Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
680–25K
15025–50K
17150–75K
14875–100K
118100–150K
45150K+
700 reports with mileage · 97 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 267 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 229 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
33 crash reports8 fire reports17 injury reports
What owners actually said
797 reports
73,000 miles · Aug 29, 2013
Service BrakesCrash
COMING HOME FROM WORK AROUND 5:00 IN THE AFTERNOON AND WENT TO SLOW DOWN FOR TRAFFIC SLOWING DOWN AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AS I EASED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME I HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL AND WENT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY LANE AND HIT A GUARD RAIL SLIGHTLY DAMAGING MY FENDER A…
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COMING HOME FROM WORK AROUND 5:00 IN THE AFTERNOON AND WENT TO SLOW DOWN FOR TRAFFIC SLOWING DOWN AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AS I EASED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME I HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL AND WENT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY LANE AND HIT A GUARD RAIL SLIGHTLY DAMAGING MY FENDER AND BUMPER BEFORE COMING TO A FULL STOP. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM ABOVE THE FUEL (GAS TANK) ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME RAIL. I CALLED AAA ROAD SERVICE AND HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO MY HOUSE SO I COULD FURTHER INSPECT THE TRUCK FOR REPAIRS NEEDED. I AM A DIESEL TRUCK TECHNICIAN AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON CARS AND TRUCK FOR YEARS. I ALSO HAVE A 1989 CHEVY TRUCK WITH 368,000 AND NEVER HAVE HAD A BRAKE LINE REPLACED OR A BRAKE FAILURE LIKE THIS, AS I INSPECTED THE BRAKE LINES I FOUND ALL STEEL BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODED AND RUSTED AND NEED REPLACED. I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A COSTLY REPAIR! I PULL A BOAT, TRAVEL TRAILER AND A UTILITY TRAILER. IF I HAD BEEN PULLING ONE OF THESE ITEMS AND THE BRAKES HAD FAILED LIKE THEY DID ONLY GOD! WOULD KNOW THE OUT COME. GM NEEDS TO MAKE A RECALL AND HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED. I AM BACK DRIVING MY 1989 STEP SIDE UNTIL I CAN AFFORD TO MAKE REPAIRS! I SURE COULD USE SOME HELP!!
NHTSA ODI #10537896
75,000 miles · Aug 28, 2013
Electrical SystemEquipment
WHEN TURNING ON THE THE AIR CONDITIONER SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE VENTS. CHANGED ACTUATOR, IT BURNS OUT IMMEDIATELY, AIR STILL DOES NOT WORK. RECALL ON THIS PART/PRODUCT AND PRINCE CHEVROLET IN VALDOSTA, GA WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. KEEPS SHORTING OUT. DO NOT WANT MY TRUCK TO CATCH FIRE. STILL HAVE NO AIR! *TT
NHTSA ODI #10537736
65,555 miles · Aug 22, 2013
Service Brakes
BRAKES FAILED DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10536795
80,000 miles · Aug 20, 2013
Service Brakes
I WAS MOVING MY TRUCK INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND WENT TO PUSH THE BRAKE DOWN AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE BREAK LINES ARE RUSTED AND ONE SPRANG A LEAK. LUCKILY I WASN'T GOING REAL FAST. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND JUST TO REPLACE THE BACK BRAKE LINES COST $800. THE SERVICE GUY TOLD ME IF I WANTED TO REPLACE THE FRONT BREAK…
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I WAS MOVING MY TRUCK INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND WENT TO PUSH THE BRAKE DOWN AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE BREAK LINES ARE RUSTED AND ONE SPRANG A LEAK. LUCKILY I WASN'T GOING REAL FAST. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND JUST TO REPLACE THE BACK BRAKE LINES COST $800. THE SERVICE GUY TOLD ME IF I WANTED TO REPLACE THE FRONT BREAK LINES THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE FRONT CLIP AND TAKE THE CAB OFF THE FRAME FOR A TOTAL COST OFF $2,300.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10536314
99,904 miles · Aug 15, 2013
Service Brakes
WHEN I WAS BACKING MY TRUCK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY MY BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR AND THE SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. UPON FURTHER CHECKING I REALIZED THAT MY BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT AND BROKE. WHILE LOOKING UNDER TRUCK I REALIZED A LOT OF LINES AND TRUCK IS RUSTED. DON'T FEEL A NINE YEAR OLD TRUCK SHOULD BE THAT RUSTED. IF YOU NEED …
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WHEN I WAS BACKING MY TRUCK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY MY BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR AND THE SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. UPON FURTHER CHECKING I REALIZED THAT MY BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT AND BROKE. WHILE LOOKING UNDER TRUCK I REALIZED A LOT OF LINES AND TRUCK IS RUSTED. DON'T FEEL A NINE YEAR OLD TRUCK SHOULD BE THAT RUSTED. IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT ME MY EMAIL IS [XXX]OR [XXX] MY NAME IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10535669
40,100 miles · Aug 15, 2013
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD AS THE SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE BRAKE LINES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD AS THE SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE BRAKE LINES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,100. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10535627
70,000 miles · Aug 12, 2013
Service Brakes
STOP LIGHT CHANGED, APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. BLEW BRAKE LINE. LUCKY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME!!!!!!! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10534808
89,100 miles · Aug 11, 2013
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic
WAS DRIVING 15 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHEN A PERSON STEPPED IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR REQUIRING ME TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL RAPIDLY (MANY TIMES) WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID HITTING THE PERSON. VERY SCARY! I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NEW AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED! THERE ARE …
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WAS DRIVING 15 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHEN A PERSON STEPPED IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR REQUIRING ME TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL RAPIDLY (MANY TIMES) WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID HITTING THE PERSON. VERY SCARY! I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NEW AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED! THERE ARE SO MANY TIMES I OR SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THE BRAKES HAD FAILED AT ANOTHER TIME. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE (BRAKE LINE RUST) FOR A 9 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH ONLY 89,100 MILES. CHEVROLET SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE!. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10534718
83,000 miles · Aug 10, 2013
Service Brakes
WHILE BRAKING FOR A LEFT HAND TURN 55 MPH DOWN TO 25MPH MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR !!!! MY BRAKE LINE BUSTED JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE , I HAND NO BRAKES , I HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE TRUCK WITH ME .THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY. I CANT BELIEVE GM HASN'T DONE SOMETHING YET . IT MUST B/C THERE HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH CRA…
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WHILE BRAKING FOR A LEFT HAND TURN 55 MPH DOWN TO 25MPH MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR !!!! MY BRAKE LINE BUSTED JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE , I HAND NO BRAKES , I HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE TRUCK WITH ME .THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY. I CANT BELIEVE GM HASN'T DONE SOMETHING YET . IT MUST B/C THERE HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH CRASHES OR INJURIES.THIS IS COMPLETE BS !!! I ONLY HAVE 83K MILES ON MY 04 SILVERADO 4X4. (SOMETHING NEEDS DONE) !!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10534682
50,000 miles · Aug 9, 2013
Electrical System
I JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCKS. HOW IS NOT HAVING A SPEEDOMETER NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? GM DID COME OUT WITH WHAT THEY DO NOT CALL A RECALL FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BUT IT OBTAINED A MILEAGE LIMIT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT THEY KNOW THE PART WAS DEFE…
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I JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCKS. HOW IS NOT HAVING A SPEEDOMETER NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? GM DID COME OUT WITH WHAT THEY DO NOT CALL A RECALL FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BUT IT OBTAINED A MILEAGE LIMIT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT THEY KNOW THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE THEY JUST DO NOT WANT TO ADMIT IT AND THAT IS BULL. THE 1ST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE THE LIMIT WAS 70K I WAS AT 72+K. NOW I AM AT 187K+ AND IT SHOULD NOT MATTER THE MILEAGE GM NEEDS TO GROW UP LIKE TOYOTA AND ADMIT THEIR FAULTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10534436
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.
2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year