Most common 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Share of the 212 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Sierra 1500 complaints by model year
Best Sierra 1500 years: 2012, 2013. Years to avoid: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019. Compare all years →
2004 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls (2)
Equipment adaptive/mobility
On certain vans equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. Sure-lok will handle the repairs for this campaign.
Tires › Temporary/emergency spare tire
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.
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.
What 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 owners say
Electrical system all 81 →
My truck is my back-up vehicle that sits in the side driveway most of the time but I drive when I'm transporting large items or moving to a new home. I recently drove it and noticed the speedometer not working and went searching for information about related issues on the internet when I found a recall notice posted on GMC's website but they are saying it's past the "time" allowed to get the problem fixed. I didn't even know that there was a problem or a time frame to get this done because I don't drive this truck much. Now I have to pay for the dealership's inspection of the instrument panel only to have them tell me that it's indeed broke and that they are not going to repair it under the recall. …
2004 GMC Sierra crew cab - burning odor, soot on dashboard, rear windows fail to operate. No blown fuses. Taken to thompson's GMC dealership in placerville ca for repair on October 20. GM service department states: wiring harness for rear windows and door locks passes under and rubs against arm of parking brake pedal, leading to short circuit and failure of rear windows. Wiring harness replaced by GM service department. I can see that the new wiring harness also comes into contact with arm of parking brake pedal! I have the old part. Consequences: burned wiring, loss of vehicle for 8 days, $772.04 in repair cost.
Brakes all 67 →
I was driving on my way home from a restaurant, just about 4 blocks from my home I applied my brakes and anti lock brakes was acting up and I pressed a little hard to stop before a stop light and the pedal went right to the floor. I had to drive very slow to get my truck to my home as I have no brakes. By the time I parked my parking spot I got out and opened my hood to look at the brake drum didn't see anything and proceeded to look underneath my truck and found a puddle of brake fluid just under drivers side bottom. I was amazed to see that and it looked so rusted, couldn't pinpoint where the leak is coming from on the lines it was all soaked with the fluid. Right now I feel that the GM corporation should replace all the lines at a no cost to me. …
On or about 12/01/06, while pulling my truck ahead, the brakes failed, causing me to roll into a parked vehicle. On 3 other occasions, my truck has rolled through intersections due to ABS failure. I contacted my dealership about the problems I was having and they referred me to GM. When I contacted GM, they alluded to the fact that they were aware of the defect but then indicated that the brakes work as designed. I was then advised that nothing could be done with regards to the brake system but was given some free oil changes for my troubles. When I did finally receive the 12,000 mile oil change coverage, due to delays in their processing, the coverage was actually for only 7900 miles. When GM was contacted, they refused to correct this error.
Steering all 21 →
Me and my two boys where headed home and I was taking a curve at 50mph a went to slow down to 45 when I started to take the curve I heard some kind of metal bone breaking sound and my truck jerked to the oncoming lane and a jerked it back but after that everything went loose and me and my boys went sideways of of the bank of the curve and we rolled 3 times before we stopped tank up. My air bag didn't go off neither the passenger's airbag. I heard a hissing noise I got my boys out as fast as I could with some help of bystanders breaking the passenger side window so we could crawl out. They carried my boys and helped me hop to the other side of the road. Me and my boys went to the hospital. They were alright thank god I received some injuries to my back, neck, stomach and head. My truck was totaled and ivy hall towing in jacksonville, ar keep my truck and put a lien on it. …
My husband was driving our 2004 GMC Sierra pickup on highway 101 in the central coast of california. While driving at 65 MPH a bolt fell out of the steering column leaving him with absolutely no steering. He crashed into a guardrail which stopped the vehicle. The steering wheel spins around like a roulette wheel and clearly is not attached to any part of the steering column. The responding tow truck driver claimed he has never seen a steering wheel like this - not even on a vehicle that has been wrecked.
2004 GMC Sierra 1500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 a good car?
Based on 212 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Sierra 1500 rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sierra 1500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500?
The electrical system — 81 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the brakes (67) and steering (21).
How many recalls does the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500, the most recent from November 26, 2004 (equipment adaptive/mobility). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Sierra 1500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2019. See the full GMC Sierra 1500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 38% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.