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2004 GMC Sierra 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sierra 2500 years

Owner complaints for the 2004 GMC Sierra 2500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

122 reports with mileage · 21 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 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 33 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.

4 crash reports4 fire reports3 injury reports

Power Train complaints

9 reports
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140,000 miles · Jan 9, 2015
Power TrainService Brakes

I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT, AND AS I HIT MY BRAKES, THERE WERE NO BRAKES. I LIMPED HOME, USING THE E-BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION TO KEEP THE TRUCK UNDER CONTROL. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE FRONT BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671448

70,000 miles · Jul 20, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND IT WOULD INDICATE A FASTER SPEED THAN HE WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING. THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CARRIER BEARINGS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE F…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND IT WOULD INDICATE A FASTER SPEED THAN HE WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING. THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CARRIER BEARINGS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ELEVATE THE VEHICLE AND MOVE THE WHEEL ABOUT A HALF INCH IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A 2005 MODEL PRODUCED IN 2004; HOWEVER, THE VIN DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A 2004. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10344147

120,000 miles · Jul 29, 2009
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT PERFORMED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE (4 -WHEEL DRIVE) CONTAINED PINHOLES, WHICH LED TO AN INTERNAL FLUID LEAK. THE TRANSFER CASE FLUID LEVEL WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. THE LOCKING CLIP FAILED, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT PERFORMED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE (4 -WHEEL DRIVE) CONTAINED PINHOLES, WHICH LED TO AN INTERNAL FLUID LEAK. THE TRANSFER CASE FLUID LEVEL WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. THE LOCKING CLIP FAILED, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE LOCKING CLIP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA ODI #10278713

112,000 miles · Apr 21, 2009
Electrical SystemFuel System, DieselPower Train

ALLISON TRANSMISSION HOUSING FAILED AT 54,000 MILES. GM PAID PARTS, I PAID 1,200.00 LABOR , WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS 2 BULLETINS OUT ON DEFECTIVE HOUSING AND WHEN THEY FINISHED REPAIR THEY SAID THEY INSTALLED UPDATED HOUSING SO I WOULD NOT HAVE PROBLEM AGAIN. DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE PAID ANYTHING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED! AT 105,00…

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ALLISON TRANSMISSION HOUSING FAILED AT 54,000 MILES. GM PAID PARTS, I PAID 1,200.00 LABOR , WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS 2 BULLETINS OUT ON DEFECTIVE HOUSING AND WHEN THEY FINISHED REPAIR THEY SAID THEY INSTALLED UPDATED HOUSING SO I WOULD NOT HAVE PROBLEM AGAIN. DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE PAID ANYTHING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED! AT 105,000 MILES TRANSFER CASE FAILED , COST 1,150.00 TO REPAIR, HAVE HAD TO TAKE BACK 2 MORE TIMES AS REPAIR WAS NOT DONE RIGHT. AT 112.000 MILES SPEEDOMETER BECAME ERRATIC WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ,AND SEE ON COMPLAINT SEARCH IT IS , CONSIDER THIS A GREAT SAFETY DANGER AS I DO NOT KNOW WHAT SPEED I'M GOING CAN ONLY GUESS NOT FIXED YET FOUND SOME WHO SELLS REBUILT ONES FOE 150.00 ,SAID THEIR REBUILDING THEM DUE THE LARGE NUMBER THAT ARE FAILING. ALSO AT 112,000 MILES PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH STARTED ACTING UP ,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON ,SHIFT BAR LIGHT GOES AWAY, TRUCK WON'T SHIFT PROPERLY AND STAY IN CERTAIN GEARS WITHOUT SHIFTING UP ,EFFECTS DOOR LOCKS. LOOKED UP PARK NEUTRAL SHIFT AS PART AND CAME ACROSS BULLETINS STATING THAT DURING LEFT HAND TURN FRONT TIRE SPRAYS WATER ONTO PARK NEUTRAL ,SWITCH CAUSING PROBLEM ,NEEDS FRONT & REAR SHIELD INSTALLED TO SOLVE PROBLEM. HAVE TAKEN TRUCK BACK IN WAITING FOR INFORMATION. ALSO AROUND 90,000 MILES HAD VERY HARD TIME STARTING TRUCK AND TRUCK RAN POORLY,PROBLEM BECAME WORSE TOOK IN, FUEL INJECTORS WERE BAD AND WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 112,000 MILES NO NEED TO SAY I'M NOT A GMC FAN ANYMORE , EVEN THOUGH I LIVE IN LANSING MI ( A GM TOWN)AND HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY EMPLOYED THERE. GOOD BY GMC! NEVER AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266245

68,000 miles · Dec 6, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE GEAR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COAST BACKWARDS. TWO DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGED OUT OF TWO WHEEL DRIVE AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE GEAR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COAST BACKWARDS. TWO DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGED OUT OF TWO WHEEL DRIVE AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SO THE CONTACT SAFELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND WAITED TWO MINUTES. HE THEN PRESSED THE BUTTON ON THE TRANSFER CASE TO RE-ENGAGE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE AND MOTOR. THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,268.

NHTSA ODI #10211054

73,000 miles · Sep 17, 2007
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train

FLY WHEEL AND SPEEDOMETER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10203208

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2007
Electrical SystemPower Train

2004 GMC 2500 HD. PURCHASED MY TRUCK IN FALL OF 2003. MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. TRUCK ONLY HAS 45K MILES. DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL WAS BAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEW PART IS @ $210.00 PLUS LABOR. THE SEAL ON MY RIGHT FRONT AXLE IS ALSO STARTING TO LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10202887

49,700 miles · Dec 5, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, AND MANAGED TO AVOID A CRASH BY APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED A LARGE AMOUNT OF GREASE WAS PRESENT ON …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE, AND MANAGED TO AVOID A CRASH BY APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED A LARGE AMOUNT OF GREASE WAS PRESENT ON THE PARKING BRAKE SHOE FROM A LEAKING RIGHT REAR AXLE SEAL. THE RIGHT REAR AXLE SEAL WAS REPLACED, BUT AFTERWARDS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THE LEFT REAR AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10175232

53,000 miles · Sep 2, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

FLYWHEEL ON FOUR LOCALLY OWNED GM TRUCKS WERE REPORTED BEING CRACKED OR BROKEN. OLD PARTS ARE AVAIL. SINCE THEN SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY AND I AM TOLD THERE'S NO PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167270

Official recalls

1

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.

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.