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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.

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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

Service Brakes complaints

33 reports
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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

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

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

176,395 miles · Mar 18, 2016
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,395.

NHTSA ODI #10850446

107,900 miles · Mar 16, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes

IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS THE FUEL LINES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AS THEY HAD RUSTED SO BADLY THAT A LEAK FORMED. YESTERDAY WHILE PULLING MY 10,000 POUND BOAT, MY BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED BECAUSE OF A LEAK IN THE LINE BETWEEN THE ABS BOX AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY…

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IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS THE FUEL LINES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AS THEY HAD RUSTED SO BADLY THAT A LEAK FORMED. YESTERDAY WHILE PULLING MY 10,000 POUND BOAT, MY BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED BECAUSE OF A LEAK IN THE LINE BETWEEN THE ABS BOX AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND BOAT. I WAS ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT AND USE BY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE RIG TO A STOP.

NHTSA ODI #10850103

185,000 miles · Mar 4, 2016
Service Brakes

I LIVE IN SOUTH EAST MA. WERE SAULT IS USE ALWAYS AND IT HAS ROTTED MY BRAKE LINES AT THE ABS CONTROLL A LINE LET GO ON MY TRUCK WITH FAMILY AND MY GRAND BABIES I AM A HEAVY TRUCK OPERATOR WITH A CDL SO I KNOW NOT TO PANIC I GOT MY TRUCK STOPPED WITHOUT A CRASH BUT IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVEING OR MY YOUNG DAUGHTER THEY WOULDNT BE SO …

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I LIVE IN SOUTH EAST MA. WERE SAULT IS USE ALWAYS AND IT HAS ROTTED MY BRAKE LINES AT THE ABS CONTROLL A LINE LET GO ON MY TRUCK WITH FAMILY AND MY GRAND BABIES I AM A HEAVY TRUCK OPERATOR WITH A CDL SO I KNOW NOT TO PANIC I GOT MY TRUCK STOPPED WITHOUT A CRASH BUT IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVEING OR MY YOUNG DAUGHTER THEY WOULDNT BE SO LUCKY WE IN THE SAULTING STATES SHOULD HAVE STANELESS STEAL FOR SAFTY CANT BE TO MUCH TO ASK FOR YOUNG LIFES AT STAKE OR PEOPLE WHO PANIC WHAT SHOULD I DO AT THE TIME I WAS IN THE CITY OF TAUNTON I WAS COMING TO A HEAVILY TRAVELED STREET IN RUSH HOUR TRAFIC THE BRAKE LINE TO REAR BRAKES FALLED BECAUSE OF ROT ON INSPION I SEE THEY ARE ALL ROTTING AND NEED TO BE REPAIRED I DONT HAVE BODY ROT OR FRAME ROT OF ANY KIND ALWAYS CAR WASH AFTER STORMS ON NICE DAYS.

NHTSA ODI #10839852

197,000 miles · Aug 7, 2015
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

NHTSA ODI #10746973

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.