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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

8 reports
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28,000 miles · Jul 26, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR DID NOT HAVE A PEACOCK TO DRAIN ITS COOLANT FROM. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER STOPPED USING PEACOCKS TO SAVE MONEY. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE SITUATION BECAUSE IT COULD LEAD TO A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR DID NOT HAVE A PEACOCK TO DRAIN ITS COOLANT FROM. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER STOPPED USING PEACOCKS TO SAVE MONEY. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE SITUATION BECAUSE IT COULD LEAD TO A FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 28,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER RADIATOR HOSE MUST BE REMOVED TO CHANGE COOLANT. IN DOING SO THE HOSE CAN BE DESTROYED AND COOLANT COULD BE SPILT ON THE GROUND. UPDATED 10/11/2011 *LN *TR

NHTSA ODI #10415225

79,520 miles · Jul 18, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE CYLINDER HEADS BEING CRACKED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOSE OIL AND COOLANT. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE CYLI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE CYLINDER HEADS BEING CRACKED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOSE OIL AND COOLANT. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE CYLINDER HEADS, THE GASKET KIT, BOLTS AND NUTS. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,520.

NHTSA ODI #10413390

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 · Feb 5, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500 THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED FOR CRACKS IN BOTH ENGINE HEADS. THE TRUCK HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE KEPT UP ON ALL NECESSARY MAINTENANCE. THE PROBLEM BEGAN APPROX. 2 MONTHS AGO WHEN I NOTED A KNOCKING SOUND AFTER STARTING THE TRUCK COLD. THE KNOCKING WOULD DISSIPATE AFTER THE TRUCK WARMED U…

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I OWN A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500 THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED FOR CRACKS IN BOTH ENGINE HEADS. THE TRUCK HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE KEPT UP ON ALL NECESSARY MAINTENANCE. THE PROBLEM BEGAN APPROX. 2 MONTHS AGO WHEN I NOTED A KNOCKING SOUND AFTER STARTING THE TRUCK COLD. THE KNOCKING WOULD DISSIPATE AFTER THE TRUCK WARMED UP. I WAS TOLD THE SOUND WAS CAUSED FROM DIRTY LIFTERS AND NOT TO BE CONCERNED AS LONG AS SOUND DISSIPATED AFTER IT WAS WARM. UPON HAVING MY OIL CHANGED 2 DAYS AGO, COOLANT WAS NOTED IN THE OIL. (HINTS THE KNOCKING) THE HEADS WERE PULLED AND BOTH WERE CRACKED AROUND WHERE THE HEADS BOLT TO THE BLOCK. IN TALKING TO THE MECHANIC, THE CAST THEY USED WHEN MAKING THE HEADS WAS BAD. APPARENTLY AROUND THE BOLT HOLES, THE ALUMINUM IS THIN. GMC HOWEVER ACCEPTED MILLIONS OF THESE AND ARE STILL USING THEM TODAY. THE REPAIR IS COSTING ME $3,400.00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10306622

47,982 miles · Feb 23, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEATER CORE/NO HEAT SOMETIMES/FOUND CARPET WET ON PASS. SIDE. SEEMS IN CHECKING AROUND HARDLY NEVER@47,000 MI. SPENT 1200.00 TO REPLACE IT. APPARENTLY MUST REMOVE SEATS, CONSOLE,AND ENTIRE DASH TO REPLACE!!! IM REALLY,REALLY MADE ABOUT THIS!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10259725

91,366 miles · Jan 11, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE FAILURE 2004 GMC SIERRA SERVICE BULLETIN 06-06-01-019B INTERNAL COOLANT LOSS LEAK IN CYLINDER HEADS MFG BY COSTECH LEAD TO MY ENGINES DEATH WITH JUST 89,000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM SINCE 2004 AND FROM OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE LEARNED GM WILL NOT COVER EXPENSES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10254663

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE ACTUATOR REPLACED ON MY GMC 2004 TRUCK. IT WAS BLOWING HOT WHEN THE A/C WAS ON AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COOLING. IT WAS NOT CHEAP EITHER, IT ALSO HAD TO BE RECALIBRATED IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN TO A NEW VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242175

41,600 miles · Aug 19, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

REDUCED ENGINE POWER, THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 7 TIMES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN TO 1500 RPMS MAXIMUM. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY VALVE AND ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. THIS PART WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $481. WITHIN TWO WEEKS THE SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWICE MORE. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN T…

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REDUCED ENGINE POWER, THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 7 TIMES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN TO 1500 RPMS MAXIMUM. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY VALVE AND ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. THIS PART WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $481. WITHIN TWO WEEKS THE SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWICE MORE. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10200046

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.