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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
56,400 miles · Dec 22, 2014
Service Brakes

EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO THE BANK. AS I WAS SLOWING TO MAKE THE TURN INTO THE BANK THE BRAKES FELT A LITTLE SPONGY. AS I PULLED UP TO THE ATM BRAKES CONTINUE TO BE SPONGY. FINISHED AT BANK AND CAUTIOUSLY STARTED DRIVING HOME. FIRST STOP LIGHT, I HAD TO GEAR DOWN TO SLOW TO ALLOW ME TO STOP AS THE …

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EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO THE BANK. AS I WAS SLOWING TO MAKE THE TURN INTO THE BANK THE BRAKES FELT A LITTLE SPONGY. AS I PULLED UP TO THE ATM BRAKES CONTINUE TO BE SPONGY. FINISHED AT BANK AND CAUTIOUSLY STARTED DRIVING HOME. FIRST STOP LIGHT, I HAD TO GEAR DOWN TO SLOW TO ALLOW ME TO STOP AS THE BRAKE HIT THE FLOOR. PUMPING HELPED ME STOP IN TIME TO NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY CALLED FOR A TOW AT THAT POINT, BUT ONLY HAD BACK ROADS LEFT TO GET HOME. DROVE VERY SLOW (LESS THAN 5MPH) BY TIME HOME HAD NO BRAKES LEFT. GOING SLOW ENOUGH TO HIT CURB OPPOSITE OF MY DRIVEWAY TO STOP AND THEN BACKED INTO UPHILL DRIVEWAY SO GRAVITY STOPPED ME TO PUT IN PARK. BTW - NO EMERGENCY BRAKE TO HELP, THAT IS NOT WORKING. GOT OUT AND A STEADY STREAM OF BRAKE FLUID WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE DRIVE SIDE DOOR. LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND SAW FLUID LEAKING FROM CORRODED (RUSTED) BRAKE LINE BETWEEN MASTER CYLINDER & ABS BOX. TOOK A LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER LINE AND SURPRISED TO SEE HOW CORRODED ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES ARE. I WAS ALSO KIND OF SURPRISED TO SEE HOW HORRIBLE THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE, INCLUDING FRAME, HAVE RUSTED FOR A 10 YEAR OLD TRUCK. DEFINITELY VERY UPSET THE BRAKE LINES ARE THAT CORRODED AND WILL ALL NEED TO BE REPLACED TO PROVIDE CONFIDENCE ANOTHER ONE IS NOT GOING TO BURST. I'M JUST VERY HAPPY I DIDN'T GET IN AN ACCIDENT AND I SURE HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE SOMEONE DYING FOR GM TO ISSUE A RECALL. GIVEN THE SIZE OF THESE VEHICLES AND THE SHEAR DAMAGE THEY COULD DO TO PROPERTY OR HUMAN LIFE SHOULD BE A CONCERN TO GM. I'M A HUGE FAN OF GM/CHEVY TRUCKS, BUT PENDING WHAT HAPPENS MAY DICTATE MY NEXT TRUCK. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN SITTING AS I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO TRY TO REPAIR MYSELF OR MONEY AVAILABLE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE CHANCE AT HOW MUCH A SHOP IS GOING TO CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667805

93,500 miles · Oct 30, 2014
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WERE FRACTURING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WERE FRACTURING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,500. UPDATED 12/19/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A CHANCE OF FIRE OR COMPLETE FAILURE CAUSING INJURIES IF THE MANIFOLD BREAKS AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/26/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10651413

90,000 miles · Oct 28, 2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10650818

122,000 miles · Oct 27, 2014
Service Brakes

HAVING NEW TIRES AND WHEELS INSTALLED AT TIRES DIRECT IN WAUKESHA, WI LOCATION. PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. LINE BURST MIDWAY IN FRAME. USING EBRAKES WENT TO LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY REPLACED LINE. $325. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650214

69,110 miles · Oct 20, 2014
Service Brakes

PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID ON DRIVEWAY. BRAKE LINE JUST ABOVE GAS TANK FROM JUNCTION BLOCK TO REAR AXLE RUSTED OUT AT CLIP ATTACHMENT POINT WITH FRAME. TRUCK WAS ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT AND WHEN WASHED AT AUTOMATIC CAR WASH MOST TIMES WITH A UNDER BODY RINSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648936

55,286 miles · Oct 17, 2014
Service Brakes

I HAD TO APPLY MY BRAKES BECAUSE OF A SUDDEN STOP. WHEN I DID MY ABS BRAKES WORKED FOR A SECOND WHEN NO MORE BRAKES. HAD TO SWERVE ,TO NOT HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I STOPPED I WAS TWO FEET PAST THAT CARS RIGHT REAR FENDER. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM BRAKE LINE ABOVE FRAME AT DRIVERS DOOR.…

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I HAD TO APPLY MY BRAKES BECAUSE OF A SUDDEN STOP. WHEN I DID MY ABS BRAKES WORKED FOR A SECOND WHEN NO MORE BRAKES. HAD TO SWERVE ,TO NOT HIT CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I STOPPED I WAS TWO FEET PAST THAT CARS RIGHT REAR FENDER. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM BRAKE LINE ABOVE FRAME AT DRIVERS DOOR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ALOT WORSE. I HEARD THIS IS NO THE ONLY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648469

119,200 miles · Oct 9, 2014
Service BrakesFire

WAS ENTERING DRIVE-THRU RESTAURANT, GAVE ORDER, PROCEEDED TO WINDOW TO RECEIVE ORDER/PAY. NOTICED THAT UPON STOPPING AT WINDOW, BRAKE PEDAL STARTED TO DEPRESS NORMALLY, AND THEN WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO DRIVER COMPARTMENT THRU AIR VENTS, SMOKE COULD BE SEEN COMING OUT OF ENGINE FR…

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WAS ENTERING DRIVE-THRU RESTAURANT, GAVE ORDER, PROCEEDED TO WINDOW TO RECEIVE ORDER/PAY. NOTICED THAT UPON STOPPING AT WINDOW, BRAKE PEDAL STARTED TO DEPRESS NORMALLY, AND THEN WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO DRIVER COMPARTMENT THRU AIR VENTS, SMOKE COULD BE SEEN COMING OUT OF ENGINE FROM UNDER HOOD. QUICKLY PROCEEDED TO MOVE VEHICLE TO EMPTY PARKING SPOT/AREA.TURNED VEHICLE OFF, EXTINGUISHED FIRE BURNING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. BRAKE LINE BURST SENDING BRAKE FLUID ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLDS IGNITING ENGINE COMPARTMENT INSULATION. COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS INCIDENT/FATALITY OF MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND MYSELF AND/OR OTHERS IF TRAVELING AT SPEED AND/OR NOT ABLE TO EXTINGUISH FIRE QUICKLY. THIS IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT WITH A HIGH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE FATALITIES/INJURY THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643501

50,000 miles · Sep 23, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT SLIGHTLY TAPPED THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10638431

10,000 miles · Sep 23, 2014
Service BrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO SEVERAL BUSHES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO SEVERAL BUSHES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 11/24/14*LJ UPDATED 02/03/15*JB

NHTSA ODI #10638393

128,000 miles · Sep 22, 2014
Service Brakes

WHILE PULLING A 30 BOAT THIS WEEKEND MY BRAKES FAILED. PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR . PULLED MY 2004 2500HD TRUCK INTO THE SHOP AFTER USING THE E-BRAKE AND WHAT REMAINED OF MY BRAKES TO GET 4 MILES HOME. ADDED BRAKE FLUID AND WHEN I PRESSED THE PEDDLE A SHOWER OF FLUID SPRAYED ALL OVER THE GROUND. MY UNDERCARRIAGE IS CLEAN. REMOVE…

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WHILE PULLING A 30 BOAT THIS WEEKEND MY BRAKES FAILED. PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR . PULLED MY 2004 2500HD TRUCK INTO THE SHOP AFTER USING THE E-BRAKE AND WHAT REMAINED OF MY BRAKES TO GET 4 MILES HOME. ADDED BRAKE FLUID AND WHEN I PRESSED THE PEDDLE A SHOWER OF FLUID SPRAYED ALL OVER THE GROUND. MY UNDERCARRIAGE IS CLEAN. REMOVED THE FUEL TANK TO FIND THE BRAKE LINE COMPLETE DETERIORATED. I LIVE IN TN AND SALT IS NOT A MAJOR USES HERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638013

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.