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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
21,000 miles · Sep 6, 2017
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT, CAUSED THE CONTACT TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL FORCEFULLY AND PUNCTURED THE BRAKE LINE. THE CONTACT SLOWLY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT, CAUSED THE CONTACT TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL FORCEFULLY AND PUNCTURED THE BRAKE LINE. THE CONTACT SLOWLY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

NHTSA ODI #11021729

85,000 miles · Aug 27, 2017
Service Brakes

UPON EXITING HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH, I APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR. TRIED TO PUMP WITH NO RESULTS. THIS WAS A SINGLE LANE EXIT RAMP WITH A CAR TURNING LEFT AND ONE TURNING RIGHT AT THE END OF THE RAMP. STILL AT APPROX. 60 MPH I HAD NOWHERE TO GO. DOWN SHIFT TO 2ND AND APPLY PARKING BRAKE…

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UPON EXITING HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH, I APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR. TRIED TO PUMP WITH NO RESULTS. THIS WAS A SINGLE LANE EXIT RAMP WITH A CAR TURNING LEFT AND ONE TURNING RIGHT AT THE END OF THE RAMP. STILL AT APPROX. 60 MPH I HAD NOWHERE TO GO. DOWN SHIFT TO 2ND AND APPLY PARKING BRAKE. FINALLY ONE CAR TURNS AND I BLAST THROUGH INTERSECTION ABOUT 40-45MPH AND JUST MISSED T-BONING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS I WENT DOWN THE ENTRANCE RAMP BACK ONTO HWY. I WAS ABLE TO BRING TRUCK TO A STOP. LATER INSPECTION OF TRUCK SHOWED ALL 4 BRAKE LINES FROM ABS TO FRONT OF TRUCK SEVERELY RUSTED WITH ONE RUPTURED. REAR BRAKE LINE ALSO RUSTED. G.M. NEED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. AT THE SPEED I WAS TRAVELING I HAD SECONDS TO MAKE A DECISION. I WAS LUCKY THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TURNED AND I MISSED THE CAR ON THE CROSSROAD. THIS TRUCK HAS 85,XXX MILES AND HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN IN SNOW OR BAD WEATHER MAYBE A HALF DOZEN TIMES DURING ITS LIFE SO CORROSION SHOULD HOT HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE. I'VE OWNED MANY CARS WITH 200,000 PLUS MILES AND NEVER HAD BRAKE LINE ISSUES. I BELIEVE WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS AS I READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM YOU NEED TO FORCE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS DISABLED FOR THE REST OF THERE LIFE, OR SOMEONE LOSES A FAMILY MEMBER!!!

NHTSA ODI #11020002

128,000 miles · Aug 16, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, ALL THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, ALL THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #11015701

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2017
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

CRACKED DASH, JUST CRACKED, FOUND BY HEARING A NOISE THEN NOTICED THE CRACK, CONCERN IS AIR BAG MAY MAKE IF DEPLOYED FLYING DEBRES.

NHTSA ODI #11013802

151,041 miles · Aug 7, 2017
EngineService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE BATTERY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER WHEN HE OBSERVED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD SEIZED AND TOOK GREAT EFFORT TO TURN. ALSO, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE BATTERY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER WHEN HE OBSERVED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD SEIZED AND TOOK GREAT EFFORT TO TURN. ALSO, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP USING THE FIFTH WHEEL CAMPING TRAILER THAT WAS HITCHED WITH ELECTRONIC BRAKES TO SLOW AND EVENTUALLY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT AND IDLER PULLEY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 151,041.

NHTSA ODI #11013439

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion System

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING, HAD HEAVY GAS FUMES WHEN DRIVING AND AFTER TURNING ENG OFF, NOW I'M SEEING GAS LEAKING ON PAVEMENT COMING FROM UNDERNEATH AND BETWEEN CAB AND BED, FUMES ARE VERY STRONG, THERE'S SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH DASH LIGHTS AND STARTING TRUCK IS NOW NOT WANTING TO START 1ST TRY

NHTSA ODI #11011541

85,000 miles · May 29, 2017
Air BagsCrash

I HAVE HAD TWO MAJOR HITS TO THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT BRAND NEW.FIRST WAS I BEAM THRU THE FRONT BUMPER ON INTERSTATE DRIVING 70 MPH,NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.SECOND HEAD ON WITH LARGE DEER,AT ABOUT 45 MPH TO GRILL, BUMPER ,HEAD LIGHTS, HOOD, RADIATOR AND FRAME WHICH ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED,NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.I NO…

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I HAVE HAD TWO MAJOR HITS TO THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT BRAND NEW.FIRST WAS I BEAM THRU THE FRONT BUMPER ON INTERSTATE DRIVING 70 MPH,NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.SECOND HEAD ON WITH LARGE DEER,AT ABOUT 45 MPH TO GRILL, BUMPER ,HEAD LIGHTS, HOOD, RADIATOR AND FRAME WHICH ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED,NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.I NOW HAVE WELL OVER 200,000 MILES AND 10,000 MILES BACK MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON,CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY NOW. DOES IT MEAN NO AIRBAG?QUESTION BEING WERE THEY EVER OPERABLE?BOTH ACCIDENTS WERE STRAIGHT DIRECTION AND ON 4 LANE HIGHWAY.IF ADDITIONAL INFO IS NEEDED I CAN PROVIDE.I REALLY LIKE MY TRUCK BUT AM DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED RECALL ON AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ODI #10992084

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2017
Structure

ROCKER PANNELS AND CAB CORNERS GONE DUE TO RUST. NEITHER DODGE OR FORD OF THE SAME ERA HAVE RUSTED TO THE EXTREME MY CHEVY HAS. CHEVY REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #10992022

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2017
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH ILLUMINATES DUE TO CORRODED FRONT IMPACT SENSORS.

NHTSA ODI #10992020

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2017
Service Brakes

WHEN BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS BETWEEN 5-10 MPH THE ABS ACTIVATES PREVENTING SAFE STOPPING.

NHTSA ODI #10992019

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.