CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 · model year

2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500

430 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004CHEVROLETSILVERADO 2500 carries 430 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 23 crashes, 11 fires, 12 injuries, and 4 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 SILVERADO 2500 is service brakes with 99 filings, followed by electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (57) and service brakes, hydraulic (54). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2004 SILVERADO 2500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

430
Complaints
23
Crashes
11
Fires
12
Injuries
4
Deaths

Total Complaints

430 filings

Crashes Reported

23 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES99
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL57
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC54
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM46
ENGINE14
STEERING13
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS10
WHEELS9
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE8
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
POWER TRAIN7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM6
TIRES5

Recalls (2)

06E04300019/05/2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE

06E01000001/02/2006

STEERING

CERTAIN FABTECH AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS, P/NOS. FTS71000 AND FTS71001, INSTALLED FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2001-2006 GM C/K 2500 PICK UP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE PIN LOCATED INSIDE THE PITMAN ARM CAN SHEAR OFF DUE TO A REVERSE BENDING FATIGUE CONDITION, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS

Recent Complaints

20231220SERVICE BRAKES

Hydraboost piston blew out, lost brakes and steering. Almost wrecked vehicle.

20231220STEERING

Hydraboost piston blew out, lost brakes and steering. Almost wrecked vehicle.

20211118POWER 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 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.

20200905CrashFatalAIR BAGS

CANT REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED I BLACK OUT AND WOKE UP WITH COPS AROUND ME. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK IS WRECKED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

Mileage: 2

20200905CrashFatalSTRUCTURE:BODY

CANT REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED I BLACK OUT AND WOKE UP WITH COPS AROUND ME. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK IS WRECKED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

Mileage: 2

20200905CrashFatalWHEELS

CANT REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED I BLACK OUT AND WOKE UP WITH COPS AROUND ME. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK IS WRECKED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

Mileage: 2

20200120UNKNOWN OR OTHER

HYDRO BOOST HAS FAILED. IT WAS DISCOVERED BY GARDNERVILLE AUTO IN GARDNERVILLE, NEVADA . ON WEDNESDAY 1/15/2020. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY SAID THERE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. THEY SHOWED OLD RECALLS ON LIGHTING AND POWER STEERING BUT NOTHING ON THE HYDRO BOOST. THE GARAGE SHOWS THREE DIFFERENT RECALLS ON THE HYDRO BOOST, TWO OF WHICH WERE REPORTED BY NTSB.

Mileage: 185,000

20191217SERVICE BRAKES

I HAVE CHANGED ALL 4 NEW TIRES IN 4 DIFFERENT TIMES EVERY YRS NOT SURE IF THAT A WHEEL PROBLEM. AND ALSO FIX MY FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THAT WAS GIVE ME A PROBLEM IN THE PAST. NOW I REPLACE ALL NEW ROTOR BRAKE DISCS AND PAD IN 30 MINUTES OUT FROM A MECHANICAL SHOP IT'S SHOW A ENGINE LIGHT NOW SAYING RANGE SHIFT INHIBITED ON MY DASHBOARD. AND WHEN I'M SHIFTING TO DRIVE IT JUST REVERSE INSTEAD OF DRIVE. NOW IS BACK IN THE SHOP FOR NOW PROBLEM TO COME. FROM GARDEN CITY KANSAS

Mileage: 315,000

20191217ENGINE

I HAVE CHANGED ALL 4 NEW TIRES IN 4 DIFFERENT TIMES EVERY YRS NOT SURE IF THAT A WHEEL PROBLEM. AND ALSO FIX MY FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THAT WAS GIVE ME A PROBLEM IN THE PAST. NOW I REPLACE ALL NEW ROTOR BRAKE DISCS AND PAD IN 30 MINUTES OUT FROM A MECHANICAL SHOP IT'S SHOW A ENGINE LIGHT NOW SAYING RANGE SHIFT INHIBITED ON MY DASHBOARD. AND WHEN I'M SHIFTING TO DRIVE IT JUST REVERSE INSTEAD OF DRIVE. NOW IS BACK IN THE SHOP FOR NOW PROBLEM TO COME. FROM GARDEN CITY KANSAS

Mileage: 315,000

20191217WHEELS

I HAVE CHANGED ALL 4 NEW TIRES IN 4 DIFFERENT TIMES EVERY YRS NOT SURE IF THAT A WHEEL PROBLEM. AND ALSO FIX MY FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THAT WAS GIVE ME A PROBLEM IN THE PAST. NOW I REPLACE ALL NEW ROTOR BRAKE DISCS AND PAD IN 30 MINUTES OUT FROM A MECHANICAL SHOP IT'S SHOW A ENGINE LIGHT NOW SAYING RANGE SHIFT INHIBITED ON MY DASHBOARD. AND WHEN I'M SHIFTING TO DRIVE IT JUST REVERSE INSTEAD OF DRIVE. NOW IS BACK IN THE SHOP FOR NOW PROBLEM TO COME. FROM GARDEN CITY KANSAS

Mileage: 315,000

20191108TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 EQUIPPED WITH PRIMEWELL VALERA HT HARRY TRUMAN TIRES, SIZE: LT265/75/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE ALL THE TIRES REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND COULD NOT BE BALANCED CORRECTLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20190608SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINES FAILED AFTER HAVING ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. FACTORY LINES CORRODED THROUGH AND TRUCK WAS SCARY TO SLOW DOWN. WAS FORTUNATE TO BE GOING AT LOW SPEEDS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA - BUT GLAD THERE WERE NO KIDS AROUND AND I NEEDED TO BRAKE QUICKLY!

Mileage: 55,000

20190304TIRES

FEDERAL COURAGA MT TIRE TREAD SEPARATION AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. NOT EVEN AT HALF OF THE TREAD LIFE NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE OR CRACKING PRIOR TO THIS. ALL OTHER TIRES LOOK OK BUT HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOR CONCERNS OVER THE SAFETY OF THE TIRES AND MANUFACTURING QUALITY

Mileage: 132,000

20181229ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND "LOW ENGINE POWER" FLASHED WHERE THE ODOMETER IS. THIS CAUSED THE RPM'S NOT TO GO OVER 2800. CODE READER CLAIMS O2 SENSORS OR THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE OR CATALYTIC CONVERTOR ISSUES. WE DISCOVERED IT WAS NONE OF THE ABOVE. TO FIX PROBLEM CHANGE 3 RELAYS LOCATED UNDER HOOD IN FUSE BOX. RELAY #8864. THEN CLEAR CODES, SHOULD FIX ISSUE UNLESS CODE PERSISTS. RELAYS WILL CAUSE A FIRE IF NOT CHANGED OUT ASAP.

Mileage: 215,000

20181229FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND "LOW ENGINE POWER" FLASHED WHERE THE ODOMETER IS. THIS CAUSED THE RPM'S NOT TO GO OVER 2800. CODE READER CLAIMS O2 SENSORS OR THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE OR CATALYTIC CONVERTOR ISSUES. WE DISCOVERED IT WAS NONE OF THE ABOVE. TO FIX PROBLEM CHANGE 3 RELAYS LOCATED UNDER HOOD IN FUSE BOX. RELAY #8864. THEN CLEAR CODES, SHOULD FIX ISSUE UNLESS CODE PERSISTS. RELAYS WILL CAUSE A FIRE IF NOT CHANGED OUT ASAP.

Mileage: 215,000

20181229VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND "LOW ENGINE POWER" FLASHED WHERE THE ODOMETER IS. THIS CAUSED THE RPM'S NOT TO GO OVER 2800. CODE READER CLAIMS O2 SENSORS OR THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE OR CATALYTIC CONVERTOR ISSUES. WE DISCOVERED IT WAS NONE OF THE ABOVE. TO FIX PROBLEM CHANGE 3 RELAYS LOCATED UNDER HOOD IN FUSE BOX. RELAY #8864. THEN CLEAR CODES, SHOULD FIX ISSUE UNLESS CODE PERSISTS. RELAYS WILL CAUSE A FIRE IF NOT CHANGED OUT ASAP.

Mileage: 215,000

20181124STEERING

POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN AND ALSO TAKES LONGER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, HYDRO BOOST IS LEAKING AT THE BASE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TURN HARD AND SLOPPY STOPPING, DEALERSHIP SAYS NO WARRANTY FOR IT AND IT SHOULD BE OKAY AS LONG AS YOU KEEP FLUID FILLED, THAT COMMENT SOUNDS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, IT CONTINUES TO LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID.

Mileage: 198,000

20181116WHEELS

DRIVING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 15 IN #1 LANE SOUTH OF CEDAR CITY, UTAH. THE TRUCK SUDDENLY SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND WITHIN SECONDS THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION WITH DEBRIS FLY A HEAD OF ME. I FOUGHT TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN TO PULL OFF ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITH HITTING ANY ONE. THE TIRE THAT EXPLODED WAS ON LEFT FRONT. THE ENTIRE TREAD CAME OFF OF THE TIRE AND TIRE SEPARATED WHERE THE TIRE WAS SEAMED TOGETHER DURING MANUFACTURE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE BENT FRONT BUMPER, TORE THE WHEEL WELL LINER, DENTED THE FRONT DOOR IN SEVERAL PLACES AND DENTED ROCKER PANEL UNDER THE FRONT DOOR. THE TIRE WAS A BF GOODRICH ALL TERRAIN T/A KO, LT285R70/17 LOAD RANGE E. THE TIRE HAD A 50,000 MILE WARRANTY BUT HAD JUST A LITTLE 20,000 MILES WITH 10/32 TREAD ON ALL TIRES WHICH MEANS THERE WAS 60% TREAD LIFE LEFT IN THE TIRES. WHEN I WAS ALMOST HOME, I NOTICE A TYPE OF VIBRATION LIKE A TIRE WAS UNBALANCE OR OUT OF ROUND. I CHECK THE OTHER THREE TIRES AND DISC

Mileage: 60,112

20180619SERVICE BRAKES

I HAVE HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB BECAUSE ALL OF THE LINES RUSTED OUT AND FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP SAFELY. I SPENT ROUGH.Y $3,000 TO GET THIS REPAIRED. NOW THE FUEL LINES, FUEL COOLER AND EVERYTHING ATTACHED HAS RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT THAT IT IS GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONA $2,500 TO REPAIR THIS. ALSO, THE COMPLETE UNDER CARRIAGE AND REAR END HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT I AM EXPECTING IT TO FAIL AT ANY TIME. THIS IS NOT ONLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION, BUT IS EXTREMELY COSTLY TO THE CONSUMER, ME. WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED, I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION. WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. THE REPAIR FACILITY MECHANIC SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN A SYSTEM SO BAD. I KEEP THE VEHICLE IN A GARAGE AND HAVE WASHED THE UNDER CARRIAGE IN THE WINTER TO KEEP ROAD SALT FROM ACCUMULATING.

Mileage: 42,000

20180619FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I HAVE HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB BECAUSE ALL OF THE LINES RUSTED OUT AND FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP SAFELY. I SPENT ROUGH.Y $3,000 TO GET THIS REPAIRED. NOW THE FUEL LINES, FUEL COOLER AND EVERYTHING ATTACHED HAS RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT THAT IT IS GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONA $2,500 TO REPAIR THIS. ALSO, THE COMPLETE UNDER CARRIAGE AND REAR END HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT I AM EXPECTING IT TO FAIL AT ANY TIME. THIS IS NOT ONLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION, BUT IS EXTREMELY COSTLY TO THE CONSUMER, ME. WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED, I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION. WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. THE REPAIR FACILITY MECHANIC SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN A SYSTEM SO BAD. I KEEP THE VEHICLE IN A GARAGE AND HAVE WASHED THE UNDER CARRIAGE IN THE WINTER TO KEEP ROAD SALT FROM ACCUMULATING.

Mileage: 42,000

Compare 2004CHEVROLETSILVERADO 2500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 have?
The 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 has 430 NHTSA complaints, 23 crashes, 11 fires, 12 injuries, and 4 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500?
Yes, the 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500?
The most-complained component for the 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 is SERVICE BRAKES with 99 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.