Most common 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems
Share of the 797 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 complaints by model year
Best Silverado 1500 years: 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2019, 2021, 2014, 2022, 2024. Compare all years →
What 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners say
Brakes all 330 →
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 30-35 MPH, the brake and the check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal traveled down to the floorboard, and the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact pulled to the side of the road, added brake fluid to the vehicle, and continued driving. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal traveled down to the floorboard and the vehicle failed to respond. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact engaged the parking brake, and the vehicle stopped. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road downhill. The contact turned on the hazard lights and drove 5 MPH to her mother's residence while being trailed by a Police Officer. …
The contact's son owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while his son was exiting a parking lot, the brake pedal hose ruptured, and the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard. Upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact discovered that there was a hole in the brake hose. The contact used a personal trailer to tow the vehicle home where the vehicle remained. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000. The VIN was not available.
Electrical system all 267 →
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil pressure gauge was elevated too high. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed with a failed instrument cluster. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that she recently noticed that other gauges were also malfunctioning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with a failed instrument cluster. The contact was informed that the instrument cluster need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 19,626.
Odometer Fraud. The contact was interested in purchasing a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 from a local used car dealer. The contact stated that the odometer indicated that the mileage was 187,000. The Carfax report indicated that the last reported mileage was 312,000. In addition, the contact was informed that the vehicle had only one previous owner. The Carfax report indicated that the vehicle had four previous owners. The dealer was not made aware of the issue.
Steering all 75 →
I just replaced the battery in my 2004 chevy Silverado 1500 with only 97,000 miles on it, and i went to drive it down the road and the vehicle now loses power and cuts off making a left turn.. It did this twice and i parked it.. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE in my opinion.. PLEASE investigate the issue and report back to me please..
The loss of steering caused my 2004 Silverado 1500 to veer to the left side of the highway while going straight. The vehicle continued veering to the left, despite me trying to gain control of it. The vehicle left the highway and entered a sandy field. I applied brakes with all of my foot force, but the truck seemed not to slow up any. The vehicle was now headed towards a wooded area. The truck suddenly came to a sudden halt when it impacted with a big pine tree. The airbags exploded against my arms as I used them to shield my face. I suddenly noticed smoke coming from under the hood. I grabbed my purse and hurriedly vacated the vehicle. I called 911 after getting far enough from the smoking truck. I suffered back and neck pain. I had dizzy spells, because my head felt like a humongous basketball. I am fortunate that I did not loose my life. …
2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 15 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 a good car?
Based on 797 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Silverado 1500 rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Silverado 1500 at the same age. It is one of the Silverado 1500 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
The brakes — 330 complaints, 41% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc › rotor. Next are the electrical system (267) and steering (75).
How many recalls does the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2021, 2014, 2022 and 2024. See the full Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 31% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.