The Lemon Index2004 GMC Sierra.
The 2004 GMC Sierra is about average by owner complaints: 207 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 114, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 15 recalls, and it gets 13 to 17 mpg combined. The best GMC Sierra year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 581 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every GMC Sierra year. 2004 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 37K to 90K miles on the car (492 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 42K–76K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 65K–119K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 13K–65K miles
Recalls 15
- lights 2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- wheels 2007
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, …
- equipment 2007
CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS.
Show all 15 recalls
- engine 2006
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER.
- service brakes, air 2006
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL NATIONAL AND CARQUEST AFTERMARKET HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/N 515058, SOLD FOR USE ON 2001-2006 GENERAL MOTORS 1500 AND 2500 4WD TRUCKS.
- fuel system, gasoline 2006
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2…
- seat belts 2005
ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALL…
- parking brake 2005
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE C…
- brakes 2005
CERTAIN TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH HYDRO-BOOST BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR MAY CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL OPERA…
- equipment adaptive/mobility 2004
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
- tires 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.
- seat belts 2004
CERTAIN EXTENDED AND REGULAR CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND CARGO VANS CONVERTED TO COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, 'CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYS…
- equipment 2004
AFTERMARKET PICKUP TRUCK OVER-THE-RAIL BEDLINERS MANUFACTURED FOR INSTALLATION ON 1999-2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND GMC SIERRA PICKUP TRUCKS.
- body structure 2004
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE GALVANIZED STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES THAT RETAIN THE TAILGATE IN THE FULL OPEN (HORIZONTAL) POSITION MAY CORRODE, WEAKEN, AND EVENTUALLY FRACTURE.
- brakes 2004
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, ?PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.? SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side — · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3800–4950 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 4.3L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
2004 GMC Sierra pickup speedometer is very erratic. Indicated speeds are not accurate. Sometimes speedometer indicates 40-60 mph when truck is not moving.
2004 GMC Sierra owner · NHTSA complaint 10176836
More owner reports
The speedometer is not working correctly. The speeds shown on the speedometer have nothing to do with the actual speed of the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint 10183875
Faulty speedometer readings on a 2004 GMC Sierra with 40,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint 10198170
Quick answers
Is the 2004 GMC Sierra reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.1× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 114; 100 is average, lower is better). The best GMC Sierra year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2004 GMC Sierra problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (40%), brakes (15%) and transmission & drivetrain (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2004 GMC Sierra have?
15 safety recalls (latest: lights). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2004 GMC Sierra get?
13 to 17 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2004 GMC Sierra problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 37,200 and 90,000 miles. The middle report was at 58,100 miles, from 492 complaints.
Does the 2004 GMC Sierra have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 12% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2004 GMC Sierra cost in fuel a year?
About $3800 to $4950 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2004 GMC Sierra have?
4.3L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl.
What GMC Sierra year is better than the 2004?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2012 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works