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2005 GMC Sierra 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 181.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

158 reports with mileage · 19 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports9 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

177 reports
205 miles · Jun 26, 2008
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVisibilityFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WITH THE HEAT ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING COMING FROM THE BLOWER MOTOR. SOMETIMES, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, HE WOULD SMELL FUEL. WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, ONE OF THE REAR TIRES SLIDES AND THE OTHER ONE KEEPS SPINNIN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WITH THE HEAT ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING COMING FROM THE BLOWER MOTOR. SOMETIMES, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, HE WOULD SMELL FUEL. WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, ONE OF THE REAR TIRES SLIDES AND THE OTHER ONE KEEPS SPINNING. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL OR THE ABS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205.

NHTSA ODI #10232357

78,500 miles · Apr 26, 2008
Seats

GMC SIERRA 1500 FRONT SEAT METAL FAILED ON THE UPPER BACK CUSHION/ SUPPORT OF SEAT CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL ON ONE SIDE. THIS IN TURN CAUSED THE DRIVE ABILITY OF THE TRUCK TO BE DANGEROUS FOR SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND ALL IN TRUCK. THIS IS NOT AT A WELDED AREA BUT IN THE METAL ITSELF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225798

20,000 miles · Apr 14, 2008
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. WOULD MANIFEST ITSELF IN A COUPLE OF WAYS. 1) IT WOULD SHOW A STEADY SPEED OF 25 MPH REGARDLESS OF MY ACTUAL SPEED. 2) WOULD SHOW I AM GOING AS MUCH AS 50MPH OVER MY ACTUAL SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224472

94,000 miles · Apr 10, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

PURCHASED A USED 2005 GMC SIERRA FROM A GM DEALERSHIP. TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BLOWN HEAD. AFTER DOING MY DUE DILIGENCE, I WAS MADE AWARE THAT GM HAS HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD CASTING MANUFACTURE OF MY PARTICULAR TRUCK. I AM HAVING IT REPAIRED AT A GM DEALERSHIP AND HAVE ASKED GM TO ASSIST ME IN AN…

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PURCHASED A USED 2005 GMC SIERRA FROM A GM DEALERSHIP. TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BLOWN HEAD. AFTER DOING MY DUE DILIGENCE, I WAS MADE AWARE THAT GM HAS HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD CASTING MANUFACTURE OF MY PARTICULAR TRUCK. I AM HAVING IT REPAIRED AT A GM DEALERSHIP AND HAVE ASKED GM TO ASSIST ME IN ANYWAY WITH THE COSTLY REPAIR, SINCE IT IS ONLY A 2005. THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO WORK WITH ME IN THE LEAST. THE GM MECHANIC EVEN STATED THAT THESE PARTICULAR HEADS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR CRACKING AND GM IS AWARE OF THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224109

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2008
Steering

POWER STEERING FAILURE. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR NUMBER OF TIMES NOTHING HAS WORKED. QUITS WORKING AT ANY TIME THEN BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON OTHER SITE FORUMS. MY CONCERN IS NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN/CONTROL VEHICLE. PROBLEM BEGAN WITH-IN 1ST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. TRUCK NOW HAS 33,000 AND JUST OUT OF 3 YEAR WA…

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POWER STEERING FAILURE. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR NUMBER OF TIMES NOTHING HAS WORKED. QUITS WORKING AT ANY TIME THEN BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON OTHER SITE FORUMS. MY CONCERN IS NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN/CONTROL VEHICLE. PROBLEM BEGAN WITH-IN 1ST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. TRUCK NOW HAS 33,000 AND JUST OUT OF 3 YEAR WARRANTY. GM HAS SET-UP SERVICE AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. I JUST HOPE PROBLEM CAN BE CORRECTED. THIS IS VERY SCARY PROBLEM TO HAVE I JUST DON'T TRUST THE STEERING. I DON'T WANT MYSELF AND OTHERS END UP BECOMING STATISTICS. I HOPE GM REALLY TAKES A HARD LOOK AT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220366

60,470 miles · Feb 25, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibilityFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RESISTOR MELTED THE GROUNDING WIRE AND CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO FAIL. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (060139002) FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR WOULD BE THE CONTACT'S RESPO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RESISTOR MELTED THE GROUNDING WIRE AND CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO FAIL. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (060139002) FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR WOULD BE THE CONTACT'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,670 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,470.

NHTSA ODI #10219100

80,000 miles · Feb 17, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

1. DRIVING ON INTERSTATE IN MY 2005 GMC SIERRA WITH MY MOTHER WHO NOTICES SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE AIR VENTS. IT WAS NOT SAFE TO OTHER VEHICLES TO PULL OVER FOR ABOUT .5 TO 1 MILE AT WHICH POINT IT WAS ALL WE COULD TO EVACUATE THE TRUCK AS IT WAS GOING UP IN FLAMES. 2. GM'S THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR ESIS DENIED MY CLAIM WITHO…

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1. DRIVING ON INTERSTATE IN MY 2005 GMC SIERRA WITH MY MOTHER WHO NOTICES SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE AIR VENTS. IT WAS NOT SAFE TO OTHER VEHICLES TO PULL OVER FOR ABOUT .5 TO 1 MILE AT WHICH POINT IT WAS ALL WE COULD TO EVACUATE THE TRUCK AS IT WAS GOING UP IN FLAMES. 2. GM'S THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR ESIS DENIED MY CLAIM WITHOUT EVEN CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION. I DID RECEIVE A LETTER FROM ESIS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT SUBMITTING A FORMAL CLAIM AGAINST GM. I NEITHER HAVE NOR CAN AFFORD AN ATTORNEY TO ASSIST ME WITH THIS DOCUMENTATION. I LOST MANY PERSONAL ITEMS INCLUDING CASH, MY WALLET, PHONE, AND TOOLS. I AM A CONTRACTOR AND HAVE MISSED MANY WEEKS FROM WORK AND HAD TO FORFEIT WORK BECAUSE I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD A RENTAL TRUCK. THIS INCIDENT HAS CAUSED ME MANY PROBLEMS AND EMBARRASSMENT BOTH FINANCIALLY AND PERSONALLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218405

105,000 miles · Feb 4, 2008
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS INACCURATE READINGS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10216882

17,000 miles · Dec 4, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR INTO REVERSE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS A RESULT, SHE FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS DRAGGED. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO PARK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. APPROXI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR INTO REVERSE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS A RESULT, SHE FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS DRAGGED. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO PARK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MONTHS LATER, A SEAL ON THE TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT. THE DEALER REBUILT AND INSTALLED THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHIFTED INTO DRIVE WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IN AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE SOFTWARE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,089.

NHTSA ODI #10210757

43,000 miles · Nov 26, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE DIES. WE CAN'T STEER, WE CAN'T START THE TRUCK, WE CAN'T MOVE IT. WE ARE STUCK FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES, WITH NO ANSWERS. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG, BUT THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210003

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.