What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2005 GMC Sierra

Early-defect pattern

24.7% of complaints about the 2005 GMC Sierra came in its first year of service — a higher share than 97% of the 245 2005 model-years on record. That points to problems present from new rather than wear. The most-reported system is service brakes (27 complaints), typically at 9.6 yr or about 75,000 miles.

Complaints
150
Median age at failure
5.0 yr
Median mileage
55,833 n=133
Crash / fire / tow
4.7% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Service brakes
27 reports · 75,000 mi
9.6 yr
0%
Electrical system
23 reports · 60,000 mi
5.1 yr
4.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09E025000 2009-05-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E066000 2007-08-28
Equipment:electrical

CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.

06V417000 2006-10-31
Air bags:frontal

CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.

IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A FRONT PASSENGER'S LEVEL OF INJURY MAY BE INCREASED.

06V289000 2006-08-03
Engine cooling

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER.

IF THE DAMPER COMES LOOSE, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

05V455000 2005-10-05
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A POWER STEERING HOSE THAT IS NOT TO SPECIFICATION. UNDER EXTREME STEERING MANEUVERS, SUCH AS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE BRAKING, THE HOSE MAY FRACTURE AND LEAK FLUID.

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD BE LOST AND INCREASED STEERING EFFORT WOULD BE REQUIRED. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRO-BOOST POWER BRAKES, IT COULD ALSO RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST AND INCREASED BRAKING EFFORT WOULD BE REQUIRED. IF THE POWER STEERING FLUID SPRAY WERE TO SPRAY ONTO HOT ENGINE PARTS, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

05V163000 2005-04-22
Seat belts:rear/other

ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE S

A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.

05V161000 2005-04-22
Parking brake

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.

IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

05V055000 2005-02-14
Power train:manual transmission:shift pattern indicator

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR LOCATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. IF THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, THE DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN.

THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

05V043000 2005-02-08
Service brakes, hydraulic

CERTAIN TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH HYDRO-BOOST BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR MAY CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.

IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WERE OPEN, FRAGMENTS FROM THE ACCUMULATOR COULD CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. THE PRESENCE OF THIS CRACK OR FRACTURED SURFACE COULD ALLOW THE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE ACCUMULATOR CIRCUIT OF THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. THE LOSS OF FLUID WOULD CAUSE INCREASED STEERING AND BRAKING EFFORT AND A CRASH MAY OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNI

05V018000 2005-01-21
Steering:gear box:shaft sector

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR MAY NOT MEET SPECIFICATION. THE BOLT MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING.

IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 1,500 mi 1.0 yr in service
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 JUNE THE TRUCK HAD APPROXIMATELY 590 MILES. *NM
Electrical system 39,000 mi 2.9 yr in service crash / fire / tow
THE BLOWER MOTOR WOULD WORK AND THEN NOT WORK AND WHEN IT WORKED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER DASHBOARD. I REMOVED THE CARDBOARD COVER AND SAW SMOKE FROM THE CONNECTION TO THE BLOWER LOTER AND THE CONNECTION WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH SO I PULLED IT OFF FROM THE BLOWER. *TR
Electrical system 23,600 mi 3.1 yr in service
HEATER /AC FAN 5 SPEED NOT WORKING AND WIRES TO BLOWER UNDER PASS SIDE HOT TO THE TOUCH AND PLASTIC JACKET ON WIRES BURNING OFF ALSO CONNECTOR WITH SAME LEADS TO BLOWER MELTING TO SOCKET UNABLE TO UNPLUG ( UNABLE TO USE HEAT OR FAN WITHOUT BUILD OF HEAT ON WIRE) LOTS OF BURNING SMELL. *JB
Service brakes 55,833 mi 7.9 yr in service
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON A DRIVEWAY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST COMPLETE RESISTANCE AND WENT FLAT TO THE FLOOR. TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY WARNING INDICATORS. INSPECTION OF THE METAL BRAKE LINES POSITIONED NEAR THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL REVEALED THAT ALL FOUR LINES SHOWED SEVERE SIGNS OF CORROSION AND ONE OF THE LINES HAD PRODUCED A HOLE THEREFORE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. *TR

Other Sierra model years

2017201520142008200620052004200320022001200019991998

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