2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 25about this part
- Share
- 3%of 797 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 86,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 3% of the 797 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 86,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I own a 2004 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 4x4. I have a broken rear exhaust manifold bolt on the left side of my 5.3 v8. I hear this is an extremely common problem. My local dealer wants $1,600 to fix it because you do need to pull the aluminum head to repair it!! I completely agree with the head needing to be pulled, but I believe that GM needs to step up and fix this extremely common and ongoing problem. It is definitely a manufacturer defect!!”
NHTSA complaint #10425115, filed 2011-09, 71,000 miles“Was picking up my children from summer school and had the air conditioner on. I felt the cool air hitting me but still felt some heat...I thought it was the sun hitting me through the front windshield. My son complained that he was hot and there was hot air hitting him. I reached over and felt the air coming out of the passenger side and it was extremely hot!!! If my son would of been sitting on the front seat he could have gotten burned by the hot air! I pulled over and tried closing the vents and turned off the A/C but hot air still came through the vents. …”
NHTSA complaint #10615652, filed 2014-07, 110,853 miles“Emissions defect concerning broken exhaust manifold bolts. Due to this issue truck can not pass arizona state inspection do to engine light coming on. Thousands of silverado, sierra, suburban, tahoe, yukon and even escalade owners have spent millions on this problem after their warranties ran out and some can't renew their licenses for failing an etest because of it. Please help get GM to recall this.”
NHTSA complaint #10467899, filed 2012-07, 188,500 miles“When driving or stop and the air conditioner is on it start blowing hot air just on the left side. The vehicle can be stationary or in motion. City street or a highway or turning.”
NHTSA complaint #10936095, filed 2016-12, 97,000 miles“Vehicle would lose antifreeze after 2 hour trips and knocking in the engine. Gmc replaced the lifters in 2005. Nothing changed, 2007 had the antifreeze issue corrected by replacing intake. Speedometer went out at 90,000 miles. At 100,000 miles started losing oil pressure, had oil pressure switch replaced, at 111,000 miles bearings went out had to replace engine, this vehicle has been extremely costly for me.”
NHTSA complaint #10262081, filed 2009-03, 111,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10251887Mar 14, 2024This bulletin advises the technician of possible location of an internal coolant leak from a specific cylinder head and location.
- 10251890Mar 13, 2024This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank…
- 10250775Feb 22, 2024This service bulletin provides service information to technicians on guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large…
- 10249579Jan 12, 2024This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine.
- 10245395Nov 6, 2023This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing…
- 10242843Sep 1, 2023The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the…
- 10242262Aug 24, 2023This service bulletin provides graphics, information and guidelines for engine component wear to assist service personnel as a guideline to perform necessary engine repairs and…
- 10240344Jul 31, 2023This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
- 10236164Apr 24, 2023This Preliminary information communicates information that will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308…
- 10235802Apr 24, 2023This diagnostic tip bulletin provides additional information on how to diagnose a possible valve, lifter or camshaft issue.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 20 | 6% |
| 2023 | 26 | 7% |
| 2022 | 25 | 4% |
| 2021 | 60 | 7% |
| 2020 | 26 | 3% |
| 2019 | 50 | 5% |
| 2018 | 10 | 2% |
| 2017 | 4 | 1% |
| 2016 | 1 | 0% |
| 2015 | 12 | 1% |
| 2014 | 9 | 1% |
| 2013 | 2 | 1% |
| 2011 | 3 | 1% |
| 2010 | 5 | 1% |
| 2009 | 5 | 1% |
| 2008 | 7 | 1% |
| 2007 | 27 | 3% |
| 2006 | 13 | 4% |
| 2005 | 18 | 3% |
| 2004 | 25 | 3% |
| 2003 | 20 | 2% |
| 2002 | 13 | 3% |
| 2001 | 17 | 4% |
| 2000 | 11 | 2% |
| 1999 | 10 | 2% |
| 1998 | 17 | 5% |
| 1997 | 35 | 6% |
| 1996 | 1 | 14% |
| 1994 | 2 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
330 complaintsElectrical system
267 complaintsSteering
75 complaintsAir bags
34 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
27 complaintsFuel system
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
20 complaintsEngine
18 complaintsBody and structure
15 complaintsEquipment
13 complaintsSuspension
13 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology