NHTSA Complaint #10179489 — 2004 GMC SIERRA

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 GMC PU FAILED ON A RECENT TRIP FROM ME TO FL. AS I PULLED ONTO THE MA TRPK, I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 85 MPH. AT THE TIME, I WAS PROBABLY GOING 60 - 65. IT THEN READ HIGHER AND HIGHER ON THE TRIP AND THE NEEDLE WAS BURIED AT TIMES. WHEN I STOPPED, THE NEEDLE WOULD DROP A LITTLE. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE TRIP WAS CONCLUDED, THE NEEDLE RETURNED TO ZERO WHEN STOPPED AND CURRENTLY RECORDS ACCURATELY. OBVIOUSLY, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN YOUR SPEEDOMETER FAILS, ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A LONG TRIP. I RECENTLY ASKED A LOCAL DEALER IF THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE "LOTS" OF SPEEDOMETERS ($350). I THEN ASKED IF THE REPLACEMENTS FAILED AND WAS TOLD "NOT YET". GM HAS NOT OFFERED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM (I WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY) AND SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO SO AND RECALL ALL FAULTY UNITS. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THE INTERNET. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *JB