2004 GMC Sierra problems
NHTSA has received 224 complaints about the 2004 GMC Sierra, and 34% of them involve brakes. Next are electrical system (18%) and steering (6%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 224 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 34% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 12 and 7
- Injuries and deaths
- 17 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 46,000 miles 180 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 | 51 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 20 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 35 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 17 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 27 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 8 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 12 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 180 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 46,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 77,000 miles (68 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 12 complaints mention a crash; 7 complaints mention a fire; 17 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 9th most-complained-about out of 26 model years of the GMC Sierra with enough data (137 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 7 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.
Dt: purchased vehicle in november 2003, and on 12-22-03 had a minor accident. This occurred at a low speed at which consumer tapped another vehicle from behind. Took vehicle to a dealer. He checked the vehicle diagnosticians via computer, but the codes checked out as well as a test drive and inspection from the service department. This checked out as adequate, no problems found. About 2 months later, experienced a similar accident. Consumer called GM to inquire about this problem.
I had purchased my sierra 1500 from chesrown dealership of delaware ohio. I had the truck for less than 60 days. I loved the truck very much but was very upset when an electrical fire started in under my hood. This happened the day after thanksgiving and since I had the factory stereo system I had no explanation for the start of the fire.
While driving at 50 MPH a head on collision occurred. Upon impact, air bag did not deploy. There were some injuries.
When coming to a red light I tried to stop my truck. Upon pressing the brake peddle the first time I started to slow down. Upon pressing the brake peddle the second time, the peddle when to the floor and did not slow me down. I had to run the red light and us my e brake to slow down and finally stop at a gas station. While waiting for aaa to pick me up noticed brake fluid coming out from under drivers side. Truck was towed to my son's house.
Rusted out/ corroded brake lines burst while stopping for a deer running out on the road. Was warned of this problem upon purchase of the vehicle in 2010 and personally coated all brake lines b4 winter every year...never saw worse lines! I own classic cars that are twice as old with shiney original brake lines. The fuel lines also rotted out spilling fuel over the top of the fuel tank and on the ground while filling up. All fuel lines and fuel pump connections were severely rotted. Worst I have seen.