2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems
The 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 has 431 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (40%) concerns brakes. Next are electrical system (24%) and engine (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 431 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 40% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 23 and 11
- Injuries and deaths
- 12 and 4
- Typical mileage
- 75,000 miles 393 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 16 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 50 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 73 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 76 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 60 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 43 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 26 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 19 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 8 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 6 |
| 200k+ miles | 16 |
What the data shows
Of the 393 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 75,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 80,000 miles (171 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 23 complaints mention a crash; 11 complaints mention a fire; 12 injuries reported; 4 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 29 model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 with enough data (163 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl*the contacts son owned a 2004 chevrolet silverado 2500 hd. While driving approximately 60 MPH on a 60 MPH curve, the vehicle flipped forward several times. It struck a fence before being stopped by a tree. The contacts son was partially ejected from the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. Her son was transported by helicopter to a local hospital where he passed away hours later. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer has not yet been notified.
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.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet silverado 2500 hd. The contact stated that the speedometer works intermittently. The speedometer would indicate that the vehicle was traveling 35 MPH when it was idle. The dealer stated that there was a defect with the electronic speedometers. The dealer did not perform the repair. The contact also stated that the rear door locks are inoperable. The dealer has inspected the vehicle. The VIN was unknown. The current mileage is 53,500 and failure mileage was 47,000.
Driving a 2004 chevrolet 2500hd 4x4 6 liter crew cab with 143005 miles. Traveling at 55 MPH as I approached my turn onto a side street at approximately 100 yards out I applied brakes to reduce speed to 15/20 MPH to make 90 degree downhill right turn. I experienced a very spongy brake for a couple of seconds followed by the brake pedal going completely to floor. I pumped brakes several more times with the same brake pedal response and zero braking.