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2004 GMC Sierra 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 181.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

186 reports with mileage · 26 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 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 43 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.

8 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

81 reports
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69,000 miles · May 21, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

GAUGES WORK SOME TIMES AND DON'T,LIGHTS GO OFF AND ON THE DASH WHEN THEY DO THIS AT NIGHT IT'S HARD TO SEE WHAT SPEED YOUR DOING OUR HOW MUCH FUEL YOU HAVE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THE TRUCKS MY NEIGHBORS TRUCK IS DOING THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593022

62,000 miles · Apr 7, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH VARIOUS TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH VARIOUS TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATED 05/28/14 MA

NHTSA ODI #10577899

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2014
Electrical System

THE GAUGES BEGAN TO SPIN AND NOT WORK PROPERLY OR NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE GAUGES AND DASH LIGHTS FLASH OR REMAIN ON. THE ABS LIGHT BRAKE LIGHT AND THE BATTERY LIGHT AND THE SECURITY LIGHT ALL COME ON. ALSO ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENS THE HEADLIGHTS DIM THE F…

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THE GAUGES BEGAN TO SPIN AND NOT WORK PROPERLY OR NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE GAUGES AND DASH LIGHTS FLASH OR REMAIN ON. THE ABS LIGHT BRAKE LIGHT AND THE BATTERY LIGHT AND THE SECURITY LIGHT ALL COME ON. ALSO ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENS THE HEADLIGHTS DIM THE FOURWHEEL DRIVE DOESN'T FUNCTION AND THE VOLUME LEVEL ON THE STEREO CHANGES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565483

60,000 miles · Feb 4, 2014
Electrical System

ALL OF THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT GAUGES GO INOPERATIVE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW. THERE HAS BEEN A GM ACTION OF SORT ON THIS, OF WHICH I AM NOT SURE. HOWEVER, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AND CURRENTLY AM EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THE MAINTENANCE A…

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ALL OF THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENT GAUGES GO INOPERATIVE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW. THERE HAS BEEN A GM ACTION OF SORT ON THIS, OF WHICH I AM NOT SURE. HOWEVER, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AND CURRENTLY AM EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THE MAINTENANCE ACTION(WHATEVER IT IS) EXPIRED IN 2011. SO THE REPAIR IS TOTALLY UPON US TO FIX, SOME $540. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562810

173,000 miles · Feb 10, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHEN THE WEATHER IS BELOW FREEZING THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP FOR ATLEAST 20 MINUTES. ALSO THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK, AND WHEN IT DOES START WORKING IT IS NEVER THE CORRECT READING. IT WILL STICK AS HIGH AS 70 MPH, AND TO BRING IT DOWN I HAVE TO KEEP RESTARTING AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. …

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WHEN THE WEATHER IS BELOW FREEZING THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP FOR ATLEAST 20 MINUTES. ALSO THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK, AND WHEN IT DOES START WORKING IT IS NEVER THE CORRECT READING. IT WILL STICK AS HIGH AS 70 MPH, AND TO BRING IT DOWN I HAVE TO KEEP RESTARTING AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10447350

97,000 miles · Jul 29, 2011
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER FLUTTERS AND NOW GIVES ERRONEOUS READING, GAS GAUGE GIVES FALSE READINGS. I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER AND A LETTER WAS SENT BY GMC. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER AND NOW MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS FAILING. AND NOW AM PAST MILEA…

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SPEEDOMETER FLUTTERS AND NOW GIVES ERRONEOUS READING, GAS GAUGE GIVES FALSE READINGS. I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER AND A LETTER WAS SENT BY GMC. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER AND NOW MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS FAILING. AND NOW AM PAST MILEAGE/YEARS TO FIX, BECAUSE I NEVER GOT THE ORIGINAL LETTER AND NEVER NEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10416306

60,000 miles · Apr 18, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

I HEAR A TAPPING OF THE VALVES WHEN THE CAR IS ON. ALSO THE SPEEDOMETER WILL STOP REGISTERING HOW FAST I AM GOING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10396616

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2011
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. I AM HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, SPEEDOMETER NOT READING PROPERLY, TEMP GAUGE WRONG READINGS. THE DEALERS WANT $750.00 TO REPAIR IF THE VEHICLE IS OVER 75,000 MILES. THEY HAVE SAID THEY SENT RECALL INFORMATION FOR THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING OF THE SORT. FOR …

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I HAVE A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. I AM HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, SPEEDOMETER NOT READING PROPERLY, TEMP GAUGE WRONG READINGS. THE DEALERS WANT $750.00 TO REPAIR IF THE VEHICLE IS OVER 75,000 MILES. THEY HAVE SAID THEY SENT RECALL INFORMATION FOR THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING OF THE SORT. FOR A VEHICLE I PAID 32, 000 FOR I FIND THIS TO BE UNSAT. GMC NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE FOR THERE CUSTOMERS, I WOULD EXPECT THIS TREATMENT FROM A FORD DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392195

60,000 miles · Feb 21, 2011
Electrical SystemEquipment

IN MY 2004 GMC SIERRA THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE A/C DOWN NEAR THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD SMOKES AND I SMELL BURNING PLASTIC AND MY A/C DOESN'T WORK AND I TALKED TO A FEW OTHER GMC AND CHEVY OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SO IF ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I THINK ITS SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10383486

117,000 miles · Dec 29, 2010
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA K1500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DISPLAY THE CORRECT SPEED AND THEN IT REMAINED AT THE SAME SPEED REGARDLESS OF HOW FAST OR SLOW HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA K1500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DISPLAY THE CORRECT SPEED AND THEN IT REMAINED AT THE SAME SPEED REGARDLESS OF HOW FAST OR SLOW HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000.

NHTSA ODI #10373251

Official recalls

2

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.

04V240000 · Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire

May 17, 2004

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF SOMEONE HAS A FLAT TIRE ON THE FRONT WHEEL, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO INSTALL THE PROVIDED SPARE TIRE.

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.

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.