RoadVitals

2004 GMC Sierra

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
188
Latest Feb 5, 2016
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
10
Latest May 11, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
16
14 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 188 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 GMC Sierra, most frequently naming the brakes, electrical and steering categories. 10 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 563 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

10 campaigns cover this model year

View all 10

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
09E025000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

May 11, 2009
42,540 units potentially affected
The defect: 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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The 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.
DOPE, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
07E066000

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Aug 28, 2007
175 units potentially affected
The defect: 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 TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.
The risk: IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.
The remedy: ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.
CEQUENT ELECTRICAL PRODUCTSView on NHTSA.gov
06V289000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Aug 3, 2006
38,439 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: IF THE DAMPER COMES LOOSE, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The 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 1-866-996-9463.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 06080View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 188
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Feb 5, 2016

I HAVE A 2004 GMC SIERRA AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY AIRBAG LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AND THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE SENSOR AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO MORE IN DEPTH ON THE ABS BUT TO GO MORE IN DEPTH THEY CHARGE $80.00 AN HOUR JUST TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT. I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR RESPONSES ON THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THIS VEHICLE PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID
10824516
Incident
Jan 25, 2016
Mileage
154,000 mi
BrakesElectricalFuel system
Filed Jan 7, 2016

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. DASH CONSISTENTLY CHANGES LANGUAGES RENDERING ODOMETER NON FUNCTIONAL. SPEEDOMETER IS INACCURATE SOME TIMES NOT EVEN WORKING ESPECIALLY ON COLD DAYS. HMMMM ROTTED BRAKES+NO SPEEDOMETER+LEAKY FUEL LINES=CRASH,BANG BOOM!..AND I HAVE A CAR SEAT IN MY VEHICLE! LUCKLY I PERFORM PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND DRIVE SAFELY. STILL WONDER HOW THESE ISSUES GOT SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.

NHTSA ID
10818811
Incident
Apr 19, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 23, 2015

RUSTED BRAKE LINE

NHTSA ID
10806362
Incident
Nov 21, 2015
Mileage
111,500 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 2, 2015
Fire reported

DROVE FROM MY HOME TO COWORKERS (20MINS) LEFT TRUCK IN COWORKERS DRIVEWAY ,AND WENT TO WORK. ONE HOUR LATER COWORKER REC'D CALL FROM NEXT DOOR THAT MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA ID
10787590
Incident
Feb 4, 2015
Mileage
90,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 29, 2015

GMC REPLACED ALL 8 FUEL INJECTORS UNDER WARRANTY AT 95,000 MILES. SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AT 135,000 AND WILL NOT COVER THEM. ESTIMATED $5,500 TO REPLACE BY CONSUMER WITH ONLY A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. CREATES POOR FUEL ECONOMY, EXCESSIVE SMOKE AT IDLE AND WILL NOT PASS SMOG IF NOT CORRECTED.

NHTSA ID
10787134
Incident
Oct 29, 2015
Brakes
Filed Jul 6, 2015

I EXPERIENCED A BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON MY 2004 GMC SIERRA CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCK. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED AND COMING UP TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I FOUND THE AREA AROUND THE BRAKE MODULE, IN THE FRAME AREA UNDER THE DRIVER'S AREA, SOAKED WITH BRAKE FLUID AND CORRODED BRAKE LINES.

NHTSA ID
10732170
Incident
Jul 5, 2015
Mileage
41,690 mi
Brakes
Filed May 12, 2015

ON DECEMBER 28, 2014 I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 GMC PICK-UP TRUCK AND SUFFERED TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE BRAKE FAILURE - NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ON, AND NO GRADUAL DECREASE IN BRAKING ABILITY. AFTER THE FAILURE, I DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN AND MASSIVE LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID FROM A RUSTED BRAKE LINE. PREVIOUSLY, IN APRIL OF 2014 I HAD MY PICK-UP TRUCK SERVICED AT AN AUTHORIZED GMC SERVICE CENTER. AT THAT TIME, THE SERVICE TICKET REFERENCED CONDITION OF BRAKES TO BE IN YELLOW REQUIRING FUTURE ATTENTION. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ISSUE AT THAT TIME WAS BRAKE ROTORS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE NEXT SERVICE INTERVAL. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF ANY POTENTIAL DANGER FROM BRAKE LINE RUSTING/FAILURE. UPON RESEARCHING VEHICLE ISSUES ON THE WEB I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE AN INORDINATE NUMBER OF BRAKE LINE FAILURES FOR VEHICLES OF MY TYPE. IT APPEARS GMC HAS REFUSED TO ISSUE A RECALL. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE GMC DEALER AND HAD THEM REPLACE RUSTING BRAKE LINES ($801.64). THE REPLACEMENT GMC BRAKE LINES INSTALLED ARE OF A DIFFERENT (IMPROVED) DESIGN - THEY HAVE A PAINTED/PROTECTIVE COATING ON THEM, WHICH APPEARS TO BE AN ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS PAST PREMATURE BRAKE LINE FAILURE ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
10715937
Incident
Dec 28, 2014
Mileage
86,150 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 30, 2015

I SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CAB OF THE PICKUP TRUCK AND HEARD A SHRIEKING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD TO PUT THE WINDOW DOWN TO RELIEVE MY DIZZINESS FROM THE FUMES. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND 3 OF THE 6 BOLTS BROKEN THAT FASTEN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO THE ENGINE. EXHAUST FUMES ARE LEAKING FROM THE BURNED OUT GASKET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10713935
Incident
Mar 3, 2014
Mileage
126,500 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

06-03-09-004H

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

This technical bulletin provides a procedure to lube the rear leaf springs on vehicles with the condition of a squeak noise originating from the rear of the vehicle.

PIT3227M

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. Please communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle.

PIT3665E

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that the Hydro-Boost is not serviceable and will need to be replaced if the brake pedal moves or applies on its own at a full turn.

PIC5953A

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have an issue when using Bluetooth voice recognition with an iPhone. Technician should work with the customer to insure the phone contacts to not have any Emojis loaded to any contact.

03-08-46-004R

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

This informational bulletin provides information on Part Restriction and Ordering Process Information for OnStar Vehicle Communication Interface Modules (VCIM) (GMNA Only)

06-06-01-010C

ENGINE

This informational bulletin provides information on close coupled converters and there affect on newly installed engines or engines during there break in period.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Sierra by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017610037.8
2016620—
2015536050.3
201410112053.9
2013393051.4
2012292051.1
2011432042.2
2010341045.6
2009371041.7
2008682250.8
2007592050.2
2006536052.7
200511711048.1
2004Viewing18810051.8
20032069558.4
20022497865.4
20012647966.2
200044312965.4
199960091065.3
19981900246.8
19972380034.6
19962462358.9
19952616360.6
19941903048.9
1993723051.6
1992304052.6
1991122039.9
1990182051.4
1989162154.7
1988621—
1987100—
1983200—
1982100—
1979001—
1977200—
1976200—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.