2004 GMC Sierra: harsh or hard shifting

5 of the 188 complaints about the 2004 GMC Sierra describe harsh or hard shifting.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 3%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 95 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Harsh or hard shifting by model year

2017
3
2010
1
2007
1
2005
1
2004
5
2003
13
2002
2
2001
1
2000
5
1999
6
1998
1
1997
3
1996
3
1991
1

What owners say

Filed Dec 1, 2011 · Steering · 85,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 gmc sierra 1500. The contact was driving 30 MPH when a clunking noise emitted from the steering column. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice and the dealer confirmed on both occasions that the failure was caused by the design of the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired and the VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 94,000.

Filed May 5, 2006 · Steering · NC

Clunking noise on front driver side of 2004 gmc 1500 with 33000 miles. Was in at dealer today and they said they could only temporarily fix problem. Was intermediate steering section and gm had not found fix for it. Said that the clunking would return in few months. They put new grease in. What am I to do when warranty expires in 3000 miles and it returns? Is this going to cause loss of control and even worse?

Filed Feb 3, 2006 · Steering · 15,272 miles · MO

Clunk noise that can be felt through steering column when traveling over rough pavement and is more pronounced when turning the wheel to the left. Manufacturer has known of this problem for several years and still has failed to correct it for many customers. Most dealer service centers tell customers that they can take care of the problem by lubricating the upper intermediate shaft of the steering column. This works for many but is just a temporary fix as it has been reported by many that the problem returns and in most cases after the warranty period has expired. Some owners have reported returning to the dealership as many as 5 times.

Filed Dec 20, 2005 · Locks, Steering · 1,534 miles · SC

#1 04 sierra 4x4 returned to dealer after 2 weeks (9/18/04) with 1523 miles for hard shifting. Clutch was not installed correctly from factory. Engage and disengage point in clutch pedal travel is at full depression into the firewall. #2 passenger door hard to close fully. Driver side door closes as expected with little effort. Passenger door will not close completely without undue force being applied or a window cracked. #3 returned truck to a different dealership on 9/15/05 with 8,190 and again 12/15/05 with 10,282 miles. For a knocking noise during turning, clutch not engaging and disengaging correctly, passenger door not closing completely, and a new rattling noise from the transmission along with a whine noise from the gears. The dealership fixed the knocking noise from a service bulletin concerning a steering bushing. This dealership also stated they found nothing wrong with the clutch or the transmission or the passenger door. None of the problems were fixed #5 I immediately took the truck to an independent transmission specialist after picking it up from the dealership for a 3rd opinion on 12/20/05 with 10,284 miles. His opinion was flatly stated that the truck has major problems with the clutch and the transmission. His evaluation was the clutch was not installed correctly from the factory and depression into the firewall was not correct. The transmission has synchronizer and possible bushings and bearings that were failing. He stated the noises alone were definite indicators that the transmission has problems and that anyone would know that a clutch is not required to be depressed into the firewall for proper operation which in time will lead to premature clutch failure. This evaluation cost me $30 and 3 hour lost from work.

Filed May 10, 2005 · Transmission · 5,000 miles · ID

Transmission makes a clunking sound when shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear. Also, intermittnet slipping of transmission when starting to move from a full stop. Vehicle hesitates before it begins to move. This occured within the 1st 500 miles and contines to occur today.