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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
61,900 miles · Apr 15, 2011
Air BagsInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,900. UPDATED 05/24/11*LJ UPDATED 05/26/11*JB

NHTSA ODI #10395994

54,350 miles · Apr 11, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE GAS STATION MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I LOST MY BRAKES, I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED HOME ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE LINES WERE SO RUSTED THAT THEY HAD HOLES AND HAD FALLEN APART. I HAD TO HAVE ALL THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED FROM FRONT TO BACK ON THE ENTIRE…

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WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE GAS STATION MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I LOST MY BRAKES, I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED HOME ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE LINES WERE SO RUSTED THAT THEY HAD HOLES AND HAD FALLEN APART. I HAD TO HAVE ALL THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED FROM FRONT TO BACK ON THE ENTIRE TRUCK, THE TRUCK WAS COMPLETELY UNSAFE DUE TO ALL THE BRAKE LINES BEING SO RUSTED, MY TRUCK IS PRIMARILY USED TO PULL MY 5TH WHEEL CAMPER. THAT DAY I HAD FILLED UP WITH GAS TO LEAVE THE NEXT MORNING FOR A CAMPING TRIP. I THANK GOD THAT MY FAMILY WAS NOT IN THE TRUCK AND NO ONE GOT HURT. WHEN I LOST MY BRAKES ON APRIL 8, 2011 I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE OR ANYTHING THING, I WAS DOING ABOUT 40 MPH AND HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO HELP SLOW ME DOWN AND STOP. IT WAS A FRIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 54,350 MILES ON IT AND IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. REPLACING ALL THE BRAKES LINES HAS BEEN VERY EXPENSIVE. I NOW AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUEL LINES WHICH DO NOT LOOK MUCH BETTER.

NHTSA ODI #10396333

64,000 miles · Apr 6, 2011
Electrical System

INSTURMENT PANEL MAKING NOISE AND MALFUNCTIONING. HAPPENED SINCE ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON TRUCK. THEN A FEW DAYS AGO SMOKE WAS COMING FROM DASH. SHUT TRUCK OFF AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY. CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED IN JANUARY. CALLED GM THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THEY WOU…

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INSTURMENT PANEL MAKING NOISE AND MALFUNCTIONING. HAPPENED SINCE ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON TRUCK. THEN A FEW DAYS AGO SMOKE WAS COMING FROM DASH. SHUT TRUCK OFF AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY. CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED IN JANUARY. CALLED GM THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THEY WOULD SEE IF THE WOULD "POSSIBLY HELP" WITH THE COST OF REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394493

142,853 miles · Apr 5, 2011
Electrical System

I RECENTLY PURCHASED IN CHEVY 2500 HD SILVERADO FROM AN INDIVIDUAL AND THE GAUGES ON THE DASH ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. LUCKILY, THE PERSON I BOUGHT IT FROM WAS HONEST ENOUGH TO LET ME KNOW THIS BEFORE I TEST DROVE THE TRUCK. HE TOLD HE HAD ALREADY SPOKE TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT COU…

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED IN CHEVY 2500 HD SILVERADO FROM AN INDIVIDUAL AND THE GAUGES ON THE DASH ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. LUCKILY, THE PERSON I BOUGHT IT FROM WAS HONEST ENOUGH TO LET ME KNOW THIS BEFORE I TEST DROVE THE TRUCK. HE TOLD HE HAD ALREADY SPOKE TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT COULD BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY IF THE VEHICLE HAD UNDER 75,000 MILES.THE TRUCK HAD 142,XXX WHEN I GOT IT. I TALKED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE ALSO VERIFIED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS, AS IS A HOLE BEING EATEN UP IN THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE 4X4. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE I GOT IS $350. I THINK A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SHOULD BE FILED ON BEHALF OF ALL THE CURRENT OWNERS( OR PERSONS THAT HAD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR) AGAINST GM. I AM UNABLE TO MONITOR MY SPEED, TEMP, OIL PRESSURE, VOLTAGE, FUEL OR TRANS TEMP ACCURATELY BECAUSE OF THIS. IF THE MOTOR WERE TO BURN UP DUE TO OVERHEATING, I WOULD HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IT UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. IF ANYONE KNOWS OF A LAWYER WILLING TO TAKE ON A CASE SUCH AS THIS, I WILL BE MORE THAN WILLING TO SIGN MY NAME DUE TO THE FACT I AM HAVING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR TO AVOID MORE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OR A POSSIBLE OF LIFE IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO CATCH FIRE FROM OVERHEATING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394262

56,658 miles · Apr 4, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

A BRAKE LINE BURST DURING TESTING AFTER THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE TECH SAID ALL LINES WERE BADLY CORRODED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT FREEWAY SPEED AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF WEREN'T FOR THE BRAKES ON THE TRAILER I WAS PULLING.

NHTSA ODI #10394933

66,000 miles · Apr 3, 2011
Electrical System

I WAS JUST DRIVING MY YUKON AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 100 MILES I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG BECAUSE WHEN I STOP AND TURN IT OFF THE SPEEDOMETER STAYED AT 40 MILES AND I DON'T KNOW AT WHAT SPEED AM AT WHEN AM ON THE FREEWAY, I AS A MECHANIC SHOP AN THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER FOR THAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394101

63,000 miles · Mar 7, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN WITH MY 2004 CHEVY PICKUP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP. AFTER GETTING OUT I SAW BRAKE FLUID COMING DOWN AT ABOUT THE DRIVERS DOOR ALONG THE FRAME. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED NEW BRAKE LINES. ESPECIALLY THE ONES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER AND…

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WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN WITH MY 2004 CHEVY PICKUP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP. AFTER GETTING OUT I SAW BRAKE FLUID COMING DOWN AT ABOUT THE DRIVERS DOOR ALONG THE FRAME. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED NEW BRAKE LINES. ESPECIALLY THE ONES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE FRONT BRAKES TO THE ABS CONTROLLER. WERE THESE LINES MEET THE FRAME THERE IS A PLASTIC CLIP AND AT THAT POINT THE LINES WERE ROTTED. AT THIS TIME ALL THE BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO IN THE PASS I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE ROTORS ON THE TRUCK BECAUSE THEY WERE ROTTEN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I EVER SEEN A ROTOR THAT WAS ROTTEN.

NHTSA ODI #10388648

82,000 miles · Mar 1, 2011
Electrical System

82000 MILES, SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING. GAUGE SHOWS 75-120MPH AT ALL TIMES. IT IS UNKNOWN EXACTLY HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELLING AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10387088

86,000 miles · Feb 14, 2011
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER HAS STARTED PROVIDING INACCURATE READINGS INCLUDING ERRATIC SPEED DISPLAY. PROBLEM STARTED AT 86,000 MILES. CHEVROLET WILL NOT COVER REPLACEMENT AS OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10382675

73,800 miles · Jan 26, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

RECENTLY I DEVELOPED AN EXHAUST LEAK NEAR THE FRONT OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM NEAR THE ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE BACK MANIFOLD BOLT HAD BEEN BROKEN OFF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE (I MAY ALSO HAVE A BROKEN BOLT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL). I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCALLY RESPECTED MECHANIC WITH THE INTENTION OF HAVING THE BR…

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RECENTLY I DEVELOPED AN EXHAUST LEAK NEAR THE FRONT OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM NEAR THE ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE BACK MANIFOLD BOLT HAD BEEN BROKEN OFF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE (I MAY ALSO HAVE A BROKEN BOLT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL). I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCALLY RESPECTED MECHANIC WITH THE INTENTION OF HAVING THE BROKEN BOLT REMOVED AND A NEW ONE INSTALLED. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE GM VEHICLES (2004 SILVERADO 2500HD). I WAS FURTHER INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THE REPAIR WOULD BE SIMPLE DUE TO THE FACT THERE WAS NO PRACTICAL MANNER IN WHICH TO EXTRACT/DRILL OUT THE BROKEN BOLT FOR REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD THE HEAD WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO EFFECT THE REQUIRED REPAIR WHICH WOULD COST SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $700-$1000. THIS REPAIR IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE TO ME FOR WHAT IS PROBABLY A $3.00 BOLT. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET I FOUND OUT IT IS IN FACT A PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES DATING BACK TO 1999. WHY HAS GM NOT BEEN REQUIRED TO REPAIR THIS ITEM AT NO COST TO THE OWNER IF IT IS THIS WIDESPREAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378865

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.