2004 Gmc SIERRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
188 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
49,752 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 151 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 188 complaints (23.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 78 | 41.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 8.5% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 6.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 2.1% |
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 | 44 |
| Electrical System | 18 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
Service Brakes: 44; Electrical System: 18; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 17; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Steering: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 42 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 34 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 33 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 42; 25,000 to 49,999: 34; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 33; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 6
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (42). 37 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 29 |
| 2005 | 35 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 20 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 29 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2004: 29; 2005: 35; 2006: 14; 2007: 20; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 13; 2012: 10; 2013: 17; 2014: 29; 2015: 9; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 78 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 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 10054003 · 2004-01-14 (January 14, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING ABS BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066509 · 2004-04-19 (April 19, 2004)
2004 GMC SIERRA POOR BRAKE RESPONSE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063659 · 2004-03-22 (March 22, 2004)
TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP EVERY SO OFTEN, ALSO IT WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD. THIS HAPPENS ALOT BUT NOT EVERY TIME. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AS YOU START MOVING AND CONTINUES FOR A GOOD DISTANCE (4 HIGH)*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078788 · 2004-06-25 (June 25, 2004)
OUR SON-IN-LAW OWNS A 2004 GMC 4-DOOR PICKUP. IT HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. OUR TWO-YEAR OLD GRANDSON WAS IN THE TRUCK WHILE HIS FATHER WAS CLEANING IT. THE KEY WAS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION SO THEY COULD LISTEN TO THE RADIO. THE CHILD PULLED THE SHIFT LEVER OUT OF PARK AND THE TRUCK RAN AWAY DOWN AN INCLINE. BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE BY A TREE AND THE TRUCK CONTINUED UNTIL REAR-ENDING ANOTHER TREE. THE CHILD STAYED IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNHURT.*AK IN CHECKING THIS TRUCK, OUR 2003 TAHOE, AND OUR 2003 CHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083320 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
THE CENTER HUB OF THE WHEELS CONSTANTLY FALLS OFF. THE PLASTIC SCREWS THAT HOLD THE HUB ON THE WHEEL ARE NOT SECURING THE HUB PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER HAS LOST SIX OF THESE HUBS SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. *JB THE VEHICLE WOULD BUCK WHEN PUT INTO 4LOW AND SHIFTING INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL FROM REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE VEHICLE MADE A THUMPING NOISE WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AND THE CONSUMER COULD FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097282 · 2004-10-18 (October 18, 2004)
VEHICLE VIBRATION AN SHAKING IN STEERING WHEEL. *BF THE CONSUMBER HAD THE TIRES BALANCE AND SOME OF THE VIBRATION STOPPED. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10097282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055483 · 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO INSTALL A RELAY SWITCH BECAUSE OF A WIRING CHANGE FROM THE 2000 MODELS. THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM CAME ON SEPARATELY. WHEN IT SNOWED AND THE HIGH BEAM WAS ON, SNOW BUILD UP ON THE LOW BEAM. WHEN THIS OCCURRED IT CREATED A LAYER OF SNOW, AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE BACK TO LOW BEAM. *AK THE MECHANICS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS AND INCOMPATIBILITY'S OF THE PREVIOUSLY USED RELAY. GMC WOULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107195 · 2005-01-11 (January 11, 2005)
THE WINDSHIELD IS LEAKING WATER DOWN INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE WIRING IS SHORTING OUT. ALSO, THE LINKAGE HAS FALLEN OUT. YOU CAN SMELL BURNT WIRING AND SMOKE. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER CONTINUOUSLY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE GENTLEMAN WAS NOT THERE THAT SHE NEEDED TO SEE. CONSUMER HAD SOMEONE ELSE LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. AND WAS TOLD THE VIBRATION FROM DRIVING HAD JARRED THE THE PIN LOOSE. THE BLOWER, HEAT, AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10107195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072616 · 2004-05-14 (May 14, 2004)
2004 GMC 2500HD DURAMAX - PURCHASED MARCH 2004. SEVERE, ABRUPT 'CLACKING/CHATTER' COUPLED WITH BRIEF, COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND BILLOWS OF SMOKE. HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES: 3/28 1660 MILES @ 67MPH, 5/5 2167 MILES @ 70 MPH, 5/8 2316 MILES @ 60-65 MPH, 5/8 2325 MILES @ 60-65 MPH.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,660 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083805 · 2004-08-30 (August 30, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED 4 TIMES, SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE IN ROUTE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 9,425 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088448 · 2004-08-23 (August 23, 2004)
TAKING FIRST ROAD TRIP WITH 2004 GMC SIERRA (3 MOTHS OLD)IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NEVADA DESERT. THE CAR WAS IN CRUISE MODE AT 70MPH AND IS JUST STALLED. THIS HAPPEND AT LEAST 4 TIMES OVER A STRETCH OF 50 MILES. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND SAT EACH TIME FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES-(APPARENT COOLING TIME)-AND WAS ABLE TO RE-START TRUCK. WE MADE IT TO BISHOP CALIFORNIA DEALER WHO TESTED IT FOR LEAN FUEL VALUES BUT NO ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEY TOLD US THAT THEY HAD SEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES SIMILAR AND SUGGESTED REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMPS SEE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088448 at NHTSA ↗