2005 Gmc SIERRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
117 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 106 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 117 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 44 | 37.6% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 12.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 12.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 6.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.4% |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 27 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 8 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
Service Brakes: 27; Electrical System: 12; Steering: 9; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 8; Engine: 8; Suspension: 6; Air Bags: 5; Power Train: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 31 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 27 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 31; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 22 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2015 | 13 |
2004: 2; 2005: 22; 2006: 9; 2007: 6; 2008: 3; 2009: 8; 2010: 5; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2013: 11; 2014: 26; 2015: 13
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 44 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 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 10133970 · 2005-08-23 (August 23, 2005)
I OWN A 2003 2500 HD 4X4, A WONDERFUL VEHICLE IT WOULD BE EVEN MORE WONDERFUL IF I COULD FIND A DEALER THAT WOULD STAND BEHIND HIS PRODUCT. MY NEXT CAR PROBABLY WILL NOT BE GMC OR CHEVY. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE JUNE OF 2003. DUE TO THE NATURE OF MY BUSINESS I ALREADY HAVE 98,000 MILES. DURING THAT TIME I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT FUEL MILEAGE. THE REPORTS LIE. NOBODY WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE FUEL MILEAGE. BECAUSE IT CAN'T GET ANY BETTER BECAUSE THEY LIED. I HAVE LOST A VACCUME PUMP, AND A LEFT FRONT WHEEL HUB WHICH HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACE…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139680 · 2005-10-14 (October 14, 2005)
PURCHASED 2005 NEW GMC SIERRA CREW CAB, 349 MILES, ON 19 JULY 2005 FROM RANZ MOTOR CO., INC., CHANUTE, KS, VIN [XXX]. ON 8/21/05 THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP, THERE WAS A DISTINCT ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND SMOKE WAS ROLLING OUT FROM UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE TRUCK. RANZ MOTORS REPLACED A BAD BRAKE BOOSTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH BULLETIN EPIT3685 AND CHECKED OPERATION. ON 9/1/05 THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED THE SAME DEFECT AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THIS TIME CAR WAS TAKEN TO COAST TO A SLOW SPEED BEF…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139680 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147212 · 2006-01-09 (January 9, 2006)
EXTREME OVERHEATING OF 3500 DURAMAX WHILE TOWING. LOSS OF POWER AND OVERHEATING OF TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. NUMEROUS CONTACTS WITH GENERAL MOTORS AND ATTORNEY GENERAL IN MICHIGAN. GM ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THEREFORE NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. ARE CONTINUING TO FIND A FIX. WE TOW A 5TH WHEEL IN THE COLO. MOUNTAINS AND THIS COULD LEAD TO VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS IF THE ENGINE SHOULD BLOW AND WE WOULD HAVE LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121076 · 2005-05-16 (May 16, 2005)
DT: THE ENGINE HAS DIED, ONCE WHILE DRIVING AND ONCE AT A STOP SIGN. THE TRANSMISSION WAS JUMPING AND WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL TO STEER TO ANOTHER LANE. THE OTHER TIME THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A PROBLEM BEFORE ENGINE STALLED OUT. THERE HAS BEEN MANY TIMES THIS HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HAVE BEEN WITH GM A FEW TIMES AND THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THEY WOULD SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO CHECK OUT THE TRUCK. THEY NEVER SENT ONE, AS OF TODAY, GM SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T DO THAT. CONSUMER WANTED A BUY BACK. CONSUMER TALKED TO BBB TODA…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121076 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129348 · 2005-07-19 (July 19, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE TRUCK HAD A TRANSMISSION LEAK. AFTER FIVE TIMES TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM HE LET THE VEHICLE GO BACK, AND LOST MONEY ON THE TRUCK WHEN HE TRADED IT IN. HE HAD THE RECEIPTS AVAILABLE. THEY REPLACED SEALS ON THE REAR SHAFT AND THE REAR SHAFT HOUSING. HE CALLED GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY HAD A KIT SO THEY HAD TO REPLACE A BUNCH OF SEALS IN IT. THREE WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE WHICH WAS NOV…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,609 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143044 · 2005-11-17 (November 17, 2005)
WHEN LISTENING TO THE RADIO ONLY IN ACCESSORY MODE FOR APPROX. 2-4 HOURS THE BATTERY IS DRAINED WITHOUT WARNING TO THE POINT THAT THE TRUCK WILL NOT START, THE ONSTAR GOES DEAD -WE ARE UNABLE TO SUMMON HELP IF NEEDED, AND THE RADIO GOES COMPLETELY DEAD. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS GIVEN A BULLITEN FROM GM (DOCUMENT ID# 1689523). GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE IS WORKING WITH US, BUT THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK HAS APPROXIMATELY 3600 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, WHEN PURCHASED IN JUN…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10179480 · 2007-01-23 (January 23, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA HYBRID TRUCK. TWO WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE ALSO VIBRATED, AND MADE A WHISTLING SOUND. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S LOST POWER AT RED LIGHTS; HOWEVER, IT RESTARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, THEY WERE ALSO WAITING FOR A TECHNICIAN TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10179480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129387 · 2005-07-19 (July 19, 2005)
ENGINE OVERHEAT, REQUIRING PULLING OFF TO SHOULDER, NO A/C FOR OCCUPANTS OF VEHICLE INCLUDING TWO SMALL CHILDREN
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129431 · 2005-08-05 (August 5, 2005)
DT: 2005 GMC SIERRA. THE VEHICLE SPRAYED FUEL OUT OF IT'S GAS TANK. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. THE FUEL DID NOT STOP PUMPING FROM THE REAR TANK TOT HE FRONT TANK. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD NOT TO PUT FUEL IN THE REAR TANK, BUT THE GAUGES DID NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE, AND HE DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE FRONT TANK WAS FULL. THIS HAS ALWAYS HAPPENED WITH THE VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP 3 HOURS AFTER PURCHASING IT AND TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM. HE HAS ALSO CALLED GENERAL MOTORS AND THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10435639 · 2011-11-15 (November 15, 2011)
UNDER CARRIAGE OF TRUCK IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. FRAME, BRAKE LINES, LEAF SPRINGS, BASICALLY EVERYTHING. FUEL TANK LOOKS AS IF MIGHT BREAK OFF AND FALL TO GROUND AT ANY MOMENT AND LEAF SPRING SHACKLES LOOK AS IF MIGHT BREAK AND SPLIT TRUCK IN HALF. ALL DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435639 at NHTSA ↗