Total Complaints
29 filings
GMC SIERRA 3500 · model year
29 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2005GMCSIERRA 3500 carries 29 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 SIERRA 3500 is service brakes with 5 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic (4) and electrical system (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2005 SIERRA 3500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
29 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 |
| STEERING | 3 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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 CE
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.
Mileage: 85,000
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.
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
Mileage: 75,000
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.
Mileage: 85,000
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
Mileage: 59,921
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.
Mileage: 46,000
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.
Mileage: 62,250
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.
Mileage: 62,250
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
Mileage: 95,000
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
Mileage: 34,000
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
Mileage: 76,554
BRAKE LINES ROTTED ON WAY TO GARAGE . *TR
Mileage: 13,000
UPON TRYING TO STOP, WHEN ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKES FADE AND PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. *TT
PARTS OF THE CLUSTER, TACHOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, OIL PRESSURE, AMP GAUGE HAVE FAILED ONE AFTER THE OTHER. ALTHOUGH 04 MODEL WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL, THE SAME EXACT CLUSTER WAS USED IN THE 05 GMC AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SEVERAL GMC OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. *KB
Mileage: 40,000
PARTS OF THE CLUSTER, TACHOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, OIL PRESSURE, AMP GAUGE HAVE FAILED ONE AFTER THE OTHER. ALTHOUGH 04 MODEL WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL, THE SAME EXACT CLUSTER WAS USED IN THE 05 GMC AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SEVERAL GMC OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. *KB
Mileage: 40,000
STEERING HYDRULIC ASSIST CONNECTIONS AT BOOSTER CONSTANTLY LEAK FROM DAY ONE. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND STILL LEAK. WHICH IN TURN CAUSE A DECREASE IN BRAKE PRESSURE. *TR
Mileage: 88,000
STEERING HYDRULIC ASSIST CONNECTIONS AT BOOSTER CONSTANTLY LEAK FROM DAY ONE. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND STILL LEAK. WHICH IN TURN CAUSE A DECREASE IN BRAKE PRESSURE. *TR
Mileage: 88,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER AND DEFROST FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES, THE HEATER WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WASNT CORRECTED. THE DEALERSHIP WASN'T ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WASN'T REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
Mileage: 38,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 3500. WHILE BRAKING FROM SPEEDS OF 10 MPH, THE PEDAL FELL INTO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE FURTHER INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,198.
Mileage: 500
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 GMC 3500 TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE HIS HOME WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. WHILE INSIDE THE HOME, HE HEARD AN UNUSUALLY LOUD EXPLOSION. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED ACCORDINGLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD FURTHER INVESTIGATE FAILURE AND HAVE FAILED TO DO SO. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL DESCRIBING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE BUT WAS UNAWARE IF HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. ACCORDING TO THE FIRE REPORT, THE FIRE WAS MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK IN THE LEFT FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT THE POWER STEERING FLUID LINES OR LINE CONNECTION. UPDATED 05/17/10. *JB
Mileage: 30,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.