What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2004 Chevrolet Silverado

Typical pattern

13.5% of complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2004 vehicle — around the middle of the 236 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (161 complaints), typically at 3.4 yr or about 48,680 miles.

Complaints
713
Median age at failure
3.3 yr
Median mileage
45,000 n=599
Crash / fire / tow
12.2% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
161 reports · 48,680 mi
3.4 yr
5.6%
Service brakes
122 reports · 92,000 mi
10.3 yr
8.2%
Service brakes, hydraulic
85 reports · 20,000 mi
1.9 yr
27.1%
Power train
50 reports · 13,000 mi
1.8 yr
8%
Steering
43 reports · 32,000 mi
2.0 yr
7%
Air bags
30 reports · 35,600 mi
1.9 yr
73.3%
Structure
25 reports · 40,322 mi
1.4 yr
16%
Engine cooling
25 reports · 20,000 mi
1.8 yr
8%
Suspension
24 reports · 6,000 mi
1.3 yr
8.3%
Speed control
23 reports · 40,000 mi
3.2 yr
4.3%
Tires
21 reports · 16,800 mi
1.7 yr
4.8%
Visibility
19 reports · 1,500 mi
11 mo
10.5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

08E050000 2008-08-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E106000 2007-12-17
Wheels:hub

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.

WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E066000 2007-08-28
Equipment:electrical

CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.

06V417000 2006-10-31
Air bags:frontal

CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.

IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A FRONT PASSENGER'S LEVEL OF INJURY MAY BE INCREASED.

06V289000 2006-08-03
Engine cooling

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER.

IF THE DAMPER COMES LOOSE, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

06E064000 2006-07-17
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E060000 2006-06-29
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

06E023000 2006-03-13
Exterior lighting:headlights

CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

05V163000 2005-04-22
Seat belts:rear/other

ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE S

A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.

05V161000 2005-04-22
Parking brake

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.

IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Power train 4,200 mi 1 mo in service crash / fire / tow
FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VERE LEFT INTO A TELEPHONE POLE IN MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS TRAVELING ACCORDING TO THE COMPUTER 20 MPH.*AK
Power train 1,368 mi 2 mo in service
PURCHASED A NEW 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Z71. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SELECT PANEL FAILED. RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO SANDY SANSING CHEVROLET PENSACOLA, FLORIDA DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED CHEVROLET COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM FOR TWO TO FIVE MONTHS BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS A COMPUTER SOFTWARE DEFECT. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH THE 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AT CHEVROLET KNEW THERE COMPUTER SOFTWARE HAD A DEFECT WHEN MAKING THIS VEHICLE WAS MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSUMER. CHEVROLET SHOULD REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES.*AK
Power train 1,700 mi 3 mo in service
HARD SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR - SLIPPING INTO OVERDRIVE - EVENTUALLY FAILING TO UPSHIFT UNTILL RPM REACHED APRX 3500. *AK
Visibility 650 mi 3 mo in service
FRONT DEFROSTER WAS INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT, THE HEAT WAS BLOCKED OFF, CAUSING IMPAIRED VISION. *AK 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT DEFROSTER WHICH IS CAUSING IMPAIRED VISION. DEALER EXPLAINED TO CONSUMER THAT THE DESIGN OF THE DEFROST SYSTEM WAS TO PREVENT THE WINSHIELD FROM CRACKING AT THE BOTTOM.*MR

Other Silverado model years

2017201420122011200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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