Illustration2005 DURAMAX CHEVROLET 3500 TRUCK, WHEN THE ENGINE OVER HEAT LIGHT COMES ON IT SHUTS THE TRUCK OFF....VERY DANGEROUS GOING UP A MOUNTAIN WITH LOTS OF TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. THIS OVER HEATING IS VERY COMMON FOR THE CHEVY DURAMAX DIESEL TRUCKS FOR 2004-2005 YEARS. *TR
2005 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 35.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →46Owner complaints
Model-year median: 35
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2005 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 46 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Electrical System: 9 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 9 reports
- Service Brakes: 8 reports
- Steering: 6 reports
- Fuel System, Diesel: 5 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 3500 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
1125–50K
850–75K
875–100K
6100–150K
2150K+
44 reports with mileage · 2 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
4 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THE FAILURE BECOMES MORE SEVERE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR SOME TIME OR DURING WARM WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER OVER TEN TIMES AND THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING GEAR BOX. THE C…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THE FAILURE BECOMES MORE SEVERE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR SOME TIME OR DURING WARM WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER OVER TEN TIMES AND THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING GEAR BOX. THE CONTACT WAS FINALLY INFORMED THAT THE TIRES HAD INSUFFICIENT AIR. THE FAILURES HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THE ENGINE ALSO OVERHEATS WHEN DRIVING UPHILL, PULLING A TRAILER, AND DURING WARM WEATHER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COOLING FAN AND THE INTAKE SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A TSB (1980030) REGARDING THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,613. UPDATED 3/4/08 *CN UPDATED 03/04/08 *TR
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW PARKING SPEEDS OR STOPPED STEERING WHEEL IS REALLY HARD TO TURN AND LOCKS UP. MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS FAULT GM SAYS IT KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NO FIX FOR IT. VERY UNSAFE CONDITION AND KNOW I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY 50K PLUS PICKUP TRUCK. BUYERS BEWARE. DON'T BUY A GM DIESEL PICKUP. *TR
I BELIEVE MY 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500, DURAMAX/ALLISON WAS EQUIPED WITH UNDER DESIGNED COOLING SYSTEMS; BOTH TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. ON SLOW MOUNTAIN TYPE ROADS I CAN RUN MY UNLOADED TRUCK INTO NEAR OVERHEAT CONDITIONS. I BELIEVE THESE ISSUES MAY BE COMMON TO OTHER '04.5 AND '05 LLY GM AND CHEVROLET TRUCKS LIKE MINE AND …
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I BELIEVE MY 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500, DURAMAX/ALLISON WAS EQUIPED WITH UNDER DESIGNED COOLING SYSTEMS; BOTH TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. ON SLOW MOUNTAIN TYPE ROADS I CAN RUN MY UNLOADED TRUCK INTO NEAR OVERHEAT CONDITIONS. I BELIEVE THESE ISSUES MAY BE COMMON TO OTHER '04.5 AND '05 LLY GM AND CHEVROLET TRUCKS LIKE MINE AND GM HAS NOT PROVIDED IT'S DEALER NETWORK WITH SOLUTIONS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM (MOST OF THEM ARE SIMPLE, THAT THE OTHER 2 MAJORS SEEM TO UNDERSTAND: AIR FLOW CONTROL THROUGHT THE COOLING STACK AND COLD AIR TO THE INTAKE)
Recall campaigns
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.