2004 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
The 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 has 253 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (32%) concerns electrical system. Next are brakes (28%) and steering (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 253 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 32% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 12 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 10 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 57,000 miles 224 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 34 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 31 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 52 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 46 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 21 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 20 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 6 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 6 |
What the data shows
Of the 224 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 57,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 52,000 miles (74 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 12 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 10 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 15th most-complained-about out of 30 model years of the GMC Sierra 1500 with enough data (140 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving consumer applied the brakes and pedal went to the floor. Vehicle hit a meridian strip pole. Consumer was unable to maintain control of the vehicle, skidded into a guard rail, and vehicle flipped over twice. Upon impact, both frontal air bags did not deploy. Passenger and driver sustained neck and back injuries, and were transported by ambulance to a hospital. Vehicle was towed, and totaled by the insurance company.
Brakes worked perfectly to stop vehicle on a steep downward hill in order to open a gate at the bottom of the hill of my driveway. After the gate was opened the vehicle proceeded down the hill coasting and there was a total brake failure when trying to slow down. The pedal went to the floor with no brakes whatsoever. The vehicle crashed into a tree to avoid going over a cliff. The vehicle has been well maintained with no warning of brake failure. Front and rear breaks failed at the same time.
Steering column clunking, speedometer not working, transmission stopped working .everything started going wrong about. 63,000 k . I have 116,000 know. 2004 z71 crewcab.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 GMC sierra. The contact was towing a boat and discovered there was transfer case oil splattered all over the boat. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair facility where he was informed that there was a hole in the transfer case. A new transfer case and pump housing were installed at the independent repair facility. The failure did not recur. The failure and current mileages were 82,000.