RoadVitals

2004 GMC Sierra Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
14
Latest Sep 18, 2012
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.
7%
of 188 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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 GMC Sierra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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 transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Sep 18, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000....UPDATED 10/19/12 *BF UPDATED 10/25/12

NHTSA ID
10475845
Incident
Sep 22, 2009
Mileage
90,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 19, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA . THE COLUMN SHIFTER COULD CHANGE GEARS WITHOUT BRAKE APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114743.

NHTSA ID
10289001
Incident
Oct 19, 2009
Mileage
114,743 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 4, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, THE NEW TRANSMISSION HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10154535
Incident
Apr 4, 2006
Mileage
10,000 mi
Interior & seatsSteeringTransmission
Filed Dec 20, 2005

#1 04 SIERRA 4X4 RETURNED TO DEALER AFTER 2 WEEKS (9/18/04) WITH 1523 MILES FOR HARD SHIFTING. CLUTCH WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY FROM FACTORY. ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE POINT IN CLUTCH PEDAL TRAVEL IS AT FULL DEPRESSION INTO THE FIREWALL. #2 PASSENGER DOOR HARD TO CLOSE FULLY. DRIVER SIDE DOOR CLOSES AS EXPECTED WITH LITTLE EFFORT. PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY WITHOUT UNDUE FORCE BEING APPLIED OR A WINDOW CRACKED. #3 RETURNED TRUCK TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP ON 9/15/05 WITH 8,190 AND AGAIN 12/15/05 WITH 10,282 MILES. FOR A KNOCKING NOISE DURING TURNING, CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING CORRECTLY, PASSENGER DOOR NOT CLOSING COMPLETELY, AND A NEW RATTLING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION ALONG WITH A WHINE NOISE FROM THE GEARS. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE KNOCKING NOISE FROM A SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING A STEERING BUSHING. THIS DEALERSHIP ALSO STATED THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CLUTCH OR THE TRANSMISSION OR THE PASSENGER DOOR. NONE OF THE PROBLEMS WERE FIXED #5 I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE TRUCK TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR A 3RD OPINION ON 12/20/05 WITH 10,284 MILES. HIS OPINION WAS FLATLY STATED THAT THE TRUCK HAS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH AND THE TRANSMISSION. HIS EVALUATION WAS THE CLUTCH WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY AND DEPRESSION INTO THE FIREWALL WAS NOT CORRECT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS SYNCHRONIZER AND POSSIBLE BUSHINGS AND BEARINGS THAT WERE FAILING. HE STATED THE NOISES ALONE WERE DEFINITE INDICATORS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS PROBLEMS AND THAT ANYONE WOULD KNOW THAT A CLUTCH IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE DEPRESSED INTO THE FIREWALL FOR PROPER OPERATION WHICH IN TIME WILL LEAD TO PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE. THIS EVALUATION COST ME $30 AND 3 HOUR LOST FROM WORK. *JB

NHTSA ID
10145693
Incident
Jun 18, 2004
Mileage
1,534 mi
Transmission
Filed May 10, 2005

TRANSMISSION MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. ALSO, INTERMITTNET SLIPPING OF TRANSMISSION WHEN STARTING TO MOVE FROM A FULL STOP. VEHICLE HESITATES BEFORE IT BEGINS TO MOVE. THIS OCCURED WITHIN THE 1ST 500 MILES AND CONTINES TO OCCUR TODAY.

NHTSA ID
10120593
Incident
Dec 10, 2003
Mileage
5,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 28, 2005

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE BEFORE CATCHING IN GEAR WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATED OCCASIONS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE MAYBE REAR ENDED. *AK THE TRUCK WAS ON AN INCLINE IN OVERDRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, LET OFF THE BRAKE AND GAVE IT GAS TO MERGE INTO TRAFFICS AND THE TRUCK WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. IT HESITATED UNTIL FELT LIKE A GEAR CAUGHT AND THEN INTO TRAFFIC INSTEAD OF GOING WHEN IT NEEDED TO GO. THE SECOND TIME WAS ALMOST THE SAME WAY. *BF

NHTSA ID
10115825
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
Mileage
12,000 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Feb 11, 2005
Fire reported

I PURCHASED MY 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500 4X4. I PUT IT IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE TO GO THROUGH SOME ICE AND IT MADE A VERY LOUD CLANK. NOT LONG AFTER THAT WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE IT ALSO MADE THE SAME LOUD CLANK. IT DID NOT SOUND LIKE THAT WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE TRUCK. NOW THE TRUCK HAS TROUBLE GOING INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND ALSO GETS HUNG IN REVERSE. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET IN A BAD ACCIDENT. MY CRUISE CONTROL ALSO HAS HAVE 6 MALFUNCTIONS. I HAD THE DEALER FIX IT INITIALLY. I HAVE FIXED IT SUBSEQUENTLY DUE TO THE FACT THEY SAID IT WAS A BLOWN FUSE. THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WERE ADDRESSED 3 TIMES AND ALL THE DEALERS SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A DEFECT WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE. THAT IS IT WITH THE TRUCK. NOW JUST LAST THURSDAY FEB 3, MY BRIDGESTONE TIRE SEPARATED. MY TIRE DEALER SAID THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE WHAT SO EVER THAT THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE TO THE TIRE TO CAUSE THE BLOWOUT. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE SEPARATED. IT CAUSED A FIRE. IT WAS QUICKLY PUT OUT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10110366
Incident
Oct 4, 2004
Mileage
500 mi
ElectricalTransmissionVisibility
Filed Jan 11, 2005

THE WINDSHIELD IS LEAKING WATER DOWN INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE WIRING IS SHORTING OUT. ALSO, THE LINKAGE HAS FALLEN OUT. YOU CAN SMELL BURNT WIRING AND SMOKE. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER CONTINUOUSLY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE GENTLEMAN WAS NOT THERE THAT SHE NEEDED TO SEE. CONSUMER HAD SOMEONE ELSE LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. AND WAS TOLD THE VIBRATION FROM DRIVING HAD JARRED THE THE PIN LOOSE. THE BLOWER, HEAT, AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10107195
Incident
Apr 25, 2004
Transmission
Filed Jan 5, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE WERE CLEANING THE VEHICLE. HUSBAND WAS OUTSIDE WASHING THE VEHICLE, WHILE THE WIFE WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, CLEANING. THE WIFE HAD THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, TURNED TO ACCESSORIES WHILE LISTENING TO THE RADIO, AND ACCIDENTALLY PUSHING THE SHIFTER DOWN WITH CAR BEING OFF AND VEHICLE MOVED BACKWARD, HITTING THE HUSBAND AND INJURING HIS KNEES.*AK THE CONSUMER ENTERED A FILE # OF 1-281746845. *TC

NHTSA ID
10103307
Incident
Nov 23, 2004
Mileage
3,200 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 20, 2004

TRUCK VIBRATES AND MAKES NOISE BETWEEN 40 AND 50. SOUNDS LIKE BINDING. HAPPENS AS TRUCK IS SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE. DEALER HAS TRIED BUT CANNOT DUPLICATE CONDITION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10100263
Incident
Oct 10, 2004
Mileage
5,100 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 9, 2004

THE TRANSMISSION HAS INTERMITTENT SHIFTING PROBLEMS, IT HESITATES AND BIG NOISE HAPPENS. DEALER HASN'T FOUND ANYTHING. ALSO TRUCK VIBRATES AT 40-50 MILES AN HR. VERY ANNOYING. THE DEALER SAYS ON GOING PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION. THINKING OF BUYING A FORD MOVING AHEAD. *NM

NHTSA ID
10093870
Incident
Oct 7, 2004
Mileage
100 mi
SteeringTires & wheelsTransmission
Filed Sep 8, 2004

THE CENTER HUB OF THE WHEELS CONSTANTLY FALLS OFF. THE PLASTIC SCREWS THAT HOLD THE HUB ON THE WHEEL ARE NOT SECURING THE HUB PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER HAS LOST SIX OF THESE HUBS SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. *JB THE VEHICLE WOULD BUCK WHEN PUT INTO 4LOW AND SHIFTING INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL FROM REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE VEHICLE MADE A THUMPING NOISE WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS AND THE CONSUMER COULD FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM

NHTSA ID
10083320
Incident
Apr 12, 2004
Mileage
1,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 25, 2004
Crash reported

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. THE CHILD PULLED THE SHIFT LEVER OUT OF PARK AND THE TRUCK RAN AWAY DOWN AN INCLINE. BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE BY A TREE AND THE TRUCK CONTINUED UNTIL REAR-ENDING ANOTHER TREE. THE CHILD STAYED IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNHURT.*AK IN CHECKING THIS TRUCK, OUR 2003 TAHOE, AND OUR 2003 CHEVROLET PICKUP WE FIND THAT ALL OF THEM: 1. THE SHIFT LEVER IS LOCKED WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE LOCKED POSITION 2. THE SHIFT LEVER IS LOCKED WHEN IN THE "RUN" OR IGNITION POSITION AND REQUIRES THE BRAKE TO BE DEPRESSED PRIOR TO SHIFTING. 3. BUT IN THE "ACCESSORY" POSITION THE SHIFT IS COMPLETELY UNLOCKED AND REQUIRES ONLY A VERY SLIGHT PRESSURE TO MOVE IT OUT OF PARK AND RESULT IN A RUNAWAY. I FEEL THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE SHIFT LEVER NOT TO BE LOCKED IN ALL POSITIONS AND, IN FACT, THE FACT IT IS LOCKED IN TWO POSITIONS BUT NOT THE ACCESSORY POSITION RESULTS IN CONFUSION AND A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. THIS WAS NOT A COMPONENT FAILURE, BUT IS A DESIGN FAILURE THAT APPARENTLY INVOLVES ALL GM TRUCKS AND SUVS OF THIS MODEL.

NHTSA ID
10078788
Incident
Jun 18, 2004
Mileage
30,000 mi
Tires & wheelsTransmission
Filed Mar 22, 2004

TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP EVERY SO OFTEN, ALSO IT WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD. THIS HAPPENS ALOT BUT NOT EVERY TIME. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AS YOU START MOVING AND CONTINUES FOR A GOOD DISTANCE (4 HIGH)*AK

NHTSA ID
10063659
Incident
Jan 19, 2004
Mileage
8,000 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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .