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GMC Sierra 3500Model year report

2004 GMC Sierra 3500 Problems

Complaints
24filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
84,000miles, 22 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 GMC Sierra 3500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 2004 GMC Sierra 3500. The part named most often is brakes, with 14 complaints (58% of the total), followed by electrical system (5) and fuel system (4). 22 of the complaints include a mileage, and 27% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 84,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 172 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 6 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 33 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Brakes: “Brakes failed due to a sudden brake line failure. There had been no prior fluid leaks. The rear metal brake line under the bed rusted at a clamp in front of the fuel tank. As I have looked further into this I have several friends that have had this problem and several shops said that they saw this often with these vehicles all failing in the same area.”

NHTSA complaint #10536420, filed 2013-08, 131,883 miles

Electrical system: “Speedometer erratically shows incorrect speed while driving. Sometimes displaying 120mph or 0mph. Very dangerous and should be a mandatory recall checked with dealer and would cost $800.00 to replace bad instrument cluster. Only has 73,000 miles.”

NHTSA complaint #10253878, filed 2009-01, 73,000 miles

Fuel system: “- the contact states that sometime in august of 2006, fuel injected number 8 failed in her vehicle. On december 4th the electrical system failed to work involving injected number 8. On december 11th, injected number six on contact diesel engine truck failed while driving 55 MPH. The contact states that he has spent over $1,000 of dollars repairing his truck and would like to know, if the manufacturer has confirm that there is a problem with the fuel injectors. The vehicle has been in for repair several of times, contact can provide any repair invoices if needed”

NHTSA complaint #10176560, filed 2006-12, 125,000 miles

Steering: “The contact owns a 2004 Gmc SIERRA 3500. While attempting a turn, the power steering and power brakes failed. A mechanic stated that the power steering shaft snapped and caused the failures. The contact has had the power steering and power brakes replaced on four separate occasions for the same failures. The speed was unknown. The failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 67,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10225510, filed 2008-04, 40,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

27% of the 22 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 40,000 and 125,000 miles.

5%0–105%10–2518%25–5018%50–7514%75–10036%100–1505%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (22 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 84,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20074200920114420132023
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2004 GMC Sierra 3500 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 172 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 172 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Sierra 3500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202652,2502———Too new
20251740,0001———Too new
20245138,3003——Too new to compareToo new
20232833,8001——47 · TypicalToo new
20223231,1543——54 · TypicalRising
202120101,5005———Rising
20205128,7008——95 · MoreRising
20191353,0047———Not enough data
20181453,8006———Not enough data
20171321,0007———Not enough data
20161927,5007———Rising
20153138,5007——50 · TypicalFalling
2014768,0003———Not enough data
20131449,2184———Not enough data
2012931,2004———Not enough data
20112077,2505———Falling
2009536,6005———Not enough data
20082559,0003——0 · FewerFalling
20071636,0003———Rising
20061149,9740———Not enough data
20052450,5000———Rising
20042484,0000———Rising
2003760,5000———Not enough data
20022079,0002———Stable
20013663,5402——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20002657,0072——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19991959,5001———Stable
199812128,0002———Not enough data
19971095,0001———Not enough data

All GMC Sierra 3500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 GMC Sierra 3500 have?

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 2004 GMC Sierra 3500 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2004 GMC Sierra 3500 is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 14 complaints (58% of the total), followed by electrical system with 5.

Has the 2004 GMC Sierra 3500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2004 GMC Sierra 3500 reported?

Among the 22 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 84,000 miles and the middle half falls between 40,000 and 125,000 miles; 27% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.