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2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 525.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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
31,000 miles · Dec 25, 2010
Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO ... VEHICLE SET CODES P-2761, P-0740, P-0753, P-0758, P-0785 ... I RESEARCHED FAILURES AND FOUND TO BE RELATED TO TRANSMISSION CODES CAUSED BY IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE...FURTHER RESEARCH INDICATES THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN DEFECT AND GM HAS A FIX LISTED TO ITS' DEALERS... THIS PROBLEM …

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IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO ... VEHICLE SET CODES P-2761, P-0740, P-0753, P-0758, P-0785 ... I RESEARCHED FAILURES AND FOUND TO BE RELATED TO TRANSMISSION CODES CAUSED BY IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE...FURTHER RESEARCH INDICATES THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN DEFECT AND GM HAS A FIX LISTED TO ITS' DEALERS... THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY RELATED TO CHEVROLET TRUCKS BUT NEARLY ALL VEHICLES PRODUCED BY GM. NECESSARY PARTS WERE OBTAINED AND REPAIR MADE....NOT DONE BY GM...GM DEALER WANTED 845.00 TO MAKE REPAIR...PART COST 45.00, REST LABOR GM ALSO MADE CORRECTIONS TO THE FAULTS DURING THE 2005 MODEL YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10372384

40,000 miles · Dec 24, 2010
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IE( SPEEDOMETER /FUEL GAUGE ) FAILED OR WORKS PARTIALLY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR 2 YEARS.FINAL FAILURE WAS 12-19-2010 . GM HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE PART REPLACEMENT AND THE DEALER THAT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM IS REQUESTING I PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10372332

120,000 miles · Dec 9, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE REVERSING AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT NOTICED BRAKE FLUID DRAINING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED. WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON, IT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE REVERSING AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT NOTICED BRAKE FLUID DRAINING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED. WHENEVER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON, IT BLEW HOT AIR ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND COLD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON TO RESET THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BUT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A BRAKE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A LACK OF MAINTENANCE ON HIS PART. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10369739

65,000 miles · Nov 30, 2010
Visibility

SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ARE DELAMINATING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10368449

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2010
Electrical System

MY CLUSTER OG GAUGES SPEEDOMETER, OIL, TEMP, MILEAGE STOP WORKING ALL THE TIME, I WAS STOPPED ONCE BECAUSE MY GAUGES STOPPED WORKING AND GOT AN UNLAWFUL SPEEDOMETER TICKET. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS 04 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10366692

62,335 miles · Nov 15, 2010
Seats

OCCASIONALLY UPON TURNING KEY THE DRIVER SEAT CLICKS AS IF TRYING TO ADJUST. VERY LITTLE TO NO MOVEMENT OCCURS. NO ACTION TAKEN TO DATE. THIS HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES, THOUGH SPORADICALLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365674

48,560 miles · Nov 14, 2010
Steering

I HAVE A 2004 SILVERADO Z71 WHICH HAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHICH ALSO CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING.. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK FROM TO ASK IF THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A KNOWN, BY GENERAL MOTORS, PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT, BECAUSE I WAS NOT A "LOYAL" CUST…

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I HAVE A 2004 SILVERADO Z71 WHICH HAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHICH ALSO CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING.. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK FROM TO ASK IF THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A KNOWN, BY GENERAL MOTORS, PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT, BECAUSE I WAS NOT A "LOYAL" CUSTOMER. WHEN QUESTIONED, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID BECAUSE I DID NOT BRING MY VEHICLE TO THEM FOR LUBE/OIL CHANGES (WHICH COST MORE FOR THEM TO PERFORM THAN OTHER PLACES) I WAS CONSIDERED NOT TO BE LOYAL TO WHEELER CHEVROLET!! TRUCK HAD LESS THAN 50K ON THE ODOMETER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365636

52,000 miles · Nov 9, 2010
Steering

I OWN A 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO Z71 4 WHEEL DRIVE EXTENDED CAB PICKUP. THE STEERING SHAFT MAKES A RUBBING, GRINDING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY THOUGHT IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT BUT PROBABLY A BEARING ON THE SHAFT. THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NO…

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I OWN A 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO Z71 4 WHEEL DRIVE EXTENDED CAB PICKUP. THE STEERING SHAFT MAKES A RUBBING, GRINDING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY THOUGHT IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT BUT PROBABLY A BEARING ON THE SHAFT. THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE STEERING SHAFT COULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND FEARS. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO CONCERN FROM GENERAL MOTORS. I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS WIDESPREAD DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365200

91,000 miles · Oct 22, 2010
Steering

THE FAILURE THAT I AM EXPERIENCING IS AN AWFUL POPPING, CRACKING, CLUNKING, AND GROWLING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE WERE SIMPLY NORMAL, EVERYDAY USE. THE VEHICLE THAT I AM EXPERIENCING THIS WITH IS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 Z71 WITH THE 5.3 V8 4X4 WITH. NOTHING HAS BEEN DON…

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THE FAILURE THAT I AM EXPERIENCING IS AN AWFUL POPPING, CRACKING, CLUNKING, AND GROWLING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE WERE SIMPLY NORMAL, EVERYDAY USE. THE VEHICLE THAT I AM EXPERIENCING THIS WITH IS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 Z71 WITH THE 5.3 V8 4X4 WITH. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS GM'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AT THEIR COST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361824

65,000 miles · Oct 15, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND RUSTED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND AFTER SIX MONTHS, IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKE LINES TO BE CORRODED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND RUSTED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND AFTER SIX MONTHS, IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKE LINES TO BE CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10360671

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.