Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
2125–50K
2950–75K
1775–100K
10100–150K
6150K+
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
What owners actually said
94 reports
70,000 miles · Jun 14, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFTGATE POWER LOCK MECHANISM BECAME INOPERABLE AND PREVENTED AN OCCUPANT FROM ENTERING OR EXITING FROM THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESIGNED WITH A MANUAL KEY LOCK FEATURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFTGATE POWER LOCK MECHANISM BECAME INOPERABLE AND PREVENTED AN OCCUPANT FROM ENTERING OR EXITING FROM THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESIGNED WITH A MANUAL KEY LOCK FEATURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10406857
140,000 miles · May 18, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING SHE SMELLED FUEL. WHEN SHE REACHED HER DESTINATION, SHE NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS SPILLING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THIRTY SECONDS AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE FUEL STOPPED LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO REPAIRS SHOPS WHERE THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING SHE SMELLED FUEL. WHEN SHE REACHED HER DESTINATION, SHE NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS SPILLING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THIRTY SECONDS AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE FUEL STOPPED LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO REPAIRS SHOPS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE LINE FROM THE TANK TO THE CROSSOVER AND THE MOTOR HAD RUBBED TOGETHER WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO NHTSA. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
NHTSA ODI #10401501
25,000 miles · Feb 16, 2011
Electrical System
2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN ODOMETER IS FAULTY. IT STOP WORKING PROPERLY ON MY CHEVY TRUCK. IT OVERSHOOT THE SPEED ALL THE WAY TO MORE THAN 120MILES/HR WHEN I DO NOT GO OVER 30MILES/HR. GM NEEDS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT. NEEDS TO HAVE RECALL. IT IS SAFETY OF GENERAL PUBLIC. PLEASE FORCE THEM TO RECALL FOR THE ODOMETER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10382886
62,000 miles · Feb 8, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. FAILURE OF THE ABS / TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTER (GM PART NO.15234605). FAILURE OCCURRED AT 62,000 MILES DUE TO CORROSION INSIDE THE MODULE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10381219
55,549 miles · Jan 29, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
2005 CHEVY SURBURBAN SPEEDOMETER (55,549 MILES) IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SPEED VARIES WHEN CAR IS IN USE MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL SPEED IS AT TIMES/AND SOMETIMES THE SPEED DROPS TO ZERO AND STAYS IN THIS SETTING. *LN
NHTSA ODI #10379537
62,000 miles · Dec 30, 2010
Electrical System
SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING ON OUR 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN. STARTED OUT GOING FROM 20 TO 100 AND NOT REGISTERING THE PROPER SPEED. NOW IS STUCK AT 120 MPH. COST RANGES FROM 300 TO 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX. HAVING TO USE GPS FOR SPEED WHICH IS A DISTRACTION AND SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10373411
99,350 miles · Dec 28, 2010
Electrical System
AT 99K MILES THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED ACTING ERRATIC. THERE ARE TIMES IT IS CORRECT AND TIMES WHEN IT READS 5 TO 25 MILES MORE THAN MY TRAVELING SPEED. IT IS DEFINITELY HIT OR MISS AS TO WHEN THIS WILL OCCUR. NOW THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE AND THE RPM GAUGE ARE ACTING FAULTY AS WELL. I HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY MEASURES TO CORRECT THE SPEED…
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AT 99K MILES THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED ACTING ERRATIC. THERE ARE TIMES IT IS CORRECT AND TIMES WHEN IT READS 5 TO 25 MILES MORE THAN MY TRAVELING SPEED. IT IS DEFINITELY HIT OR MISS AS TO WHEN THIS WILL OCCUR. NOW THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE AND THE RPM GAUGE ARE ACTING FAULTY AS WELL. I HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY MEASURES TO CORRECT THE SPEEDOMETER BUT IT WILL RESET ITSELF AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF TURNING THE CAR ON AN OFF. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER READS ERRANTLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10372706
50,000 miles · Dec 14, 2010
Electrical System
SPEEDOMETER ON OUR 2005 SURBURBAN HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING LIKE ALL OTHERS REPORTED ON THIS SITE - OURS FOR WELL OVER TWO YEARS: SOMETIMES READS ZERO WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OTHER TIMES IS TACKED AT OVER 120 MPH. WE CAN BE AT A STOP AND IT READS 90. AFRAID TO USE CRUISE CONTROL - WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN! WAITING FOR…
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SPEEDOMETER ON OUR 2005 SURBURBAN HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING LIKE ALL OTHERS REPORTED ON THIS SITE - OURS FOR WELL OVER TWO YEARS: SOMETIMES READS ZERO WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OTHER TIMES IS TACKED AT OVER 120 MPH. WE CAN BE AT A STOP AND IT READS 90. AFRAID TO USE CRUISE CONTROL - WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN! WAITING FOR NHTSA TO DEMAND A RECALL THESE VEHICLES: WHAT WILL IT TAKE? SOMEONE DYING BECAUSE THEY HYDROPLANE, OR ROLL, OR REAR END SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CLUE HOW FAST THEY ARE GOING? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10370679
121,000 miles · Dec 3, 2010
Electrical System
WE OWN A 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN, AND THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO JUMP AROUND AND ACT ERRATICALLY. IT NOW SHOWS ABOUT 60 MPH, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP. GOES UP ABOVE 120 MPH WHILE DRIVING THROUGH TOWN. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND JUST LIKE OTHERS REPORTED, WAS TOLD WE WERE GOING TO BE TAKEN FOR OVER $600 FOR A REPAIR T…
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WE OWN A 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN, AND THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO JUMP AROUND AND ACT ERRATICALLY. IT NOW SHOWS ABOUT 60 MPH, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP. GOES UP ABOVE 120 MPH WHILE DRIVING THROUGH TOWN. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND JUST LIKE OTHERS REPORTED, WAS TOLD WE WERE GOING TO BE TAKEN FOR OVER $600 FOR A REPAIR THAT IS OCCURRING IN VIRTUALLY EVERY 2005 GM TRUCK (ALONG WITH OTHER YEARS). WE CAN NO LONGER TELL WHAT SPEED WE ARE DRIVING, WHICH IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY FOR MY TEENAGE DRIVERS THAT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10369151
115,000 miles · Dec 3, 2010
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPED TO 20 MPH AND NEVER DROPPED BACK DOWN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10369031
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.
2005 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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