2004 Chevrolet Silverado W/T (work truck) from North America - Comments

The common intermediate steering shaft "rumble" has reared its ugly head. A redesigned shaft that is supposed to eliminate the noise will be installed via warranty in the near future.

Intermittent problem with heater/air conditioner. Selector will "stick" at times, preventing the air flow from moving, for example, from the cabin outlets to the defroster, etc.

Intermittent weirdness in the automatic transmission. From a stop the tranny will delay engaging, allowing forward or reverse movement, for several seconds. Worrisome is the noise and "feel" occurring inside the transmission before it allows the vehicle to move.

A long-bed 4x4 work truck model. $20,200 out the door. Manual windows and locks, vinyl interior, plain bench seat with no center console. Just a basic truck with a locker rear end, towing package and not much else.

So far, the critter goes from point A to destination B reliably, though I do have some worries about the transmission. Will be taking the beast in for warranty work this coming January 2006 when the dealer relocates to a new location much closer to my humble shanty.

Getting around 15 mpg in town by driving sensibly, and was surprised to get 20 mpg on the flat freeway going 65-70 mph.

The truck is comfortable to sit in even for long distance trips. Outside visibility is good. The driving position is fine for my 5' 10" height. The brakes work well and give good stopping control on dry or wet pavement. The ABS works as it should and testing it on icy pavement resulted in better stops than I obtained in vehicles without ABS.

On-road use only, thus limited use of 4x4 capability. Used, but a few times on snowy roads due to a lack of major snow storms. However, 4x4 does provide better "get moving" traction, especially on the local small hills. Winter tires and 300 pounds of sand over the rear axle provides decent winter road traction.

So far, no oil consumption or leakage from the engine. No other leaks to be seen from any components containing liquid.

The paint was not perfect, but the minor defects were not visible when inspecting it before buying. The white paint with a summer sun reflecting from it was blinding. Over time, under clouds, in the shade, looking closely while washing/waxing, numerous minor defects in the finish were observed. To me, not severe enough to warranty taking back to the dealer, but enough to make me reconsider buying another GMC product. If they are that lax regarding paint and finish quality, what other areas has the builder been lax in???

I have owned the truck for 16 months with no breakdowns. It starts well even on the sub-zero cold mornings. The engine warms up quickly. I have babied the truck, hoping to make it last 20 years or more. Maintenance intervals are exceeded. Watching the cooling system carefully to hopefully avoid the problems some folks have with the Dex-Cool-type coolant.

Hopefully the intermittent tranny problem will be an easy fix, that is, if the dealer can find the problem. At least I will have the problem on record if it shows up after the 3 year/30,000 mile warranty ends. Why can't GM extend this warranty? Aren't they believers in their own claims of how reliable their vehicles are?

I gave very serious thought to buying a Toyota truck, but am hoping to find work in a very rural small town where a good-old-fashioned Chevy truck is likelier to be repairable and parts easily obtained by the local mechanics.

Time will tell if I made a good decision in buying my first American vehicle in 30 years.

My 2004 Silverado 4x4 has numerous defects. For the past three years, taking the truck in for warranty work, I am regularly told "We cannot replicate the problem."

Three different dealers, same tired refrain.

It appears that diagnosing is a lost art or that the desire to save money by not repairing defects is at the forefront.

Truck left for days at a time... didn't help.

It appears that if a defect doesn't jump out and bite the mechanic on the nose then the words, "Cannot replicate," are so easily used.

Even the corporate representative was of no use. "Take it to the dealer for repair," was the corporate lackey's reply. "Gosh, that's worked well so far," I scarcastically replied.

I bought Chevy vice Toyota to assist the "home town team."

After my experiences trying to get defects corrected, experiencing the anti-customer attitudes at various levels of Chevy/GMC, from dealer to corporate level, I regret not having bought a Toyota.

I fear if too many people experience what I have that GMC is doomed to slide into the trash bin of history.

I am the writer of the original post. This is an update.

The manufacturer's warranty has expired. I bought the extended warranty from GMC.

After a period of freezing rain that covered the truck with ice, I scraped the windows and off I went. Due to the semi-regular defect where the switch that directs air flow within the cab fails to function, I had ensured I left it in the defrost position.

After driving a few miles I noticed water dripping onto the passenger-side floor mat, coming from under the dash. I estimate a pint in around 20 minutes.

Soon after, the heater blower motor stopped working.

I made an appointment with one of the three local Chevy dealers.

Note that the ice from the freezing rain had covered the plastic "cowl" section between the bottom of the windshield and the rear of the hood.

Also, I had never had leakage during rain. This was the first time I have had water leakage into the cabin.

Well... I heard that SAME TIRED REFRAIN... "We can't replicate the problem. It cost me $53 to hear that.

How about the truth. We agree you had a problem, but we are too lazy or whatever to dig in and actually fix the problem... live with it you sucker.

Well, luckily, after an hour or so after the blower motor stopped working it had begun working again... before I got to the worthless dealer. And, while waiting the two days to get to the dealer the ice lodged in the "cowl" area had melted.

There IS a place where water is entering the cab, but Chevy/GMC's worthless warranty apparently prohibits investing the time needed to make a repair.

Let this be a warning to others.

Over and over and over and over... "We can't replicate the problem."

What are the odds that three separate dealers would use the SAME response? Use the word "replicate" vice "duplicate" or another word.

I cannot prove it, but I have a hunch that there IS a possibility that corporate GMC has informed service writers to do whatever possible to minimize costs. No proof, but it is the only logical explanation I can think of.

On other message boards I have read where Chevy Silverado owners in other parts of the USA have not had the experiences I have confronted. And, I have talked to others locally (Omaha Nebraska) who have also heard that tired refrain..."can't replicate."

Is this a local problem? I cannot afford to drive out of state just to get my truck repaired!!!

So, Chevy/GMC expects me to live with the several defects thet they refuse to repair, under the regular warranty or the extended warranty where I pay a $200 deductible.

I am angry about this foul treatment and I believe it is my duty to fellow Americans to warn them what MAY happen to them.

I will NEVER buy another Chevy/GMC product... new or used.

Defect after defect yet they have to be tolerated, according to Chevy/GMC.

As soon as the worst of the financial beating from selling a new (2004) vehicle too soon... that dreaded depreciation that hits hardest for the first 5 years (I am NOT a rich man, this first-for-me new vehicle in 33 years of vehicle ownership was a major financial impact), in a couple more years I will get rid of the truck and having to contend with Chevy/GMC's horrible service (or lack thereof).

Never again, Chevy. You did me wrong, GMC.

And I will continue to warn others of what you did to me for as long as the sun shines above, the grass grows, and the rivers flow to the sea.