Complaints
253
Crashes
12
Fires
2
Injuries
10
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#147 complaints
Instrument Cluster
Avg mileage:53,804 mi
#243 complaints
Brakes
Avg mileage:117,004 mi
Crash-related:1
#332 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:71,197 mi
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instrument Cluster | 47 | — | — | 53,804 mi | |
| Brakes | 43 | 1 | — | 117,004 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 32 | — | 1 | 71,197 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 17 | 2 | — | 50,096 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 16 | 1 | — | 55,202 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 8 | — | — | 30,622 mi | |
| Airbags | 6 | 2 | — | 129,250 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 6 | 1 | — | 46,475 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 5 | — | — | 85,779 mi | |
| Fuel System | 5 | — | — | 109,215 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Column | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — |
Instrument Cluster
47
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
53,804
Brakes
43
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
117,004
Electrical Faults
32
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
71,197
Steering Defects
17
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,096
Hydraulic Brakes
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,202
Unintended Acceleration
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
30,622
Airbags
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
129,250
Tire Defects
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
46,475
Engine Problems
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,779
Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
109,215
Transmission / Drivetrain
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Column
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Parking-Brake Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other GMC Sierra 1500 Years
2004 GMC Sierra 1500 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 has 253 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Instrument Cluster with 47 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500?
Top reported problems: Instrument Cluster (47 complaints, avg 53,804 mi); Brakes (43 complaints, avg 117,004 mi); Electrical Faults (32 complaints, avg 71,197 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 74,851 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 include 12 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2004 GMC Sierra 1500?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full GMC Sierra 1500 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2004 GMC Sierra 1500
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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