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2004 GMC Sierra 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 181.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

186 reports with mileage · 26 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

22 reports
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140,000 miles · Apr 26, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES BELOW DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BECAME EXTREMELY RUSTED, THUS BUSTING AND RELEASING ALL THE BRAKE FLUID AT ONCE, LEAVEINGTHE VEHICLE INOPERATIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456567

80,000 miles · Mar 20, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP, HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, HE HAD TO DR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP, HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, HE HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ALONGSIDE THE SIDEWALK. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10452376

15 miles · Mar 7, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15 AND TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #10450615

67,410 miles · Jan 11, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I OWN A 2004 GMC K1500 WITH ABOUT 70000 MILES ON IT NOW. ON 10/17/11 AT 67410 MILES I WAS DOING A NORMAL OIL CHANGE WITH THE VEHICLE ELEVATED ON A RACK. I NOTICED FLUID DRIPPING ON ME FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS FLOOR AREA. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION I FOUND ALMOST ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES LEADING FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK TO THE ABS U…

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I OWN A 2004 GMC K1500 WITH ABOUT 70000 MILES ON IT NOW. ON 10/17/11 AT 67410 MILES I WAS DOING A NORMAL OIL CHANGE WITH THE VEHICLE ELEVATED ON A RACK. I NOTICED FLUID DRIPPING ON ME FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS FLOOR AREA. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION I FOUND ALMOST ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES LEADING FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK TO THE ABS UNIT RUSTED BADLY AND LEAKING. AS I WAS MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE RACK THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WITH VERY CAREFUL OPERATION AND USING THE PARKING BRAKE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK BACK ON LEVEL GROUND. I REPLACED ALL THE LINES LEADING FROM THE ABS UNIT TO THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK REROUTING THEM ALONG THE FRAME. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHILE PULLING MY TRAILER A SERIOUS ACCIDENT MAY HAVE RESULTED. THIS PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING DEFECT IN MANY OF THESE VEHICLES. YOU SHOULD NOT LOSE ALL OF YOUR BRAKES WHEN A LINE RUPTURES. THE DUAL MASTER CYLINDER SHOULD ALLOW YOU TO HAVE BRAKES ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, GM SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES WITH STAINLESS OR ANOTHER ENGINEERING FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443395

95,000 miles · Jul 5, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I GOT INTO MY 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500 PICKUP TRUCK AND WENT TO STOP. THE PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I DISCOVERED THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND CREATED A LEAK CAUSING LOSS OF THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS NO RUST IN ANY OTHER AREAS. IT IS OBVIOUS THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED WELL BEFORE THE NORMAL LIFE OF VEHICLE BRAKES. I WAS A…

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I GOT INTO MY 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500 PICKUP TRUCK AND WENT TO STOP. THE PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I DISCOVERED THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED AND CREATED A LEAK CAUSING LOSS OF THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS NO RUST IN ANY OTHER AREAS. IT IS OBVIOUS THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED WELL BEFORE THE NORMAL LIFE OF VEHICLE BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED DUE PRIMARILY TO MY EXPERIENCE AS A LONG TIME POLICE OFFICER. THIS TYPE OF BRAKE FAILURE COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10410613

33,000 miles · Dec 28, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.

NHTSA ODI #10372662

40,000 miles · Oct 26, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2004 GMC SIERRA EXT CAB WITH 40K MILES HAS SERIOUSLY DEGRADED BRAKING POWER. UPON SUDDEN STOPS THE VEHICLE WASN'T TO KEEP ROLLING TAKING FAR TO LONG TO STOP. THE PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND YET THE TRUCK IS STILL MOVING. THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT INDICATE IT IS WORKING BUT THE WHEEL S DO NOT LOCK UP TO A SKID, IN FACT, I…

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2004 GMC SIERRA EXT CAB WITH 40K MILES HAS SERIOUSLY DEGRADED BRAKING POWER. UPON SUDDEN STOPS THE VEHICLE WASN'T TO KEEP ROLLING TAKING FAR TO LONG TO STOP. THE PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND YET THE TRUCK IS STILL MOVING. THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT INDICATE IT IS WORKING BUT THE WHEEL S DO NOT LOCK UP TO A SKID, IN FACT, I CAN'T GET THE TRUCK TO SKID OR INVOKE THE ABS SYSTEM NO MATTER WHAT I DO. I CALLED THE DEALER WHO SAID NO RECALLS WERE OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT. DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL BUT I CAN BRING IT IN FOR AN INSPECTION ( $100) BUT ANY REPAIRS ARE NOT COVERED BY GM, HE ACTED LIKE HE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE? I HAVE HEARD OF SEVERAL OTHER GMC TRUCK OWNERS THAT SAID THEY HAD SIMILAR ISSUES ONLY TO BE CHARGED $800 OR MORE WITH LITTLE IMPROVEMENT. I CANNOT KEEP THIS TRUCK LIKE THIS, I AM AFRAID I WILL ROLL INTO THE BACK OF SOMEONE AND I CANNOT TOW MY TRAILER ( SMALL BIKE TRAILER) FOR FEAR OF THE SAME. WHEN WILL GM WAKE UP? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362561

57,000 miles · Aug 18, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SEVERE BRAKE LINE CORROSION IN MY 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500 PICKUP. COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM. ALL BRAKE LINES SEVERELY BUBBLED AND CORRODED. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR IS $2000. NHTSA SHOULD EXTEND INVESTIGATION OF 1999-2003 MODEL YEAR GMC TRUCKS TO 2004 AND LATER MODEL YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350412

65,000 miles · Jul 29, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2004 GMC PU TRK ABS ACTIVATION @ 5MPH OR LESS TRK DON"T STOP SAFELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346218

35,000 miles · Jan 28, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

GMC & CHEV K1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS 4X4 FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ABS BRAKE CENSOR UNIT I HAD 2 SETS OF THESE GO BAD ON QA PICKUP WITH LESS THAN 35000 MILES ON IT THESE WHEEL BEARINGS ARE NOT BAD THEY JUST BECOME A LITTLE LOSE BUT ARE STILL IN FACTORY SPEC. THERE IS A ABS SENSOR IN BETWEEN THEM AND THE UNIT WILL MALFUNCTION IN THI…

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GMC & CHEV K1500 SERIES PICKUP TRUCKS 4X4 FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ABS BRAKE CENSOR UNIT I HAD 2 SETS OF THESE GO BAD ON QA PICKUP WITH LESS THAN 35000 MILES ON IT THESE WHEEL BEARINGS ARE NOT BAD THEY JUST BECOME A LITTLE LOSE BUT ARE STILL IN FACTORY SPEC. THERE IS A ABS SENSOR IN BETWEEN THEM AND THE UNIT WILL MALFUNCTION IN THIS CONDITION WHICH WILL NOT LET YOU STOP WHEN ON DRY ROADS I RAN THROUGH 2 STOP SIGNS TRYING TO STOP WITH 2 FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THIS CONDITION IS NOT JUST WITH MY TRUCK I HAVE OVER 12 FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE SAME TRUCK 2002 THUR 2006 AND WE HAVE ALL HAD THIS HAPPEN TO US IF YOU WANT NAMES AND #'S I CAN GET THEM TW*

NHTSA ODI #10303056

Official recalls

2

04V562000 · Equipment Adaptive/mobility

Nov 26, 2004

ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT RETRACTORS AS NECESSARY. SURE-LOK WILL HANDLE THE REPAIRS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SURE-LOCK AT 1-908-231-1804 OR MOBILITYWORKS AT 1-800-769-8267.

04V240000 · Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire

May 17, 2004

THE SPARE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY THAT WAS PROVIDED ON CERTAIN CONVERSION VEHICLES WILL NOT FIT ON THE FRONT WHEEL HUB DUE TO OFFSET OF THE WHEEL. HOWEVER, IT WILL FIT ON THE REAR WHEELS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF SOMEONE HAS A FLAT TIRE ON THE FRONT WHEEL, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO INSTALL THE PROVIDED SPARE TIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPARE WHEEL WITH THE CORRECT OFFSET. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT REGENCY AT 1-800-989-4727.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.