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2005 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 53.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

85 reports with mileage · 9 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 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. 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.

2 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

11 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2014
Power TrainSteering

HAD SERVICED THE TRANSFER CASE AND HAD TAKEN IT BACK TWICE NOW BESIDES A NOISE LIKE THAT OF A POWER STEERING PUMP GOING BAD ( WHINING ) , HAD A TURNING CLUNK NOISE COMING AND AT A STOP LIGHT I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER SIDE, GOT TO PARK IT AND SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING .BRING IT BACK TO SEE IF THE MECHANIC WILL W…

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HAD SERVICED THE TRANSFER CASE AND HAD TAKEN IT BACK TWICE NOW BESIDES A NOISE LIKE THAT OF A POWER STEERING PUMP GOING BAD ( WHINING ) , HAD A TURNING CLUNK NOISE COMING AND AT A STOP LIGHT I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER SIDE, GOT TO PARK IT AND SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING .BRING IT BACK TO SEE IF THE MECHANIC WILL WORK ON IT SINCE IT HASN'T BEEN 30 DAYS. PLEASE NOTIFY ME OF ANYTHING DO TO THE TRANSFER CASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654073

38,000 miles · Oct 1, 2014
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED IN THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MODE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED IN THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MODE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TWICE WHERE THE SHIFT GEAR ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE PUSH BUTTON GEAR SELECTOR WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ODI #10640616

94,000 miles · Feb 24, 2014
Power Train

UNDER ANY CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR LOCATED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE. WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE DRIVER TO KNOW WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN. WHICH INCREASES THE DRIVERS CHANCES OF CRASHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565645

72,000 miles · Apr 27, 2013
Power Train

THE AUTO TRANSMISSION 3 AND 4TH GEAR CLUTCH FAILED IN THIS UNIT WHICH RESEARCH SHOWS IS A COMMON FAILURE. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS OPENED FOR THE REPAIR THERE WERE TWO PARTS THAT SHOWED A LOT OF RUST WHICH INDICATED AN EXPOSURE TO WATER. I WOULD NOT BE WRITING THIS IF THE TRANSMISSION SHOP HAD NOT SHOWN ME A CHEVY AVALANCHE T…

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THE AUTO TRANSMISSION 3 AND 4TH GEAR CLUTCH FAILED IN THIS UNIT WHICH RESEARCH SHOWS IS A COMMON FAILURE. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS OPENED FOR THE REPAIR THERE WERE TWO PARTS THAT SHOWED A LOT OF RUST WHICH INDICATED AN EXPOSURE TO WATER. I WOULD NOT BE WRITING THIS IF THE TRANSMISSION SHOP HAD NOT SHOWN ME A CHEVY AVALANCHE TRANSMISSION THEY HAD JUST CAME IN WITH THE SAME PARTS SHOWING THE RUST PATTERN. BOTH TRANSMISSIONS WERE MADE IN THE RAMOS, MEXICO GM FACTORY IN WITHIN A SHORT TIME FRAME. THIS IS MAJOR CONCERN IF THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED ON AN INTERSTATE AND THE LOSS OF SPEED COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC LIKE AN ACCIDENT LOCALLY IN LOWNDES COUNTY, MS WHERE A CROWN VICTORIA WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHEN SOMETHING FAILED IN THAT CAR AND SLOWED DOWN. TWO PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509788

109,000 miles · Oct 12, 2010
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND MY CAR MADE A CLICKING SOUND AND THEN BEGIN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT MADE A REALLY LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR FELL ONTO THE ROAD AND WAS BEING DRAGGED ALONG AND THE IT WOULD NOT GO ANYMORE. I TRIED PUTTING IT IN PARK AND IT WOU…

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I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND MY CAR MADE A CLICKING SOUND AND THEN BEGIN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT MADE A REALLY LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR FELL ONTO THE ROAD AND WAS BEING DRAGGED ALONG AND THE IT WOULD NOT GO ANYMORE. I TRIED PUTTING IT IN PARK AND IT WOULD NOT STOP, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS UNTIL I PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND TURNED IT OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THE DRIVE SHAFT BROKE IN TWO. IT WAS A VERY SCARY INCIDENT WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THEY WERE CRYING INCONSOLABLY AND SCARED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED AND IF THERE IS SOME KIND OF DEFECT IN THE 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN THAT CAUSED THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360161

46,202 miles · Feb 25, 2010
Power Train

MY 2005 SUBURBAN CHEV. HAS 46,000 AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. THE DEALER SAID THIS IS FAIRLY NORMAL TO HAPPEN. IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $3000.00 TO $4000.00. THE CAR STARTED MAKING AN AWFUL NOISE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SAID TRANSMISSION HOT. WHE…

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MY 2005 SUBURBAN CHEV. HAS 46,000 AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. THE DEALER SAID THIS IS FAIRLY NORMAL TO HAPPEN. IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $3000.00 TO $4000.00. THE CAR STARTED MAKING AN AWFUL NOISE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SAID TRANSMISSION HOT. WHEN I PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IT JUST MADE AN AWFUL NOISE. THANK GOD I WAS ON A ROAD I COULD PULL OVER ON. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED IN TO THE DEALER.I HAVE A $50,000 CAR THAT CAN'T BE DRIVEN. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM TO 2005 SUBURBAN? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314067

53,000 miles · Sep 19, 2009
Power Train

MY 2005 SUBURBAN THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS BROKEN AT ONLY ABOUT 40 MPH. IF IT HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY, PROBALLY WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I HAS LOST THE CONTROL TOTALLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10284623

25,122 miles · Nov 7, 2008
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AS I BEGAN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, IN ORDER TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ACROSS OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANES, I HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE OF FORWARD MOMENTUM. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME NARROWLY MISSED A REAR END ACCIDENT AND OPPOSING TRAFFIC WAS FORCED TO QUICKLY STOP AS I WAS LEFT BLOCKING THEIR TRAFFIC LANE. VEHICLE STILL…

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TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AS I BEGAN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, IN ORDER TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ACROSS OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANES, I HAD A COMPLETE FAILURE OF FORWARD MOMENTUM. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME NARROWLY MISSED A REAR END ACCIDENT AND OPPOSING TRAFFIC WAS FORCED TO QUICKLY STOP AS I WAS LEFT BLOCKING THEIR TRAFFIC LANE. VEHICLE STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH 25,122 MILES. DEALER REPAIRED TRANSMISSION AND IDENTIFIED "SPRAG GEAR FOUND DAMAGED ... CLUTCHES ALSO BURNT REPLACED AS NEEDED...". POSSIBLE TSBS 08-07-30-027. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10247934

51,100 miles · Oct 20, 2008
Power Train

TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION @ 51,100 MILES. CHILDREN AND OTHER PASSENGERS WERE STRANDED IN PA @ 12:00 AM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246177

79,000 miles · Nov 26, 2007
Power Train

TRANSMISSION HOT LIGHT CAME ON AS TRAVELING THE INTERSTATE. PULLED OVER UNTIL LIGHT WENT OUT. LEFT THE INTERSTATE, LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. AS TRYING TO PULL OFF ROAD, TRUCK STOPPED (ENGINE ON, BUT WOULD NOT ADVANCE FORWARD). HAD TO REPLACE WITH ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210013

Official recalls

0

No 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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.