2005 Gmc SIERRA 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
115 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 104 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 115 complaints (27.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 41 | 35.7% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 13.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 6.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 6.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 31 |
| Service Brakes | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 15 |
| Steering | 14 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 11 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
Electrical System: 31; Service Brakes: 19; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 15; Steering: 14; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 11; Engine: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 5; Power Train: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 32 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 7
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 15 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 8; 2009: 15; 2010: 16; 2011: 11; 2012: 16; 2013: 5; 2014: 14; 2015: 6; 2016: 5; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10146334 · 2005-12-29 (December 29, 2005)
CRASH, INJURY, FRONTAL IMPACT, BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND QUICKLY ENOUGH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172273 · 2006-10-31 (October 31, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY MOVED. THE BRAKES AND STEERING WERE ALSO NOT WORKING. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, HOWEVER THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED RESULTS FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A PENDING RECALL. UPDATED 11/30/06 *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135443 · 2005-09-06 (September 6, 2005)
DT: THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE DEALER DOES KNOW THAT IT IS GOING OUT AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES, THEY BROUGHT IN A FIELD ENGINEER. THEY OFFERED AN INCENTIVE TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT HIGH SPEEDS, BUT THEY COULD DUPLICATE IT AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS STARTED ON JUNE 15, 2005. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AT LOW SPEEDS ALL THE TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135443 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10225718 · 2008-04-25 (April 25, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DRIVES HIS VEHICLE UPHILL WITH A TRAILER IN TOW, THE VEHICLE SLAMS INTO THIRD GEAR, JERKS, AND OVERHEATS. THE FAILURE OCCURS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 5/13/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL DEALERS WERE TELLING HIM DIFFERENT THINGS AS TO WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE. ONE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE WRONG TRANSFER CASE WAS IN THE VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390385 · 2011-03-16 (March 16, 2011)
GM STATES THAT DEXRON-VI IS FULLY BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE WITH ALL DEXRON-III APPLICATIONS. MY VEHICLE IS A 2005 GMC SIERRA K2500HD, WITH AN 8.1L GASOLINE ENGINE AND ALLISON 1000 TRANSMISSION. AFTER PERFORMING A ROUTINE SERVICE ON MY TRANSMISSION (FLUID DRAIN AND REFILL), REPLACING THE DEXRON-III WITH DEXRON-VI, I NOTICED THE SEALS AND GASKETS LEAKING FROM AROUND THE TRANSMISSION. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THE SYNTHETIC DEXRON-VI IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH CERTAIN SEALS INSTALLED IN ALLISON BRAND TRANSMISSIONS. ALLISON TRANSMISSION DOES NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 138,307 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251251 · 2008-12-09 (December 9, 2008)
WIRING HARNESS FROM BLOWER MOTOR TO RESISTOR PACK LOCATED IN THE HEATER COIL AREA UNDER THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THIS WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER ONCE OR TWICE BEFORE AS FAR AS WE CAN SEE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282861 · 2009-09-04 (September 4, 2009)
REPLACED EVERY MODULE IN THE HEATER SYSTEM IN MY 05 GMC SIERRA SEVERAL TIMES, AND SO HAS JUST ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE I KNOW WHO OWNS ONE. NOW MY WIRING HARNESS BURNED WITHOUT BLOWING ANY FUSES. GM SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS, AND FIND THE PROBLEMS, AND FIX THEM, BEFORE EVERYONE WHO OWNS ONE GOES BROKE REPAIRING THEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386111 · 2011-03-01 (March 1, 2011)
PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED TO FULL, A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WOULD SURROUND THE VEHICLE AND FUEL WOULD BEGIN TO DRIP FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE AREA OF THE FUEL TANK. WHEN TANK WAS FILLED ONLY PARTIALLY (BELOW 75%) ONLY THE STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WOULD OCCUR AFTER REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GM DEALERSHIP AND AN INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED AND A CRACK WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE FILLER NECK ATTACHES TO THE BODY OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL TANK W…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,183 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478377 · 2012-10-02 (October 2, 2012)
DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AT 40 WHEN A ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ME . I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR . I SWERVED AND AVOIDED THE ON COMING VEHICLE . THE REAR HARD STEEL BRAKE LINE ABOVE THE FUEL TANK BURST DUE TO CORROSION . NO WARNING NO FLUID OR BRAKE LIGHT JUST A CATASTROPHE FAILURE OF LINE. UPON INSPECTION LINE IS NOT CORRODED ON THE FRAME RAIL BEFORE THE FUEL TANK JUST BEHIND THE TANK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 139,003 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478377 at NHTSA ↗