2004 Chevrolet SILVERADO 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
41 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 41 complaints (26.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 23 | 56.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 9.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 7.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 5 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 11; Service Brakes: 10; Fuel System, Diesel: 5; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 3; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 9; 2009: 5; 2010: 1; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2013: 3; 2015: 4; 2016: 3; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10176963 · 2006-12-26 (December 26, 2006)
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL GAVE NO RESISTANCE WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE DID STOP. THIS HAPPENED AT ALL SPEEDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT GM TOLD THEM THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS STARTED HAPPENING THE WEEK OF 12/18/06. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 1/29/2007 - THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS NOT OPERATED THIS WAY FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. …
Owner-reported narrative. 14,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215360 · 2008-01-18 (January 18, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHEN THERE IS HALF OF A TANK OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, IT AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED, WHICH CAUSED A CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,750.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241998 · 2008-09-12 (September 12, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVEROLET SILVERADO 3500. ON APRIL 20, 2008,WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH UP HILL, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED ON ITS OWN. THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CHECK THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING WHEN HE OPENED THE HOOD AND HE NOTICED OIL AND DIESEL FUEL ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALER. THE MECHANIC TESTED THE CYLINDER BY BLOWING AIR INTO IT AND THE AIR TRAVELED TO THE CRANK CASE. AFTER THE MECHANIC PERFORMED THIS TEST, HE INFORM…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10245273 · 2008-10-13 (October 13, 2008)
I HAVE A DURAMAX DIESEL ENGINE. I EXPERIENCED THE INJECTORS FAILED CAUSING MY FUEL TO MIX WITH THE OIL IN MY CRANKCASE WHICH CAUSED MY MOTOR TO SEIZE. GM HAS STATED THAT THE INJECTORS DID FAIL BUT WILL NOT FIX THE OTHER DAMAGE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE INJECTOR FAILURE. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM LAST YEAR LETTING ALL DURAMAX OWNERS KNOW OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THE LETTER SAID 'DON'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS THEY FAIL". WELL THEY FAILED AND GM WILL NOT FIX MY ENGINE. THEY WANT TO REPLACE IT TO A TUNE OF $13,000 TO ME!!!!!! PLEASE HELP ME. I HAVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,745 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143664 · 2005-11-25 (November 25, 2005)
DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT REPLACED WITH ONLY 25, 000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 54, 000 MILES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10278804 · 2009-07-30 (July 30, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL STIFFENS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE HYDRAULIC BOOSTER WITH GM PARTS. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED, AS WELL AS BOTH HYDRAULIC LINES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. GM RECOMMENDED THAT THE POWER STEERING BOX BE REPLACED, IN WHICH THE CONTACT COMPLIED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER (REFERENCE N…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10242021 · 2008-09-12 (September 12, 2008)
ON 3 OCCASIONS THE LOWER LEFT INTER-COOLER HOSE HAS COME DISCONNECTED CAUSING A SEVERE LOSS OF POWER TO THE DIESEL ENGINE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 37,525 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10286542 · 2009-10-06 (October 6, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. HE HAD TO INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING. WHILE DRIVING HE ALSO EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE HYDRO-BOOSTER PUMP LEAKED BRAKE AND STEERING FLUID. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL# 05V043000 (SERVICE BRAKES). A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT SINCE HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1,000.00 FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. NO REPAIRS WE…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216715 · 2008-02-01 (February 1, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL GAUGES DISPLAY INACCURATE READINGS. THE DEALER ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT, BECAUSE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE EXCEEDED 70,000 MILES, HE WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10849665 · 2016-03-14 (March 14, 2016)
2 PROBLEMS: 1- WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING THE BRAKES FAILED. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP I NOTICED A BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED AT THE FRAME RAIL UNDER DRIVER AREA. I WAS ABLE TO CRIMP BRAKE LINE WITH A PAIR OF VICE GRIP PLIERS AND MOVE TRUCK TO A SAFE LOCATION FOR REPAIR. I BELIEVE THE BRAKE LINES USED ON THESE TRUCKS TO BE OF SUCH INFERIOR QUALITY THAT SUDDEN FAILURE IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. 2- MY TRUCK HAS DUAL TANKS FOR DIESEL FUEL AND THEY HAVE WORKED SPORADICALLY FOR YEARS. I DID NOT SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE AS MUCH AS AN INCONVENIENCE…
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10849665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10377922 · 2011-01-19 (January 19, 2011)
BRAKE LINES, TRANSMISSION LINES AND ENGINE COOLANT LINES ALL FAILING ON 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 HD AS WELL AS ON 2003 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE CAUSED NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF TIME TO REPAIR AND REPLAFE, AND TODAY THERE WAS A BRAKE FAILUER ON THE 2004 HD GMC THAT ALMOST RESULTED IN DEADLY ACCIDENT. THESE LINES SHOULD NOT HAVE RUSTED AND WE HAVE ISSUES WITH BOTH VEHICLES ON THE SAME LINES. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCTED WITH INADEQUATE PARTS FOR ALL LINES ON THE UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD NOT BE 1,000 PLUS COMPLAINTS FROM …
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10377922 at NHTSA ↗