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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

797 reports
155,000 miles · Jan 19, 2016
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE CLOSEST DEALER WHERE THE COOLANT WAS FLUSHED AND REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE CLOSEST DEALER WHERE THE COOLANT WAS FLUSHED AND REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ODI #10821031

57,000 miles · Dec 21, 2015
Service Brakes

CAME UP TO A STOP SIGN GOING ABOUT 30MPH.BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR.HAD TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK. MECHANIC SAYS I NEED TO HAVE ALL THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED. ALL THE LINES WERE RUSTED TO THE POINT ONE FAILED. THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM ON THIS TRUCK IS NOT DIVIDED, MEANING A HOLE IN ANY LINE YOU LOOSE A…

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CAME UP TO A STOP SIGN GOING ABOUT 30MPH.BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR.HAD TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE TRUCK. MECHANIC SAYS I NEED TO HAVE ALL THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED. ALL THE LINES WERE RUSTED TO THE POINT ONE FAILED. THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM ON THIS TRUCK IS NOT DIVIDED, MEANING A HOLE IN ANY LINE YOU LOOSE ALL BREAKS. TRUCK ONLY HAS 57000 MILES ON IT? I CAN'T BELIEVE A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. WHEN SOMEONE DIES I HOPE TO BE CALLED TO TESTIFY AGAINST GM.

NHTSA ODI #10811471

268,000 miles · Dec 20, 2015
Electrical System

2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO LS 1500 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND HEATER ELECTRICAL FAILURES. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THE STEPPER MOTORS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ARE GUARANTEED TO FAIL RESULTING IN NOT KNOWING WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING OR ANY OTHER GAUGE SUCH AS FUEL, TEMPERATURE OR OIL PRESSURE. GM REFUSED TO FIX PROBLEM WHEN STILL UN…

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2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO LS 1500 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND HEATER ELECTRICAL FAILURES. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THE STEPPER MOTORS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ARE GUARANTEED TO FAIL RESULTING IN NOT KNOWING WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING OR ANY OTHER GAUGE SUCH AS FUEL, TEMPERATURE OR OIL PRESSURE. GM REFUSED TO FIX PROBLEM WHEN STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I FIXED THE FIRST 2 STEPPER MOTOR FAILURES MYSELF, NOW AT 268,XXX MILES THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH LEAVES ME WITH NO FUNCTION OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND LOSS OF HVAC BLOWER FUNCTION. IT IS NOW WINTER HERE IN MICHIGAN, VEHICLE PROBLEMS STARTED WHEN IT WAS WINTER WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE FAILED THE FIRST TIME. NOW, THE HEATER FAN AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAVE FAILED AT THE SAME TIME! THE LAW REQUIRES A SPEEDOMETER! THIS SHOULD BE MADE A MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF ALL INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS REGARDLESS OF MILES OR AGE OF THE VEHICLE. 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO LS 1500 THAT HAS THE FAILED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND HEATER BLOWER PROBLEMS. AS A GM STOCK HOLDER I DEMAND ACTION BE TAKEN TO REPLACE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS IN ALL AFFECTED GM VEHICLES AT NO COST. AS IT STANDS NOW, I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RECTIFIED AT NO COST TO ME!. LOYAL GM CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE BOUGHT GM VEHICLES ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY SHOULD HAVE THESE PROBLEMS RESOLVED AT "NO COST" REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE OR AGE OF THE VEHICLE MILEAGE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AFFECTED. I AM ALSO A NATIVE BORN AMERICAN CITIZEN. LETS KICK GM'S BEHIND!

NHTSA ODI #10811330

173,000 miles · Dec 3, 2015
Equipment

2004 SILVERADO CORRODE BRAKE LINES. ONE BROKE WHILE DRIVING. NO ACCIDENT. ALL LINE CORRODED. SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY NOTICE SHOULD BE SENT TO OWNERS, MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. GM PUT CHEAP PARTS IN, OTHER MANUFACTURES ARE NOT HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SEEMS LIKE A BIG PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN AND IT WILL GET WORSE AS THE 2004-2…

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2004 SILVERADO CORRODE BRAKE LINES. ONE BROKE WHILE DRIVING. NO ACCIDENT. ALL LINE CORRODED. SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY NOTICE SHOULD BE SENT TO OWNERS, MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. GM PUT CHEAP PARTS IN, OTHER MANUFACTURES ARE NOT HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SEEMS LIKE A BIG PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN AND IT WILL GET WORSE AS THE 2004-2007 LINE START BREAKING.

NHTSA ODI #10808114

130,000 miles · Nov 20, 2015
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS HAULING A TRAILER, THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST PRESSURE AND STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT THE VEHICLE, COAST ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER, AND APPLY THE REAR BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS HAULING A TRAILER, THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST PRESSURE AND STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT THE VEHICLE, COAST ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER, AND APPLY THE REAR BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10795020

155,000 miles · Nov 19, 2015
Service Brakes

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP AT RED LIGHT, BRAKE PADDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP TRUCK. NO WARNING, NO LIGHTS. BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND BROKE. HAD MY WIFE AND GRAND CHILDREN IN TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI #10794898

186,502 miles · Nov 18, 2015
Air BagsEngineService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS, SERVICE ENGINE, AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED AND THEN REMAINED ILLUMINATED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE DEALER RESET THE UNKNOWN CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DISCONNECTED AND…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS, SERVICE ENGINE, AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED AND THEN REMAINED ILLUMINATED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE DEALER RESET THE UNKNOWN CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DISCONNECTED AND THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL DISCONNECTION FOR THE AIR BAGS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06V417000 (AIR BAGS), 06V289000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), 05V043000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 04V045000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,502.

NHTSA ODI #10794634

74,000 miles · Oct 29, 2015
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINE FAILURE

NHTSA ODI #10787100

204,000 miles · Oct 28, 2015
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND RUPTURED. BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN NEAR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10786659

21,685 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Service Brakes

REAR BRAKE LINE BLEW (ALONG FRAME) PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR NO BRAKES, I WAS LUCKY I WAS OFF ROAD AT THE TIME OF BRAKE FAILURE. TRUCK HAS 21685 MILES. BRAKE LINES SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE TRUCK. I SHOULD OF ONLY LOST THE BACK BRAKES, I THINK THEY MAY HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE ABS UNIT (ECHU)? THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE B…

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REAR BRAKE LINE BLEW (ALONG FRAME) PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR NO BRAKES, I WAS LUCKY I WAS OFF ROAD AT THE TIME OF BRAKE FAILURE. TRUCK HAS 21685 MILES. BRAKE LINES SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE TRUCK. I SHOULD OF ONLY LOST THE BACK BRAKES, I THINK THEY MAY HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE ABS UNIT (ECHU)? THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE BRAKE LINES, WHY NO RECALL? THIS WILL COST AROUND $1500+ IF I LET THEM DO THE WORK.

NHTSA ODI #10783803

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.