IllustrationTHE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHT HAS GONE FROM DIM TO NO LIGHT AT ALL SO YOU CAN NOT SEE WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN. THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
3225–50K
3550–75K
3475–100K
24100–150K
15150K+
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 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO GEAR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS BARELY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO MEMORIZE IN WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF T…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO GEAR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS BARELY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO MEMORIZE IN WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. UPDATED 06/15/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE LED SHIFT INDICATOR DISPLAY HAD FADED, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. UPDATED 06/22/16.*JB
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.
THE RUNNING LIGHT SOCKETS BURNED OUT. I CAN SEND YOU THE BURNED OUT SOCKET BUT NEED AN ADDRESS.
POWER STEERING HOSE HAS RUSTED AND BEGAN LEAKING. NOTICED A LOT OF UNDERCARRIAGE AND FRAME RUST ON THE WHOLE TRUCK.
WHEN PULLING IN MY DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT CLEAR TO THE FLOOR. UPON INVESTIGATING I FOUND THE BRAKE LINES TO BE SEVERELY CORRODED. I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO BE DRIVING AT A FASTER RATE OF SPEED ON THE OPEN ROAD. THAT SAME WEEK THE STEERING HAD BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN LIKE IT WAS LOW ON FLUI…
Read full complaint
WHEN PULLING IN MY DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT CLEAR TO THE FLOOR. UPON INVESTIGATING I FOUND THE BRAKE LINES TO BE SEVERELY CORRODED. I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO BE DRIVING AT A FASTER RATE OF SPEED ON THE OPEN ROAD. THAT SAME WEEK THE STEERING HAD BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN LIKE IT WAS LOW ON FLUID, WHICH IT WAS NOT. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE COMPUTER AT 400 MILES. *TR
THESE PARTS WERE RECALLED ON PREVIOUS GM VEHICLES IN THE SAME YEAR. THE FUEL SENSOR DOESN'T WANT TO READ CORRECTLY AND NOT KNOWING AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK. THE ABS SYSTEM OVER REACTS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ENGAGE WHILE DRY CONDITIONS ARE PRESENT AND ALARM TO SOUND. *TR
MY SPEEDOMETER FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. I WAS DRIVING TO FLORIDA FROM VIRGINIA AND MY SPEEDOMETER FAILED ON INTERSTATE 95. I WAS SUMMARILY ARRESTED IN SUMMERTON, GEORGIA FOR SPEEDING. IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR SPEED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON AND OFF INDEPENDENTLY, THE SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES SHOWED INACCURATE READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON AND OFF INDEPENDENTLY, THE SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES SHOWED INACCURATE READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ELECTRICAL FAILURES ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
IGNITION SWITCH IS STICKING IN RUN POSITION. I HAVE TO TURN THE SWITCH BACK AFTER CRANKING TO TURN OFF THE ABS /PARKING BRAKE LIGHT. TRIED A NEW SWITCH DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IS THIS PART OF THE RECALL PROBLEM. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.