Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 GMC Sierra 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated he replaced all the brake lines on the vehicle and also stated that the body frame of the vehicle was corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independence mechanic where all the corroded brake lines were replace. The vehicle was not diagnosed. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
Taking vehicle out of park brake pedal went all way to floor because steel line ruptured causing massive leakage of brake fluid, rolled out of drive way into street cutting wheel to avoid wreck before could get in neutral and roll to stop !
The 2005 GMC 2500hd FWD (well maintained and oiled to prevent corrosion) experienced a failure while towing my 24' pursuit fishing boat (7200 lbs.) home from sturgeon point marina to hamburg, ny 14075 (approximately 10 miles) with "minimal" stopping capability as the dot 3 brake fluid was being expelled. I had to feature the throttle to negotiate stopping senarios without issue. As of 8/20/12, this vehicle is with fuccillo Chevrolet, inc. (grand island, ny) for overhaul of entire braking system; including fuel lines. The certified technician suggested the entire brake lines system be replaced along with the fuel lines due to extreme corrosion. All this work is being performed since the excellent condition of the vehicle.the estimate for this work is approximately $2250 to replace all lines (brake / gas) affected by severe corrosion. …
While driving to work approaching an intersection the car in front of me signaled to turn right last minute and applied the brakes, I also applied the brakes and the pedal went all the way to the floor. If I didn't have enough following distance I would have crashed right in to the car. I only had about 1/2 inch of brake pedal and drove in low gear very carefully the rest of the short distance to work. When I got out of the truck I saw brake fluid pouring out of the brake lines below the drivers side door and they were completely rusted out. Upon further inspection I realized all my brake lines were rusty on a nine year old vehicle, I never saw anything like this before. I had to get the vehicle towed and repaired at a local garage that charged me $1,547.61 to replace all the lines and did a horrible job. …
2005 GMC Sierra k2500 pickup truck. Problem - brakes fade when coming to a complete stop. Brakes work fine until vehicle slows to 5-10mph at which time brake pedal loses pressure - unexpectedly increases stopping distance by 10-15 feet creating hazardous condition. Attempted resolution - replaced all four brake rotors and pads at own expense. Problem still exists. Went to dealerand discovered that this is apparently a common problem related to the anti-lock brake sensors located in each wheel assembly. They claim this braking system failure is due to normal wear and tear and not a manufacturers defect or faulty design... My problem is this - if the dealer (and, by extension, the manufacturer) knows that the brake system is going to start failing after a few years of operation, then how is this due to normal wear and tear and not a design defect??? …
Tl contact owns a 2005 GMC Sierra 2500 hd diesel. The contact stated that on April 19, 2010 when pulling out of the garage at 2 MPH, the brakes and steering suddenly stopped function. There were no warning lights illuminated that indicated the cause of the failure. When the contact turned off the vehicle and restarted it, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact depressed the emergency brake pedal and the vehicle stopped; it was towed to an authorized dealership where it was being repaired at the time of the complaint. The contact was informed that his vehicle was not included in any related recalls. The current and failure mileages were approximately 38,000. Updated 11/11/10 the consumer stated he experienced a hydro boost failure. As he was pulling out of the garage, the steering and braking mechanisms malfunctioned. Updated 11/18/10
I bought my GMC Sierra 2500 in June of 2005. Shortly after I bought the truck I started to notice rust on the trailer hitch and frame rails. As the years have gone by, the entire undercarriage is rusted over. Over the last several years a brake line rusted through and the brake pads & rotors have been replaced several times. I was lucky to be picking my truck up from the shop after an oil change & not driving it, when I noticed brake fluid on the ground under my truck.my speedometer does not work properly & the dashboard lighting works occasionally. My trailer hitch rusted so bad that the last time I put the receiver into the hitch it was stuck & I had to get a friend to connect a chain to his truck & while I drove forward & he reversed, the receiver finally broke free after approx. 10 minutes.
After putting the vehicle in park and proceeding down my driveway, the ABS lights began flashing and chiming on the dash. I pushed the brake pedal and it went to the floor. I stopped the vehicle with the emergency brake. I got out of the vehicle and noticed brake fluid dripping underneath the truck. I crawled under the truck and found the left rear brake line had corroded through just above the fuel tank. I called the dealer and he stated this is a known defect from GM. He said I needed all brake lines replaced and GM's new parts had an extra coating to prevent corrosion. It cost me $1100. This type of failure seems way too soon for a truck with 38,000 miles.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 GMC Sierra 3500hd. The contact stated while at a complete stop with the brake pedal engaged, the vehicle began to lunge forward; followed by the illumination of the ABS warning light and a chime sounding inside the vehicle intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated both front brake hubs and sensors would need to be replaced; however the parts were not included in the extended service warranty. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was made aware of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. Updated 9/13/11 the consumer stated the ABS light chimed. Udpated 01/03/12
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the brakes were engaged and the vehicle failed to stop. The contact mentioned that he had to engage the emergency brake in order for the vehicle to stop. Also, the contact stated that after inspecting the vehicle he noticed oil leaking. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake lines needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The failure and current mileage was 42,000. Updated 10/24/12 updated 11/08/12
Brake complaints in other Sierra 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2005 GMC Sierra 2500?
NHTSA has 38 complaints about the brakes of the 2005 GMC Sierra 2500, 33% of the model year's 115 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 GMC Sierra 2500 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2005 GMC Sierra 2500, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 GMC Sierra 2500 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.