RoadVitals

2005 GMC Sierra 1500 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Dec 11, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 177 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 14 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.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Dec 11, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

COMPLAINT ON GM EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT DEFECT, INFERIOR BRAKE/ FUEL LINES. MINE IS A 2005 GMC. DEFECTIVE EXHAUST BOLTS AFFECT 12 MILLION GM TRUCKS FROM 1999 TO 2007. GM EXHAUST BOLTS ARE TO SMALL BRITTLE FOR SECURING EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. BOLTS SNAP OFF CAUSING EXHAUST LEAKS. TRUCKS NOT PASSING EMISSIONS AND DANGEROUS EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE DRIVERS COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLES WHILE DRIVING. I AND MY FAMILY GET A CARBON MONOXIDE HEADACHE WHEN I DRIVE IT AND HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FEELING LIKE I WAS GOING TO PASS OUT, OPEN WINDOWS AND SIT UNTIL I FELT BETTER. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS GETTING MY TRUCK TO PASS EMISSIONS DUE TO THE LEAKS AND THE LEAKS ARE CAUSING THE VEHICLES TO BE NONE EPA COMPLIANT BECAUSE OF O2 SENSOR ERRORS RESULTING IN FAILED EMISSION TEST. ALSO BRAKE AND FUEL LINES ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR NORTHERN STATES CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE WITH OUT WARNING, FUEL LINES ARE ALL RUSTED AND SWELLED IN DANGER OF BURSTING CAUSING FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. FORD AND OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE WORKED ON USE STAINLESS FUEL LINES AND LOOK LIKE NEW FOR LIFE OF VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN OTHER MANUFACTURERS USE POWDER COATED BRAKE LINES ON THE ENTIRE VEHICLE AND 20 YEAR OLD VEHILCES SHOW NO RUST PROBLEMS. MY 2005 GMC FROM THE REAR END BRAKE HOSE TO THE WHEEL CYLINDERS THEY USED POWDER COATED BRAKE LINES. THOSE LINES LOOK LIKE NEW YET. GM KNEW THE POWDER COATED LINES WERE BETTER WHY DID THEY USE FAULTY GALVANIZED STEEL ON THE REST OF THE TRUCK? AS IT IS NOW MY TRUCK CAN'T BE OPERATED ON THE ROAD WITHOUT $3000 IN REPAIRS DUE TO GM USING POOR QUALITY PARTS. THE TRUCK HAS HAD THESE PROBLEMS FOR OVER 5 YEARS NOW AND ONLY HAS 138,000 MILES. TRUCKS LIKE THIS IN SOUTHERN STATES HAVE OVER 250,000 MILES, LINES STILL GOOD. RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE. GM IS MAKING MONEY NOW YOU TUBE VIDEO ABOUT DEFECTIVE BOLTS HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=0YG6WLBNZGI *JS

NHTSA ID
11053960
Incident
Dec 30, 2012
Mileage
117,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 2, 2016

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ON EACH SIDE OF ENGIN SNAPPED OFF FOR NO APPEARANT REASON / NORMAL USE, BIG CONCERN OF EXAUST FUMES ENTERING THE CAB

NHTSA ID
10923891
Incident
Oct 26, 2016
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 10, 2016

CASTECH CYLINDER HEADS ON 2001 THROUGH 2006 5.3L VORTEC ENGINES ARE POROUS AND ALLOW ANTIFREEZE TO SEAP INTO THE OIL. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT CAN DESTROY THE ENGINE (OIL DOESN'T LUBRICATE CORRECTLY, SLUDGE BUILDUP) AND LEAVE SOMEONE, AT THE LEAST, STRANDED, AT THE WORST, IT CAN CAUSE A HUGE ENGINE FIRE. GM HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS SINCE 2007. THEY ISSUED A BULLETIN DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX, BUT NO RECALL. TO FIX EITHER THE CYLINDER HEADS NEED TO BE REPLACED ($2500) OR THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ($5500). MY VEHICLE IS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500 SLE. ALSO THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY A LICENSED MECHANIC. THE FOLLOWING IS A LINK TO THE GM ISSUED BULLETIN. HTTP://WW2.JUSTANSWER.COM/UPLOADS/BLUEGORILLA/2008-12-05_142924_COOLANT_LOSS_5.3.PDF

NHTSA ID
10894924
Incident
Aug 9, 2016
Mileage
157,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 11, 2016

CONCERNING GM 706 CASTECH CYLINDER HEADS/GM TSB 06-06-01-019B I HAVE A 2005 GMC SIERRA WHICH HAS SLOWLY BEEN LEAKING COOLANT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT I HAVE A 706 CASTECH CYLINDER HEAD THAT IS NOTORIOUS FOR CRACKING AND LEAKING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS COOLANT INSIDE MY OIL AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENGINE. AS I HAVE BEGUN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I REALIZE THESE CYLINDER HEADS AFFECT MILLIONS OF GM VEHICLES AND LOYAL CUSTOMERS. GM HAS ISSUED A TSB AND ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AT HAND AND IN MY, AND MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALLED ITEM. I AM CALLING ON GM TO FIX THIS ISSUE/MISTAKE.

NHTSA ID
10864326
Incident
Nov 4, 2015
Mileage
107,500 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 28, 2015

ENGINE OIL LEAK ON OR AROUND REAR MAIN SEAL. AS OIL DRIPS WHILE DRIVING THE OIL LANDS ON THE EXHAUST PIPE AND BEGINS TO BURN. THIS LEAK LANDING ON THE EXHAUST WHILE HOT CAN CATCH ON FIRE.

NHTSA ID
10786590
Incident
Oct 26, 2015
Mileage
130,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 6, 2012

I FOUND 2 BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ON MY 2005 SIERRA (70, 717 MILES), 1 ON EACH SIDE, 1 WAS ACTUALLY MISSING & THE OTHER WAS JUST HANGING THERE, I THEN WENT TO CHECK MY WIFE'S VEHICLE, A 2003 CHEVY TAHOE ( 90,420 MILES) & THAT ALSO HAS 2 MISSING , 1 FROM EITHER SIDE, YOU CANT IMAGINE HOW SICK I AM AT THIS POINT, BOTH OUR VEHICLES ARE IN NEED OF MAJOR REPAIRS, PLEASE TELL ME THAT GENERAL MOTORS WILL NEED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES & MAKE THE NEEDED REPAIRS, SICK TO MY STOMACH & CASH STRAPPED, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10469452
Incident
Aug 6, 2012
Engine
Filed Jan 17, 2011

2005 GMC SIERRA TRUCK WITH 5.3L MOTOR. EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10376955
Incident
Jan 2, 2011
Mileage
78,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 12, 2008

GMC PICKUP DEVELOPED COOLANT LOSS. TOOK IN AND FOUND THAT HEAD HAD CRACKED. SERVICE BULLETIN REVEALED 50% OF HEADS FOR THAT YEAR CAME FROM ONE MANUFACTURER AND HAD BEEN PRONE TO CRACKING. DISCOVERED MINE INDEED HAD THE SUSPECT HEAD AND DID HAVE THE CRACK AS DESCRIBED. WHY DIDN'T GMC ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE AND SAVE ME $4,000? *TR

NHTSA ID
10251636
Incident
Oct 18, 2008
Mileage
85,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 6, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COAST. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. SHE SHIFTED THE GEAR FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. LATER THAT WEEK, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 55 MPH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. WHILE DRIVING TO HER PLACE OF BUSINESS, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 100-120 MPH. LATER THAT DAY, THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING IT BACK FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,300. UPDATED 2/2/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME STUCK AT 47 MPH AT STARTUP. THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID NOT KNOW HOW FAST HE WAS DRIVING, SINCE THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 02/04/09. *JB

NHTSA ID
10247867
Incident
Nov 4, 2008
Mileage
72,300 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 10, 2008

PURCHASED A USED 2005 GMC SIERRA FROM A GM DEALERSHIP. TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BLOWN HEAD. AFTER DOING MY DUE DILIGENCE, I WAS MADE AWARE THAT GM HAS HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD CASTING MANUFACTURE OF MY PARTICULAR TRUCK. I AM HAVING IT REPAIRED AT A GM DEALERSHIP AND HAVE ASKED GM TO ASSIST ME IN ANYWAY WITH THE COSTLY REPAIR, SINCE IT IS ONLY A 2005. THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO WORK WITH ME IN THE LEAST. THE GM MECHANIC EVEN STATED THAT THESE PARTICULAR HEADS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR CRACKING AND GM IS AWARE OF THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10224109
Incident
Apr 9, 2008
Mileage
94,000 mi
EngineVisibility
Filed Feb 25, 2008
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RESISTOR MELTED THE GROUNDING WIRE AND CAUSED THE BLOWER MOTOR TO FAIL. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (060139002) FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR WOULD BE THE CONTACT'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,670 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,470.

NHTSA ID
10219100
Incident
Feb 18, 2008
Mileage
60,470 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 17, 2008
Fire reported

1. DRIVING ON INTERSTATE IN MY 2005 GMC SIERRA WITH MY MOTHER WHO NOTICES SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE AIR VENTS. IT WAS NOT SAFE TO OTHER VEHICLES TO PULL OVER FOR ABOUT .5 TO 1 MILE AT WHICH POINT IT WAS ALL WE COULD TO EVACUATE THE TRUCK AS IT WAS GOING UP IN FLAMES. 2. GM'S THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR ESIS DENIED MY CLAIM WITHOUT EVEN CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION. I DID RECEIVE A LETTER FROM ESIS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT SUBMITTING A FORMAL CLAIM AGAINST GM. I NEITHER HAVE NOR CAN AFFORD AN ATTORNEY TO ASSIST ME WITH THIS DOCUMENTATION. I LOST MANY PERSONAL ITEMS INCLUDING CASH, MY WALLET, PHONE, AND TOOLS. I AM A CONTRACTOR AND HAVE MISSED MANY WEEKS FROM WORK AND HAD TO FORFEIT WORK BECAUSE I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD A RENTAL TRUCK. THIS INCIDENT HAS CAUSED ME MANY PROBLEMS AND EMBARRASSMENT BOTH FINANCIALLY AND PERSONALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10218405
Incident
Nov 1, 2007
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 26, 2007

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE DIES. WE CAN'T STEER, WE CAN'T START THE TRUCK, WE CAN'T MOVE IT. WE ARE STUCK FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES, WITH NO ANSWERS. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG, BUT THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10210003
Incident
Sep 1, 2007
Mileage
43,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 10, 2007
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS AFTER IT WAS PARKED. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 54,000.

NHTSA ID
10202364
Incident
Sep 7, 2007
Mileage
54,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .