GMC SIERRA DENALI · model year

2005 GMC SIERRA DENALI

5 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005GMCSIERRA DENALI carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 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 DENALI is service brakes with 3 filings, followed by steering (1) and electrical system (1). 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 2 active recall campaigns, 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 DENALI. 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.

5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

5 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES3
STEERING1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1

Recalls (2)

05V12700031/03/2005

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS" THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCATION AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING CHILD RESTRAINTS. THE OWNER MANUAL IN THESE VEHICLES INDICATE THE INCORRECT

06E04300019/05/2006

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

Recent Complaints

20141005SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES GOING DOWN HILL, PUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOOR AND DIN'T HAVE ANY BRAKES. BRAKE LINE ROTTED. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

20131128ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FIRST THE FUEL GAUGE WAS ERRATIC THEN FAILED, THEN THE SPEEDOMETER PEGGED AND IS FAILING TO SHOW EVEN CLOSE TO TRUE SPEED AS IN SHOWING 100+MPH IN AN ACTUAL +/-35MPH RANGE. CIRCUMSTANCES MATCH DESCRIPTION OF COMMON PROBLEMS WITH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURES ON THAT MAKE AND MODEL. *TR

Mileage: 112,230

20131106STEERING

WHEN OPERATING AT LOW SPEEDS,I WOULD TURN THE WHEEL TO LEFT AND STEERING FELT SLUGGISH,FELT LIKE A RUBBING AND FEELS LIKE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. BROUGHT TO LOCAL GARAGE, THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM BUT HAD SOLUTIONS. THEY CHECKED POWER STEERING PUMP, BRAKE SENSORS, SERPENTINE BELT, FLUIDS...ALL CHECKED OUT FINE. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20131106SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN OPERATING AT LOW SPEEDS,I WOULD TURN THE WHEEL TO LEFT AND STEERING FELT SLUGGISH,FELT LIKE A RUBBING AND FEELS LIKE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. BROUGHT TO LOCAL GARAGE, THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM BUT HAD SOLUTIONS. THEY CHECKED POWER STEERING PUMP, BRAKE SENSORS, SERPENTINE BELT, FLUIDS...ALL CHECKED OUT FINE. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20130318SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL BECAME SPONGY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINE WAS ALSO FRACTURED AND CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, WHO RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,800.

Mileage: 49,800

Compare 2005GMCSIERRA DENALI to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 GMC SIERRA DENALI have?
The 2005 GMC SIERRA DENALI has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 GMC SIERRA DENALI?
Yes, the 2005 GMC SIERRA DENALI has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 GMC SIERRA DENALI?
The most-complained component for the 2005 GMC SIERRA DENALI is SERVICE BRAKES with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2005 GMC SIERRA DENALI safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.