We purchased this used in 09 with 100k miles and it has been very reliable. The motor does not drink oil like the old 350 motor and the oil color has always been a bright yellow. The transmission was still smooth at 287k mi, a/c still worked fine. the following parts needed to be replaced:Fuel pump, brakes and rotors, spark plugs.
I bought my truck with 6 miles on the odometer in March 2004. It was recalled for the instrument panel. Very good experience there.
While it was under warrenty, I had it in for new Cats and O2 sensors, three times, but never again since. The last warrenty items I had replaced were the comfort control switches.
I now have 190,000 miles on the truck and, get this....I'm replacing the brake pads for the first time, and the rotors have very little wear.
This is by far the best vehicle I've ever owned.
My truck is a daily driver in the city but also a back road wonder on the weekends. In the winter I use four wheel drive for duck hunting with my sons in the country. It has been from Texas to California and many Colorado trips. It look good in the field, but when it is cleaned up it looks good under the city lights. Safe, dependable and a real pleasure. Maybe the best vehicle I have ever owned, out of maybe 11-12 cars and trucks.
Bought truck new. Put the majority of miles on the truck between 2004-09; then, as planned, kept it as my 'chore' truck. 4-5k miles per year, max. Always light duty use.
In 2013, at 79k miles the Head cracked - coolant in engine. $4500 repair. Dealer. There is a 'service bulletin' which implies a manufacturing defect, issued in 2006. CasTech Heads (see #06-06-01-019B bulletin). 1250 miles and 8 months later the 'check oil' light came on. The engine was 4-ish quarts low on oil! So I took it back to the dealer (I was working out of the area at the time so very little use). Their response? Can't find anything wrong; we must have forgotten to put the oil in the engine properly after the repair. Seriously? You told me that after a $4500 repair that your mechanic can't put oil in the engine? Bottom line: they didn't know and they weren't going to do anything. So I continued to drive it - very light duty.
20 months later with 84,600 miles: I check the oil (about 3800 miles since the 'top off at the dealer) and: down 3.15 qts! I take it directly back to the dealer. Dealer won't take responsibility AT ALL. I'm supposed to do an every 1000 mile 'oil consumption' test where I take it in for a top-off to see how much oil it has consumed. Not 1 mile over 1000 miles or start again! All this is to get GM to pay. The dealer assumes no liability for its work (and I might add, premium cost for the repair).
Upshot: Be careful of these engines. There is a lot out there about oil consumption on these engines. This one DOES NOT have the 'stop cylinder' technology, but the engines have the same problem over multiple years. Plenty about the head and oil consumption out on the internet.
In terms of the rest of the truck, its been ok, but the interior dash buzzes incessantly at certain RPMs. I noted on several of the trucks that interior fit was awful; fortunately I did not experience this. Paint is generally ok. No problems with the tranny, wheels, steering, AC - but it only has 84k miles. So much for buying a quality vehicle I could drive for 25 years (which was the plan).
It seems like we live in an age where everything is designed to wear out and be replaced. This truck is the only thing I can think of that is made to last. It has 200k and everything works perfectly. It also drives like it just left the showroom. The few rare times something does break, the part is usually cheap and easy to repair. I bought this as a work truck but I drive it more than my luxury car. The design is very simple. No fancy computers or dials that take three steps to change the radio or AC. Form definitely follows function which just doesn't happen anymore. I have to tip my hat to Chevy for designing something that will outlast everything else I own.
I have always loved the Silverado but I have come to believe that they are getting more and more cheaply built. My last two Silverados have had the same airconditioner problem by the second year. My 2004 with 53000 miles just had the rear differential cover replaced because it rusted right through the middle. (And, this truck is kept garaged and underbody washed in the winter. It is'nt even my primary vehicle.) The metal used for the differential cover might as well have been aluminum foil. Not even a coat of protective paint. As I look at my 2004 compared to my 2002, I see a lot of cheaply done work and parts in the newer model. That's why my next truck will be a Toyota
I purchased used with 40,000 miles for the 4x4. I live in a semi-rural area and the roads don't get treated. I have the 5.3 V8, and G80 locker. For the two months I've driven, it has worked like a charm. Been using the AutoTrac 4x4 which is the button system that goes into 4WD Auto, which is AWD. Had to dig the wheels out a little when I drove into 3' high snow in my driveway. I rocked the truck back and forth a couple of times and was out. I get around 20 mpg on country roads and highway. I don't drive heavy footed, usually 65-75 hwy. Only thing that I find annoying is the wipers can't be lifted off the windshield when it snows, because of the hood design. Takes longer to clean the window.
I purchased new in late 03. Has been a very good truck for me. About 1000 miles a year I would tow loads that are 75% of max according to the tech manual. No issues on engine or trans for 50k miles. In fact, it towed like a dream. At 53k miles I lost my transmission. No excessive driving or cliff jumping. It broke without warning coming out of a church parking lot and costs me $3k to replace the entire transmission. IMHO theres no excuse for a transmission to break at 53k miles. Truck is out of warranty so the cost is on me. Chevy dealership says, so sorry. What a rare oddity to lose a trans at 53k miles. Ill remember that at trade-in time.
overall i really like this truck, i am
alongtime ford man. the only thing
keeping this truck from being a "10" is
the "CLUNKING" shifts that is so popular
GM trys to say this is normal, but we
all know that is bologna!! They really
should stand behind their 29,000 dollar
vehicles!
I have previously owned 3 new Ford F-
150's. I was looking for a change. I
went to the Toyota dealer to buy a
Tundra. I was not impressed with the
ride and comfort of the Toyota. I was
on my way to buy another Ford. I
passed a Chevy Dealership and took a
test drive. I was very very impressed
with the size and comfort of the
Silverado. You can actually put people
in the back seat. P.S. My wife loves
it. Finally, I tow a 23 foot boat and
this truck just eats up the hills.
Great vehicle for work and comfort,
the combination can't be beat.
This truck still has 1/4" brake shoes left (f+r), which includes towing tandem trailer daily for 1 1/2 yrs. No one I work with owns a more reliable truck even those that cost 40-50K$. I peg the tach almost every day, uses nearly no oil, mpg avgs. 16+ city with AC; 17-19 hwy; 10-12 towing. Interior is very comfortable and no pickup has a colder AC. Here in FL I never have to run the fan past "3" for more than a minute to chase out 100+heat. The x- cab still has a 6'6" bed, Dodge has 6'3" which isn't enough. Much better ride than Dodge, and way better interior instrumentation than XLT Ford. Engine compartment is roomy, allowing ease of maintenance. The bed is low allowing easy loading of very heavy items.
1. We had engine performance issues
from the start. The computer was
reflashed 3 times.
2. At about 45,000 the engine began to
knock when first started in the morning
which sounded like piston slap, at
75,000 it was getting hard to start and
compression on 3 cylinders was measured
at 70-75 pounds. The motor had to be
replaced. Since the motor, the
transmission has had to be replaced.
3. We had performance issues, engine
problems because of a poorly designed
pistons and transmission failure, all
were asked to be addressed under
warranty and promises were made and in
the end ignored.
4. Would I by another Silverado? I,ve
been a GM customer for 30 years and can
safely say NOWAY!!!!!
Purchased this truck used with under 26000 miles. Great truck and plenty of room for me and the crew inside the cab. Traded in my 1979 Silverado and haven't looked back. These Chevys are built to last as my last truck was a testiment to that fact. The 04 drives like a car and handles like a dream. The 5.3 liters is more than enough power to pass the folks doing 75 MPH in the fast lane. The Bose stereo has lots of thump for the headbangers and air guitarist. Caution air guitar is not recommended while driving. If I could do it all over again I wouldn't change a thing except for not buying this truck sooner.
Bought it new Jan 2004. At 60,0000 miles I bought the first set of tires and brakes. ]I get 15 mpg city, 18 mpg highway with 4.8 liter. ] The 4WD is great in the northeast. Truck cruises at 70mph feels like a sedan, yes, there is road noise, its a truck. Nothing replaced so far, did not have to bring it to the dealer once! If you need or want a truck, take a serious look at a GM.
I bought this truck used with 41K miles on it. I was looking for a small truck but at the price and what shape it was in I could not pass it up. I bought this when the gas spiked up so I got it for $7,000. The V6 is a little under powered but gets you moving. I commute 30 miles everyday to work and I have gotten it to average 20, not bad. I have had zero problems with it. I would say if you need a truck for weekend work and want something comfortable, easy to drive, then a basic 1500 is what you should look for.
I bought this truck in Aug. I have had
problems with lugging and am told it is
normal by the dealership. Shift points
are off. Dimmer lights have stopped
working.I have had it in two times they
still have yet to fix problem. If you
want reliabilty and something you can
be happy and proud of don't buy this
truck. It is really junk.
Best vehicle ever made. It is
definately the best vehicle I have ever
owned. I look forward to the next
opportunity to drive it. I have added
dual exhaust with two flow masters on
it. It sounds even better and of
course the duals coming out the back
look even better.
I think I got a lemon. I have had it
for only seven months and already had
to replace the 4wd switch and e-brake
sensor. I also have a rattle in the
dash I can't get rid of. I am trading
it in on a Toyota.
It's a great truck. Im 6ft 9in, 290, so room and extended cab is perfect. I got it with 166,000. And excellent condition. Well cared for. Came with worn out radio but I was going to replace anyway. I wanted a toy so Gibson headers and dual exhaust. Then cold air filter and WOW! it'll fly, and sounding good also. I rebuilt front end and new brakes but really premature. Nothing was wrong. I wanted a little more HP (no reason, just for fun), but mechanics said any more HP I'll probably need a upgrade transmission, but no problem now. All the upgrades increased gas mileage!!! Who knew. I've taken on new Ford trucks and 5.0 cars. They can't keep up. I want a Bully Dog tuner. Any suggestions?
the truck will pull but has hesitation
off idle and when going down the road
in passing gear @80 it sounds like
lifters rattleing,holds weight pretty
good though,if i had it to do over agin
i wouldnt buy this over rated over
priced vehicle again
I bought this truck used. This truck has gone through hell and back. I have never had any major problems with it. Great truck for the northeast and the snow. For a truck it is not bad on gas. I get 16 in the city and up to 23 on the highway.
this truck is great. handling is
outstanding. fuel milage is a about
14.5 city 16.5 highway. having a great
time driving the truck. im 36 years
old and the young guys break their
necks look at the outstanding black
paint. had alot of great comments on
the truck. looking forward to many
years of fun
This truck is a dream come true. It
handles like a Caddy and gets about the
same mileage as one. It is comfortable
and it is good looking. That's all one
man can ask for.
forward sprague gear failed at
54000mi,replaced transmision,$2280
cost.manufacturer refused financial
assistance.this trans is too light for
the vehichleit is in.GM has been aware
of this for years and continues to use
it.
I have had this truck in the the shop
11 times. All for warranty issues. The
service department has been excellant
but the dealership has been awful to
deal with.I suggest going to another
company for a vechicle. Chevy hit there
all time low on this one
Recently purchased a 2004 Silverado
worktruck package. I use it for
outside sales. Comfortable to drive.
Im averaging 23 mpg which I consider
good for a full size truck. The v-6
has good performance and great
acceleration from 3 gear through
5.First seems to be geared a little
low for avewrage driving. second is
wound out at 40mph. Interior is roomy
and instruments and controls are
always at hand. Its quite a bit better
than the dodge dakota I traded.
This is a good looking vehicle but the
constant clunking is very annoying. GM
says that it is normal due to torque
buildup between transmission and
transfer case. They also say they have
changed the transmission for 2005
model to eliminate the problem. They
offer an extended warranty for free
but I already have it. They sent an
engineer out to drive it and he
reported a definite problem but they
still claim that it is normal. Why
won't they stand behind their vehicle
and repair the problem . Very unhappy
with GM over this vehicle.
has alot of wind noise, vibrations and
there is a glunking in drive train when
shifting up and down. dealer told me
its normal for Z71 package terrible
rides
In one year this vehicle has been to
three different dealer's,a total of
eight times for repair. The breaking
is terrible, drastick loss of power at
times, clunking and grinding in drive
train,leather seat seams split. This
from what is supposedly a 37,000.00
sticker price... somebody had a bad
day!!
I have owned a lot of GM products over the years, and never have I disliked a truck as much as this one. It has been one problem after another. First the cowl was leaking into the cab, then the rear passenger windows would not deal, the the keyless entry locked me out on about 20 occasions...I could go on and on. Never again will I buy a GM after the worst time in my life.
This is a nice truck. Driving, handling, and towing ability is great. The AWD is a nice feature. If you tow a boat, getting out of the water with those steep ramps is easy. The truck has a great look. The gas mileage could be a little better, but compared to the 5.3 gas mileage, that's not bad for 50 more HP. There are not many SS out there, so if you want something that is real and draws attention, this is a great truck in all categories. Just for a few more grand, you will be satisfied. Test drive says it all. I own two SS, 1990 454SS and 2004 SS. Both trucks are excellent.
I have owned several Chevys over the years and I have yet to find a better truck out there. Design is good reliability is good and you can't beat the resale value on a 4WD Chevy truck. Overall it's a versatile, comfortable, reliable, American made vehicle.
I love to drive this truck! It has a Radix Magna Charger, Volant Cool Air Intake and an aftermarket MAF sensor. Needless to say it is very fast, pushing around 500 hp. Looks much better than the Ford and Dodge. It gets about 19 mpg on the highway and 15 in town, If you take it easy
My truck is my baby. It's ready for a night on the town or to help a friend move. It's never let me down and I feel safe and comfortable driving in rain or snow. The auto 4 wheel drive function is what gives me this feeling. 47000 trouble free miles and counting. My second Silverado and I will have it for the next 5 years at least.
Great everyday truck. MPG average 15-17 hilly /mountain driving. Hard to tow heavy loaded trailer 7000lb up hills. 67000+ no major repairs required. Love this truck.
I have a 2004 Chevy Silverado LT extended cab 4 door and this has been the best truck I've ever owned. It's 16 years old, and rides and drives like a new one. It does have 214,000 miles on it and it's perfect. I have owned a few Cadillacs before but this truck has more luxuries in it than any of the Cadillacs I've had in the past. With a 5.3 Vortec V-8 it has plenty of power to pull a trailer, the engine is quiet, smooth, and runs clean. The interior: leather seats, heated both sides, electric, A/C, heat, Sirius XM radio, Bose system, heated mirrors, fold in mirrors, On Star, automatic light mirrors, signals on the mirrors, it's easy to work on. All around excellent truck to own. I HIGHLY recommend this truck!
After 6000 miles the drivetrain started
clunking loudly any time I drive
backwards (in reverse). The clunk does
not occur when I shift to reverse but
clunks when I accelarate faster than
normal. The clunk also occurs
frequently when I accelarate hard and
then let off the throttle. It sometimes
occurs on 1st to 2nd upshifts or
downshifts. I can feel the clunk in
the floor and passengers ask me about
it. This problem takes all of the joy
out of owning this new truck.
The dealer did the transmission
reprogramming which did not correct the
problem and they told me that I have to
live with the problem. Many other
owners are having the same problem.
i got this truck to replace my 2000 lt
silv. z71 and in the 5 months i've had
my 03 its been one biiiiig headache
its been at the service center as much
as its been in my garage.
111 miles took to dealer.Vehicle shakes
in seat,no power,hard to stop,hard to
get in 1st gear,hard to get out of 5th
gear,truck whines when accelerating in
1st gear,rough idle,clicking noise from
engine atidle,shift light comes on all
the time,if you shifted by light you
would be going 35mph in 5th
gear,driveline clunks when shifting from
1st to 2nd gear.Dealer states nothing
wrong with truck.DRIVES LIKE NEW.
Bought this truck brand new off the lot. 3 1/2 years old and the cylinder head is faulty. $2000+ repair that GM has admitted they knew these cylinder heads were faulty, but they won't step up and help defray repair costs. Truck is starting to rust already and we've had the steering column replaced 2 times so far! I thought Chevy's were built to last?
Have had the truck at the dealership for a total of 15 days. We are on the 3rd steering shaft; it drives like a golf cart. Makes a popping noise when turning but only if it's over 70 degrees outside. Steering wheel squeaks when the turn signal is on.
The truck is definitely fun to drive and has lots of power. Drawbacks are terrible gas mileage (and premium) and noises from the AWD caused by bad assembly of the carrier.
The new Chevrolet Silverado's are among
the most perfect truck on the planet.
It's extremely fun to drive, and is the
most reliable well built vehicle ever
made. The K1500 is very powerful and
very stylish. Ford nor Dodge have
nothing on this line of trucks. No
other even comes close.
