2004 GMC Sierra Denali Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2004 GMC Sierra Denali, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes535.7%
- Electrical214.3%
- Powertrain (other)17.1%
- Seat belts17.1%
- Steering17.1%
- Suspension17.1%
- Airbags17.1%
- Tires & wheels17.1%
- Engine17.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 24 IN LEWES, DELAWARE APPROACHING A YELLOW LIGHT WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY COMPLETELY FAILED DESPITE PUTTING THE PEDDLE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS FORCED TO VEER ONTO THE SHOULDER THEN INTO A FARMERS FIELD IN ORDER TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN ENOUGH TO FORCE IT INTO PARK. APPARENTLY THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES ON THESE TRUCKS ARE COMPLETELY EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND HAVE A HISTORY OF FAILING. ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THE REAR CALIPERS LOCK UP AND THERE ARE NO BRAKES AT ALL SWITCH CAN CAUSE A CRASH. THERE IS NO WARNING GIVEN UNTIL THE HYDRAULIC LINE SNAPS AND THE FLUID IS RELEASED. MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND IS NOT A WORK TRUCK BUT MERELY A PERSONAL VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, I AM ON MY THIRD TRANSMISSION DO TO THE POOR SELECTION GM MADE OF PUTTING THE S-10 PICK UP TRANSMISSION IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HEAVIER TRUCK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABLE TO BE FULLY DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONS. SPEEDOMETER FLUTTERS AND DISPLAYS WRONG SPEED. GETS STUCK. *TR
SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS. GOES TO 120 THEN 0. STAYS AT 0. STOPS WORKING. SKIPS AROUND.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 24 IN LEWES, DELAWARE APPROACHING A YELLOW LIGHT WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY COMPLETELY FAILED DESPITE PUTTING THE PEDDLE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS FORCED TO VEER ONTO THE SHOULDER THEN INTO A FARMERS FIELD IN ORDER TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN ENOUGH TO FORCE IT INTO PARK. APPARENTLY THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES ON THESE TRUCKS ARE COMPLETELY EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND HAVE A HISTORY OF FAILING. ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THE REAR CALIPERS LOCK UP AND THERE ARE NO BRAKES AT ALL SWITCH CAN CAUSE A CRASH. THERE IS NO WARNING GIVEN UNTIL THE HYDRAULIC LINE SNAPS AND THE FLUID IS RELEASED. MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND IS NOT A WORK TRUCK BUT MERELY A PERSONAL VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, I AM ON MY THIRD TRANSMISSION DO TO THE POOR SELECTION GM MADE OF PUTTING THE S-10 PICK UP TRANSMISSION IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HEAVIER TRUCK. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN A ROLL OVER, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, SEAT BELTS DID NOT SECURE THE OCCUPANTS. THE DRIVER WAS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE PASSENGER WAS UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
QUADRA STEERING LOCKS UP, CAUSING THE REAR OF THE TRUCK TO VEER TO THE LEFT AND THE ENTIRE TRUCK TO TRAVEL IN A CRABBING OR ANGLED POSITION. ON TWO LANE ROAD THE REAR IS IN THE ONCOMING LANE AND THE VEHICLE IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. MESSAGE ON DASH IS "SERVICE 4 WHEEL STEER" DEALER CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM. VEHICLE STILL AT DEALERSHIP.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
ABS BRAKE ACTIVATES AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEEL HUB BEARING PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN A ROLL OVER, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, SEAT BELTS DID NOT SECURE THE OCCUPANTS. THE DRIVER WAS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE PASSENGER WAS UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
OVER THE PAST WEEK, I NOTICED THAT MY GMC DENALI TRUCK WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT SO I HAD TO OVERSTEER TO THE RIGHT. EACH DAY, THE EFFECT BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED SO I HAD THE LOCAL GMC DEALER CHECK OUT THE TRUCK. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CORDS IN THE FRONT GOODYEAR WRANGLER HP TIRE HAD SEPARATED--IT WAS A BLOWOUT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING WITH MY TRUCK TO HAVE CAUSED THE SEPARATION, THE TREAD WEAR WAS EVEN ON ALL TIRES, THEY WERE REGULARLY CHECKED FOR INFLATION, AND MOST OF THE TREAD WAS LEFT SINCE I HAVE PUT LOW MILEAGE ON THIS TIRES. A NUMBER OF DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED DUE TO FAILURE OF THIS TYPE OF TIRE. I HAD BOTH FRONT TIRES REPLACED AND OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, I WILL REPLACE THE REMAINING TWO TIRES. I CANNOT CHANCE A DEATH OR INJURY. PLEASE RECALL THESE TIRES. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO DIE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
2004 GMC SIERRA 6 LITER V8 - EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN OFF - $600 TO REPAIR. DESIGN AND/OR PART DEFECT. DEALER SAID THIS HAPPENS. RECALL OR HAVE GM CORRECT? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .