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2005 GMC Sierra 3500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

22 reports with mileage · 2 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.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

24 reports
85,000 miles · Sep 16, 2024
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact owns a 2005 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to come to a stop while the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the brake pedal felt loose. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to bring the vehicle to a complete stop …

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The contact owns a 2005 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to come to a stop while the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the brake pedal felt loose. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to bring the vehicle to a complete stop and the contact became aware of a brake fluid leak coming from under the hood, and that both front and rear brake lines were rusted. An appointment with the dealer was scheduled to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #11614819

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2017
Steering

I HAVE HAD THE LOWER STEERING ARM REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO A BAD BUSHING. ONCE UNDER WARRANTY & TWICE I HAD TO PAY FOR IT WHICH IS OVER $300.00 EACH TIME. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVROLET & GMC TRUCKS. THIS IS ONLY NOTICEABLE WHILE IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI #11012979

75,000 miles · Sep 9, 2016
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. ...UPDATED 11/15/17 *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI #10904906

85,000 miles · Dec 16, 2015
Engine

ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAK OFF ON 2 DIFFERENT GM 1 TON TRUCKS. BAD/ FAILED VEHICLE EMISSIONS AND A HUGE REPAIR BILL FOR BOTH TRUCKS. 85,000 MILES ON BOTH VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #10810735

59,921 miles · Nov 10, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

DRIVING 75MPH IN HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRUCK LOST POWER AND SLOWED TO 40 MPH IN ABOUT 200 YARDS. WE ALMOST GOT HIT BY ALL THE TRAFFIC BEHIND AND AROUND US AS THIS HAPPEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WE GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE HWY AND I HAVE A SCANNER AND FOUND 2 CODES P0207 AND P2146. I GOT OUT AND …

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DRIVING 75MPH IN HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRUCK LOST POWER AND SLOWED TO 40 MPH IN ABOUT 200 YARDS. WE ALMOST GOT HIT BY ALL THE TRAFFIC BEHIND AND AROUND US AS THIS HAPPEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WE GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE HWY AND I HAVE A SCANNER AND FOUND 2 CODES P0207 AND P2146. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE WIRING TO THE #7 INJECTOR AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. PLUGGED IT BACK IN CLEARED CODES ,ENGINE RAN FINE SO START DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN. AFTER 5 MILES IT DID IT AGAIN. IT TOOK ME 5 HOURS TO GO 90 MILES TO GET TO THE NEXT CITY. AT THE HOTEL I FOUND THAT GM HAS A TECH BULLETIN FOR THESE FAULTS AND IT WAS PUBLISHED IN 2008 AT LEAST. SO I WENT TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CHARGE ME FOR THIS REPAIR. I WANT TO KNOW WHY GM DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT IN 2008 SO I COULD HAVE THE TRUCK REPAIRED IN 2008? THIS DEFECT CAUSES THE TRUCK TO LOOSE SO MUCH POWER THAT IT WILL SLOW IN TRAFFIC WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WHY WOULD THIS NOT BE A RECALL THAT GM SHOULD PAY FOR ? GM TB NUMBER IS 05-06-04-047C WHICH TELLS YOU WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TRUCK WHEN THIS DEFECT HAPPENS.

NHTSA ODI #10789524

46,000 miles · Apr 3, 2015
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. THE VEH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI #10703590

62,250 miles · Nov 12, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME INOPERABLE AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,250.

NHTSA ODI #10654347

95,000 miles · Nov 11, 2014
Tires

GOING SOUTH ON I77, CRUISE SET ON 70 MPH, NOTICED SLIGHT VIBRATION AND CONTINUED ABOUT 4 MILES WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. TAPED THE BRAKE, GOT OFF ON BURM ASAP AND TURNED ON HAZARD LIGHTS. HAD TO CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER MILE OR SO I COULD CLEAR THE INTERSTATE. HAD TO HAVE ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. MICHELIN RE…

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GOING SOUTH ON I77, CRUISE SET ON 70 MPH, NOTICED SLIGHT VIBRATION AND CONTINUED ABOUT 4 MILES WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. TAPED THE BRAKE, GOT OFF ON BURM ASAP AND TURNED ON HAZARD LIGHTS. HAD TO CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER MILE OR SO I COULD CLEAR THE INTERSTATE. HAD TO HAVE ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. MICHELIN REFUSED TO WARRANTY THIS TIRE AND IT HAD ONLY BEEN ON MY TRUCK FOR 4 MONTHS. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS A 2009 MODEL TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654228

34,000 miles · Aug 11, 2014
Service Brakes

STOPPING IN DRIVEWAY. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT RESISTANCE. AFTER VEHICLE STOPPED OBSERVED FLUID LEAK UNDER FRONT DRIVER SIDE AFT OF FRONT TIRE. INSPECTED ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND OBSERVED SEVERELY CORRODED BRAKE LIVES AND BRAKE FLUID IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. BRAKE LINE APPARENTLY CORRODED AND RUPTURED RESULTING IN BRAKE…

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STOPPING IN DRIVEWAY. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT RESISTANCE. AFTER VEHICLE STOPPED OBSERVED FLUID LEAK UNDER FRONT DRIVER SIDE AFT OF FRONT TIRE. INSPECTED ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND OBSERVED SEVERELY CORRODED BRAKE LIVES AND BRAKE FLUID IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. BRAKE LINE APPARENTLY CORRODED AND RUPTURED RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621298

76,554 miles · Sep 25, 2013
Service Brakes

MY 2005 GMC SIERRA 3500 CREWCAB WITH LESS THAN 77,000 MILES ON IT EXPERIENCED A RUPTURED BRAKELINE. AS I COMMENCED GOING OUT MY DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT MUSHY THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR. THANK-GOODNESS THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY OPPOSED TO OUT ON THE ROAD! BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND ROTTED THROUGH CAUSING A RUPTURE IN THE …

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MY 2005 GMC SIERRA 3500 CREWCAB WITH LESS THAN 77,000 MILES ON IT EXPERIENCED A RUPTURED BRAKELINE. AS I COMMENCED GOING OUT MY DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT MUSHY THEN WENT TO THE FLOOR. THANK-GOODNESS THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY OPPOSED TO OUT ON THE ROAD! BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND ROTTED THROUGH CAUSING A RUPTURE IN THE LINE AND BRAKE FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ROUTINELY DRIVEN BUT USED FOR HAULING A HORSE TRAILER, TRIPS OR SERVER WEATHER WINTER DRIVING; THUS THE LOW MILEAGE FOR IT'S AGE. CANNOT HAUL A THING WITHOUT BRAKES AS THE UNDERSIZED BRAKING SYSTEM ON THIS TRUCK BARELY STOPS ITSELF UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS. IT IS KEPT CLEAN, DRY AND STORED IN AN OPEN FRONT BUILDING. SINCE MY INCIDENT A FRIEND OF MINE WITH A VERY SIMILAR TRUCK (MAYBE A YEAR OR 2 NEWER) EXPERIENCED THE SAME SCENARIO. FORTUNATELY, THEIRS HAPPENED AS THEY WERE BACKING UP TO PARK AT A CAMPGROUND AND NOT OUT ON THE ROAD EITHER. *LN UPDATED 1/8/2103 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10545302

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.