED VEHICLE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING. CAUSE WAS RUPTURED BRAKE L…

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WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS LITTLE BRAKING EFFORT AVAILABLE. AVOIDED A SEVERE ACCIDENT BY SWERVING INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE NEARLY COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER ONCOMING VEHICLE. SLOWED VEHICLE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING. CAUSE WAS RUPTURED BRAKE LINE DUE TO CORROSION. ALL LINES ARE SEVERELY CORRODED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679282

65,000 miles · May 21, 2014
Power TrainService Brakes

ALL BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND LEAKING IN MY 2004 SILVERADO. ALL LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE SEVERE CORROSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593071

70,000 miles · May 20, 2014
Power Train

AFTER HEARING A NOISE, I WENT TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO OIL IN MY UNIVERSAL JOINT. I CHANGE OIL EVERY 5,000 MI WHICH WOULD EQUAL 14 OIL CHANGES, ABOUT 10 OF WHICH WERE DONE BY THE DEALER. I ASKED THE SERVICE REP. IF THE OIL IN THE UNIVERSAL WAS CHECKED AT EVERY OIL CHANGE, AND HE SAID THE MECHANIC IS SUPPOSE TO CH…

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AFTER HEARING A NOISE, I WENT TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO OIL IN MY UNIVERSAL JOINT. I CHANGE OIL EVERY 5,000 MI WHICH WOULD EQUAL 14 OIL CHANGES, ABOUT 10 OF WHICH WERE DONE BY THE DEALER. I ASKED THE SERVICE REP. IF THE OIL IN THE UNIVERSAL WAS CHECKED AT EVERY OIL CHANGE, AND HE SAID THE MECHANIC IS SUPPOSE TO CHECK IT BUT SOMETIMES THEY GET IN A HURRY. THAT MECHANIC COST ME $1,700.00 . THAT WILL BE THE LAST TIME I WILL SPEND $1,700. ON A CHEVY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592872

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

63,000 miles · Dec 2, 2013
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10554375

81,000 miles · Oct 8, 2013
Power Train

WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, TRUCK LOST 3RD GEAR. THIS IS THE SECOND CHEVROLET SILVERADO THIS HAS HAPPENED TO FOR US (FIRST TIME, WE THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISOLATED BAD TRANSMISSION) HOWEVER, IT IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO CHEVROLET MAKING JUNK, AND PUTTING THE PASSENGERS OF THEIR VEHICLES IN DANGER. DRIVING DOWN THE …

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WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, TRUCK LOST 3RD GEAR. THIS IS THE SECOND CHEVROLET SILVERADO THIS HAS HAPPENED TO FOR US (FIRST TIME, WE THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISOLATED BAD TRANSMISSION) HOWEVER, IT IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO CHEVROLET MAKING JUNK, AND PUTTING THE PASSENGERS OF THEIR VEHICLES IN DANGER. DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 60 MILES PER HOUR, WITH A SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.I WILL BE PURSUING THIS FURTHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547246

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.