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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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18,500 miles · Feb 28, 2009
Power Train

IN DECEMBER 2008 I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS REGARDING A CONTINUOUS "BACKLASH" THAT HAD DEVELOPED IN THE DRIVE TRAIN OF MY 2004 CHEVROLET 4WD PICKUP TRUCK WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED GEARS ALONG WITH LOUD CLICKING NOISES THAT WERE COMING FROM THE SPEEDOMETER/DASH GAUGES . THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE TRUCK INTO A CHEVR…

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IN DECEMBER 2008 I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS REGARDING A CONTINUOUS "BACKLASH" THAT HAD DEVELOPED IN THE DRIVE TRAIN OF MY 2004 CHEVROLET 4WD PICKUP TRUCK WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED GEARS ALONG WITH LOUD CLICKING NOISES THAT WERE COMING FROM THE SPEEDOMETER/DASH GAUGES . THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE THE TRUCK INTO A CHEVROLET DEALER FOR INSPECTION. IN DOING SO, THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER ON MY TRUCK UNDER SOME SETTLEMENT THAT OTHER PARTIES HAD REACHED EARLIER WITH GENERAL MOTORS RESULTING IN EXTENDED SPECIAL COVERAGE. ON THE ISSUE OF THE CONTINUOUS "BACKLASH" IN THE DRIVE TRAIN HOWEVER, THE DEALER MERELY PROVIDED ME WITH A BULLETIN FROM GENERAL MOTORS STATING THAT THE "CLUNK NOISE" I WAS EXPERIENCING WAS IN THEIR WORDS "A NORMAL CONDITION AND NO REPAIRS SHOULD BE ATTEMPTED." THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS CONDITION CAN BE CONSIDERED "NORMAL" AND I FEEL THAT GENERAL MOTORS IS ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF A NOW KNOWN DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. I FURTHER BELIEVE THIS DEFECT TO BE WIDE SPREAD AMONG THEIR TRUCK AND CAR MANUFACTURING LINES AND EXTENDING OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS OF VEHICLES. MY TRUCK HAS ONLY 19,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE THAT IT CAN ONLY GET WORSE AS TIME GOES BY EVENTUALLY LEADING TO A COMPLETE FAILURE IN THE DRIVE LINE COMPONENTS OF MY TRUCK. PLEASE ADD MY VOICE TO WHAT MUST BE A LONG LINE OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TOWARD GENERAL MOTORS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. YOUR HELP IN SEEKING REMEDY FOR CONSUMERS LIKE ME AND OTHERS IN THIS CORPORATE FAILURE BY GENERAL MOTORS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU AND PLEASE ADVISE ME OF THE ACTION TAKEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260316

131,000 miles · Jan 16, 2009
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE FAILED AND WORE A HOLE IN THE HOUSING OF THE TRANSMISSION. AS A RESULT, OIL LEAKS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ALSO LOCKED THE FRONT TIRES AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED. HE HAS AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE HIS VEHICLE T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE FAILED AND WORE A HOLE IN THE HOUSING OF THE TRANSMISSION. AS A RESULT, OIL LEAKS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ALSO LOCKED THE FRONT TIRES AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE MOVED. HE HAS AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ODI #10255286

24,200 miles · Feb 8, 2008
Power Train

CLUNKING SOUNDS FROM TRANSMISSION/DRIVETRAIN. GENERALLY LOUDER WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. HAVE MENTIONED TO DEALER A COUPLE OF TIMES AND WAS TOLD IT IS NORMAL. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE ON THE WEB. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217504

49,500 miles · Apr 5, 2007
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

SPEEDOMETER DRIVE MOTOR FAILURE, 2004 CHEVROLET 1500 PU. WHEN DRIVE MOTOR FAILS THE SPEEDOMETER WILL FREEZE AT A RANDOM SPEED. SINCE THE SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK, YOU MUST CALCULATE YOUR SPEED FROM A START POSITION OF WHERE IT WAS STUCK. EXAMPLE: IF THE SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AT 70 MPH, AND YOUR DESIRED SPEED IS 45 MPH. YOUR SPEE…

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SPEEDOMETER DRIVE MOTOR FAILURE, 2004 CHEVROLET 1500 PU. WHEN DRIVE MOTOR FAILS THE SPEEDOMETER WILL FREEZE AT A RANDOM SPEED. SINCE THE SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK, YOU MUST CALCULATE YOUR SPEED FROM A START POSITION OF WHERE IT WAS STUCK. EXAMPLE: IF THE SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AT 70 MPH, AND YOUR DESIRED SPEED IS 45 MPH. YOUR SPEEDOMETER WILL READ 115 MPH. IF YOUR DESIRED SPEED IS 70 MPH, YOUR SPEEDOMETER WILL PEG OUT AT 110 MPH. IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE THAT THE SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK WHEN REDUCING YOUR SPEED, YOU COULD PANIC, AND ATTEMPT TO REDUCE SPEED TOO RAPIDLY POTENTIALLY CAUSING A REAR END ACCIDENT. WHEN DRIVING THROUGH MULTIPLE SPEED ZONES YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CALCULATE YOUR SPEED, ASSUMING THAT THE SPEEDOMETER IS TRACKING ACCURATELY. IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MUST BE REPLACED. MY COST WAS $386.00. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL SLOWLY RESET, EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, BY 5 MPH. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A FREQUENT PROBLEM, YET REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK SAID THEY REPLACE 3-4 PER MONTH. WHERE I HAD THE REPAIR MADE, THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED A VENDOR THAT DOES IT SO ROUTINELY THEY HAVE A 24 HOUR EXCHANGE TURN-AROUND.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10187113

61,000 miles · Dec 9, 2006
Electrical SystemPower Train

MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 CHEVY SLIVERED 4 X 4 EX. CAB. FIRST, AT AROUND JUNE OR JULY OF 2006 THE SPIDER GEARS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL ($1,100 BILL...ABOUT 53,000 MILES). NOW, ON DECEMBER 8, 2006, THE SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING (61,000 MILES). DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT IT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. …

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MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 CHEVY SLIVERED 4 X 4 EX. CAB. FIRST, AT AROUND JUNE OR JULY OF 2006 THE SPIDER GEARS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL ($1,100 BILL...ABOUT 53,000 MILES). NOW, ON DECEMBER 8, 2006, THE SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING (61,000 MILES). DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT IT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I KNOW THERE WOULD BE LABOR COST CONCERNING THIS INSPECTION ($60-$80 PER HOUR). JUST YESTERDAY I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND, LITERALLY, HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS OF CHEVY SILVERADOS AND OTHER GM PRODUCTS WITH THE SAME SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM THAT I HAVE. THE COST FOR A DEALER REPAIR IS ANYWHERE FROM $450 UP TO $1100. FROM WHAT I'VE FOUND, THE SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM INVOLVES A "STEPPER MOTOR" NOT WORKING PROPERLY OR A PLASTIC COVERED GEAR THAT CRACKS, MAKING THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE MOVE ERRATICALLY. IF THIS SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM IS AS PREVALENT AS IT SEEMS, GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO OWN UP TO IT'S RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! SOMEONE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION SHOULD TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND READ THE COMPLAINTS ON THE FOLLOWING INTERNET FORUM: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-TAHOE/T2BGKBGI55EKNU77C/P2 THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE WITH VALID CONCERNS. THERE ARE 11 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS THERE! IT MAY SURPRISE YOU, OR IT MAY NOT, AS TO HOW POORLY GM PRODUCTS ARE CONSTRUCTED AND THE OUTRAGEOUS COST CONCERNING THE REPAIR BILLS TO FIX THEIR MISTAKES. THE INITIAL COST OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD COVER ANY AND ALL REPAIRS CONCERNING POOR CONSTRUCTION AND/OR ANY SAFETY ISSUES. ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #10175668

17,647 miles · Aug 12, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 GM CHEVROLET K1500 Z71 EXTEND CAB 4X4. ANTI LOCK BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ABS THEY DID NOT HOLD. ON 2-11-05 HE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, AND THEY DID NOTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING ON 6-23/24-05 THE ABS DID NOT HOLD , CAUSING CONSUM…

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DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 GM CHEVROLET K1500 Z71 EXTEND CAB 4X4. ANTI LOCK BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ABS THEY DID NOT HOLD. ON 2-11-05 HE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, AND THEY DID NOTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING ON 6-23/24-05 THE ABS DID NOT HOLD , CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO LIGHTLY BUMP ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THEY TOLD HIM TO TAKE IT TO CITY CHEVROLET. HE TOOK IT TO THEM ON 7-5-05 ,AND HE STILL HAS NOT GOTTEN IT BACK YET. CONSUMER FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN NOVEMBER . 2004 IN CANADA CONCERNING CORROSION IN THE ABS BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HE OWNED WAS MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS IN CANADA LTD.. *AK THERE IS A SPECIAL ORDER PART THAT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE IN DEALER INVENTORY FOR THE INOPERATIVE BRAKES. VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO 2ND GEAR. ENGINE SURGES WHILE DRIVING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD TO PUSH DOWN AND DOESN'T STOP WELL. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10129542

5,000 miles · Jul 23, 2004
Power Train

WHILE PARKED AND KEY IN THE IGNITION VEHICLE DISENGAGED FROM PARK AND BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10083574

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.