2004 Chevrolet Silverado problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (114) · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel (96) · Electrical System (32)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Silverado model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
518 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (578)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Suspension:rear:springs:leaf Spring Assembly 2017-07-17 · 06-03-09-004H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical bulletin provides a procedure to lube the rear leaf springs on vehicles with the condition of a squeak noise originating from the rear of the vehicle.
Structure:body:tailgate 2017-02-08 · PIT3227M · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. technician should not replace any parts for this concern. please communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of thei
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages 2017-01-31 · PIT3665E · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication advises the technician that the hydro-boost is not serviceable and will need to be replaced if the brake pedal moves or applies on its own at a full turn.
Equipment:electrical 2016-02-23 · PIC5953A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have an issue when using bluetooth voice recognition with an iphone. technician should work with the customer to insure the phone contacts to not have any emojis loaded to any contact.
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2016-01-27 · 03-08-46-004R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this informational bulletin provides information on part restriction and ordering process information for onstar vehicle communication interface modules (vcim) (gmna only)
Engine 2016-01-14 · 06-06-01-010C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this informational bulletin provides information on close coupled converters and there affect on newly installed engines or engines during there break in period.
Showing the 6 most recent of 578 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-06-24 · Air Bags · 173,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet silverado. the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, he poured oil into the oil reservoir, and then placed the key into the ignition switch to turn on the vehicle when the air bags unexpectedly deployed without warning. the steering wheel air bag hit the contact's face and knocked him to…”
2016-03-18 · Service Brakes · 150,000 mi“brake failure today on chevy siverado. driving 55 mph on highway. the car ahead of me slowed and i braked. peddle went to the floor without stopping vehical. was able to come to stop and could see rusted brake lines by driver door. had wife press brake peddle to see fluid sraying from rusted area. had zero braking power when first went out…”
2016-03-17 · Service Brakes · 97,000 mi“rear brake line blew when trying to apply brakes. no indicator lights or anything pedal just went straight to the floor. had to swerve off the road into an embankment to avoid a collision at a red light! mechanic said that all my brake lines were rusted and it was just a matter of time before another one was to fail.…”
2016-03-14 · Electrical System · 40,000 mi“instrument panel/cluster is no longer functioning. speedometer, tachometer, oil pressure gauge and so on are erratic and giving false readings. dealer is not willing to assist. please advise, rc, esquire.…”
2016-01-28 · Service Brakes · 113,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet silverado. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 mph, the brakes suddenly failed and the driver lost control of the vehicle. as a result, the contact crashed into a ditch. the contact indicated that when depressing the brake pedal, it extended to the floorboard. the independent mechanic exam…”
2016-01-26 · Seats · 78,344 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet silverado. the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the driver seat. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ecm box was damaged and needed replacement. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the contact also stated that the same failure occurred in d…”
2016-01-02 · Service Brakes · 130,000 mi“i was driving on rt.7 in schenectady ny, speed was around 35mph, traffic signal changed to red, as i was appling the brakes the peddal suddenly went to the floor, lucky for me there were no cars in front of me, or in the intersection. my truck did envetually stop, but it was after passing thru the intersection. the red light on the dash did not…”
2015-11-23 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel · 277,638 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet silverado. the contact stated that the instrument panel would not illuminate at night to display pertinent information, such as the speedometer. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the failure mileage was 277,638.…”
2015-11-09 · Tires:tread/Belt · 144,322 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet silverado equipped with yokohama geolandar a/t-s tires, size: lt215/85r16 (na). the contact stated that the tires failed to pass an inspection because the tread was too thin. the tires were not diagnosed or replaced. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate vehicle failure mileage was 1…”
2015-10-12 · Service Brakes · 135,000 mi“brakes failed suddenly due to severely corroded brake lines. brake pedal was slightly mushy at stop sign coming off of freeway. at the next stop sign (3-way intersection on 55-mph county highway) the pedal went right to the floor. fortunately there was nobody in the intersection or a serious accident may have occurred. apparently gm's position …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.