RoadVitals

2005 GMC C5500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Nov 5, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Jan 7, 2008
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 GMC C5500, most frequently naming the engine and steering categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 113 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine266.7%
  • Steering133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
08E004000

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Jan 7, 2008
250 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN INTERMOTIVE WHEELCHAIR LIFT INTERLOCK, P/NO. ILIS605-H3 ILIS ACTIVATION KIT (INTERLOCK OPTION FOR GATEWAY 401) SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET FOR 2005 - 2008 CHEVY 560 (C4500 AND C5500 KODIAK) 6.6L DIESEL VEHICLES WHICH A PROTECTION DIODE WAS USED. THE DIODE CAN BE EXPOSED TO VOLTAGE SPIKES GREATER THAN WHAT IT CAN WITHSTAND. THE DIODE COULD FAIL, WHICH COULD PREVENT VEHICLE INTERLOCK OPERATION WHEN A WHEELCHAIR LIFT IS DEPLOYED.
The risk: SHOULD THE DIODE FAIL, IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE WHEELCHAIR DEPLOYED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO ANYONE USING THE LIFT.
The remedy: INTERMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT INTERMOTIVE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-969-6080. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET INTERMOTIVE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON CHEVRLOT AND GMC VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS.
INTERMOTIVE VEHICLE CONTROLSManufacturer number ONP2007-02View on NHTSA.gov
07E086000

SUSPENSION

Oct 16, 2007
367 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN LINK ULTRARIDE REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS, MODEL 8M000070, SOLD FOR INSTALLATION AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT ON GM CHASSIS MODELS 4500 AND 5500, AMBULANCES AND SHUTTLE BUSES. THE AXLE SIDE LATERAL CONTROL BRACKET OF THE SUSPENSION HAS CRACKED IN SOME CASES.
The risk: IF THE LATERAL CONTROL ROD BRACKET FRACTURES, THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE WILL BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED, INCLUDING POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
The remedy: LINK WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE REPAIR KITS FREE OF CHARGE AND WILL REIMBURSE FOR LABOR AND INSPECTION COSTS. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 7, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT LINK TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-222-6283.
LINK MANUFACTURING, LTDView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Steering
Filed Nov 5, 2018

GM HAD A RECALL IN 2007 FOR MEDIUM SIZE TRUCK FOR STEERING BOX PROBLEM FOR STEERING WHEEL BEING OUT OF CENTER AND NOISE OR HARD SPOTS IN STEERING. THE RECALL NO. IS 07220. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK APPX 2 YRS AGO NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE RECALL UNTIL A FRIEND SUGGESTED DOING SOME RESEARCH. VIN NUMBERS AFFECTED BY RECALL IN 2005 WERE [XXX]. MINE BEING [XXX] CLEARLY FALLS WITHIN THE RANGE. IT SAYS IF STEERING BOX NUMBER IS EARLIER THAN BUILD DATE IT HAS BEEN FIXED OR BUILD DATE IS AFTER SOME TIME IN 2007 THEY ARE OKAY.. MY TRUCK ONLY HAD 13,000 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND NOW HAS 20,000. IT SAYS IF MANUFACTURING DATE IS SAME AS TRUCK BUILD DATE IT HASN'T BEEN FIXED. THE STEERING BOX AND THE TRUCK HAVE THE SAME BUILD DATE APRIL 2005. (0405) I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND SINCE THE VIN CHECK COMES BACK CLEAN THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO. I EVEN HAD A PARTS GUY AT GM DEALER TELL ME THAT A CLEAN VIN CHECK ISN'T ABNORMAL IF THE RECALL IS OLDER. IT SAYS IN THE RECALL THE BOX COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF NOT FIXED. ANY HELP YOU COULD DO FOR WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11145332
Incident
Nov 5, 2018
Engine
Filed Sep 18, 2008

I PURCHASED THREE C-5500 TRUCKS. AS OF NOW I HAVE TWO TRUCKS WITH FAILED ENGINES DUE TO PREVIOUS INJECTOR FAILURE. I AM CURRENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY BUT NOT BEFORE I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS MAKING MORE NOISE THAN NORMAL. I WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD TO BE BROKEN BEFORE IT COULD BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THAT WAS 60,000 MILES AGO. WHICH SHOULD NOT BE MAJOR MILEAGE FOR A DIESEL ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10242793
Incident
Sep 12, 2008
Mileage
165,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 18, 2008

I OWN 3 CHEVORLET C-5500 TRUCKS. TWO OUT OF THE THREE HAVE HAD INJECTOR FAILURE. AFTER THE INJECTOR FAILURE THE TRUCKS ENGINE SEEM TO BE NOISIER. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE NOISE AND WAS TOLD IT HAS TO BE BROKEN BEFORE REPAIRSCAN BE PERFORMED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAVE TWO TRUCKS WITH MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO THE PREVIOUS INJECTOR FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10242791
Incident
Sep 14, 2008
Mileage
165,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

03-06-01-023I

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

03-06-01-023H

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC C5500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2009010—
2008120—
2007130—
2006141—
2005Viewing320—
2004000—
2003200—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.