2005 GMC Sierra: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2005 GMC Sierra: 9 recalls, 117 owner complaints and up to 17 mpg combined.
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Recalls
9 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #04V376000 · 2004 · 1,103 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks equipped with 5.3l (rpo l59) v8 engines, the engine fuel rail crossover tube retainer screws were not manufactured to specifications and May break.
Why it matters: If the tube retainer screw breaks, fuel could leak from the fuel rail crossover joint, the engine May stall and, if an ignition source were present, an engine compartment fire could occur.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel rail crossover tube and, if necessary, replace the retainer screws. Owners were notified by telephone on July 30, 2004, with a followup owner letter began August 5, 2004. Owners should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.
Steering Vehicle recall #05V018000 · 2005 · 3,344 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain trucks, the bolt that attaches the intermediate steering shaft to the steering gear May not meet specification. The bolt May fracture resulting in the loss of steering.
Why it matters: If this happens while the vehicle is moving, a crash could occur without prior warning.
The fix: Dealers will replace the intermediate steering shaft bolt free of charge. The recall began on January 24, 2005.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #05V043000 · 2005 · 77,411 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans equipped with bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies, the hydraulic brake booster pressure accumulator May crack and separate from the hydro-boost assembly during normal operating conditions.
Why it matters: If a separation occurred and the hood of the vehicle were open, fragments from the accumulator could cause injury to people in the immediate area. The presence of this crack or fractured surface could allow the hydraulic fluid to leak from the accumulator circuit of the booster assembly. The loss…
The fix: Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two-function valve. If the hydro-boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge. The recall began on March 23, 2005.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #05V055000 · 2005 · 7,194 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect." under certain vehicle starting conditions, the shift lever position indicator located in the instrument panel cluster May not illuminate. If the shift lever position…
Why it matters: The vehicle May move in an unintended direction resulting in possible injury to others outside of the vehicle.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2005.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #05V163000 · 2005 · 1,359,824 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing May make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips of occupants, especially smaller occupants, seated in this position. Appropriate use of a child seat or booster seat, as recommended for small children, does improve the fit condition for this user group. In addition to…
Why it matters: A lap portion of the seat belt routing that is not low and snug on the hips can allow the lap belt to ride up on an occupant's abdomen instead of fitting low around their hipbones, and therefore, can expose them to more risk of abdominal and internal organ injury.
The fix: Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2005.
Parking brake Vehicle recall #05V161000 · 2005 · 90,242 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions and built with either pbr parking brake systems or trw parking brake systems, the parking brake friction linings May wear to an extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle.
Why it matters: If the parking brake does not hold, unintended vehicle movement could occur, which could result in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with a pbr parking brake system. On vehicles equipped with the trw parking brake system, dealers will install a redesigned parking brake cable assembly. The recall began on July 29, 2005.
Steering Vehicle recall #05V455000 · 2005 · 123,592 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: 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.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #06V289000 · 2006 · 38,439 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the damper comes loose, a fuel leak May result. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the engine fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2006.
Airbags Vehicle recall #06V417000 · 2006 · 794 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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…
2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Equipment Equipment recall #07E066000 · 2007 · 175 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain cequent 90 degree 7-way right angle adaptors sold by distributors in tow packages for aftermarket sales to tow 5th wheel rv travel trailers. Due to incorrect wiring of the harness, the trailer lights May not operate properly.
Why it matters: If the trailer lights are not working properly, a vehicle crash can occur.
The fix: All of the defective tow packages are still at the distributor level and have not been sold to any consumers.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #09E025000 · 2009 · 42,540 vehicles
What's wrong: Dope, Inc. is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Why it matters: Decreased lighting visibility May result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Dope, Inc. will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 3 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (27): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (12).
- Electrical (23): the most common themes are electrical failure (6), stalls / loses power (4), fire / smoke (3).
- Transmission & drivetrain (11): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (6), hard / delayed shifting (5), noise or vibration (4).
- Steering (11): the most common themes are steering problems (10), noise or vibration (5).
The 2005 GMC Sierra has 117 owner complaints, ranking #12 of 28 Sierra model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 140). Complaints peaked in 2014 (26 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 60,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2004 (188 complaints, 7 recalls), 2006 (53 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 L 8-cyl hybrid | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 19 | 17 | Regular |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl hybrid | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 | 18 | 16 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2005 GMC Sierra.
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FAQ
Does the 2005 GMC Sierra have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recalls for the 2005 GMC Sierra, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2005 GMC Sierra problems?
Owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (27), electrical (23), transmission & drivetrain (11).
What gas mileage does the 2005 GMC Sierra get?
EPA ratings run up to 17 mpg combined (5.3 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2005 GMC Sierra repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.