FaultScore report
Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2004 GMC Sierra Denali with NHTSA between 2004 and 2014. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 14 worst.
FaultScore 54/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the GMC Sierra Denali.
How this is worked out15
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
40,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
21%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 65,000 miles
Median failure at 40,000 miles
Median failure at 40,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 5,300 mi
Median failure at 23,520 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 5,300 mi
Median failure at 108,000 miles
Median failure at 135,522 miles
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN A ROLL OVER, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, SEAT BELTS DID NOT SECURE THE OCCUPANTS. THE DRIVER WAS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE PASSENGER WAS UNDER THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #10101826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN A ROLL OVER, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, SEAT BELTS DID NOT SECURE THE OCCUPANTS. THE DRIVER WAS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE PASSENGER WAS UNDER THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #10101826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 24 IN LEWES, DELAWARE APPROACHING A YELLOW LIGHT WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY COMPLETELY FAILED DESPITE PUTTING THE PEDDLE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS FORCED TO VEER ONTO THE SHOULDER THEN INTO A FARMERS FIELD IN ORDER TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN ENOUGH TO FORCE IT INTO PARK. APPARENTLY THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES ON THESE TRUCKS ARE COMPLETELY EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND HAVE A HISTORY OF FAILING. ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THE REAR CALIPERS LOCK UP AND THERE ARE NO BRAKES AT ALL SWITCH CAN CAUSE A CRASH. THERE IS NO WARNING GIVEN UNTIL THE HYDRAULIC LINE SNAPS AND THE FLUID IS RELEASED. MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND IS NOT A WORK TRUCK BUT MERELY A PERSONAL VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, I AM ON MY THIRD TRANSMISSION DO TO THE POOR SELECTION GM MADE OF PUTTING THE S-10 PICK UP TRANSMISSION IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HEAVIER TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10611180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 24 IN LEWES, DELAWARE APPROACHING A YELLOW LIGHT WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY COMPLETELY FAILED DESPITE PUTTING THE PEDDLE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS FORCED TO VEER ONTO THE SHOULDER THEN INTO A FARMERS FIELD IN ORDER TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN ENOUGH TO FORCE IT INTO PARK. APPARENTLY THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES ON THESE TRUCKS ARE COMPLETELY EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND HAVE A HISTORY OF FAILING. ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THE REAR CALIPERS LOCK UP AND THERE ARE NO BRAKES AT ALL SWITCH CAN CAUSE A CRASH. THERE IS NO WARNING GIVEN UNTIL THE HYDRAULIC LINE SNAPS AND THE FLUID IS RELEASED. MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND IS NOT A WORK TRUCK BUT MERELY A PERSONAL VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, I AM ON MY THIRD TRANSMISSION DO TO THE POOR SELECTION GM MADE OF PUTTING THE S-10 PICK UP TRANSMISSION IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HEAVIER TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10611180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABLE TO BE FULLY DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.
NHTSA complaint #10534022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
FRONT BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION, IN JUNE 2012 HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10460940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2004 GMC SIERRA 6 LITER V8 - EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN OFF - $600 TO REPAIR. DESIGN AND/OR PART DEFECT. DEALER SAID THIS HAPPENS. RECALL OR HAVE GM CORRECT?
NHTSA complaint #10412314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
OVER THE PAST WEEK, I NOTICED THAT MY GMC DENALI TRUCK WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT SO I HAD TO OVERSTEER TO THE RIGHT. EACH DAY, THE EFFECT BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED SO I HAD THE LOCAL GMC DEALER CHECK OUT THE TRUCK. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CORDS IN THE FRONT GOODYEAR WRANGLER HP TIRE HAD SEPARATED--IT WAS A BLOWOUT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING WITH MY TRUCK TO HAVE CAUSED THE SEPARATION, THE TREAD WEAR WAS EVEN ON ALL TIRES, THEY WERE REGULARLY CHECKED FOR INFLATION, AND MOST OF THE TREAD WAS LEFT SINCE I HAVE PUT LOW MILEAGE ON THIS TIRES. A NUMBER OF DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED DUE TO FAILURE OF THIS TYPE OF TIRE. I HAD BOTH FRONT TIRES REPLACED AND OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, I WILL REPLACE THE REMAINING TWO TIRES. I CANNOT CHANCE A DEATH OR INJURY. PLEASE RECALL THESE TIRES. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO DIE.
NHTSA complaint #10306123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
ABS BRAKE ACTIVATES AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEEL HUB BEARING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10208676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS BRAKE ACTIVATES AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEEL HUB BEARING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10208676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
ABS BRAKE ACTIVATES AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEEL HUB BEARING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10208676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONS. SPEEDOMETER FLUTTERS AND DISPLAYS WRONG SPEED. GETS STUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10208673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS. GOES TO 120 THEN 0. STAYS AT 0. STOPS WORKING. SKIPS AROUND.
NHTSA complaint #10185558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT IS DESCRIBED REGARDING THE RECALL OF GMC LIGHT TRUCKS FOR ABS ACTIVATION AT SLOW SPEEDS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE HUB AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY. I HAVE A 2004 GMC SIERRA DENALI WHICH, ACCORDING TO GMC, IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MASSIVE RECALL PROMPTED BY YOUR INVESTIGATION. MY ISSUE, AS DESCRIBED BY THE DEALER, IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ISSUE AND REASON FOR RECALLING THOSE OTHER VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10184356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
QUADRA STEERING LOCKS UP, CAUSING THE REAR OF THE TRUCK TO VEER TO THE LEFT AND THE ENTIRE TRUCK TO TRAVEL IN A CRABBING OR ANGLED POSITION. ON TWO LANE ROAD THE REAR IS IN THE ONCOMING LANE AND THE VEHICLE IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. MESSAGE ON DASH IS "SERVICE 4 WHEEL STEER" DEALER CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM. VEHICLE STILL AT DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #10110615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN A ROLL OVER, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, SEAT BELTS DID NOT SECURE THE OCCUPANTS. THE DRIVER WAS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE PASSENGER WAS UNDER THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #10101826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN A ROLL OVER, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, SEAT BELTS DID NOT SECURE THE OCCUPANTS. THE DRIVER WAS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE PASSENGER WAS UNDER THE DASHBOARD.
NHTSA complaint #10101826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.