2004 GMC Sierra
This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
- Complaints
- 188
- Recalls
- 10
- Investigations
- 0
- Top problem
- Service brakes
Campaigns on file for 2004
None on file
40% of complaints
Complaints per year
2004: 188 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1982 | 1 |
| 1983 | 2 |
| 1987 | 1 |
| 1988 | 6 |
| 1989 | 16 |
| 1990 | 18 |
| 1991 | 12 |
| 1992 | 30 |
| 1993 | 72 |
| 1994 | 190 |
| 1995 | 261 |
| 1996 | 246 |
| 1997 | 238 |
| 1998 | 190 |
| 1999 | 600 |
| 2000 | 443 |
| 2001 | 264 |
| 2002 | 249 |
| 2003 | 206 |
| 2004 | 188 |
| 2005 | 117 |
| 2006 | 53 |
| 2007 | 59 |
| 2008 | 68 |
| 2009 | 37 |
| 2010 | 34 |
| 2011 | 43 |
| 2012 | 29 |
| 2013 | 39 |
| 2014 | 101 |
| 2015 | 53 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 61 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Service brakes
40% · 75 reportsMost commonly citing hydraulic.
Show complaint excerpts
Vehicle in front of me stopped suddenly. My brakes failed as my foot/pedal hit the floor. All I heard was buzzing. I hit the vehicle in front of me. Mechanic showed me the rusted out brake line that failed.
NHTSA ODI report, 2013-10-22
Brake line failure as an emergency stopping procedure was in place. Vehicle eventually stopped, but rear ended the forward vehicle. Brake line corrosion in hard piping was diagnosed as the problem as the hard brake line ruptured.
NHTSA ODI report, 2013-03-27
Electrical system
21% · 40 reportsMost commonly citing instrument cluster/panel and interior/under dash.
Power train
10% · 19 reportsMost commonly citing automatic transmission and transfer case (4-wheel drive).
Show complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2004-06-25
Steering
7% · 14 reportsMost commonly citing pinion shaft and rack and pinion.
Structure
5% · 9 reportsMost commonly citing frame and members and tailgate.
Safety timeline
10 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
-
▮
2004Complaint volume 188 complaints filed for this model year.
-
R
2004-03-31Equipment04E022000 Aftermarket pickup truck over-the-rail bedliners manufactured for installation on 1999-2004 Chevrolet silverado and GMC Sierra Pickup trucks. The toggle wing assembly used to attach the bedliner to…
Remedy: Durakon will issue a press release in attempt to notify customers that could have purchased the defective bedliner. If you purchased either a durakon allstar of patriot overrail bedliner since…
-
R
2004-06-18Service brakes, hydraulic04V045000 Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vans fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135, ?passenger car brake systems.? Some of these…
Remedy: Dealers are to replace the hydro-boost relief valve. The recall began on June 18, 2004. Owners should contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339; Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; GMC at 1-866-996-9463; or…
-
R
2004-09-09Seat belts04V225000 Certain extended and regular cab pickup trucks and cargo vans converted to compressed natural gas (Cng) fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 225, 'child…
Remedy: To bring the standard cab and cargo van vehicles into compliance, dealers will inject epoxy into the air bag off switch to prevent air bag activation, relocate the switch behind the instrument panel…
-
R
2004-09-18Structure04V129000 On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the galvanized steel tailgate support cables that retain the tailgate in the full open (Horizontal) position may corrode, weaken, and eventually…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cables. Interim owner notification began on April 7, 20004. The recall began on September 24, 2004, when replacement parts were available, and will continue through…
-
R
2005-03-23Service brakes, hydraulic05V043000 Certain trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans equipped with bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies, the hydraulic brake booster pressure accumulator may crack and separate from the hydro-boost…
Remedy: Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two-function valve. If the hydro-boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge. The…
-
R
2005-07-21Seat belts05V163000 On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2ND row center occupant seat belt routing may make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips…
Remedy: Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on July 21…
-
R
2005-07-29Parking brake05V161000 On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions and built with either pbr parking brake systems or trw parking brake systems, the parking brake friction linings may wear to an extent…
Remedy: Dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with a pbr parking brake system. On vehicles equipped with the trw parking brake system, dealers will install a…
-
R
2006-08-31Engine and engine cooling06V289000 On certain trucks equipped with an 8.1L V8 (Rpo L8-VIN g) engine have a condition in which the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip may fracture resulting in inadequate retention of the damper.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2006. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and GMC trucks at…
-
R
2007-09-05Equipment07E066000 Certain cequent 90 degree 7-way right angle adaptors sold by distributors in tow packages for aftermarket sales to tow 5TH wheel rv travel trailers. Due to incorrect wiring of the harness, the…
Remedy: All of the defective tow packages are still at the distributor level and have not been sold to any consumers.
-
R
2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…
Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.
Buy-smart checklist
2004 GMC Sierra — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Service brakes: 75 reports on file for this year.
- Electrical system: 40 reports on file for this year.
- Power train: 19 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 04E022000 · Equipment
- Recall 04V045000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 04V225000 · Seat belts
- Recall 04V129000 · Structure
- Recall 05V043000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 05V163000 · Seat belts
- Recall 05V161000 · Parking brake
- Recall 06V289000 · Engine and engine cooling
- Recall 07E066000 · Equipment
- Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 2004 GMC Sierra reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2004 GMC Sierra is rated "worse than typical".
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 GMC Sierra?
- The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 40% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 2004 GMC Sierra have?
- 10 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.