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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,544 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 engine problems

engine problem

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2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Owner Comments

problem #19

Sep 122013

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving through Utah at posted speed limit of 75 with cruise control on, the speedometer suddenly started to indicate a deceleration from cruises speed to 30 mph. My vehicle did not physically slow as evidenced by my gps which continued to show actual speed of 75 mph. Disengaging the cruise control did slow the vehicle when the actual speeds were 50+/- mph than indicated on speedometer. Stopping my vehicle and turning the ignition off apparently reset something? immediately restarting my pickup seemed to remedy the problem for a short period of time. This speedometer problem has persisted for over one year requiring the continual use of gps to confirm my actual speeds. I have a significant cause of concern when indicated speeds are significantly faster than indicated. I contacted GM dealership, only to be told they have no idea of the problem and would not confirm the continual problem. In conjunction with the speedometer problem I'm also experiencing problems with the the fuel tank levels. Gauges indicate 1/2 tank, however when fueled at that level the tank required nearly 20 gallons of fuel to full. Again the GM dealership was not concerned with the safety problem. Online searches of similar problem have indicated many Chevrolet Silverado are experiencing similar safety problems.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #18

Jun 182008

Silverado 3500

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the reduced engine power warning message illuminated as the vehicle decelerated to 15 mph. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal all the way to the floorboard but the vehicle would not accelerate. The failure recurred intermittently through out the years and the dealer replaced the electrical harness, the throttle grounding wire, throttle body and the fuel cap, but to no avail. The dealer could not diagnose the problem. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

- Spokane, WA, USA

problem #17

Sep 182013

Silverado 3500

  • 34,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the speedometer failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that the vehicle was not recalled. The failure mileage was 34,000.

- Burgettstown, PA, USA

problem #16

Apr 232013

Silverado 3500

  • 128,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Last month after driving about 1 hour at highway speeds; my speedometer started dropping. It would show I was going 35 on the freeway. This was clearly not accurate. The needle started jumping then dropped to 0. the next day, it was working fine. The next 2 long distance trips I took, the speedometer did the same thing on the way home; not on the trip down. I took my truck to the dealership and was told that it was some sort of cable to the transmission; that there had been a lot of trouble with the speedometer and that there had been a previous recall but it was too late. Bottom line the charge to repair is $440. I purchased this vehicle new and it currently has 130,000 miles. I never received any type of recall notice, I live in the same place I did when I purchased the truck, absolutely nothing has changed. How is it too late? if the part is defective, it is defective. If I had received a recall notice to have it fixed I certainly would have taken it in. This is a serious safety issue.

- Paris, TX, USA

problem #15

Nov 012011

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
Tachometer, speedometer and temperature gauge failures.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #14

May 082007

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles
The 2004 Chevrolet, Silverado is running 50 plus mph, and speedometer reads zero. When is general going to get there heads out of there.

- Cotati, CA, USA

problem #13

Apr 152007

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Speedometer on 2004 Chevrolet Silverado truck sticks at various places. If I turn off the engine and it is stuck on 30 mph the next time I drive the needle went up from there as if that was zero. So I might only be going 30 mph, but the speedometer said im going 60 mph. This is dangerous because I don't know what speeed I am going. I have heard of many others with this problem on GM trucks.

- Vacaville, CA, USA

problem #12

Mar 102007

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,000 miles
My 2004 Chevrolet Silverado speedometer was defective/ erratic, and intermittently operating, not reading speed accurately. It was jumpy, and did not not work at all at times. The vehicle has 41000 miles, and dealer will not fix it under warranty.

- Milner, GA, USA

problem #11

Feb 152007

Silverado 3500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,000 miles
- the contact stated that each time he drove the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado with 47000 failure mileage)at any rate of speed and coming to a stop the speedometer needle did not return to zero. The contact stated that each time the vehicle was put into park and turned off the needle will go to a lower position each time. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer and the vehicle will be repaired at another location. The contact was not able to continue the interview. Returned usps, 2nd attempt made 4/05/07 failed.

- Humble, TX, USA

problem #10

Nov 212006

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,200 miles
Like many others I have a 2004 Silverado and the speedometer went crazy registers wrong, stats out at 90 mph and goes over a hundred at about 20 miles an hour, I have seen the posts about this problem, looks to me to be a major accident problem! my truck only has 30,000 miles on it! mike queen.

- Cushing, OK, USA

problem #9

Oct 302006

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,245 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2004 Chevrolet Silverado Z71 w/ 44,300 miles is having problems with the speedometer. There is no way to tell how fast I am going. This is a very dangerous and widespread problem with the newer gms.

- Amarillo, TX, USA

problem #8

Mar 242006

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles
: the contact stated the speedometer is inoperable. The dealership determined the speedometer needs to be replaced.

- Lake Havasu City, AZ, USA

problem #7

Feb 172006

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
: the contact stated the speedometer intermittently works providing an incorrect reading of the accurate miles per hour, which resulted in a speeding ticket. Although the vehicle was seen by a dealer, no repairs were made.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #6

Jan 182006

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,000 miles
: the contact stated the speedometer stop working without warning. The dealership determined the speedometer cluster needed to be replaced. Updated 02/13/06.

- Pender, NE, USA

problem #5

Nov 152005

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles
The contact stated the speedometer stopped working without warning. He took the vehicle to a local dealership to be checked. They determined the instrument cluster panel was faulty. This caused the speedometer to malfunction. He contacted the manufacturer, and they approved the repairs to be made without cost to the contact.

- Jacksonville , NC, USA

problem #4

Sep 182005

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles
Bought a 2004 chevorlet 2500hd used. One week after purchase the tailgate bezel trim piece was lost on the highway. Then a few months later the speedometer dies on quits working, or works intemittently sometimes sticking.

- Norman, OK, USA

problem #3

Mar 252005

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles
The consumer complained about an instant acceleration problem when approaching a stop sign or red light and when applying brake pressure. This often occurred when stopping at low speeds, such as 10 mph or lower, and was intermittent in nature. This has happened at least five times. When brakes pressure was applied the engine suddenly revved. The consumer applied brake pressure and rear wheels spun, smoke appeared, and burning rubber fell on the pavement. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer several times for this problem. The dealer checked the calibration and performed a diagnostic check. These measures did not reveal any type of problem or failure. The dealer installed a device into the vehicle to record any incident. However, while the device was installed there were no recorded incidents of this type. A call was made to the manufacturer, who sent a factory representative to inspect the vehicle, no failure was determined. No corrections or repairs were done at this time. The consumer felt this was still a problem, most recent incident occurred yesterday with no explanation as to why this happened.

- Atwater, CA, USA

problem #2

Aug 102005

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles
2004 Chevrolet Silverado accelerator got stuck on start up, caused rollover. One person injured. Total loss of the vehicle. Also was having problems with the brakes not stopping the vehicle. Had it in twice for the brakes, dealership told me that this is the way there suppose to be. I kept on complaining that these brakes were not right. Example: When I tried to stop at a red light the vehicle kept on rolling, and I would yell stop, stop. I also had problems with the brake pedal dropping an inch while stopped at red lights. This was a bran new vehicle.

- Tilton, NH, USA

problem #1

Jan 052005

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,400 miles
While driving on I-75 North comming from Florida after crossing the Georgia state line driver made stop at the rest area, when I resumed trip the cruise control failed to engage, a few miles later in heavy traffic the cruise control engaged on it's own. Almost causing a accident, this truck has had nothing but problems since the day it was bought, anymore problems this truck will be parked and tiltled only for my safty and the safty of others on the road.seems to me after 100 years of auto building General Motors could get it right, oh by the way the local dealer said he could not find anything wrong with the cruise control, I have no doubt if this had been a cash fex instead of a warrenty problem they would have found the problem.

- Maceo, KY, USA

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