BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND FAILED WHILE DRIVING. HEAVY RUST ON SEVERAL BRAKE LINES, FRAME, AND CROSS MEMBERS. *TR
2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 35.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →Model-year median: 35
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 41 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 11 reports
- Service Brakes: 10 reports
- Fuel System, Diesel: 5 reports
- Electrical System: 4 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 4 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 3500 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
35 reports with mileage · 6 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Diesel. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
11 reportsBRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH CASING BRAKE FAILURE AND A CRASH. NO WARNING LIGHT. *TR
SLOWING DOWN TO TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS NOT YET COMMITTED TO THE TURN LANE SO I WAS ABLE TO PASS THE ENTRANCE AND STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD .THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE THE FIRST ONE OCCURRED LESS THAN 1000 MILES BEFORE ON 5/23/11 ODI #10402905 .THE SERVICE TECH SAYS THE LINE D…
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SLOWING DOWN TO TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS NOT YET COMMITTED TO THE TURN LANE SO I WAS ABLE TO PASS THE ENTRANCE AND STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD .THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE THE FIRST ONE OCCURRED LESS THAN 1000 MILES BEFORE ON 5/23/11 ODI #10402905 .THE SERVICE TECH SAYS THE LINE DON'T LOOK THAT BAD ,AND HE COULD NOT BUY REPLACEMENT LINES FROM CHEVROLET. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TWICE! *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,620.
I WAS UNLOADING MULCH FROM THE BED OF TRUCK ONTO THE FLOWER BEDS IN MY YARD. WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE TRUCK TO MOVE TO A NEW SPOT EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL I WENT TO STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK WAS ONLY AT AN IDLE BUT THE BRAKE WOULDN'T EVEN SLOW IT DOWN TO A WALKING SPEED. THE PARKING BRAKE WORKED FIN…
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I WAS UNLOADING MULCH FROM THE BED OF TRUCK ONTO THE FLOWER BEDS IN MY YARD. WHEN I GOT BACK INTO THE TRUCK TO MOVE TO A NEW SPOT EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL I WENT TO STOP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK WAS ONLY AT AN IDLE BUT THE BRAKE WOULDN'T EVEN SLOW IT DOWN TO A WALKING SPEED. THE PARKING BRAKE WORKED FINE AND THE TRUCK CAME TO A STOP. I PUT THE REST OF THE MULCHING JOB ON HOLD UNTIL THE NEXT DAY UNTIL I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. THE NEXT DAY I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND ADDED ALMOST A QUART. WHEN I WENT TO MOVE THE TRUCK THE BRAKE STILL WENT TO THE FLOOR BUT I WAS READY FOR THAT AND GOT THE TRUCK OFF OF THE GRASS AND BACK OUT ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. THAT WAS WHEN I SAW JUST HOW BAD IT WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND THE TRUCK IS STILL HERE AT MY HOUSE. I GUESS I WILL HAVE IT TOWED SOMEWHERE TO HAVE THE BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUCK TO THE REAR WHEELS REPLACED. *TR
BRAKE LINES, TRANSMISSION LINES AND ENGINE COOLANT LINES ALL FAILING ON 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 HD AS WELL AS ON 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE CAUSED NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF TIME TO REPAIR AND REPLAFE, AND TODAY THERE WAS A BRAKE FAILUER ON THE 2004 HD GMC THAT ALMOST RESULTED IN DEADLY ACCIDENT. THESE LINES SHOU…
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BRAKE LINES, TRANSMISSION LINES AND ENGINE COOLANT LINES ALL FAILING ON 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 HD AS WELL AS ON 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE CAUSED NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF TIME TO REPAIR AND REPLAFE, AND TODAY THERE WAS A BRAKE FAILUER ON THE 2004 HD GMC THAT ALMOST RESULTED IN DEADLY ACCIDENT. THESE LINES SHOULD NOT HAVE RUSTED AND WE HAVE ISSUES WITH BOTH VEHICLES ON THE SAME LINES. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCTED WITH INADEQUATE PARTS FOR ALL LINES ON THE UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD NOT BE 1,000 PLUS COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS REGARDING THE RUSTING OF THESE COMPONENTS, OF WHICH HAVE CUASED SEVERAL MAJOR ANMD LIFE SAFETY ISSUES. THE BRAKE LINES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF ANY VEHICLE AND TO HAVE THEM RUST THRU TO THE DEGREE OF ALL THE COMPLAINTS THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPENENTS THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES. BETWEEN OUR 2004 CHEVY AND 2003 GMC TRUCKS WE HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THE TRANMISSION COLLANT LINES, OIL ENGINE LINES AND READY TO CHANGE BRAKE LINES IN 1 TRUCK WITH THE OTHER TRUCK HAVING TO ALSO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST. THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE COMPENENTS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. HE HAD TO INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING. WHILE DRIVING HE ALSO EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE HYDRO-BOOSTER PUMP LEAKED BRAKE AND STEERING FLUID. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL# 05V043000 (SERVI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. HE HAD TO INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING. WHILE DRIVING HE ALSO EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE HYDRO-BOOSTER PUMP LEAKED BRAKE AND STEERING FLUID. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL# 05V043000 (SERVICE BRAKES). A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT SINCE HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1,000.00 FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL STIFFENS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC BOOSTER WITH GM PARTS. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED, AS WELL AS BOTH HYDRAULI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL STIFFENS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC BOOSTER WITH GM PARTS. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED, AS WELL AS BOTH HYDRAULIC LINES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. GM RECOMMENDED THAT THE POWER STEERING BOX BE REPLACED, IN WHICH THE CONTACT COMPLIED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER (REFERENCE NUMBER 71-742385439). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 9/23/09 *CN THE HOSES, PUMP AND HYDRO BOOST WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 09/28/09. *JB
2004 CHEVY SILVERADO WITH 37K. ROTORS ARE SHOT ALL AROUND. CHIPPING PEELING SURFACE. UNSAFE CONDITION EXISTS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHEN THERE IS HALF OF A TANK OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, IT AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED, WHICH CAUSED A CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE SPEED WAS UNK…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHEN THERE IS HALF OF A TANK OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, IT AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED, WHICH CAUSED A CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,750.
Recall campaigns
0No 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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.
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