2004 GMC Sierra Brake Problems

Which parts fail

• Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
  8
• Power assist
  2
• Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Wheel speed sensor/tone ring
  2
• Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
  1
• Foundation components › Disc
  1
• Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
  1

Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  913%
• 25k–50k
  1318%
• 50k–75k
  1115%
• 75k–100k
  2028%
• 100k–150k
  1521%
• 150k+
  34%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 GMC Sierra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

On December 28, 2014 I was driving my 2004 GMC pick-up truck and suffered total loss of brakes. This happened as I was approaching an intersection and I narrowly avoided an accident. There was no warning prior to the brake failure - no warning light was on, and no gradual decrease in braking ability. After the failure, I determined that there was a sudden and massive leak of brake fluid from a rusted brake line. Previously, in April of 2014 I had my pick-up truck serviced at an authorized GMC service center. At that time, the service ticket referenced condition of brakes to be in yellow requiring future attention. It was my understanding that the issue at that time was brake rotors would need to be replaced at the next service interval. There was no mention of any potential danger from brake line rusting/failure. …

Vehicle in front of me stopped suddenly. My brakes failed as my foot/pedal hit the floor. All I heard was buzzing. I hit the vehicle in front of me. Mechanic showed me the rusted out brake line that failed. Advised me that the ABS pump just plan emptied my mc to make up pressure loss. My complaint isn't so much the fact that my brake line rusted out as it is a 10 year old truck, (although stainless lines with steel connectors would be a huge improvement). But my complaint is that the ABS systems in these trucks, and maybe other vehicles are flawed. Back before ABS came out, if a line was damaged or failed for whatever reason the separated reservoirs in mc's would at least give you front or rear brakes to stop. That was the best single design improvement manufacturers made to brakes, and I've been driving when mc's only had one reservoir. …

Rusted out/ corroded brake lines burst while stopping for a deer running out on the road. Was warned of this problem upon purchase of the vehicle in 2010 and personally coated all brake lines b4 winter every year...never saw worse lines! I own classic cars that are twice as old with shiney original brake lines. The fuel lines also rotted out spilling fuel over the top of the fuel tank and on the ground while filling up. All fuel lines and fuel pump connections were severely rotted. Worst I have seen. Dash consistently changes languages rendering odometer non functional. Speedometer is inaccurate some times not even working especially on cold days. Hmmmm rotted brakes+no speedometer+leaky fuel lines=crash,bang boom!..and I have a car seat in my vehicle! Luckly I perform preventative maintenance and drive safely. Still wonder how these issues got swept under the rug.

Driving on west stone drive kingsport, tn, a vehicle cut me off trying to get thru a traffic light, I locked my brakes down hard as I could, I could feel the ABS system working, I was able to stop about 12 inches from the other vehicle. When I pulled out after the light changed to green, I was traveling down a slight grade, depressing my brake pedal lightly, the pedal went all way to the floor board.. I took the truck to a local shop to have it checked, one of the brake lines behind left front wheel had ruptured. When the mechanic started the repairs, he called said all lines on this truck were extremely rusty, (he asked what I wanted to do) I said fix it right. In making the repairs all lines were replaced.. I have pictures of all lines that can be sent. I also have all of the brake lines that can be looked at and or analyzed.

While driving 5 MPH consumer lost power steering and braking control. Consumer managed to pull over, and had the vehicle towed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. Consumer states he stepped onto the brake pedal and heard a loud explosion under the hood. The consumer immediately lost brakes and steering and smoke also poured from under the vehicle. Once he vehicle was stopped the consumer exited the vehicle and saw fluid pouring from the vehicle onto the ground. The hood was opened and the consumer saw the vehicle was taken to two different dealer but the found nothing wrong. The dealer replaced the hydrobooster assembly accumulator which had come apart.

I experienced a brake line failure on my 2004 GMC Sierra crew cab pickup truck. I was traveling at a slow rate of speed and coming up to a traffic light and the brake pedal pushed all the way to the floor board. The rear emergency brake was used to stop the vehicle. I found the area around the brake module, in the frame area under the driver's area, soaked with brake fluid and corroded brake lines.

I have a 2004 GMC Sierra and all of a sudden my airbag light and ABS light came on took it in to have it looked and the airbags are not communicating with the sensor and they would have to go more in depth on the ABS but to go more in depth they charge $80.00 an hour just to be able to figure it out. I have seen similar responses on the airbag light for this vehicle please help.

Again. My truck had complete brake failure again due to corrosion on the steel lines. This is an otherwise nice truck with brake lines that look like they've been in the ocean their entire lives. GM dealer quoted over $1,700 to fix. GM owned warranty company refuses to cover repair. GM customer service tells me to pound sand.

Brake line failure as an emergency stopping procedure was in place. Vehicle eventually stopped, but rear ended the forward vehicle. Brake line corrosion in hard piping was diagnosed as the problem as the hard brake line ruptured.

I was taking my 4 yr old to school this morning with his 1 yr old sister when the brakes completely failed. Upon approaching a red stoplight at 30 miles per hour with three cars stopped ahead of me I pressed the brake pedal and it went completely to the floor. I pulled gearshift to the low position and swerved into the vacant left hand turning lane to avoid the cars stopped at the light. Then turned hard right as to not enter the busy intersection in front of me with no avail. Somehow we were not hit by another vehicle. At that time I pulled vehicle over to the shoulder of the road which ended abruptly and turned into a grassy area of a baseball field where the vehicle finally came to a stop.GM states that if there is a brake line failure the vehicle still has braking ability. I can tell you first hand that is a totally false statement. …

Related recalls

Brake complaints in other Sierra years