RoadVitals

2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Dec 20, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 368 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesSteering
Filed Dec 20, 2023

Hydraboost piston blew out, lost brakes and steering. Almost wrecked vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11561107
Incident
Dec 18, 2023
Steering
Filed Nov 24, 2018

POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN AND ALSO TAKES LONGER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, HYDRO BOOST IS LEAKING AT THE BASE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TURN HARD AND SLOPPY STOPPING, DEALERSHIP SAYS NO WARRANTY FOR IT AND IT SHOULD BE OKAY AS LONG AS YOU KEEP FLUID FILLED, THAT COMMENT SOUNDS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, IT CONTINUES TO LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID.

NHTSA ID
11153533
Incident
Nov 8, 2018
Mileage
198,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 21, 2015

I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE STEERING COLUMN...RATTLING IN THE COLUMN WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT DURING SLOW SPEEDS. MINE OF COURSE IS AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME QUITE TIME. IT IS BAD ENOUGH NOW THAT MY HORN DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. HORNS DO WORK PROPERLY WHEN I LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS.

NHTSA ID
10717686
Incident
May 13, 2010
Mileage
160,000 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 30, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STEERING BOX, PITMAN ARM, OUTER TIE ROD ON BOTH ENDS AND THE UPPER BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE LEAKING. THE BRAKE LEAK FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10606930
Incident
Aug 8, 2013
Mileage
200,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 8, 2013

TO WHOM IT CONCERNS: I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET 2500 HD 4X4 SILVERADO. I BOUGHT IT NEW. I HAVE BEEN HEARING A CLUNKING SOUND EVERY TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR MAYBE 5 OR 6 YEARS. I STARTED TO LOOK INTO THE CAUSE OF THE CLUNKING SOUND BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GETTING WORSE, AND I WAS VERY SHOCKED TO READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS, OVER 50 WHEN I STOPPED READING. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. MY QUESTION IS THIS. WHY DOES GMC NOT TAKE NOTICE OF THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST BECAUSE OF THIS STEERING PROBLEM. I THINK IT'S A GREAT SHAME THAT GMC WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND GET THESE PROBLEMS FIXED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID
10511039
Incident
May 7, 2008
Mileage
25,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Feb 23, 2012

I AM EXPERIENCING ISSUES OF SERIOUS ROT AND RUST WITH COMPONENTS OF MY TRUCK. FIRST FAILURE WAS THAT MY POWER STEERING PUMP RESERVOIR ROTTED THROUGH AND CAUSED A LEAK OF FLUID, HAD TO REPLACE UNIT. THEN TRANSMISSION LINE ROTTED THROUGH, CAUSING A LEAK OF FLUIDS, HAD TO REPLACE LINES AND COOLER DUE TO CORROSION. THEN STARTER FAILED, SERIOUSLY CORRODED. HAD TO REPLACE. AFTERWARD, ALTERNATOR FROZE UP, INSIDE WAS CORRODED WITH RUST AND WOULD NOT SPIN FREELY, HAD TO REPLACE. MOST RECENTLY, BRAKE LINES BURST CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. WILL NEED TO REPLACE. I HAVE OWNED A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS AND THIS IS COMPLETELY UNUSUAL IN MY EXPERIENCE AND HAS CAUSED A SITUATION THAT COULD LEAD TO DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. I WAS FORTUNATE TO ESCAPE BOTH. FURTHERMORE, IT HAS BEEN A SERIOUS FINANCIAL BURDEN AND INCONVENIENCE TO HAVE TO REPLACE SO MANY COMPONENTS ON A TRUCK THAT HAS YET TO REACH 60,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW AND HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT IN HOPES THAT MY 30,000 INVESTMENT WOULD LAST ME A GOOD NUMBER OF YEARS WITH REGULAR AND EXPECTED MAINTENANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10449067
Incident
May 1, 2009
Mileage
40,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 24, 2010

THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BECOMES WORN OR LOOSE RESULTING IN SEVERE VIBRATIONS AND NOISE WHEN DRIVING AT MODERATE SPEEDS AND WHEN TURNING. THE VIBRATIONS RESULT IN A LOSS OF PRECISE STEERING CONTROL. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM RECURS SEVERAL THOUSAND MILE AFTER THE SHAFT REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT IMPLEMENTED A PERMANENT FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10351552
Incident
Aug 20, 2008
Mileage
26,500 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 21, 2010

CLUNKING AND LOOSENESS IN STEERING COLUMN. 2004 6.0 LITER HD 2500 CHEVROLET. FEELS LIKE STEERING MAY FAIL ON VEHICLE IF SOMETHING IS NOT CORRECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10312537
Incident
Feb 21, 2004
Mileage
25,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 31, 2009

THE STEERING COLUMN IN MY 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO MAKES CLUNKING SOUNDS AND CAUSES VIBRATIONS THAT ALTER THE STEERING. I TOOK IT TO GM WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY SAID THEY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, BUT ABOUT 20MILES LATER IT STARTED AGAIN, HAVE JUST DELT WITH IT SINCE BUT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORST. I BOUGHT ANOTHER 2004 SILVERADO IT TOO DOES THIS CLUNKING AND VIBRATING, EVIDENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, ALONG WITH THE SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING ON BOTH MY TRUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10282488
Incident
Aug 31, 2004
Mileage
30,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 15, 2008

KNOCKING IN STEERING COLUMN. WAS LUBRICATED ONCE, PROBLEM PERSISTS. LOW SPEED KNOCKING AND "LOOSENESS" IN STEERING WHEEL. KNOCKING IS QUITE LOUD AND EVIDENT WHEN TURNING, AT LOW SPEED, OR IF ENCOUNTERING ANY BUMPS IN ROAD SURFACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10251829
Incident
Nov 18, 2005
Mileage
22,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 5, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AS IF IT WERE LOOSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 11/25/08. *LJ THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPALCED. UPDATED 11/25/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10247773
Incident
Oct 5, 2008
Mileage
48,500 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jan 8, 2008

MY 2004 CHEVY 2500 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS ISSUES. ON 12-24-07 ON A FAMILY CHRISTMAS TRIP MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVROLET EXPLAINING THAT THEY WOULD COVER THIS ISSUE FOR 7 YEARS OR 70,000 MILES. IT SEEMS TO ME IF THEY KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE WHY THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS. AFTER MANY DAYS OF CALLS TO CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY TELL ME THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN AND THAT THERE WOULD BE NO RECALL ISSUED. NOW I ASK HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A SAFETY CONCERN NOT KNOWING THE SPEED YOU ARE GOING? THE NEXT ISSUE I HAVE THAT I ALSO FEEL IS A SAFETY CONCERN IS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING LINK. THIS AGAIN HAS SLACK AND RATTLES. ONCE AGAIN CHEVROLET STATES THIS IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN BUT HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT A PART OF THE STEERING ASSY. IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ITEM? *TR

NHTSA ID
10214162
Incident
Dec 24, 2007
Mileage
76,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 29, 2007

I AM EXPERIENCING THE STEERING CLUNK THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH CHEVROLET'S TRUCKS. UPON TURNING IT IN IN FOR SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $280 TO FIX IT. I ONLY DRIVE MY TRUCK APPROX 6K MILES PER YEAR UNDER VERY LIGHT DUTY. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A HEAVY DUTY VEHICLE THAT WEARS OUT FROM VERY LITTLE LIGHT USE TO BE SOLD LIKE THIS. THE TRUCK HAS 27,700 MILES NOW AND STARTED HAVING THE PROBLEM AT APPROX 18K MILES. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THIS MEANS I WILL HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $300 EVERY 18K MILES TO FIX A DEFECTIVE, POORLY ENGINEERED PRODUCT. IS THIS PART GOING TO FAIL AT SOME POINT AND CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL? *TR

NHTSA ID
10210265
Incident
Nov 29, 2007
Mileage
18,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 7, 2007

AFTER HAVING THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF STEERING CLUNK, THE 3RD REPLACEMENT WAS A NEWLY DESIGNED SHAFT, AND THE PROBLEM WAS WORSE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID NOW THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE A BEARING HAD GONE BAD, AND WON'T COVER IT BECAUSE I'M OUT OF WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT PROBLEM WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO WAY THE IS PROBLEM CAUSED THE COLUMN BEARING TO GO OUT. I HAD A PREVIOUS TRUCK WHICH GM REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS, AND AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE WEB, FOUND MANY SITES AND FORUMS WHERE OWNERS DISCUSS THE VERY SAME ISSUE WITH THE NEWLY DESIGNED SHAFT MAKING THE PROBLEM WORSE. I THINK GM NEEDS TO BUCK UP AND ADMIT THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THEIR STEERING DESIGN, AND REPLACE THE PARTS NEEDED TO MAKE IT RIGHT AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10192685
Incident
May 22, 2007
BrakesSteering
Filed Aug 17, 2006
Crash reported

(1) I WAS IN A TIGHT TURN. I HAD JUST HAULED 2 TONS OF FEED FROM A FEED MILL 30 MILES AWAY. (2) THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES BOTH STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY AND WITH NO WARNING. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER MY VEHICLE AND HAD TO RUN INTO A FENCE POST TO STOP IT. HAD IT HAPPENED A FEW MINUTES EARLIER WHILE I WAS ON A HIGHWAY, SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THE TRUCK WAS COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE. (3 VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. AFTER TWO DAYS OF TESTING, NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN FOUND. *NM

NHTSA ID
10165893
Incident
Aug 15, 2006
Mileage
30,450 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Jul 13, 2006

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, 2 MONTHS LATER A NOISE EMANATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I FOUND THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO BE VOID OF FLUID. I ADDED THE PROPER FLUID. IMMEDIATELY A LEAK OCCURRED FROM THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC BOOST. I RESEARCHED YOUR DATA AND YOUR INFORMATION INDICATED THAT A SAFETY RECALL EXISTS FOR THE BRAKE BOOST (#04V043000 AND #04V045000). THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THIS ISSUE UNLESS I PAY THE $1000.00 TO FIX IT. THEY SAY THAT NO RECALL EXISTS FOR MY VEHICLE. WHAT IS CORRECT? IN ADDITION, YOUR DATA ALSO SHOWS THE 2 OTHER SAFETY RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH THEY AGREED THAT DID APPLY AND ARE COMPLIED WITH. WHO/WHAT IS RIGHT? *JB

NHTSA ID
10162280
Incident
Jun 20, 2006
Mileage
59,698 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .