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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

68 reports
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130,000 miles · May 2, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES REPEATEDLY AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY TO THE NECK. IN ADDITION, THE OTHER VEHICLE DRIVER SUF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES REPEATEDLY AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY TO THE NECK. IN ADDITION, THE OTHER VEHICLE DRIVER SUFFERED A NECK INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10398649

54,350 miles · Apr 11, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE GAS STATION MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I LOST MY BRAKES, I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED HOME ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE LINES WERE SO RUSTED THAT THEY HAD HOLES AND HAD FALLEN APART. I HAD TO HAVE ALL THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED FROM FRONT TO BACK ON THE ENTIRE…

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WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE GAS STATION MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I LOST MY BRAKES, I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED HOME ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE LINES WERE SO RUSTED THAT THEY HAD HOLES AND HAD FALLEN APART. I HAD TO HAVE ALL THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED FROM FRONT TO BACK ON THE ENTIRE TRUCK, THE TRUCK WAS COMPLETELY UNSAFE DUE TO ALL THE BRAKE LINES BEING SO RUSTED, MY TRUCK IS PRIMARILY USED TO PULL MY 5TH WHEEL CAMPER. THAT DAY I HAD FILLED UP WITH GAS TO LEAVE THE NEXT MORNING FOR A CAMPING TRIP. I THANK GOD THAT MY FAMILY WAS NOT IN THE TRUCK AND NO ONE GOT HURT. WHEN I LOST MY BRAKES ON APRIL 8, 2011 I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE OR ANYTHING THING, I WAS DOING ABOUT 40 MPH AND HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO HELP SLOW ME DOWN AND STOP. IT WAS A FRIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 54,350 MILES ON IT AND IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. REPLACING ALL THE BRAKES LINES HAS BEEN VERY EXPENSIVE. I NOW AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUEL LINES WHICH DO NOT LOOK MUCH BETTER.

NHTSA ODI #10396333

56,658 miles · Apr 4, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

A BRAKE LINE BURST DURING TESTING AFTER THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE TECH SAID ALL LINES WERE BADLY CORRODED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT FREEWAY SPEED AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF WEREN'T FOR THE BRAKES ON THE TRAILER I WAS PULLING.

NHTSA ODI #10394933

63,000 miles · Mar 7, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN WITH MY 2004 CHEVY PICKUP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP. AFTER GETTING OUT I SAW BRAKE FLUID COMING DOWN AT ABOUT THE DRIVERS DOOR ALONG THE FRAME. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED NEW BRAKE LINES. ESPECIALLY THE ONES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER AND…

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WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN WITH MY 2004 CHEVY PICKUP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP. AFTER GETTING OUT I SAW BRAKE FLUID COMING DOWN AT ABOUT THE DRIVERS DOOR ALONG THE FRAME. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE TO BE REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED NEW BRAKE LINES. ESPECIALLY THE ONES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE FRONT BRAKES TO THE ABS CONTROLLER. WERE THESE LINES MEET THE FRAME THERE IS A PLASTIC CLIP AND AT THAT POINT THE LINES WERE ROTTED. AT THIS TIME ALL THE BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO IN THE PASS I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE ROTORS ON THE TRUCK BECAUSE THEY WERE ROTTEN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I EVER SEEN A ROTOR THAT WAS ROTTEN.

NHTSA ODI #10388648

140,000 miles · Jan 26, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TRUCK: 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD, 6.6L DIESEL. LOCATION: UPSTATE NY PROBLEM: WHILE TESTING THE BRAKES BEFORE TOWING A TRAILER, THE PEDAL PUSHED COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE FLUID POURED TO THE GROUND FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. UPON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES, IT SHOWED ONE OF THE LINES ON THE FRAME R…

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TRUCK: 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD, 6.6L DIESEL. LOCATION: UPSTATE NY PROBLEM: WHILE TESTING THE BRAKES BEFORE TOWING A TRAILER, THE PEDAL PUSHED COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE FLUID POURED TO THE GROUND FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. UPON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES, IT SHOWED ONE OF THE LINES ON THE FRAME RAIL HAD SEVERE CORROSION AND HAD BURST. ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID DRAINED OUT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER THROUGH THIS BROKEN LINE. I CHECKED THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKES AFTER THE BROKEN LINE TO SEE IF I HAD ANY ABILITY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AS THE BRAKES WOULD NOT EVEN STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING AT AN IDLE. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT OPERATING SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHILE TOWING, I WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THE TRUCK IS AT A REPAIR FACILITY TO HAVE THE LINES REPLACED AND SYSTEM CHECKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378715

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, SHE/HE HAD TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, GEAR DOWN AND USE THE TRAILER GEAR . THE GEAR WAS THEN PLACED IN PARK WHEN THE CONSUMER REACHED A STOP LIGHT, IN CASE THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. T…

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2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, SHE/HE HAD TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, GEAR DOWN AND USE THE TRAILER GEAR . THE GEAR WAS THEN PLACED IN PARK WHEN THE CONSUMER REACHED A STOP LIGHT, IN CASE THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE AT HIS/HER MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED THE NEXT DAY. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED AND WERE LEAKING IN SOME AREAS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10377852

120,000 miles · Jan 19, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD PICKUP. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING 5 MPH IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. HE THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT INTO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE CONCRETE. THE VEHICLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD PICKUP. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING 5 MPH IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. HE THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT INTO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE CONCRETE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WOULD NEED REPLACING BECAUSE THEY HAD RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10377147

75,000 miles · Jan 10, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE LINE WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10375442

69,000 miles · Jan 6, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH SUDDENLY EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND LEAKING. THE VEHICLE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH SUDDENLY EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,000.

NHTSA ODI #10374921

102,000 miles · Dec 16, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DECELERATING, HE NOTICED HIS BRAKES WEAKENING AS HE WOULD SLOW DOWN. HE THEN PULLED OVER TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE WHERE HE NOTICED A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE AND THAT IT WAS COVERED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS A…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DECELERATING, HE NOTICED HIS BRAKES WEAKENING AS HE WOULD SLOW DOWN. HE THEN PULLED OVER TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE WHERE HE NOTICED A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE AND THAT IT WAS COVERED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.

NHTSA ODI #10370931

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.