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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

368 reports
32,533 miles · Aug 9, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2004 SILVERADO K2500 WITH A DURAMAX DIESEL (LLY). I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2004. I PULL A FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER. MY TRUCK HAS OVERHEATED MORE THAN TWO DOZEN TIMES, AND ON SOME OCCASIONS LOST POWER, WHILE PULLING THE CAMPER UP LONG GRADES. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TWICE TO CHEVROLET DEALERS. I HAVE THE SERVI…

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I HAVE A 2004 SILVERADO K2500 WITH A DURAMAX DIESEL (LLY). I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2004. I PULL A FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER. MY TRUCK HAS OVERHEATED MORE THAN TWO DOZEN TIMES, AND ON SOME OCCASIONS LOST POWER, WHILE PULLING THE CAMPER UP LONG GRADES. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TWICE TO CHEVROLET DEALERS. I HAVE THE SERVICE ORDERS THAT CLEARLY DESCRIBE MY OVERHEATING PROBLEM. BOTH OF THESE SERVICE CALLS WERE WHILE THE TRUCK WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALERS COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. LATER WHEN THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I FOUND OUT THAT GENERAL MOTORS RECOGNIZED THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM AND ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #06-06-04-036D THAT DESCRIBES MY HEATING PROBLEM EXACTLY. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED PRIOR TO EITHER OF MY COMPLAINTS ABOUT OVERHEATING. THE COST OF IMPLEMENTING SERVICE BULLETIN #06-06-04-036D IS APPROXIMATELY $1,300 DOLLARS, SO GENERAL MOTORS RECOGNIZES THAT THIS SERIES TRUCK HAS A SIGNIFICANT OVERHEATING PROBLEM, BUT APPARENTLY THEY ARE HIDING THIS FIX FROM THE OWNERS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I CAN GIVE MANY INSTANCES WHERE THIS OVERHEATING PROBLEM HAS CAUSED A SAFETY PROBLEM. ONE TIME I WAS PULLING THE CAMPER EAST ON INTERSTATE 40 ABOUT A 150 MILES WEST OF ALBUQUERQUE, NM WHEN THE TRUCK OVERHEATED AND LOST POWER. THERE WAS NO GOOD PLACE TO PULL OVER AND I WAS TERRIFIED AS THE HEAVY TRAFFIC HAD TO CHANGE LANES AND PASS ME. ANOTHER TIME I WAS PULLING UP TO THE NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON ON A TWO LANE ROAD WHEN THE TRUCK OVERHEATED, LOST POWER AND I HAD A LONG LINE OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. IT WAS DANGEROUS AS THE TRAFFIC PASSED ME WITHOUT GOOD CLEARANCE. I COULD GO ON AND ON OF SIMILAR SITUATIONS THAT CAUSED DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. THERE IS ALSO A WEBSITE AT WWW.DIESELPLACE.COM THAT HAS AN ENTIRE SECTION DEVOTED TO THE LLY DIESEL. THERE ARE OVER A THOUSAND POSTS CONCERNING THIS OVERHEATING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10418172

70,249 miles · Aug 3, 2011
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic

2004 SILVERADO 2500 HD, WHILE TOWING APPROX. 7000LBS MY BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, LUCKILY I HAD THE TRAILER BRAKES TO STOP ME BECAUSE THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. UPON INSPECTING CLOSELY THE BRAKE LINES ARE SO RUSTED YOU CAN LITERALLY SMASH THEM BETWEEN YOUR FINGERS. THIS IS THE NEWEST VEHICLE I OWN AND IS IN THE WORST SHAPE…

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2004 SILVERADO 2500 HD, WHILE TOWING APPROX. 7000LBS MY BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, LUCKILY I HAD THE TRAILER BRAKES TO STOP ME BECAUSE THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. UPON INSPECTING CLOSELY THE BRAKE LINES ARE SO RUSTED YOU CAN LITERALLY SMASH THEM BETWEEN YOUR FINGERS. THIS IS THE NEWEST VEHICLE I OWN AND IS IN THE WORST SHAPE AS FAR AS CORROSION GOES, A SHAME AT 70K MILES. TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP NOW, CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THIS WILL COST. ALREADY REPLACED ROTORS DUE TO CORROSION, E-BRAKE CABLES, WHEEL SPEED SENSOR(BRACKET ROTTED OFF). *KB

NHTSA ODI #10416829

59,000 miles · Aug 1, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

AIR COND. COMPRESSOR FAILED, SEIZED!. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10416435

77,000 miles · Jul 26, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD. CONSUMER STATES GAUGES STOPPED WORKING AND THE BOLTS ON THE MANIFOLD WERE DEFECTIVE. *TGW

NHTSA ODI #10415868

124,864 miles · Jul 25, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE FAILURE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE FAILURE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT STATED THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,869.

NHTSA ODI #10414999

47,212 miles · Jul 24, 2011
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

I WAS BACKING TRUCK INTO DRIVE WAY MOVING ABOUT 5MPH AND APPLIED BRAKES TO PUT TRUCK INTO REVERSE AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR DID NOT STOP TRUCK. STEEL BRAKE LINE RUPTURED WHERE THE ABS MODULE IS UNDER THE TRUCK RIGHT BELOW DRIVER SEAT. ALL BRAKE LINES LOOK EXTREMELY RUSTY. TRUCK IS A 2004 2500HD CREW CAB 4X4. I BOUGHT BRAND …

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I WAS BACKING TRUCK INTO DRIVE WAY MOVING ABOUT 5MPH AND APPLIED BRAKES TO PUT TRUCK INTO REVERSE AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR DID NOT STOP TRUCK. STEEL BRAKE LINE RUPTURED WHERE THE ABS MODULE IS UNDER THE TRUCK RIGHT BELOW DRIVER SEAT. ALL BRAKE LINES LOOK EXTREMELY RUSTY. TRUCK IS A 2004 2500HD CREW CAB 4X4. I BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND IT HAS 47,212 MILES. I PULL A 7000 LBS. CAMPER AND I'M GLAD IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY. IN JUNE THE RUBBER GAS LINE FAILED PUMPING 15 GALLONS OF GAS ONTO BOTTOM OF TRUCK AND GROUND ON THE WAY TO WORK (27 MILES). ONCE AGAIN, I WAS LUCKY. I PREFER TO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER STRIKES, TWO IS ENOUGH FOR ME! I HOPE IT DOES NOT TAKE AN INJURY, DEATH, ACCIDENT OR PROPERTY DAMAGE TO GET THE NEEDED ATTENTION THIS VEHICLE NEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10414895

63,491 miles · Jul 24, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I OWN A 2004 SILVERADO 2500HD CREW CAB. I WAS LEAVING A LAKE BOAT RAMP WITH MY BOAT IN TOW WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE E-BRAKE I WAS ABLE TO BRING IT TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. AFTER INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD I WENT UNDER THE TRUCK AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES INTO THE …

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I OWN A 2004 SILVERADO 2500HD CREW CAB. I WAS LEAVING A LAKE BOAT RAMP WITH MY BOAT IN TOW WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE E-BRAKE I WAS ABLE TO BRING IT TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. AFTER INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD I WENT UNDER THE TRUCK AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES INTO THE PROPORTIONING VALVE WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND ONE HAD RUPTURED. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AT THIS POINT. UPON RETURNING HOME I BEGAN LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS AND FOUND THAT YOUR AGENCY IS INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM. I FIND IT UNSATISFACTORY THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN AT LEAST AN ADVISORY TO AT LEAST INSPECT SO AT LEAST THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, THEIR PROPERTY, AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS FROM HARM. THANK GOODNESS I WAS NOT GOING ANY FASTER THAN I WAS. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND I HAD MY FAMILY WITH ME. WOULD YOU PLEASE AT LEAST PUT SOMETHING OUT. I KNOW THERE IS CURRENTLY NO RECALL. HOW CAN THIS BE??? THERE IS NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS THAN A 9000LB+ TRUCK WITH NO BRAKES!! HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN ON "RESEARCHING" THIS? I AM AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AND KNOW THAT SAFETY CHANGES ARE USUALLY WRITTEN IN BLOOD!! PLEASE STOP ACTING LIKE THE FAA AND BE PROACTIVE ON THIS ISSUE. UPDATED 08/11/11 *BF *TR UPDATED 06/06/12* JS

NHTSA ODI #10414892

157,400 miles · Jul 21, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I WAS ON A STATE ROAD DOING 50 MPH LEAVING MY TOWN AND WENT TO TURN AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER AND NOT GET IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME AND DISCOVERED NO BRAKE FLUID. I FILLED UP THE FLUID AND STARTED TO BLEED THE BRAKE. THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THE RUSTED OUT BRAKE LIN…

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I WAS ON A STATE ROAD DOING 50 MPH LEAVING MY TOWN AND WENT TO TURN AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER AND NOT GET IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME AND DISCOVERED NO BRAKE FLUID. I FILLED UP THE FLUID AND STARTED TO BLEED THE BRAKE. THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THE RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES AND THE BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING OUT. I HAVE ORDERED NEW BRAKE LINE FROM INLINE TUBE. I WAS LUCKY TO NOT CRASH BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND NOT BE AS LUCKY AS ME. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413887

39,000 miles · Jul 19, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 39,000.

NHTSA ODI #10413554

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2011
Electrical System

THE GAUGE CLUSTER, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, FAILED AT 70,000 MILES. NHTSA HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL. GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT REPLACE THE GAUGE CLUSTER AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN PROBLEM AS EVIDENCED BY THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413253

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.