2005 Gmc SIERRA 2500: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10137610 · 2005-09-26 (September 26, 2005)
WHILE TRAVELING WEST OF DENVER, COLORADO MY 2005 GMC SIERRA 2500HD EQUIPPED WITH THE DURAMAX DIESEL OVERHEATED TO THE POINT OF THE VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN. THIS HAPPENED ON A STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WHERE THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OFF ON RESULTING IN AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITION. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE ON-LINE RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE 2004.5 AND 2005 MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET AND GMC HD SERIES TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE DIESEL MOTOR. NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THEIR TRUCKS TO LOCAL CHEVROLET AND GMC DEALERSHIPS B…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137610 at NHTSA ↗
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 10163518 · 2006-07-26 (July 26, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT 55MPH., ALL POWER FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FENDER, THE COMPRESSOR AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE BEING TOWED. THE CONTACT INCURRED AN INJURY TO LEFT KNEE. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS FOR THE TRAILER AND COMPRESSOR TO BE REPAIRED.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163518 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 10177349 · 2006-12-29 (December 29, 2006)
TRUCK HAS BEEN IN DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR SEVERE NOISE OF POWER STEERING PUMP, LOSS OF BRAKE BOOST AND STEERING ASSIST AT LOW SPEEDS. PUMP WAS REPLACED AND NOISED DISAPPEARED FOR JUST OVER 2 WEEKS AND STARTED AGAIN. DEALER EXPLAINED THAT GM IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT IS ONLY TAKING CALLS ABOUT THE PROBLEM FROM ONE AREA CODE WHILE THEY TRY TO ISOLATE. DEALER THEN REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR WITH NO CORRECTION OF PROBLEM. AT A STANDSTILL, TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 3/4 TURN RESULTS IN COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST AND SOMETIMES BRAKE …
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10179547 · 2007-01-24 (January 24, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2005 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING. WHILE DRIVING REGARDLESS OF SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL DISPLAY A HIGHER SPEED OTHER THAN WHAT HE WAS DRIVING. THE SPEEDOMETER SOMETIMES REGISTERS AS HIGH AS 120 MPH, AND WHEN DECREASING SPEED THE SPEEDOMETER JAMMED AND VARIED BETWEEN NORMAL AND A HIGHER SPEED. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT, FILE # 71-473831886 WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED DUE TO THE SPEEDOMETER, AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10179547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187387 · 2007-04-09 (April 9, 2007)
WHEN CLIMBING A SIGNIFICANT GRADE , 6%, WHILE TOWING 12.500# 5TH WHEEL ON A DAY WITH HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE , 95% ENGINE TEMPERATURE, IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO CLIMB AND REACHED ALMOST OVERHEAT WHEN I FORTUNATELY FOUND A PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. INCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON THE GRAPEVINE IN CA. IF I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO PULL OVER I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN TRAFFIC LANE WITH 18 WHEELERS RIGHT BEHIND ME. 2 DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO HELP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187387 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V519000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Reported: 2008-10-06 (October 6, 2008)
MOBILITYWORKS IS RECALLING 133 MY 2005-2006 FORD E250, MY 2000, 2004-2006 E350, MY 2000, 2005 E450, MY 2005-2006 GMC 2500, GMC 3500, AND MY 2006 DODGE 2500 VANS EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT.
Consequence: A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.
Remedy: MOBILITYWORKS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR MOBILITYWORKS AT 1-800-769-8267.
NHTSA campaign record ↗