2005 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
370 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 34/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 70,000 miles.
Typical
Where 2005 sits among all Sierra 1500 years
What owners report
“The running light sockets burned out. I can send you the burned out socket but need an address.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Sierra 1500
“Brake pedal went all the way to floor. Rusted through brake line near rear driver side tire”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Sierra 1500
“Engine oil leak on or around rear main seal. As oil drips while driving the oil lands on the exhaust pipe and begins to burn. This leak landing on the exhaust while hot can catch on fire.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Sierra 1500
“Power steering hose has rusted and began leaking. Noticed a lot of undercarriage and frame rust on the whole truck.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Sierra 1500
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 316 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 67,886 miles. Half of those reports fall between 41,000 and 100,872 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY…
Fix: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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).
Technical service bulletins
615 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2005 Sierra 1500 TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
The 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 drew 370 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 34/100, scored against the model's worst year (2014).
What are the most common 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 are electrical (96 complaints), brakes & stability (88), and engine (31).
At what mileage do 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 problems around 67,886 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 41,000 and 100,872 miles.
Does the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.