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2004 GMC Sierra 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sierra 2500 years

Owner complaints for the 2004 GMC Sierra 2500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

122 reports with mileage · 21 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 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 33 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.

4 crash reports4 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

143 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2021
Service Brakes

Brakes lines failed under truck do to rusted out lines

NHTSA ODI #11442070

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2021
Service Brakes

EMERGENCY BRAKES DON'T ENGAGE

NHTSA ODI #11408360

158,500 miles · Jan 4, 2020
Service BrakesSteering

DURING COLD MORNINGS (WISCONSIN) I START MY TRUCK AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND SOFT BRAKES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE POWER STEERING RUNS THE BRAKE BOOST. ALSO, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SAYS THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH LOW/COLD TEMP FLUID. MY CONCERN IS …

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DURING COLD MORNINGS (WISCONSIN) I START MY TRUCK AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND SOFT BRAKES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE POWER STEERING RUNS THE BRAKE BOOST. ALSO, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SAYS THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH LOW/COLD TEMP FLUID. MY CONCERN IS WHAT HAPPENS IF I LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WHILE I AM DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11297098

49,000 miles · Dec 9, 2018
Engine

WHILE DRIVING OVER 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY I GET A VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE ENGINE AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES BAKE AND FORTH. THE ENGINE SOUND VERY LOUD WHILE ITS DOING THIS. IT ONLY OCCURS WHEN I AM AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI #11157104

90,000 miles · Nov 27, 2018
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOT OF WHITE SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BY GWATNEY BUICK GMC (5700 LANDERS RD, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR 72117) FOR THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN AN UNKNOWN TECHNICAL SERVI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOT OF WHITE SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BY GWATNEY BUICK GMC (5700 LANDERS RD, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR 72117) FOR THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN AN UNKNOWN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE FUEL INJECTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #11154344

105,000 miles · Oct 26, 2018
Engine

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN

NHTSA ODI #11142993

63,000 miles · Mar 29, 2018
Service Brakes

PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, LOST BRAKES. STEEL BRAKE LINES BY FUEL TANK, LET GO CAUSING TRUCK TO LOOSE BRAKES

NHTSA ODI #11082095

111,000 miles · Sep 23, 2017
Electrical System

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER GAUGES DON'T ALWAYS WORK. WE WERE ON FREEWAY WHEN WE NOTICED SPEEDOMETER HAD FAILED AS WELL AS FUEL GAUGE , TEMP GAUGE ALL GAUGES INOPERATIVE. THIS IS THIRD TIME CLUSTER PANEL IS BEING REPLACED; FIRST TWO UNDER WARRANTY THIRD TIME WE HAD TO PAY $204.

NHTSA ODI #11025209

48,000 miles · Aug 22, 2017
Service Brakes

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-75 HIGHWAY ABOUT 70 MPH, IN MOTION, IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN AND HAD TO STOP FAST WHEN AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED/MASHED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL ONLY TO FEEL IT FALL TO THE FLOOR, THE METAL HYDRAULIC LINE FAILED AND I NOW HAVE NO BRAKES AT ALL!! I BEGAN TO PRESS ON THE PARKING BRAKE…

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I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-75 HIGHWAY ABOUT 70 MPH, IN MOTION, IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN AND HAD TO STOP FAST WHEN AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED/MASHED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL ONLY TO FEEL IT FALL TO THE FLOOR, THE METAL HYDRAULIC LINE FAILED AND I NOW HAVE NO BRAKES AT ALL!! I BEGAN TO PRESS ON THE PARKING BRAKE AND DOWN SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION TO ASSIST IN THE SLOWING OF THE VEHICLE. I ALSO STEERED AROUND THE STOPPED CARS INTO THE SIDE AND DITCH OF THE ROAD. I LUCKILY HAD THE RIGHT REACTIONS BUT NOT ALL PEOPLE DO OR CANNOT ACT AS FAST. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH THIS GMC SIERRA 2004. PLEASE HAVE IT RECALLED. I HAD TO HAVE THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACE ALL THE METAL BRAKE LINES AS THEY WERE CORRODED. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE FAIL ITS BRAKE LINES LIKE THIS. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGE KEPT SUPER CLEAN.

NHTSA ODI #11018937

45,000 miles · Feb 10, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

MY VEHICLE HAD BRAKE LINES REPLACE TWO TIMES WITH LESS THAN 65,000 MILES BECAUSE BREAKS STOP WORKING. FUEL LINE REPLACED UNDER 55,000 MILES BECAUSE IT MADE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON SPEEDOMETER ERRATIC,OIL PRESSURE GAUGE HIGH AND LOW,FUEL GAUGE ERRATIC UNDER 65,000 MILES. LOUD NOISE FROM ENGINE SERVICE TECHNICIAN REPORTED …

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MY VEHICLE HAD BRAKE LINES REPLACE TWO TIMES WITH LESS THAN 65,000 MILES BECAUSE BREAKS STOP WORKING. FUEL LINE REPLACED UNDER 55,000 MILES BECAUSE IT MADE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON SPEEDOMETER ERRATIC,OIL PRESSURE GAUGE HIGH AND LOW,FUEL GAUGE ERRATIC UNDER 65,000 MILES. LOUD NOISE FROM ENGINE SERVICE TECHNICIAN REPORTED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS HAS BROKEN TO CALL A WHITE SMOKE FROM THE MOTOR. EVERYTHING HAPPENED WITH CONSIDER TO BE LOW MILEAGE IN TALKING TO GM THEY DON'T CARE BECAUSE ENOUGH REPORT HAS NOT BEEN MADE.

NHTSA ODI #10953952

Official recalls

1

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.

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.