The Lemon Index2005 GMC Sierra.
The 2005 GMC Sierra is better than average by owner complaints: 105 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 66, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 14 recalls, and it gets 11 to 17 mpg combined. The best GMC Sierra year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 448 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every GMC Sierra year. 2005 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 39K to 94K miles on the car (405 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 50K–89K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 53K–105K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 20K–111K miles
Recalls 14
- lights 2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- wheels 2007
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, …
- equipment 2007
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.
Show all 14 recalls
- airbags 2006
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.
- engine 2006
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.
- service brakes, air 2006
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL NATIONAL AND CARQUEST AFTERMARKET HUB ASSEMBLIES, P/N 515058, SOLD FOR USE ON 2001-2006 GENERAL MOTORS 1500 AND 2500 4WD TRUCKS.
- fuel system, gasoline 2006
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, 2…
- steering 2005
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A POWER STEERING HOSE THAT IS NOT TO SPECIFICATION.
- seat belts 2005
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, ESPECIALL…
- parking brake 2005
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 C…
- transmission & drivetrain 2005
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 TRA…
- brakes 2005
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 OPERA…
- steering 2005
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR MAY NOT MEET SPECIFICATION.
- fuel system, gasoline 2004
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems GMC told dealers about
GMC sent dealers 776 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Intermittent mil/ses/ dtc p2138 with reduced engine power (repair instrument panel (ip)
- Gm/hummer/saab: intermittent illumination of mil, service lamps, service messages, or dtc set…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side — · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3800–5850 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 4.3L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
At about 30,000 miles I noticed a clunking in my steering column. I have had the front end check everything is tight. I was told it is in the steering column.
2005 GMC Sierra owner · NHTSA complaint 10246474
More owner reports
Speedometer stopped working. Would manifest itself in a couple of ways. 1) it would show a steady speed of 25 mph regardless of my actual speed. 2) would show I am going as much as 50mph over my actual speed.
NHTSA complaint 10224472
The instrument cluster panel on my 2005 GMC Sierra pick up constantly reads the wrong speed. At times it registers 0 mph when im actually driving.
NHTSA complaint 10247619
Quick answers
Is the 2005 GMC Sierra reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 66; 100 is average, lower is better). The best GMC Sierra year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2005 GMC Sierra problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (25%), steering (24%) and engine (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2005 GMC Sierra have?
14 safety recalls (latest: lights). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2005 GMC Sierra get?
11 to 17 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2005 GMC Sierra problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 39,200 and 94,200 miles. The middle report was at 65,000 miles, from 405 complaints.
Does the 2005 GMC Sierra have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 13% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2005 GMC Sierra cost in fuel a year?
About $3800 to $5850 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2005 GMC Sierra have?
4.3L 6-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl, 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl.
What GMC Sierra year is better than the 2005?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2012 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works