2005 GMC Sierra 2500

Routine

Owners filed 115 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 4 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
60,000 milesMedian miles at failure

104 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 50,00060,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System25
050
Service Brakes16
200
Service Brakes, Hydraulic13
000
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel11
000
Steering7
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System5
000
Power Train4
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
000
Unknown or Other2
000
Tires2
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility08V519000
Filed Oct 6, 2008133 vehiclesMobility Works

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Service Brakes, Air06E050000
Filed Jun 6, 20066,800 vehiclesFederal-Mogul Corporation

Defect. CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL NATIONAL AND CARQUEST AFTERMARKET HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/N 515058, SOLD FOR USE ON 2001-2006 GENERAL MOTORS 1500 AND 2500 4WD TRUCKS. ON THE SUBJECT HUB ASSEMBLIES, THE ABS SENSOR CORD DEPARTS FROM THE HUB ASSEMBLY AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. AS A RESULT, THERE IS A FIT ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE ROTOR DUST SHIELD INTERFERING WITH THE ABS SENSOR CORD. IF THE HUB ASSEMBLY IS INSTALLED DESPITE THIS INTERFERENCE, THE GAP BETWEEN THE ABS SENSOR AND THE TONE WHEEL MAY BE ALTERED. THIS MAY WEAKEN THE OUTPUT OF THE ABS SENSOR. DIMINISHED OUTPUT COULD RESULT IN AN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS AND STOPPING DISTANCE COULD BE AFFECTED.

Risk. IF STOPPING DISTANCE IS LIMITED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND WILL EITHER CREDIT THE CUSTOMERS ACCOUNT OR REPLACE THE UNIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-563-8507 EXT 3530.

Fuel System, Gasoline06E043000
Filed May 19, 200688,303 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Steering06E010000
Filed Feb 1, 20061,360 vehiclesFabtech Motorsports

Defect. CERTAIN FABTECH AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS, P/NOS. FTS71000 AND FTS71001, INSTALLED FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2001-2006 GM C/K 2500 PICK UP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE PIN LOCATED INSIDE THE PITMAN ARM CAN SHEAR OFF DUE TO A REVERSE BENDING FATIGUE CONDITION, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Risk. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH WITH POTENTIAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy. FABTECH WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PITMAN AND IDLER ARMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FABTECH AT 909-597-7800.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Dec 23, 2023MD

1). Dash light stays on constantly and reads SERVICE AIR BAG. This was checked out at an auto repair shop. If air bag doesn't respond, it could be fatal. 2). Check engine light is always on. Was checked out at an auto repair shop and repaired on 10/19/2021. 3). Right engine exhaust manifold is cracked and leaking exhaust. Was checked out at a muffler repair shop. In time I'm afraid fumes my leak into the truck cab. 4). A brake line ruptured and was repaired on 09/02/2020.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 1, 2022TN

This is a test

Structure › Body
Filed Mar 4, 202161,000 milesKY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 2500. THE CONTACT STATED HE REPLACED ALL THE BRAKE LINES ON THE VEHICLE AND ALSO STATED THAT THE BODY FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENCE MECHANIC WHERE ALL THE CORRODED BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 15, 2020PA

MY TRUCK HAS HAD THE ODOMETER ROLLED BACK ACORDING TO THE CARFAX REPORT. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND WAS UNAWARE OF THE UNTIL TODAY WHEN I TRIED TO TRADE IT IN AND THE SALESMAN MADE ME AWARE OF THIS

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Feb 3, 2020160,000 milesOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE FOG LAMPS ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DASHBOARD HAD MELTED AND A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Feb 19, 201895,000 milesIN

BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO METAL BRAKE LINE CORROSION CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. POLICE REPORT: MOORESVILLE, INDIANA PD #A17315

Electrical System
Filed Sep 1, 20175 milesTX

ALWAYS TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE AT IDLE

Power Train
Filed May 8, 201785,000 milesMT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND DISPLAY WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS POSITIONED IN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 2, 2017130,000 milesNH

BREAK LINE RUSTED AND BROKE ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO STOP BRAKE PETAL WENT TO FLOOR

Electrical System
Filed Dec 13, 201655,000 milesCO

THE SPEEDOMETER IS FAILING. IT WORKS ERRATICALLY. IT EVENTUALLY GOES TO ZERO AND STAYS THERE UNTIL I STOP AND RESTART THE TRUCK OR LET IT SIT OVERNIGHT.

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 22, 201654,000 milesNC

BLEW OUT ONE BRAKE LINE LOST ALL BRAKES NO BACKUP,PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. 54,000 MILES ALL LINES RUSTED ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THANK GOD I JUST PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 21, 2016VT

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 (NA) GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V324000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 9, 2016100,000 milesNY

TAKING VEHICLE OUT OF PARK BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL WAY TO FLOOR BECAUSE STEEL LINE RUPTURED CAUSING MASSIVE LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID, ROLLED OUT OF DRIVE WAY INTO STREET CUTTING WHEEL TO AVOID WRECK BEFORE COULD GET IN NEUTRAL AND ROLL TO STOP !

Electrical System
Filed Apr 27, 2016SC

FUEL GAGE,SPEEDOMETER BROKEN, OIL GAGE , BATTERY INDICATOR ETC ALL STOPPED WORKING. ALSO STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN FIXED THREE TIMES AND BROKE AGAIN.

Tires
Filed Sep 27, 2015138,297 milesAZ

TIRE IS SEPARATED BETWEEN TREAD THIS IS THE 2ND TIRE THAT HAS DONE THIS IN THIS LOT.

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Jul 15, 2015216,000 milesVA

2005 GMC 2500HD THAT THE BRAKE LINES FAILED. AFTER CHECKING THEY ARE RUSTED EVERYWHERE. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND I SEE THAT THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL YEAR.

Power Train
Filed May 21, 2015153,200 milesOK

SLIGHT CLUNKING STARTED WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. FLUID ON GARAGE FLOOR. OFF TO AAMCO. FOUND TWO HOLES IN TRANSFERCASE. THE "4 STAR BUFFERING RING" ON SHAFT INSIDE POUNDED TWO HOLES IN CASING. JUST STEP ON GAS AND TORQUE POUNDS THE RING INTO THE CASING UNTIL HOLES ARE MADE. ALL FLUID POURS OUT. MOST PEOPLE WONT EVEN KNOW ITS HAPPENED UNTIL CASTASTROPHIC FAILURE. SEVERAL SEALS, CHAIN, TWO GEARS, 3 BOTTLES OF FLUID, "4 STAR BUFFER RING" AND A NEW CASING HALF WAS REQUIRED. $2654.00 TO REPAIR FOR A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. AAMCO POINTED OUT I DID NOTHING WRONG. ITS AN ENGINEERED FAILURE POINT BY GM. ADD THIS TO ; #1-SPEEDO GEAR FAILURE-20MPH AND GAGE READS 90 MPH, #2-CD/RADIO BURNT UP, #3-WATER PUMP FAILURE 16K MILES, #4-CAB OF TRUCK NOT ATTACHED TO FRAME CORRECTLY "CAB WOBBLING", #5-ROOF TEMP CONTROL UNIT FAILURE, #6-PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR STOPS WORKING BELOW 25 DEGREES, #7-FACTORY INSTALLED BATTERY WAS THE WRONG ONE WHEN BOUGHT NEW IN OGDEN, UTAH. NOW,.... AIRBAGS???

Steering
Filed Feb 4, 2015166,682 milesWA

THE STEERING SHAFT IS MOVING, SLIPPING BACK AND FORTH AS I HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jan 8, 2015155,000 milesOK

TODAY WHEN I PARKED MY GMC SIERRA 2500HD, I TURNED OFF THE KEY SWITCH AND I NOTICED MY BLOWER MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME I SMELT SOMETHING BURNING. I WENT OUT UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE LOCATED THE FUSE BOX AND REMOVED THE 40 AMP BLOWER MOTOR FUSE AND THAT SHUT DOWN THE HEATER AND THE SMELL STARTING GOING AWAY. IT WAS 19 DEGREES HERE IN OKLAHOMA AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND GOT SEVERAL HITS ABOUT GMC TRUCKS THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE EXCEPT SOME OF THE VEHICLES BURNED COMPLETELY TO THE GROUND. I ALSO GOT INFORMATION FROM THE INTERNET THAT GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA RECALLED ALL THERE GM PRODUCTS THAT HAD THE SAME BLOWER MOTOR ASSEMBLY. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GENERAL MOTORS, DETROIT. THEY SAID THEY HAD NO RECALLS. *TR

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jan 6, 2015118,542 milesUT

AFTER RETURNING FROM A DAY OF SHOPPING, I PARKED MY TRUCK AT THE BACK, LIKE ALWAYS. I HAD BEEN NOTICING OIL SPOTS FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS BUT CHALKED IT UP TO AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE TRUCK. AFTER ABOUT TWO HOURS I SAW SMOKE FROM THE BACK AREA WHERE I PARKED. I RAN OUTSIDE TO CATCH TO MY SURPRISE! MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE, I AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, GRABBED THE GARDEN HOSE AND PUT OUT THE FIRE! I REALIZED AS I LOOKED, THAT THE FIRE HAD STARTED AT THE AREA UNDER THE HOOD WHERE THE FUSES, AND WIRING WERE LOCATED. AS I SLOWLY REBUILT MY TRUCK, I REALIZED THAT THE FIRE WAS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT I HAD! THE FACT OF THE MATTER WAS THAT IF THE FIRE HAD NOT SHUT MY TRUCK DOWN, THERE WERE A WHOLE ARRAY OF OTHER PROBLEMS THAT I WOULD OF HAD TO REPAIR.

20 of 115 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202610110Routine
202526100Routine
2024103400Routine
202332100Routine
202243320Routine
202151610Routine
202074930Routine
201932730Routine
201835520Routine
201737610Routine
201659500Routine
201589650Routine
201430210Routine
201346300Routine
201231301Fatalities reported
201163410Routine
201010500Routine
200931500Routine
200863300Routine
200783310Routine
200666330Routine
2005 — this page115460Routine
2004143441Fatalities reported
2003160340Routine
2002134411Fatalities reported
2001134520Routine
200048310Routine
199936211Fatalities reported
199815300Routine
199714400Routine
19941000Routine

Compare every Sierra 2500 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 6, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.