RoadVitals

2004 GMC Sierra 1500 Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
67
Latest May 26, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
32%
of 212 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 67 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 67, in the owner's own words

BrakesFuel system
Filed May 26, 2020

CORRODED BRAKE LINES. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED PREVIOUSLY. I WAS DRIVING DOWN RURAL ROAD GETTING READY TO TURN IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN MY BRAKES GAVE OUT. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET IT INTO THE GRAVEL DRIVEWAY WITHOUT KILLING SOMEONE. WHEN I LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO FIND THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND ONE HAD BURST. I HAD PART OF THE LINE FIXED WITH COPPER TUBING. I HAVE SINCE HAD 2 MORE LINES BURST. AS WELL AS A FUEL LINE LEAK. THIS HAS BECOME FRUSTRATING.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11326061
Incident
May 23, 2020
Brakes
Filed Jul 3, 2017

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2004 AND HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE AND ALMOST 100,00 MILES IN ALMOST 14 YEARS HOWEVER I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND ALL THE BRAK FLUID CAME OUT I HAD TO DRIVE OVER A PERSON LAWN TO AVOID HITTING A PERSON AND A MOVING VEHICLE ON 7/1/2017 DUE TO RUSTY BRAKE LINE AND CHECKING ALL LINES WERE RUSTED . I AM ALMOST 75 YEARS OLD AND VERY CONCERNED I WAS AWARE THE LINES WERE ALL RUSTED DUE TO IMPORTED BRAKE LINES WITH INFERIOR METALS, NEVER HEARD ABOUT AND NOTICE OR RECALL.I ALMOST INJURED A PERSON AND HIT A CAR IF I DID NOT DRIVE ON SOMEONES LAWN THE VEHIVLE WAS MOVING ABOUT 35 MPH .

NHTSA ID
11002839
Incident
Jun 29, 2017
Mileage
999,940 mi
Brakes
Filed May 20, 2017

BRAKES WENT OUT AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY, BRAKE LINE CORROSION

NHTSA ID
10990757
Incident
May 18, 2017
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 16, 2017

POWER TRAIN PCM DEFECTIVE WITH TRANSFER CASE WITH BAD DESIGNING WITH SHOE PUMP, AND BRAKE LINE CORRODED AND LEAK. BRAKE SYSTEM WILL NOT PREVENT VEHICLE TO STOP WHEN BRAKE LINES ARE LEAK. FOR MY 2004 I WAS LUCKY DRIVING ON SLOW SPEED ON CITY ROAD, AND I WAS ABLE TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP MY TRUCK.

NHTSA ID
10955150
Incident
Feb 15, 2017
Mileage
110,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 26, 2017

ON JANUARY 24, 2017 TRAVELING ON PA TURNPIKE AT POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70MPH, WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW WHEN APPROACHING SLOWER VEHICLES. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE ALMOST RAN INTO THE REAR OF SLOWER VEHICLES. METAL BRAKE LINE RUPTURED ABOVE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. WHEN INSPECTED, ALL BRAKE LINES EXHIBITED EXTREME RUST/CORROSION TO THE POINT OF FLAKING AND THINNING. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR COLLISION AND WOULD HAVE INJURED OR KILLED OCCUPANTS. THIS PROBLEM IS A MAJOR KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED BY GM.

NHTSA ID
10947876
Incident
Jan 24, 2017
Mileage
142,550 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 30, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10928727
Incident
Nov 30, 2016
Brakes
Filed Aug 25, 2016

THE BRAKES ON MY TRUCK FAILED DUE TO THE BRAKE LINE CORROSION. I PUSHED ON MY BRAKES WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY LOST ALL BRAKING POWER AND HAD MY BRAKE . LUCKILY I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND, I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED. UPON SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR HE SAID THAT THIS WAS COMMON AND THAT THE NEW BRAKE LINES WERE COATED AND WILL NOT RUST. NONE THE LESS THE REPAIR COST AND TOWING COST WAS QUITE EXPENSIVE.

NHTSA ID
10898640
Incident
Sep 5, 2015
Mileage
146,145 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 3, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,900....UPDATED 02/04/16 *BF; 05/02/18*JB

NHTSA ID
10808140
Incident
Dec 1, 2015
Mileage
89,900 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 26, 2015

BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTING CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO PRESSURE/FLUID LOSS

NHTSA ID
10807093
Incident
Nov 26, 2015
Mileage
230,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 4, 2015

AS I APPROACHED A MAJOR INTERSECTION THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED YELLOW AND I APPLIED THE BRAKES PREPARING TO STOP. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE TRUCK ROLLED HALFWAY INTO THE INTERSECTION BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STEP ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND FULLY STOP THE TRUCK. THE DASHBOARD FLASHED ON INDICATING "REPAIR BRAKES"...A LITTLE TOO LATE TO HELP. IF I HAD A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME , I WOULD HAVE HIT IT AND POSSIBLE INJURIES WOULD HAVE RESULTED. I HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND WAS GLAD FOR SEAT BELTS.

NHTSA ID
10731974
Incident
Jul 1, 2015
Mileage
53,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 21, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ID
10711987
Incident
Apr 20, 2015
Mileage
83,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 31, 2015

I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY HOME FROM A RESTAURANT, JUST ABOUT 4 BLOCKS FROM MY HOME I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND ANTI LOCK BRAKES WAS ACTING UP AND I PRESSED A LITTLE HARD TO STOP BEFORE A STOP LIGHT AND THE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD TO DRIVE VERY SLOW TO GET MY TRUCK TO MY HOME AS I HAVE NO BRAKES. BY THE TIME I PARKED MY PARKING SPOT I GOT OUT AND OPENED MY HOOD TO LOOK AT THE BRAKE DRUM DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING AND PROCEEDED TO LOOK UNDERNEATH MY TRUCK AND FOUND A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID JUST UNDER DRIVERS SIDE BOTTOM. I WAS AMAZED TO SEE THAT AND IT LOOKED SO RUSTED, COULDN'T PINPOINT WHERE THE LEAK IS COMING FROM ON THE LINES IT WAS ALL SOAKED WITH THE FLUID. RIGHT NOW I FEEL THAT THE GM CORPORATION SHOULD REPLACE ALL THE LINES AT A NO COST TO ME. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE PUT AN INFERIOR PRODUCT ON THE TRUCK AND IT IS DANGEROUS THEY CAN HAVE SOMEONE KILLED IF THE BRAKES FAIL ON A HIGHER SPEED !!! THEY TRICKED THE CUSTOMER INTO BUYING A QUALITY MADE TRUCKS AND ITS NOT! IT IS MADE OF CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP QUALITY PARTS THAT I SPEND ON WITH MY MONEY WHEN I BROUGHT THE SIERRA 1500 NEW FROM A GM DEALER IN JULY 2004 MILEAGE AT THE TIME HAPPENED AROUND 118385. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680276
Incident
Jan 31, 2015
Mileage
118,385 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 11, 2014

BRAKE FOR RR CROSSING, PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR. TOWED TO GARAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10654194
Incident
Nov 6, 2014
Brakes
Filed Oct 14, 2014

BRAKE FAILURE! BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY HAVE SAFETY BELTS, AIR BAGS, SAFETY GLASS, AND MANY OTHER SAFETY FEATURES ON CARS AND TRUCKS BUT DO NOT MAKE IT MANDATORY THAT ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS (LINES) ARE NOT MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL TUBING! BEING UNABLE TO STOP IN AN EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF BRAKE FAILURE CAN RESULT IN MANY CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS AND UNNECESSARY DEATHS OR INJURIES! *TR

NHTSA ID
10644424
Incident
Aug 15, 2014
Mileage
73,841 mi
BrakesElectricalFuel system
Filed Oct 6, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. ALSO, THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ID
10641747
Incident
May 13, 2013
Mileage
104,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 14, 2014

DRIVING INTO THE VILLAGE, HAD TO STOP FOR SOMEONE MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. COMPLETE BRAKING FAILURE. NO ACCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE RIGHT, BUT REAL SCARY, MY SON WAS WITH ME. GOT THE TRUCK HOME AND NOW ALL THE BRAKE FLUID RAN DOWN THE DRIVE WAY. LOOKS LIKE GM WENT CHEAP AGAIN, THE BRAKE LINES ARE HORRIBLY RUSTED AND THE FLUID IS LEAKING FROM AN AREA JUST UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10633054
Incident
Sep 14, 2014
Mileage
42,397 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 7, 2014

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. DUE TO RUSTED LINES BRAKE FLUID POURED OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10631378
Incident
Nov 7, 2011
Mileage
58,400 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 12, 2014

WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD MINIMAL BRAKING POWER. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY BUT THE BRAKES LINES ARE COMPLETELY GONE. THEY ARE ALL RUSTED AND HAVE SEVERAL HOLES IN THEM AND MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10621729
Incident
Aug 11, 2014
Mileage
85,600 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 9, 2014

DRIVING VEHICLE, AND LOST BRAKES. DISCOVERED THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED THRU CAUSING LOSS OF FLUIDS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I FOUND OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN YEAR MODEL GM VEHICLES. THIS IS A EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND I CANT BELIEVE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS. DOES IT REALLY TAKE DEATHS FOR GM TO ACT ON DEFECTS THEY ARE AWARE OF? I HAVE A 1988 JEEP WRANGLER AND THE BRAKE LINES LOOK A LOT BETTER THAN THOSE ON MY TRUCK. THE SAD THING IS YOU CANT EVEN BUY THE BREAK LINES FROM THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY DON'T SELL THEM, WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE LOOK DEEPER INTO THIS BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE GETS KILLED OR INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10609473
Incident
Jul 4, 2014
Mileage
102,345 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 2, 2014

COMING UP DRIVEWAY IN 2004 GMC SIERRA PICKUP TRUCK AND WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR - NO BRAKES. HAD TO PUSH EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP TRUCK. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE TRUCK, SAW FLUID LEAKING OUT BENEATH TRUCK UNDER DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND FOUND BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND BRAKE FLUID WAS DRAINING OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10607920
Incident
Jun 26, 2014
Mileage
118,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 16, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED WHICH CAUSED IT TO BURST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,892.

NHTSA ID
10598611
Incident
Jun 17, 2008
Mileage
48,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 16, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH A DEER SUDDENLY JUMPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THEY EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE FAILURE THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ID
10598595
Incident
Jun 14, 2014
Mileage
118,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 4, 2014

BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. PULLING INTO CAR WASH AND WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK WENT OUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR WASH. COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS AS I PULL AN EQUIPMENT TRAILER WITH 7000 POUNDS ON IT AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP. I WILL NEVER OWN A GM PRODUCT AGAIN. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10595995
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
214,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 21, 2014

ENTIRE BRAKE LINE FAILURE DO TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10583904
Incident
Apr 19, 2014
Mileage
123,467 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 13, 2014

BRAKES ENGAGED THE ANTILOCK DEVICE EVEN AS I WAS DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT. THIS HAPPENED OFTEN, AND IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL WITH FOLLOWING DISTANCE YOU'LL REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU. THIS HAPPENS IN A RANDOM FASHION THAT THE ANTILOCK DEVICE GETS ENGAGED. *JS

NHTSA ID
10579414
Incident
Feb 4, 2014
Mileage
40,541 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .