Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Own a 2004 GMC Sierra bought brand new had numerous problems steering gear box went out completely dealer r/r part as a recall / steering problem knocking in wheel took to dealer four times installed grease pack in intermediate shaft last a couple of months problem recurs dealer states recall on shaft but wont r/r part hav problem with d/s door speaker blown twice dealer r/r part n/c d/s seatbelt squeaks r/r part dealer n/c now I have a another serious problem with the engine goes into rest mode while driving at 50 MPH u drive up a hill and will only go two to five MPH this is very dangerous so I have to find a place to pull over and turn vehicle off ECM resets and then is OK till next morning same thing dealer is still under investigation on problem I currently have 53,000 miles on it transmission is making clunking noise also while shifting from park into gears ? …
I have been having trouble starting my 2004 GMC, sometime when I turned the key it would do nothing, I had it towed in and spent over $500 to repair it, alternator, battery etc, and it did not fix the problem. When I got it back, and it did it again, I found that if I moved the steering wheel up and down with the lever, it would then start. Yesterday I went out to start my truck in my driveway, and the key will not turn in the ignition. It feels like the ignition came apart or something inside. The steering wheel is not locked. It is ridiculous that I will have to pay to have this vehicle towed in again and pay to repair the ignition, when GM has been having huge problems with ignitions! I have had other problems with this vehicle to include a fire under the dash. …
I have a 2004 GMC Sierra ext. Cab truck with about 70K miles on it. In the past week, the speedometer started reading higher than 120 MPH while driving. I was only doing around 50 MPH. When stopped it reads around 60 MPH. I can start and turn off the engine several times and the speedometer needle will drop around 10 MPH each time it starts. When it gets to 0, it will read fine for a little while and then gradually start climbing up past 120 MPH again. 2nd complaint. Around every 20K to 25K miles, I have to take the truck to the dealer and have a new steering column grease packing kit installed because the steering column starts knocking in the engine compartment. The first 2 times it was done was under warranty, now the warranty is up and it needs another packing done. The dealer wants me to pay for this one. This has been an ongoing problem since I bought the truck brand new.
Power steering faded at high speed. This was caused by the steering rotation sensor. Consumer had to put pressure on the steering wheel. When the power steering kicked back in vehicle veered off the highway from too much pressure on the steering wheel. A normal steering rotation senor will fade out power steering at high speeds so you have better feel of the road. As speed decreases the steering should once again become easy when speed decreases. Problem is intermittent, the steering would be hard at low speeds and while you are applying a lot of pressure to make a turn the power steering would suddenly come back on causing the consumer to pull the truck off the road or over the yellow line. Consumer talked to several people who have the same problem with this model truck.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact was driving approximately 30 MPH when the vehicle exhibited an abnormal rattling from the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was advised that the upper steering column would need to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer lubricated the steering column but the part was not replaced and the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the part had been replaced and they could not offer any further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 26,000.
Tl contact owns a 2004 GMC Sierra 1500. While making a left or right turn at 15 MPH, the contact heard a noise coming from the steering shaft. The dealer lubricated the steering shaft and the noise ceased. However, the noise has currently returned. The dealer stated that this was a maintenance issue that would have to be corrected on a regular basis. The failure mileage was 18,000 and current mileage was 46,000. Updated 12/12/2007 the consumer also stated the transmission shuttered. Updated 12/12/07.
7-11-2005 replaced intermediate shaft at 13620 miles, 9-26-2007 52271 replaced intermediate shaft, 59639 replaced right inner tie rod and rack-rack gear leaking, 59993 replaced lower bearing steering column, 71159 replaced rack-rack seal rupture, 82910 replaced intermediate shaft-steering shaft-and lower bearing column. There's either something wrong with there parts or they way they build there vehicles. I've owned several GM vehicles and this is the first time I've have multiple problems.
I own a 2004 GMC Sierra sle extended cab shortbox z-71 pickup which I bought new in June, 2004. I have experienced a "rattle" in the steering in the last year which kept getting worse. Master auto in grand forks replace the steering shaft to correct the problem at a cost to me of $166.11. Since this steering shaft could bind/freeze up, I believe this part should have been "recalled" by GM and replaced free of charge as a factory defect and safety hazard.
Steering complaints in other Sierra 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the steering of the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500, 10% of the model year's 212 complaints. The component named most often is column (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 36,000 miles, and 32% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.