2004 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sierra 1500 years
- About as many complaints as other years 16th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 212 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500. That ranks 16th out of 32 Sierra 1500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (81 complaints, 38%), typically at around 51,804 miles. Complaints mention 8 crashes, 1 fire, 6 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 212owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 8complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 81 | 38% | 51,804 | “instrument cluster” (9%) | $820 |
| Service Brakes | 43 | 20% | 89,900 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 22 | 10% | 47,580 | — | — |
| Steering | 21 | 10% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 5% | 21,750 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 4% | 56,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 4% | 53,991 | — | — |
| Power Train | 8 | 4% | 38,800 | — | — |
| Tires | 6 | 3% | 40,553 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 2% | 96,494 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 2% | 113,039 | — | — |
| Visibility | 5 | 2% | 55,192 | — | — |
| Equipment | 4 | 2% | 18,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 2% | 24,810 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 1% | 44,250 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 1% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 1% | 74,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 1% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 1% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 0% | 92,405 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0% | 30 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 32,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Problem: On certain vans equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries to a wheelchair occupant.
Fix: 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.
Tires:temporary/emergency spare tire
Problem: 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.
Risk: If someone has a flat tire on the front wheel, they will not be able to install the provided spare tire.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
the person i bought the vehicle from switched out the gauge cluster and lied about the vechiles mileage
The contactâs father owns a 2004 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that after she inserted the key in the ignition and started the vehicle, the front driverâs side air bag exploded, without warning. The contact sustained an injury to her left arm, hand, neck, and head that required medical…
When to start truck and air bag in steering wheel exploded.
Went to start truck and the air bag in the steering wheel exploded.
When i turn on my air condition the left side blow out hot heat. *tr
Other GMC Sierra 1500 years
← 2003 Sierra 1500 · 2005 Sierra 1500 →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sierra 1500 | 142 | 2 |
| 2025 Sierra 1500 | 119 | 1 |
| 2024 Sierra 1500 | 368 | 1 |
| 2023 Sierra 1500 | 490 | 3 |
| 2022 Sierra 1500 | 594 | 6 |
| 2021 Sierra 1500 | 587 | 7 |
| 2020 Sierra 1500 | 479 | 12 |
| 2019 Sierra 1500 | 653 | 10 |
| 2018 Sierra 1500 | 305 | 7 |
| 2017 Sierra 1500 | 354 | 6 |
| 2016 Sierra 1500 | 343 | 8 |
| 2015 Sierra 1500 | 719 | 9 |
| 2014 Sierra 1500 | 742 | 9 |
| 2013 Sierra 1500 | 116 | 3 |
| 2012 Sierra 1500 | 107 | 3 |
| 2011 Sierra 1500 | 284 | 5 |
| 2010 Sierra 1500 | 168 | 4 |
| 2009 Sierra 1500 | 234 | 4 |
| 2008 Sierra 1500 | 381 | 2 |
| 2007 Sierra 1500 | 263 | 2 |
| 2006 Sierra 1500 | 145 | 0 |
| 2005 Sierra 1500 | 177 | 0 |
| 2004 | 212 | 2 |
| 2003 Sierra 1500 | 180 | 1 |
| 2002 Sierra 1500 | 166 | 1 |
| 2001 Sierra 1500 | 140 | 2 |
| 2000 Sierra 1500 | 181 | 1 |
| 1999 Sierra 1500 | 158 | 1 |
| 1998 Sierra 1500 | 59 | 2 |
| 1997 Sierra 1500 | 83 | 3 |
| 1996 Sierra 1500 | 5 | 0 |
| 1995 Sierra 1500 | 3 | 0 |
See all GMC Sierra 1500 problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500?
Owners most often report electrical system, service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 81 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sierra 1500 model years, the 2004 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.