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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.

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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

Power Train complaints

15 reports
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50,000 miles · Jun 5, 2026
Power Train

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle experienced reduced power and went into LIMP Mode. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle after several minutes, as per the Owner's Manual. The transmission war…

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The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle experienced reduced power and went into LIMP Mode. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle after several minutes, as per the Owner's Manual. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that it could take 1-2 weeks to diagnose the vehicle, and several months to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a claim was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11742282

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2021
Power Train

The transfer case wore a pine hole in the case from the oil pump spring lock not securing movement causing me to loose all oil from transfer case. This left me stranded when I could not shift into 4 wheel drive the could not get it to re- engage 2wheel drive. This could have possibly caused catastrophic loss of control had the t…

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The transfer case wore a pine hole in the case from the oil pump spring lock not securing movement causing me to loose all oil from transfer case. This left me stranded when I could not shift into 4 wheel drive the could not get it to re- engage 2wheel drive. This could have possibly caused catastrophic loss of control had the transfer case locked up while driving at high speed on slick roads or if someone ran into me from sudden lock up of the drive train.

NHTSA ODI #11440880

70,000 miles · Mar 12, 2017
Power Train

WRONG CLIP ON OIL PUMP IN TRANSFER CASE WEARS HOLE IN CASE . ALL THE OIL DRAINS OUT OF CASE CAUSING CATISTROPHIC FALLERS. CAUSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS AN OFFERED NO HELP. THIS COULD CAUSE REAL DANGER TO OWNER IF THIS HAPPENED IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS. THIS HAPPENED WHEN VEHICLE IS OPERATING WITH …

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WRONG CLIP ON OIL PUMP IN TRANSFER CASE WEARS HOLE IN CASE . ALL THE OIL DRAINS OUT OF CASE CAUSING CATISTROPHIC FALLERS. CAUSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS AN OFFERED NO HELP. THIS COULD CAUSE REAL DANGER TO OWNER IF THIS HAPPENED IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS. THIS HAPPENED WHEN VEHICLE IS OPERATING WITH NO WARNING. MY CASE WAS FOUND BY TEC BEFORE FALL IRE MY BROTHERS FAILED ON A TRIP LEAVING HIM STRANDED.

NHTSA ODI #10960204

139,000 miles · Feb 15, 2017
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AT IDLE.CK ENGINE LIGHT ON.

NHTSA ODI #10954870

98,000 miles · Apr 8, 2016
Electrical SystemPower Train

AS WITH MANY OTHER POSTS HERE, I TOO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER(BAD SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGE READINGS, "ELECTRICAL") AND ALSO THE TRANSFER CASE WITH HOLES WEARING THROUGH THE CASE, "PUMP SLAP". EVERYTHING I HAVE RESEARCHED HAS LED TO ISSUES IN BOTH PROBLEMS. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED BOTH PROBLEMS BUT STILL NOTH…

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AS WITH MANY OTHER POSTS HERE, I TOO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER(BAD SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGE READINGS, "ELECTRICAL") AND ALSO THE TRANSFER CASE WITH HOLES WEARING THROUGH THE CASE, "PUMP SLAP". EVERYTHING I HAVE RESEARCHED HAS LED TO ISSUES IN BOTH PROBLEMS. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED BOTH PROBLEMS BUT STILL NOTHING BACK FROM GM. WHAT A SHAME THAT THESE AND ALL OTHER ISSUES CAN'T BE ADDRESSED BY GM. I HAVE NOT YET HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, YET, BUT I TELL YOU, IT WILL BE LOOKED INTO. THESE BOTH HAVE HAPPENED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10854289

230,000 miles · Aug 17, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED PRIOR TO DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED PRIOR TO DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. UPDATED 09/21/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE RETENTION CLIP FOR THE OIL PUMP IN THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED, THE PUMP CREATED A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE CASE. UPON COMPLETE DISCHARGE OF THE LUBRICATION FLUID. THE VEHICLE WOULD SPIKE ITS RPM AND DROP INTO NEUTRAL OR A LOWER GEAR. UPDATED 03/01/16. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10749279

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2011
Electrical SystemPower TrainFire

2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. FIRE INVESTIGATOR WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DASH FIRE *TGW THE VEHICLE WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED BY A FIRE WHICH REPORTEDLY ORIGINATED IN THE DASH. THE FIRE SPREAD AND CONSEQUENTLY CONSUMED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THEN SPREAD TO THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM MANIFESTED WHILE THE DRIVER WAS USING THE CIGARET…

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2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. FIRE INVESTIGATOR WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DASH FIRE *TGW THE VEHICLE WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED BY A FIRE WHICH REPORTEDLY ORIGINATED IN THE DASH. THE FIRE SPREAD AND CONSEQUENTLY CONSUMED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THEN SPREAD TO THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM MANIFESTED WHILE THE DRIVER WAS USING THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE TRANSMISSION, ALTERNATOR AND A 15 AMP FUSE LIGHTER FUSE WAS REPLACED. THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS USED FREQUENTLY, PLUGGING A 400 WATT INVERTER WHICH ALLOWED THE DRIVER TO USE HIS COMPUTER. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE, THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN HE UNPLUGGED THE INVERTER FROM THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER SOCKET AND INSERTED HIS CIGARETTE LIGHTER WHICH POPPED BACK. ABOUT A SECOND LATER, WHITE SMOKE STARTING COMING FROM THE DASH. THERE WERE NO CIGARETTES IN THE ASH TRAY. THE SMOKE STARTED TO INCREASE AND THE CONSUMER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS AN ELECTRICAL INSULATION SMOKE ODOR. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE DASH; THERE WAS NO SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR THE HOOD AT THAT TIME. IT WAS IN THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR'S OPINION, THAT THE RESULTS OF THE EXAMINATION LEAD TO A CONCLUSION THAT ON A MORE PROBABLE THAN NOT BASIS, AN ELECTRICAL ANOMALY AT THE DASH AREA AND IN THE VICINITY OF THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER IGNITED NEARBY COMBUSTIBLES AND THE FIRE SPREAD INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. (LETTER SENT IN BY FIRE INVESTIGATOR) *JB

NHTSA ODI #10418950

96,764 miles · Oct 14, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, DieselPower Train

BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN OCTOBER OF 2009, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP ON 12/17/2009 WITH COMPLAINTS MILEAGE OF 96,764 OF LOW ENGINE POWER, HARD TO START TRUCK,,,,GLOW PLUGS WERE BAD CORRODED PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH, CORROSION ON BRAKE LINES..PAID $ 3,600 IN REPAIRS THEN AROUND LATE SEPTEMBER 9-28-2010TRUCK DIED A FOURWAY INTERSECTION...WAS A…

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BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN OCTOBER OF 2009, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP ON 12/17/2009 WITH COMPLAINTS MILEAGE OF 96,764 OF LOW ENGINE POWER, HARD TO START TRUCK,,,,GLOW PLUGS WERE BAD CORRODED PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH, CORROSION ON BRAKE LINES..PAID $ 3,600 IN REPAIRS THEN AROUND LATE SEPTEMBER 9-28-2010TRUCK DIED A FOURWAY INTERSECTION...WAS ALMOST HIT BY A CAR...TOWED TO NEAREST SERVICE FLEET SOURCE...FOUND OUT INJECTORS WERE BAD...WORK WAS STARTED FOR REPAIRS...THEN I FOUND OUT THE GLOW PLUGS...WHICH I PAID FOR ALREADY...AND THE INJECTORS WERE SERVICE BULLETINS...CALLED FLEET TOLD THEM TO STOP REPAIRS...CALLED THE DEALERSHIP...THAT HAD THE TRUCK IN DECEMBER...ASK WHY THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE GLOW PLUGS AND WHY THE DID NOT FIX THE INJECTORS...WHEN IT WAS IN THERE.....DEALERSHIP HUNG UP ON ME...CALLED 1-800-790-5700..SPOKE WITH GM TOLD THEM ABOUT MY CHEVY PROBLEMS...THEY CLAIM THAT MY INJECTORS WOULD NOT BE COVERED...AS IT WAS NOT A DEALERSHIP....FUNNY THING IS THAT FLEET SOURCE IS A CERTIFIED REBUILDER FOR BOSCH, AND SATADYNE BY THE MANUFACTURE FOR THESE PARTS THAT ARE USED IN ALL GM VEHICLES....SO IF YOU TAKE YOUR TRUCK TO A DEALER...THEY GET THEIR PARTS FROM THESE PEOPLE.....GM HAS A HISTORY OF PUTTING ON BULLETINS FOR ITEMS...AND CLAIMING WHEN YOU BRING IN YOUR TRUCK THAT THE PART DOES NOT MEET THE PERIMETER FOR REPLACEMENT....I ABOUT ANOTHER $ 3,200.00 THAT MAKES ABOUT $ 5,0000.00 DOLLARS OF ITEMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED OUT...HAD RECALLS..SERVICE BULLETINS....NEVER WILL BY ANYTHING THAT GM MAKE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360425

144,000 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Power Train

2004 CHEVY SILVERADO HD 2500 DIESEL--TRANSFER CASE WEARING FROM INSIDE OUT I TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO HAVE SERVICE WORK DONE ON IT, AND FOUND OUT FROM THE JASPER TRANSMISSION COMPANY, THAT THEY ARE DOING A LARGE NUMBER OF CHEVY TRANSFER CASES BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T SHIMMIED RIGHT FROM THE FACTORY, CAUSING THE GEARS IN THE TRANSFER CAS…

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2004 CHEVY SILVERADO HD 2500 DIESEL--TRANSFER CASE WEARING FROM INSIDE OUT I TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO HAVE SERVICE WORK DONE ON IT, AND FOUND OUT FROM THE JASPER TRANSMISSION COMPANY, THAT THEY ARE DOING A LARGE NUMBER OF CHEVY TRANSFER CASES BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T SHIMMIED RIGHT FROM THE FACTORY, CAUSING THE GEARS IN THE TRANSFER CASE TO EAT THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING ON THE TRANSFER CASE ITSELF. THIS THEN RESULTS IN THE TRANSFER CASE FLUID TO LEAK OUT, AND CAUSES THE GEAR BOX TO COME APART INSIDE THE TRANSFER CASE. THE CHEVY DEALER THAT I TOOK MY TRUCK TO NEVER EVEN MENTIONED THIS TO ME, AND WAS VERY EVASIVE ABOUT THE WHOLE ISSUE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GMC (GOV'T. MOTORS CORP.) CAR OR TRUCK AGAIN!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311685

136,000 miles · Dec 21, 2008
Power Train

TRANSFER CASE DEVELOPS HOLE FROM PUMP INSIDE ON MY 2004 CHEVY 2500 HD DURAMAX. SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM OWNERS WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSFER CASE. ITS BEING CALLED THE INFAMOUS PUMP RUB. SOUNDS LIKE GM IS IGNORING THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON VEHICLES THIS NEW WITH LITTLE MILES ON THEM.…

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TRANSFER CASE DEVELOPS HOLE FROM PUMP INSIDE ON MY 2004 CHEVY 2500 HD DURAMAX. SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM OWNERS WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSFER CASE. ITS BEING CALLED THE INFAMOUS PUMP RUB. SOUNDS LIKE GM IS IGNORING THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON VEHICLES THIS NEW WITH LITTLE MILES ON THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252462

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.