8.1
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $440
- Average Mileage:
- 64,250 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 61 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace instrument cluster panel (29 reports)
- not sure (26 reports)
- back to the dealer under the extended warranty if <70k miles (3 reports)
- GM extended warrenty for speedometer (2 reports)
- class action lawsuit (1 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Chevrolet dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
AT 38,000 MILES (JUST OUT OF WARRANTY) THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BECOME VERY ERRATIC. IT WILL BE FINE FOR A DAY OR SO AND WILL GO COMPLETELY OFF THE CHART PEGGED. IT IS BECOMING MORE & MORE OFTEN THAT IT IS NOT WORKING. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM. THIS ISN'T RIGHT AND I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. IT'S OBVIOUS THERE IS A FLAW IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I'M SEEING ON SPEEDOMETERS NOT WORKING. I MIGHT LOOK AT IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT IF THE TRUCK HAD 250,000 MILES ON IT, BUT AT 38,000 MILES I FEEL GM SHOULD OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM AND TAKE CARE OF THIS WITH A RECALL.
- Calvin R., Canton, OH, US
the speedometer is stuck at 44 mph. it's hard to know how fast your going
- Lisa F., Collinsville, IL, US
My biggest complaint is that GM knew about this problem and did not do a recall because they didn't consider it a safety issue. I talked to my dealer last year about my speedometer going all over the place and my oil pressure gauge failing when I had another issue repaired. They said nothing about this as a known problem, but just told me it would cost $500 to fix and it wasn't covered. With the numbers of vehicles affected by this, GM should replace it for free no matter how many miles you have. What difference does it make? I think it was very convenient that they just now sent out letters 4 years later knowing that a large percentage of vehicles would be over the 70,000 mile limit. I won't buy another GM vehicle.
- Deborah B., Montague, TX, US
I have to gauge my speed by the other cars around me
- Mike M., Hayward, CA, US
Well it just sucks that i cant see how fast i'm going Chevy should have a recall on this part. My warranty just ended last month so now i have to pay for this because i did not know i had a 4 year or 60,000 miles warranty i thought i bought a 5 year or 60,000 miles like the ones Ford sells for their trucks.
- Sergio R., Edinburg, TX, US
Looks like I got both of the standard issues that come with a 2004 Z71. The truck is going in for the speedometer issue (steeper motors go out in the gauges?), and also having the steering shaft replaced. I bought this Chevy with out reservation as I have had quite a few in the past and they have all run perfectly. It is too bad that they are now crap like everything else, should have saved the money and gotten a Dodge since they are all junk in the end. The speedometer is under warranty, standard to 70k now as it is a safety issue but I am amazed that they will not fix the steering shaft as it sounds like this is also a very common problem. Shame on you Chevy, you have just lost my loyalty. Everyone makes mistakes/has issues, it's how you handle them that is important.
- Scott W., Star, ID, US
Thanks to this website, I complained to Chevrolet Customer Service on their 866-790-5700 toll free number and this was repaired under a special warranty. Saved me about $360.00. I mentioned this to a friend who also has a 2004 Silverado with 84,000 miles and his was also repaired at no cost.
- bobtn, Knoxville, TN, US
Nov 032007
(reported on)Silverado 2500 HD LT 6.6L Diesel
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
I'm adding to the list of problems with the speedometer. I've mentioned to the dealer but they couldn't reproduce the problem so no resolution. Now with the information from this list I will push for resolution. The speedometer will work fine at times and then be totally inaccurate falling below the actual speed by 20 MPH.
- mpen60, Auburn, CA, US
I had this same problem, but I called GM at 1-800-462-8782 and found out this is covered under "special coverage 07187." The VIN numbers covered are 4Z1-4Z3. The instrument panel/cluster was replaced within 5 days of my phone call! I now have this problem as a thing of the past--AND I didn't have to pay a cent! Good luck people.
- Tony S., Albuquerque, NM, US
After reading the other complaints, I realized that we are not alone. We purchased this truck for our son less than 4 months ago. When I called the dealership about this problem, I was told that because we did not purchase an extended warranty that we would have to pay for the repairs ourselves. I am also furious after finding out that this is a problem with a lot of 2004 Chevy models, not just the trucks. I agree. Chevrolet should have issued a recall for this problem. Sounds like a defect to me!!!
- cindi, Sweet Water, AL, US
i thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. speedometer said i was going over 90 mph. so i slowed down and eventually stopped. 45 mph at a dead stop. (each time i come to a stop the speed it sticks at is different.)
so i contact a local dealer about it and he ran my VIN... only to tell me that my factory warranty expired 5 weeks ago! 5 WEEKS! convenient. two different chevy dealers have quoted me between $450 and $480 to fix it.
nothing they can do. one of the dealers suggested that i pay $2100 for an extended warranty.
both of the guys at the two different dealerships were familiar with the problem and knew right away what it would cost to replace the cluster. come on.
GM needs to step up to the plate here. after reading the other complaints i'm even more convinced that this should be their responsibility! not knowing for sure what speed you're driving is a real problem!
- Gunner B., Independence, MO, US
There are not enough words to explain how frustrated I was with chevrolet in general when the head mechanic at the dealership knew exactly what the problem was because he had seen it before and thought it was common in the 2004 silverados. If it is common wouldn't it make sense for it to be a recall!!!!!!!! Chevrolet has really fouled up on this one.
- spennington, College Station, TX, US
This apparently is a very common problem and it costs $500 to fix it!!! How convenient for Chevrolet to have this go wrong after it is out of warranty. It creates more business for their service departments. $500 to fix this seems outrageous. This should be a recall item and they should fix it for free. It is very dangerous not having a speedometer that is not working but $500 is a lot of money. This is a safety issue.
- Beverly P., Fallbrook, CA, US
I think this an issue that GM has to deal with. There needs to be a recall because I did notice that the odometer turns slower (not reading actual mileage).
- Eduardo B., Seguin, TX, US
Never had a vehicle when the speedometer went out. I'm really upset. I don't have the extra money to be fixing this. An estimate of $450 - $500. was given to me. Is there help anywhere?
- Barbara G., Cleveland, TX, US
My speedometer is in a state of array. Sometimes it works properly and others times it has a mind of its own. At time when I start my truck and begin to drive away it says I am going zero mph and other times it will peg over to 120 mph and stays there. When I come to a stop sometimes it will bounce back and forth between zero and 120 and other times it will bounce between 120 and 110. This is very troublesome and a real problem.
- Tim N., Mascoutah, IL, US
I previously posted on here that my 2004 Silverado speedometer that quit working. After a lot of frustration, I decided to contact the dealer where I purchased the truck. The dealer replaced the instrument cluster panel for free. They called it a goodwill gesture. Try and contact the dealer.
- Michael S., O'Fallon, MO, US
Speedometer quit working. Thought it had to due with the cold weather, but after it warmed up it starts at 35MPH as my baseline. Can't believe this would be safe!!
- Rick A., Waterford, MI, US
Speedometer reached 200 km/hr and froze..... just kept advancing even though I was going at a slower speed. I could not judge how fast I was going.
On this vehicle I have had trouble with coolant leaks. Cylinder head was replace.... water pump replaced.
Air bag wires wore from sliding seat forward and back.
Tail gate washer missing causing tail gate to close poorly.
- Colin W., Princeton, Ontario Canada, Ontario, Canada
Chevy sucks for not recalling.....safety issue.....no clue how fast i`m going....can you say,~class action suit~
- Luc F., St-malo, MB, Canada