2004 Gmc SIERRA 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
84,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 24 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 14 | 58.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 2 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Center Support Bearing | 1 |
Service Brakes: 8; Electrical System: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Fuel System, Diesel: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 1; Power Train:Driveline:Center Support Bearing: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 4; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10225510 · 2008-04-23 (April 23, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAILED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SHAFT SNAPPED AND CAUSED THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES REPLACED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME FAILURES. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233513 · 2008-07-08 (July 8, 2008)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSORS ON THE FRONT OF MY 2004 GMC 3500 DUALLY DIESEL WERE MALFUNCTIONING CREATING EXTENDED LOW SPEED STOPS AT A STOPLIGHT, CAUSING MANY CLOSE CALLS IN REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR. IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ( SEE: HTTP://WWW.JSONLINE.COM/STORY/INDEX.ASPX?ID=358797 ). MY STATE IS EXCLUDED FROM ANY RECALL AND I WAS CHARGED $440.00 TODAY TO FIX THIS. WE SALT OUR ROADS LIKE ANY OTHER NORTHERN STATE - THIS IS ABSURD! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233513 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206430 · 2007-10-21 (October 21, 2007)
REFERENCE A GMC 2004 SIERRA 3500 4 WHEEL DRIVE PICK UP TRUCK, 6.6L DIESEL ENGINE WITH 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE MOLDED RUBBER AROUND THE DRIVELINE CENTER SUPPORT CARRIER BEARING (PART # 12472424) DRY ROTTED CAUSING DRIVELINE VIBRATION THAT, IN TURN CAUSED THE TRANSFER CASE TO FAIL. THE VIBRATION WAS SLIGHT AND NOT CONSTANT, NOT INDICATING A MAJOR PROBLEM. THE PART IN QUESTION IS A NON-SERVICEABLE PART, PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE DID NOT AND WOULD NOT PREVENT THIS FAILURE. THE TRANSFER CASE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND WAS ON THE VERGE OF TOTA…
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206430 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10486561 · 2012-11-30 (November 30, 2012)
I PICKED MY STEPDAUGHTER AT SCHOOL AND AT THE STOPLIGHT TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL THERE WERE NO BRAKES. I USED THE CURB TO SLOW THE TRUCK ENOUGH TO THE LIGHTS TO CHANGE. IT WAS NOT A BUSY TIME AND STUDENTS WERE NOT PRESENT OTHERWISE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. I DROVE THE TRUCK HOME WITH FLASHERS VERY SLOWLY HOME ON A BACK ROAD DOWNSHIFTING AND RELYING IN THE ALLISON TRANSMISSION. WHEN I REACHED HOME THE LIGHT CAME ON TO SERVICE BRAKES. THAT WAS OBVIOUS ALREADY. THIS IS A 1 TON DUALLY THAT USUALLY HAULS SKID LOADS, PAVING BRICKS, ETC. I …
Owner-reported narrative. 60,004 miles reported. Look up ODI 10486561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10350376 · 2010-08-18 (August 18, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC PICK UP 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL FELL FURTHER INTO THE FLOORBOARD THAN USUAL AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RETAINER CHIP FOR THE HYDRO-BOOST AND BRAKE SWITCH WAS MISSING AT THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLIP AND THE BRAKE SWITCH WAS REINSTALLED. IN ADDITION, WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS PRODUCING AN ABNORMAL SOUND…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,338 miles reported. Look up ODI 10350376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10536420 · 2013-08-20 (August 20, 2013)
BRAKES FAILED DUE TO A SUDDEN BRAKE LINE FAILURE. THERE HAD BEEN NO PRIOR FLUID LEAKS. THE REAR METAL BRAKE LINE UNDER THE BED RUSTED AT A CLAMP IN FRONT OF THE FUEL TANK. AS I HAVE LOOKED FURTHER INTO THIS I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND SEVERAL SHOPS SAID THAT THEY SAW THIS OFTEN WITH THESE VEHICLES ALL FAILING IN THE SAME AREA. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 131,883 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536420 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10573350 · 2014-03-19 (March 19, 2014)
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE TOWING A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER AND TRAFFIC CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND HAD BRAKES THAN THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I LOST BRAKING POWER. I LET OFF THE BRAKES AND REAPPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH LOW BREAKING AFFECT. I PULLED THE TRUCK OVER AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID COMING OUT FROM ABOVE THE GAS TANK. I CAREFULLY TOOK THE TRUCK OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT USING MY TRAILER BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE FIRST SERVICE STATION THAT I SAW AND HAD THEM LOOK AT IT…
Owner-reported narrative. 131,883 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176560 · 2006-12-19 (December 19, 2006)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATES THAT SOMETIME IN AUGUST OF 2006, FUEL INJECTED NUMBER 8 FAILED IN HER VEHICLE. ON DECEMBER 4TH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED TO WORK INVOLVING INJECTED NUMBER 8. ON DECEMBER 11TH, INJECTED NUMBER SIX ON CONTACT DIESEL ENGINE TRUCK FAILED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONTACT STATES THAT HE HAS SPENT OVER $1,000 OF DOLLARS REPAIRING HIS TRUCK AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, IF THE MANUFACTURER HAS CONFIRM THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR SEVERAL OF TIMES, CONTACT CAN PROVIDE ANY R…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176560 at NHTSA ↗