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2005 Chevrolet Silverado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Silverado years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

267 reports with mileage · 49 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 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports7 fire reports9 injury reports

What owners actually said

316 reports
51 miles · Feb 4, 2009
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER STUCK AT 45MPH AT A STOP, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IN A 65-70MPH ZONE THE SPEEDOMETER INCREASE TO 110-120MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257459

64,000 miles · Jan 2, 2009
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253626

102,400 miles · Dec 30, 2008
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE FOR FREE; HOWEV…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE FOR FREE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE FREE REMEDY BECAUSE THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE 70,000 REQUIREMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/06/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10253190

55,160 miles · Dec 23, 2008
Electrical System

MY SPEEDOMETER READS ABOUT 20 MPH FASTER THAN I'M ACTUALLY DRIVING, AND READS 20 -25 MPH WHEN AT A DEAD STOP. I KNOW THIS WAS A WARRANTY FIXABLE ITEM ON THE 03 AND 04 MODELS, WHY NOT ON THE 05'S? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252652

12,500 miles · Nov 24, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGES AT VEHICLE SPEEDS OF UNDER 10 MPH ON DRY CONDITIONS. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE WOULD THINK THAT GM WOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS 13,000 MILES, BUT IS OVER 36 MO. OLD, SO IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249699

53,006 miles · Nov 17, 2008
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 53,000 MILES. VEHICLE ENGINE RUNS HIGH RPM BUT FAILS TO SHIFT, ESPECIALLY FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. DEALER SAYS IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IN CITY TRAFFIC WHERE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE AT TRAFFIC LIGHT IS A HIT OR MISS PROPOSITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249035

50,000 miles · Nov 4, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DEFINITIVELY DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURR…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DEFINITIVELY DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10247691

40,000 miles · Oct 26, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVITATING @ 10 MPH OR LESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246751

76,000 miles · Oct 7, 2008
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S WIFE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND AND NOTICED A DIFFERENCE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V018000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR). THE DEALER P…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S WIFE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND AND NOTICED A DIFFERENCE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V018000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR). THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; THEREFORE, THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE MADE FOR FREE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,943 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000. UPDATED 1/6/09 *CN UPDATED 01/14/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10244661

37,000 miles · Sep 26, 2008
Electrical System

I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WORKTRUCK IN APRIL OF 2005. APPROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS AGO THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED SHOWING INTERMITTENT SPEEDS NOT CONSISTENT WITH ACTUAL SPEED. SOMETIMES IT WOULD SHOW ZERO MPH WHEN TRAVELING AT STREET OR FREEWAY SPEEDS, SOMETIMES SHOWING LESS THAN OR GREATER THAN PERCEIVED ACTUAL SPEEDS, A…

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WORKTRUCK IN APRIL OF 2005. APPROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS AGO THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED SHOWING INTERMITTENT SPEEDS NOT CONSISTENT WITH ACTUAL SPEED. SOMETIMES IT WOULD SHOW ZERO MPH WHEN TRAVELING AT STREET OR FREEWAY SPEEDS, SOMETIMES SHOWING LESS THAN OR GREATER THAN PERCEIVED ACTUAL SPEEDS, AND CURRENTLY FOR THE LAST THREE DAYS HAS STAYED AT ZERO REGARDLESS OF ANY MOVING SPEED. THE TRUCK HAS 38,000 MILES AS SHOWN BY THE ODOMETER. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED/SEEN ANY PROBLEMS WITH ANY OTHER INSTRUMENTS AS YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243495

Official recalls

8

06V289000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Aug 3, 2006

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE DAMPER COMES LOOSE, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463.

05V455000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

Oct 5, 2005

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A POWER STEERING HOSE THAT IS NOT TO SPECIFICATION. UNDER EXTREME STEERING MANEUVERS, SUCH AS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE BRAKING, THE HOSE MAY FRACTURE AND LEAK FLUID.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD BE LOST AND INCREASED STEERING EFFORT WOULD BE REQUIRED. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRO-BOOST POWER BRAKES, IT COULD ALSO RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST AND INCREASED BRAKING EFFORT WOULD BE REQUIRED. IF THE POWER STEERING FLUID SPRAY WERE TO SPRAY ONTO HOT ENGINE PARTS, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POWER STEERING HOSE(S) FOR TWO SUSPECT DATE CODES AND REPLACE THEM IF REQUIRED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727, OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.

05V161000 · Parking Brake

Apr 22, 2005

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

05V163000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Apr 22, 2005

ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE SUGGESTED SEAT BELT FIT/ROUTING FOR ADULTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEATING POSITION, IS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TEXT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.

05V055000 · Power Train:manual Transmission:shift Pattern Indicator

Feb 14, 2005

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR LOCATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. IF THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, THE DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

05V043000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Feb 8, 2005

CERTAIN TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH HYDRO-BOOST BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR MAY CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WERE OPEN, FRAGMENTS FROM THE ACCUMULATOR COULD CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. THE PRESENCE OF THIS CRACK OR FRACTURED SURFACE COULD ALLOW THE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE ACCUMULATOR CIRCUIT OF THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. THE LOSS OF FLUID WOULD CAUSE INCREASED STEERING AND BRAKING EFFORT AND A CRASH MAY OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FOR FUNCTIONAL OPERATION OF THE TWO-FUNCTION VALVE. IF THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FAILS THE TEST, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.

05V018000 · Steering:gear Box:shaft Sector

Jan 21, 2005

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR MAY NOT MEET SPECIFICATION. THE BOLT MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

04V376000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Aug 2, 2004

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.3L (RPO L59) V8 ENGINES, THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE RETAINER SCREWS WERE NOT MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY BREAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE TUBE RETAINER SCREW BREAKS, FUEL COULD LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER JOINT, THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND, IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE RETAINER SCREWS. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON JULY 30, 2004, WITH A FOLLOWUP OWNER LETTER BEGAN AUGUST 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463. NOTE: THE GM BULLETIN LISTS THE TAHOE AND YUKON MODELS BECAUSE CANADIAN VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE BULLETIN. NO U.S. TAHOE OR YUKON VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE U.S. CAMPAIGN.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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