Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2004 GMC Sierra Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Service Brakes — runs 4.9× the fleet median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
188Complaints
10Recalls
11Crashes
5Fires
14Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Service Brakes (23.4% of complaints) — is covered by 2 NHTSA recall campaigns.
Service Brakes complaints here are 4.9× the median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 44 · 23.4% | Recalled | Recall 05V043000 · Recall 04V045000 |
| Electrical System | 18 · 9.6% | not available | — |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel | 18 · 9.6% | not available | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 · 9% | Recalled | Recall 05V043000 · Recall 04V045000 |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 12 · 6.4% | not available | — |
| Steering | 8 · 4.3% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 188 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 10 campaigns
Engine And Engine Cooling
NHTSA campaign 06V289000 · 2006 · reported 08/03/2006
IF THE DAMPER COMES LOOSE, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Seat Belts:rear/other
NHTSA campaign 05V163000 · 2005 · reported 04/22/2005
A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Equipment:electrical
NHTSA campaign 07E066000 · 2007 · reported 08/28/2007
IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Parking Brake
NHTSA campaign 05V161000 · 2005 · reported 04/22/2005
IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
NHTSA campaign 05V043000 · 2005 · reported 02/08/2005
IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WERE OPEN, FRAGMENTS FROM THE ACCUMULATOR COULD CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. THE PRESENCE OF THIS CRACK OR FRACTURED SURFACE COULD ALLOW THE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE ACCUMULATOR CIRCUIT OF THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
NHTSA campaign 04V045000 · 2004 · reported 02/04/2004
CONSEQUENTLY, THE VALVE O-RING SEAL MAY FRACTURE. STEERING EFFORTS MAY BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED WHILE BRAKING OR PARKING. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, A FRACTURED SEAL MAY REQUIRE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE SAME VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE AS PRIOR TO THE SE… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Equipment
NHTSA campaign 04E022000 · 2004 · reported 03/23/2004
THE BEDLINER CAN BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PICKUP WHILE IT IS MOTION, POSSIBLY ENDANGERING FOLLOWING MOTORISTS OR PEDESTRIANS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Structure:body:tailgate:hinge And Attachments
NHTSA campaign 04V129000 · 2004 · reported 03/17/2004
ANYONE SITTING OR STANDING ON THE HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE TAILGATE WHEN BOTH CABLES FRACTURED COULD BE INJURED BY FALLING FROM THE TAILGATE. ON VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BUMPER REMOVED, THE TAILGATE MAY DROP EVEN LOWER.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Seat Belts:front:anchorage
NHTSA campaign 04V225000 · 2004 · reported 05/11/2004
THE STANDARD REQUIRES CHILD SEAT LOWER ANCHORAGES IN TWO SEATING POSITIONS FOR VEHICLES WITH THREE REAR SEATING POSITIONS.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“ALL BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED ABOUT INTO... ONE BUSTED, I HAD BEEN ON INTERSTATE FOR TWO HOURS AND LUCKILY I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND…”NHTSA complaint 10469129 — filed 08/03/2012 · SERVICE BRAKES
“I WAS COMING DOWN A HILL NEAR MY HOME & TAPPED ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. SUDDENLY ALARM BELLS STARTED DINGING, THE ENGINE WARNING…”NHTSA complaint 10465705 — filed 07/15/2012 · SERVICE BRAKES
“BRAKE FLUID ALL LEAKED AND I BARELY STOPPED THE TRUCK ON MY HOME DRIVEWAY. DEALER SAYS I NEED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR METAL BRAKE LINES.”NHTSA complaint 10465372 — filed 07/12/2012 · SERVICE BRAKES
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 GMC Sierra?
Service brakes issues are the most-reported category, cited in 44 of 188 NHTSA complaints (23.4%), followed by electrical system (18), electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (18), service brakes, hydraulic (17). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2004 GMC Sierra have?
188 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 11 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, and 14 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2004 GMC Sierra have any recalls?
Yes — 10 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E025000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2004 GMC Sierra's reported problems?
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
