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2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Silverado 2500 years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 81.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

336 reports with mileage · 32 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 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports10 fire reports8 injury reports

Steering complaints

16 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2023
Service BrakesSteering

Hydraboost piston blew out, lost brakes and steering. Almost wrecked vehicle.

NHTSA ODI #11561107

198,000 miles · Nov 24, 2018
Steering

POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN AND ALSO TAKES LONGER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, HYDRO BOOST IS LEAKING AT THE BASE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TURN HARD AND SLOPPY STOPPING, DEALERSHIP SAYS NO WARRANTY FOR IT AND IT SHOULD BE OKAY AS LONG AS YOU KEEP FLUID FILLED, THAT COMMENT SOUNDS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, IT CONTINUES T…

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POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN AND ALSO TAKES LONGER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, HYDRO BOOST IS LEAKING AT THE BASE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TURN HARD AND SLOPPY STOPPING, DEALERSHIP SAYS NO WARRANTY FOR IT AND IT SHOULD BE OKAY AS LONG AS YOU KEEP FLUID FILLED, THAT COMMENT SOUNDS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, IT CONTINUES TO LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID.

NHTSA ODI #11153533

160,000 miles · May 21, 2015
Steering

I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE STEERING COLUMN...RATTLING IN THE COLUMN WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT DURING SLOW SPEEDS. MINE OF COURSE IS AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME QUITE TIME. IT IS BAD ENOUGH NOW THAT MY HORN DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. HORNS DO WORK PROPERLY WHEN I LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS.

NHTSA ODI #10717686

200,000 miles · Jun 30, 2014
Service BrakesSteeringSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STEERING BOX, PITMAN ARM, OUTER TIE ROD ON BOTH ENDS AND THE UPPER BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STEERING BOX, PITMAN ARM, OUTER TIE ROD ON BOTH ENDS AND THE UPPER BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE LEAKING. THE BRAKE LEAK FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #10606930

25,000 miles · May 8, 2013
Steering

TO WHOM IT CONCERNS: I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET 2500 HD 4X4 SILVERADO. I BOUGHT IT NEW. I HAVE BEEN HEARING A CLUNKING SOUND EVERY TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR MAYBE 5 OR 6 YEARS. I STARTED TO LOOK INTO THE CAUSE OF THE CLUNKING SOUND BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GETTING WORSE, AND …

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TO WHOM IT CONCERNS: I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET 2500 HD 4X4 SILVERADO. I BOUGHT IT NEW. I HAVE BEEN HEARING A CLUNKING SOUND EVERY TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR MAYBE 5 OR 6 YEARS. I STARTED TO LOOK INTO THE CAUSE OF THE CLUNKING SOUND BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GETTING WORSE, AND I WAS VERY SHOCKED TO READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS, OVER 50 WHEN I STOPPED READING. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. MY QUESTION IS THIS. WHY DOES GMC NOT TAKE NOTICE OF THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST BECAUSE OF THIS STEERING PROBLEM. I THINK IT'S A GREAT SHAME THAT GMC WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND GET THESE PROBLEMS FIXED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511039

40,000 miles · Feb 23, 2012
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

I AM EXPERIENCING ISSUES OF SERIOUS ROT AND RUST WITH COMPONENTS OF MY TRUCK. FIRST FAILURE WAS THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP RESERVOIR ROTTED THROUGH AND CAUSED A LEAK OF FLUID, HAD TO REPLACE UNIT. THEN TRANSMISSION LINE ROTTED THROUGH, CAUSING A LEAK OF FLUIDS, HAD TO REPLACE LINES AND COOLER DUE TO CORROSION. THEN STARTER F…

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I AM EXPERIENCING ISSUES OF SERIOUS ROT AND RUST WITH COMPONENTS OF MY TRUCK. FIRST FAILURE WAS THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP RESERVOIR ROTTED THROUGH AND CAUSED A LEAK OF FLUID, HAD TO REPLACE UNIT. THEN TRANSMISSION LINE ROTTED THROUGH, CAUSING A LEAK OF FLUIDS, HAD TO REPLACE LINES AND COOLER DUE TO CORROSION. THEN STARTER FAILED, SERIOUSLY CORRODED. HAD TO REPLACE. AFTERWARD, ALTERNATOR FROZE UP, INSIDE WAS CORRODED WITH RUST AND WOULD NOT SPIN FREELY, HAD TO REPLACE. MOST RECENTLY, BRAKE LINES BURST CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. WILL NEED TO REPLACE. I HAVE OWNED A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS AND THIS IS COMPLETELY UNUSUAL IN MY EXPERIENCE AND HAS CAUSED A SITUATION THAT COULD LEAD TO DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. I WAS FORTUNATE TO ESCAPE BOTH. FURTHERMORE, IT HAS BEEN A SERIOUS FINANCIAL BURDEN AND INCONVENIENCE TO HAVE TO REPLACE SO MANY COMPONENTS ON A TRUCK THAT HAS YET TO REACH 60,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW AND HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT IN HOPES THAT MY 30,000 INVESTMENT WOULD LAST ME A GOOD NUMBER OF YEARS WITH REGULAR AND EXPECTED MAINTENANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10449067

26,500 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Steering

THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BECOMES WORN OR LOOSE RESULTING IN SEVERE VIBRATIONS AND NOISE WHEN DRIVING AT MODERATE SPEEDS AND WHEN TURNING. THE VIBRATIONS RESULT IN A LOSS OF PRECISE STEERING CONTROL. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM RECURS SEVERAL THOUSAND MILE AFTER THE SH…

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THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BECOMES WORN OR LOOSE RESULTING IN SEVERE VIBRATIONS AND NOISE WHEN DRIVING AT MODERATE SPEEDS AND WHEN TURNING. THE VIBRATIONS RESULT IN A LOSS OF PRECISE STEERING CONTROL. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM RECURS SEVERAL THOUSAND MILE AFTER THE SHAFT REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT IMPLEMENTED A PERMANENT FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351552

25,000 miles · Feb 21, 2010
Steering

CLUNKING AND LOOSENESS IN STEERING COLUMN. 2004 6.0 LITER HD 2500 CHEVROLET. FEELS LIKE STEERING MAY FAIL ON VEHICLE IF SOMETHING IS NOT CORRECTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312537

30,000 miles · Aug 31, 2009
Steering

THE STEERING COLUMN IN MY 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO MAKES CLUNKING SOUNDS AND CAUSES VIBRATIONS THAT ALTER THE STEERING. I TOOK IT TO GM WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY SAID THEY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, BUT ABOUT 20MILES LATER IT STARTED AGAIN, HAVE JUST DELT WITH IT SINCE BUT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORST. I BOUGHT ANOTHER 2004 SILVERADO…

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THE STEERING COLUMN IN MY 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO MAKES CLUNKING SOUNDS AND CAUSES VIBRATIONS THAT ALTER THE STEERING. I TOOK IT TO GM WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY SAID THEY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, BUT ABOUT 20MILES LATER IT STARTED AGAIN, HAVE JUST DELT WITH IT SINCE BUT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORST. I BOUGHT ANOTHER 2004 SILVERADO IT TOO DOES THIS CLUNKING AND VIBRATING, EVIDENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, ALONG WITH THE SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING ON BOTH MY TRUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282488

22,000 miles · Dec 15, 2008
Steering

KNOCKING IN STEERING COLUMN. WAS LUBRICATED ONCE, PROBLEM PERSISTS. LOW SPEED KNOCKING AND "LOOSENESS" IN STEERING WHEEL. KNOCKING IS QUITE LOUD AND EVIDENT WHEN TURNING, AT LOW SPEED, OR IF ENCOUNTERING ANY BUMPS IN ROAD SURFACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251829

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.