2005 GMC Sierra 3500 problems
NHTSA has received 29 complaints about the 2005 GMC Sierra 3500, and 34% of them involve brakes. After that come steering (21%) and electrical system (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 29 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 35% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 46,000 miles 27 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 6 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 6 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 5 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 27 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 46,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a fire.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 9th most-complained-about out of 15 model years of the GMC Sierra 3500 with enough data (18 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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.
I have a GMC pickup truck with a diesel engine that has a chronic overheating issue. I am not the only one with such an issue, as there are literally hundreds, maybe even thousands with this problem. This issue is exclusive to GM diesel pickups with the 6.6 liter duramax diesel engine model year 2004.5 and 2005. I have had my truck for only 2 months and am taking it to the dealer for the second time. I have read that GM has had to buy back several of these vehicles.
GMC 3500 crew cab dually with the 6.6 duramax diesel and allison automatic can to perform its designed job with out over heating. Truck is rated for 23,500 gcwr and a 16000 towing capacity. However it struggles to pull 7000 pounds and engine temperature got over 230, and transmission temperature over 210. The cooling fan struggles to control the heat and runs constantly, the noise is unbearable.
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.