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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
12 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
104,102 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 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Owner Comments (Page 4 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #72

Jun 262014

Silverado 3500

  • 96,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that the brake lines were completly rusted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician stated that the brake lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 96,000. The VIN was not available.

- Peabody, MA, USA

problem #71

Jun 082014

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 89,764 miles
Wife was driving my 2004 Chevy Silverado with 89764 miles when she was coming to a stop the brake pedal went right to the floor she went into other lane to avoid hitting the car in front of her. The steel brake line by the gas tank had ruptured. Seems like this is a common thing on these trucks however Chevrolet won't even acknowledge that there is an issue until someone dies. I have been a loyal GM guy for 32 years unless they acknowledge this problem and offer some kind of repair "I will never buy from GM again" and I will advise everyone I know to do the same. However I don't think they really care they will just get more money from the government when they can't sell cars.

- Wyoming, PA, USA

problem #70

Jun 122014

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 210,000 miles
I was driving down my hill when my brake pedal unexpectedly went to the floor. I coasted the rest of the way down the hill in low (automatic trans) and turned around and coasted back into my driveway where I could check it out. My rear main brake line was rusted in two and the others were completely corroded. The metal on my exhaust has no rust after all of these miles but the brake lines are obviously made of a far cheaper metal. I read a lot of articles where this is a huge problem with these trucks from 1999 to 2003. GM, old or new needs to accept responsibility and recall these cheap brakes.

- Racine, OH, USA

problem #69

May 162014

Silverado 3500 6-cyl

  • 112,000 miles

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

Since the purchase of the truck new the parking brake has never worked correctly. While the brake is engaged the vehicle will still roll. After noticing GM had issued a recall on this model truck for similar problems I contacted them. General Motors has informed me that my truck is not included in the recall. On the above date while launching my boat the truck lunged backward while I was behind (parking brake engaged) as a life long GM owner this will be my last.

- Kingston, NH, USA

problem #68

Jan 142014

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 43,000 miles
Rusted brake line broke, causing loss of brakes.

- Halesite, NY, USA

problem #67

May 062014

Silverado 3500

  • 162,280 miles
Wife was driving her niece and nephew and coming up on a stop sign to cross a busy highway. The pedal went to the floor. I checked the brake lines and they are extremely corroded/rusted and have a failure in at least one location. This did not result in a crash or injury but could have easily been fatal. There is no way that a truck only 11 years old should have brake lines rusting like this and having complete failure.

- Mclean, IL, USA

problem #66

Apr 282014

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 91,700 miles

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

I was backing out of my driveway and a brake line blew. Lucky it happened in the driveway and not coming down a hill. I had to have the truck towed to a repair shop and they said all the lines need to be replaced due to rust. The cost to replace the lines is around $950.

- Oneida, NY, USA

problem #65

Apr 172014

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 86,740 miles
I drove to dental office, parked my truck, attended appointment. I returned to my truck, drove approx. 1-2 miles before coming to an intersection where my lane was stopped at a red light on this two lane road. 3 vehicles in front of me were stopped at a red light. I attempted to slow down when my brakes failed with no warning. The brake pedal went all the way to the floor and was barely slowing down. I swerved left and had to cross double yellow lines into oncoming traffic to avoid crashing into the car in front of me, which would have collided with the two other cars at the light. Once that accident was avoided, someone turned from a side street headed directly at my veh. I managed to slow, cut back into my proper lane and narrowly avoid hitting the stopped cars at the light once again. I regained very little stopping ability.once stopped, my brake light came on. Brake line broke in rear left drivers side. Brake lines need to be replaced.

- Parkville, MD, USA

problem #64

Apr 222014

Silverado 3500

  • 100,000 miles
When I left our garage I noticed that the red brake system light was on. Usually my husband drives this to work but we switched vehicles because I needed to haul a trailer to help move my daughter. I have only drive this vehicle one other time so I was unfamiliar with how it handled. I noticed that I had to press hard to stop but thought that was how it handled. I drove over 120 miles with it this way, I didn't know what was wrong with it, by the time I pulled into our drive, I could barely stop the vehicle. My husband came out to release the trailer out back. He got in and said, "what's wrong with the brakes"" I said, "what do you mean"" he told me I had no brakes and I could have been killed. It was a near miss incident but I have found (as a former safety manager) that those near miss incidents often show a root cause) that in the future means something. Please let me know if there ever is a class action suit to recoup the money we will have to pay to have this repaired.

- Quincy, MI, USA

problem #63

Jan 112014

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 58,000 miles
Brake line broke due to excessive rusting of line. Internet research shows many many owners having same problem.

- House Springs, MO, USA

problem #62

Mar 152014

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 108,000 miles

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

While driving my 2004 Chevrolet Z71 crewcab Silverado the brake pedal went all the way to the floor with no warning sign such as soft pedal or warning light. I avoided rear ending the car in front of me because I was going slow enough in traffic to use my emergency brake. Upon inspection if found the brake reservoir below minimum and no visible leaks in my garage so I filled with dot3 fluid per owners manual. Upon depressing the brake pedal seeking a firm pedal the rear hard brake line burst. Further examination revealed all brake lines were rusted and in need of replacement, not just the burst line. My truck is not a daily driver and seldom driven on salted or chemical treated roads. When it is I always take is to my local car wash that has an undercarriage wash. I have noticed multiple complaints on brake lines for this vehicle with no recall. This is the first time I have ever heard of brake lines rusting to failure on a vehicle that is under 20 years old. Please insist Chevrolet do a recall before someone gets hurt and those of us that own this vehicle can be reimbursed, retroactively if necessary. Thank you.

- Purcellville, VA, USA

problem #61

Mar 032014

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 197,000 miles
My wife was transporting me to my first check up after major shoulder surgery, when the brakes failed. Upon a mechanical inspection, it has been determined that the brake line rusted totally through. We were very lucky she was able to get truck stopped with no injury to us or anyone else. Not a good situation with my shoulder totally immobilized.

- Hanna, IN, USA

problem #60

Feb 052014

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 162,125 miles
Driving into work this morning I tried to stop to and the brakes when to the floor. I looked underneath and there was brake fluid leaking from my brake lines near the drivers door on top of the frame rail.

- Rochester , NY, USA

problem #59

Feb 142012

Silverado 3500

  • 40,322 miles
All my lines under truck rusted out brake lines shift linkage transmission lines. Brakes were the worst lines popped from rust.I keep this truck in a garage not used commercially. I'm a hospice nurse and need to get where I'm going. I keep this truck mint detailed twice a year professionally maintained every 3000 miles.[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Weston, MA, USA

problem #58

Dec 102013

Silverado 3500

  • 140,000 miles
1st incident Nov. 2013 my wife was driving with the kids and was coming to a stop at a light and her brakes went all the way to the floor and had to swerve into shopping plaza entrance to avoid a accident. Took it to the shop to have brake line fixed. 2nd incident was Nov. 2013 while bleeding brakes at the shop another break line broke in the rear so I had to have the shop fix that also. Dec. 2013 while my wife was driving to supermarket, while driving in traffic someone cut in front of her and which caused her to hit the brakes & another brake line blew which was accident involved.

- Brick, NJ, USA

problem #57

Nov 302013

Silverado 3500 4WD 8-cyl

  • 157,800 miles
Stepped on brake and peddle went to the floor. Warning chime and brake light came on simultaneously. Pulled into convenience store and discovered brake fluid dripping out of brake line adjacent to drivers side frame rail. Location was aft of bend radius where the brake lines turns to go up to the master cylinder. Drove vehicle at very low speed one mile to home, pumping the brakes to get some peddle pressure. Inspected brake line and found it to be very rusted. Vehicle is in otherwise excellent condition for its age.

- Columbiana, OH, USA

problem #56

Feb 042013

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
I was going up a hill in Vermont and the brakes let go, pedal to the floor. My truck slid backwards, jack knifed my trailer which swung around and smashed into the side of my truck. Took my truck to have the brake lines replaced because they were totally rusted which caused them to break. My gas line is in the same condition now. It is so rusted my mechanic was afraid to touch it for it would break.

- Middletown, CT, USA

problem #55

Nov 052013

Silverado 3500

  • 77,542 miles
While exiting I95 and trying to come to a stop, my brake pedal went to the floor and I almost hit the car in front of me. I had a ruptured brake line under the drivers side door and it cost me $200 to get replaced.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #54

Nov 092013

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 94,253 miles
Brake lines under forward side of drivers door totally rusted through. Total loss of brakes while towing a trailer. Brakes felt soft prior to complete failure but no warning indication in instrument cluster until total failure. Brake fluid gushing onto the ground.

- Hastings, MI, USA

problem #53

Jul 142011

Silverado 3500 8-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
A brake line ruptured.

- Plymouth, MA, USA

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