YearToAvoid

2005 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

15/100

#18 most-complained of 21 Sierra 1500 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 has 298 owner complaints and 10 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 15 out of 100 — #18 highest of 21 Sierra 1500 model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is electrical system (95 complaints, 32% of the total). Complaints report 7 crashes, 11 fires, and 8 injuries.

Complaints
298
Recalls
10
Crashes / fires
7 / 11
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15.5
14 city / 18 hwy

Top 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System95 (32%)
  2. Brakes92 (31%)
  3. Engine40 (13%)
  4. Steering30 (10%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires22 (7%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain22 (7%)
  7. Airbags20 (7%)
  8. Structure & Body14 (5%)
  9. Other11 (4%)
  10. Fuel System10 (3%)
2005 GMC Sierra 1500 complaints: complaints filed per quarter152004 Q42006 Q42008 Q42010 Q42012 Q42014 Q42016 Q42019 Q3
364 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2004 Q4 to 2025 Q3; peak 2014 Q2 (15).

2005 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls

10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 06V417000Oct 31, 2006Airbags794 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Certain vehicles originally built with cloth seats that were equipped with an automatic air bag passenger sensing system and later reupholstered with aftermarket leather seat cover kits are involved. Testing has indicated that the aftermarket leather seat covers can cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction.

    Risk: If the passenger sensing system malfunctions, the front air bag on the passenger side may be disabled when it should be enabled, or enabled when it should be disabled. In either case, in the event of a crash that requires air bag deployment, a front passenger's level of injury may be increased.

    Remedy: Because a replacement leather seat cover that is compatible with the passenger sensing system is not available, general motors (gm) will repurchase these vehicles in accordance with the terms stated in gm's letter to owners. The recall began on november 6, 2006. Owners should contact gm at 1-877-477-1022 to begin the process of repurchasing their vehicle.

  2. NHTSA 06V289000Aug 3, 2006Engine38,439 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    On certain trucks equipped with an 8.1l v8 (rpo l8-VIN g) engine have a condition in which the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip may fracture resulting in inadequate retention of the damper.

    Risk: If the damper comes loose, a fuel leak may result. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip free of charge. The recall began on august 31, 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and gmc trucks at 1-866-996-9463.

  3. NHTSA 05V455000Oct 5, 2005Steering123,592 vehicles

    Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections

    Certain passenger vehicles may have been built with a power steering hose that is not to specification. Under extreme steering maneuvers, such as turning the steering wheel fully to the left or right while braking, the hose may fracture and leak fluid.

    Risk: If this were to occur, power steering assist would be lost and increased steering effort would be required. On vehicles equipped with hydro-boost power brakes, it could also result in loss of power brake assist and increased braking effort would be required. If the power steering fluid spray were to spray onto hot engine parts, an engine compartment fire could occur.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the power steering hose(s) for two suspect date codes and replace them if required. The recall will begin on october 14, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, isuzu at 1-800-255-6727, or hummer at 1-800-732-5493.

See all 10 recalls for the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 →

2005 GMC Sierra 1500 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
18 MPG
Combined
15.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,175
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Sierra 1500 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Caution152981015.5
2006Good5203415
2007Good253224—

All GMC Sierra 1500 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 ranks #18 of 21 among Sierra 1500 model years (Complaint Index 15/100, verdict: Caution). It has 298 complaints and 10 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (95 complaints), brakes (92 complaints), and engine (40 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 66,000 miles.
Does the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500, most recently reported 2006, covering airbags, engine, steering, and brakes.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500?
EPA rates the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 at 15.5 MPG combined (14 city / 18 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,175. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.