Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 66 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 66, in the owner's own words
Instrument panel stops working from time to time. My Guages go crazy. My rpm and speedometer mess up and can't tell how fast I'm going. This has been going on for a few years now. My airbag sensor light is on and was In a light wreck few months ago. Hit pretty hard on front end of truck and yet neither one of my airbags deployed.
STARTED MY TRUCK AND THE FAILURE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAME ACROSS I PUSHED IN THE BOTTON THAT CHANGES IT AND CAME BACK ON THEN IT SAID TIGHTEN FUEL CAP WASHER FLUID LOW I HIT THE BUTTON AGAIN IT WENT OF BUT BATTERY LIGHT STAYED ON AND GAUGE READ ABOUT 10 VOLTS.MY TRUCK RAN FINE AND STARTED WHEN I GOT TO MY FIRST THEN AT THE SECOND STOP IT SAID THE SAME , I PUT IN REVERSE BACKED OUT PUT IT DRIVE AND THE CLUSTER QUICK WORKING THE AC QUIT YOU COULD ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN NOR DID THE LOCKS WORK AND IT DID NOT ANY POWER WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE GAS PED2 TO COME UP A HILL IT FELT LIKE IT SHIFTED WHEN YOU LET OFF THE PEDAL YOU COULD FEEL JERK, GO HOME TURNED IT AND WOULD NOT START OR MAKE ANY SOUND NOT EVEN THE CLICKING ON THE STARTER, SO I LEFT HOME AND CAME BACK ABOUT 4 HOURS LATER AND IT STARTED BUT THE VOLT READ ABOUT 10 VOLTS. I HAD THE BATTERY TESTED AND IT TEST GOOD. THIS WAS ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 I HAVE PUT THE BATTERY BACK IN YET.
THE PASSIVE ALARM SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING APROX EVERY 10 CRANKS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU ARE STUCK FOR AT LEAST A HOUR BEFORE IT WILL START. DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND A COMPLAINT WAS MADE TO GMC COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT I HAVE CHANGED NUMEROUS PARTS M SWITCHES AND BOXES ,
CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE MESSAGE KEEPS COMING UP ON VEHICLE...REPLACED ALTERNATOR THREE WEEKS AGO AND IT SEEMS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM...FOR A WHILE AT LEAST...TWO NIGHTS AGO TRUCK DIED...REPLACED BATTERY WITH A BRAND NEW ONE YESTERDAY AND TRUCK IS STILL SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS BATTERY IS NOT GETTING CHARGE FROM ALTERNATOR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT NOTICED SEVERE RUST TO THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION, FRONT SUSPENSION, AND STARTER SUPPORT SHOWED EXCESSIVE RUST. ADDITIONALLY, THE SHOCK TOWER, SUPPORTS, TRANSMISSION BOLTS, FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATOR, AND HARDWARE ALSO SHOWED EXCESSIVE RUST. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HORN ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. BECKLEY AUTO MALL (3934 ROBERT C BYRD DR, BECKLEY, WV 25801, (304) 252-3300) STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR SEVERAL FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE RUST ISSUE WAS NOT ADDRESSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. *BF UPDATED 9/18/18*JB
THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHT HAS GONE FROM DIM TO NO LIGHT AT ALL SO YOU CAN NOT SEE WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN. THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO GEAR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS BARELY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO MEMORIZE IN WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. UPDATED 06/15/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE LED SHIFT INDICATOR DISPLAY HAD FADED, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. UPDATED 06/22/16.*JB
THE RUNNING LIGHT SOCKETS BURNED OUT. I CAN SEND YOU THE BURNED OUT SOCKET BUT NEED AN ADDRESS.
MY SPEEDOMETER FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. I WAS DRIVING TO FLORIDA FROM VIRGINIA AND MY SPEEDOMETER FAILED ON INTERSTATE 95. I WAS SUMMARILY ARRESTED IN SUMMERTON, GEORGIA FOR SPEEDING. IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR SPEED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON AND OFF INDEPENDENTLY, THE SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES SHOWED INACCURATE READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ELECTRICAL FAILURES ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
IGNITION SWITCH IS STICKING IN RUN POSITION. I HAVE TO TURN THE SWITCH BACK AFTER CRANKING TO TURN OFF THE ABS /PARKING BRAKE LIGHT. TRIED A NEW SWITCH DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IS THIS PART OF THE RECALL PROBLEM. *TR
NOVEMBER 5, 2014: TURN KEY AND SYMPTOM OF A DEAD BATTERY. STARTER CLICKS ONCE. NO LIGHTS WILL WORK AT ALL. TOOK BATTERY OUT, CHARGED IT OVERNIGHT, AND HAD IT TESTED. TEST REVEALS BATTERY IS GOOD (SHOULD START VEHICLE) BUT WEAK (NEEDS A CHARGE). PUT BATTERY BACK IN, CONNECTED IT, PUT KEY IN, TURNED IT, AND VEHICLE STARTED EASILY. ............. NOV. 15, 2014: TURN KEY BUT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY DEAD. THEN, TAKE KEY OUT FOR FIVE MINUTES, PUT BACK IN, AND STARTS RIGHT UP LIKE NOTHING WRONG. *TR
THE DRIVE INDICATOR ON MY DASH BOARD CLUSTER DOES NOT LIGHT UP AND SHOW WHAT GEAR IM IN. CALLED BEFORE BECAUSE THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF TRUCK BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL BUT I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
THE REAR SPEAKERS ON MY 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500 CREW CAB QUIT WORKING AND HAVEN'T CAME BACK ON. I HAVE BEEN TO DIFFERENT FORUMS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE. *TR
SPEEDOMETER SHOWS INCORRECT SPEED BY APROX. 20 MPH LESS THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED AT TIMES. *TR
SPEEDOMETER READING ERRATICALLY. 20MPH WHEN PARKED, SOMETIMES 40 WHEN PARKED. UNABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL SPEED. APPARENTLY THIS IS AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF GM VEHICLES AND GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MAYBE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS IN ORDER? A SILENT RECALL IS IN PLACE IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN 80K MILES, IF YOUR VEHICLE FALLS WITHIN THE RANGE OF VIN #'S, IF IT HAPPENED ON A DAY THAT DOESN'T END IN Y. GM NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. ESPECIALLY IF THEY KNOW ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
I BOUGHT MY GMC USED IN 2008 AND I HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL A JUNE OF 2012 WHEN MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO GET MY SPEED TOTALLY WRONG. AT TIMES IT WOULD SAY I WAS DRIVING OVER 120 MPH OR WHEN IN IDLE IT WOULD EVEN SAY THE SAME THING. THE SPEEDOMETER PICKS A DIFFERENT SPEED DAILY. JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO IN JULY OF 2012 MY GAS GAUGE WENT COMPLETELY OUT SO I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH GAS IT LEFT IN MY TRUCK. I HAVE TO GUESS BY MILEAGE NOW IN HOPES THAT MY ELECTRICAL DOESN'T GO COMPLETELY OUT NOW. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT PROVIDING A READING. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,200.
GAUGE CLUSTER FOR MY 2005 GMC SIERRA IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SPEEDOMETER, ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE & TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE GAUGES STICK, FLUTTER, OR BECOME INOPERATIVE CAUSING INACCURATE READINGS. *TR
ODI #10403836, 2005 GMC 1500 SIERRA, VIN#, COMPLETE FAILURE OF DASH INSTRUMENTS, STARTED WITH THE OIL GAUGE, THEN THE RPM INDICATOR, NOW THE SPEEDOMETER, RUNS UP TO 120 MPH SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK ONLY GOING AT UNKNOWN, UNSAFE SPEED WHICH I CAN ONLY ASSUME TO BE THE LEGAL LIMIT OF 70 MPH, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A MONETARY LOSS FOR ACCIDENTS AND OR SPEEDING TICKETS. IN ADDITION THE INSTRUMENT LIGHT FOR THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WORK AND YOU CAN NOT TELL WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN ANOTHER POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ON TOP OF THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON REPEATEDLY CAUSING MINOR REPAIR COSTS EACH TIME IT OCCURS. THERE HAS TO BE CUSTOMER RECOURSE, WHEN THIS ORIGINALLY STARTED THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT NOT TO WORRY AS SOON A RECALL WOULD BE ISSUED AS IT HAD FOR THE PRIOR YEARS, AS YET NO OFFICIAL RECALL OTHER THAN THE TRANSMISSION PANEL LIGHT FAILURE WHICH CURRENTLY COVERS 7,194 VEHICLES BUT GMC STATES THAT MINE IS NOT COVERED? ONE WONDERS WHY WHEN THEY SAY QUALITY IT IS A JAPANESE AUTO! IF INDEED ALL OF THE CONSUMERS WITH A COMPLAINT FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM WOULD GATHER UNDER A LEGAL ACTION, I AM SURE THAT GMC WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY AND REPAIR AND SOME POINT IN TIME. I HAVE OWNED GMC AUTOS AND TRUCKS ALL OF MY LIFE, I CURRENTLY HAVE A 77 CHEV. PICK UP THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL STILL WORKS, I HAVE A 1995 GMC SIERRA THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STILL WORKS, I HAVE LEFT INSTRUCTIONS WITH MY FAMILY THAT IF I AM IN A WRECK DUE TO EXCESSIVE SPEED AND OR MISTAKENLY PLACE THE VEHICLE IN THE WRONG GEAR AND BACK OVER A CLIFF THAT THEY ARE TO SUE GMC. MY NEXT ACTION IS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL FAILED AND THE GAUGES WERE NOT READING ACCURATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
TRUCK IS NOW 6 YEARS OLD, JUST OVER 70,000 MILES. 3 TO 4 YEARS AGO (MAYBE MORE) THE #5 SPEED ON THE AIR SYSTEM BLOWER STOPPED WORKING. PERHAPS LAST SUMMER OR FALL, I CHECKED THE FUSES: ALL GOOD. I FINALLY FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG TO THE FAN AND FOUND THE #5 LINE HAD MELTED INSULATION AND THE SURFACE OF THE CONTACT PRONGS BLACKENED. I SANDED THEM AND REINSTALLED THE PLUG. ALL SPEEDS WORKED, FOR A WHILE, BUT SOON BECAME INTERMITTENT. THEN ALL SPEEDS STOPPED WORKING TOTALLY. AT LAST, I REMEMBERED THAT I STILL HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH MASTERTECH, CHECKED IT AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE HARNESS REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE WORKMAN WHO DID THE REPAIR SAID THAT THIS ITEM WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 SIERRA. WHILE I DO NOW HAVE A WORKING FAN CONTROL, I AM AFRAID TO USE THE #5 FAN SPEED. *TR
SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK CORRECTLY, READING 60 MPH WHEN WE WERE TRAVELING APPROX 40. ALSO BULBS BURNED OUT IN IT MAKING IT UNREADABLE AT NIGHT. BULBS ARE NON-REPLACEABLE IN THIS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, SO YOU NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE CLUSTER TO FIX BULB ISSUE. POOR DESIGN, EXPENSIVE, AND ANNOYING PROBLEM AT ONLY 99,000 MILES. *TR
SPEEDOMETER FLUXUATE SPORADICALLY, WRONG SPEED SHOWING. TOOK TO DEALER, DIAGNOSIS AS COMPONENT FAILURE. GMC ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSE TO RECALL. DEALER WILL REPLACE ODOMETER IF LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER HAS STARTED ACTING ERRATICALLY ON MY 2005 GMC SIERRA WITH 70,000 MILES. IT WILL READ 20 TO 30 MPH LESS THAN ACTUAL SPEED. THIS HAPPENS ERRATICALLY SO I HAVE TO MONITOR THE TACH TO MAKE SURE I AM CLOSE TO THE POSTED SPEED, MAYBE. *TR
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.
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