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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

What owners actually said

94 reports
83,300 miles · Nov 24, 2008
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAS DEVELOPED A TICKING NOISE IN THE PAST FEW DAYS. THE VEHICLE HAS 83, 300 MILES. IT STARTED AS A LOW CLICKING NOISE AND HAS CONTINUED TO BECOME LOUDER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, WHICH GAVE ME NO SATISFACTION FOR REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249633

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

34,788 miles · Sep 9, 2008
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. GAUGES NOT ACCURATE. I WAS TOLD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241652

36,000 miles · Aug 14, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATES ITSELF ON MY VEHICLE EVEN WHEN ON DRY PAVEMENT WITH VERY CONSERVATIVE DRIVING. WHEN TURNING OR ENTERING OUT INTO TRAFFIC SUDDENLY THE SYSTEM WILL ENGAGE AND POWER DOWN THE VEHICLE TO A CREEP. IT THEN RE-SETS ITSELF AFTER 2-5 SECONDS. HOWEVER, WHILE ENGAGED I AM RENDERED HELPLESS AND A SITTING DU…

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THE TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATES ITSELF ON MY VEHICLE EVEN WHEN ON DRY PAVEMENT WITH VERY CONSERVATIVE DRIVING. WHEN TURNING OR ENTERING OUT INTO TRAFFIC SUDDENLY THE SYSTEM WILL ENGAGE AND POWER DOWN THE VEHICLE TO A CREEP. IT THEN RE-SETS ITSELF AFTER 2-5 SECONDS. HOWEVER, WHILE ENGAGED I AM RENDERED HELPLESS AND A SITTING DUCK TO THE UPCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WHEN IT BECOMES MORE FREQUENT (HOPEFULLY MY FAMILY AND I WON'T BE KILLED BEFORE THEN) THAT IT MIGHT SHOW A CODE SO THAT THEY WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO. IN THE MEAN TIME I AM TOLD THEY HAVE NO IDEA. (2005 SUBURBAN 1500 LT AUTORIDE). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238109

61,000 miles · Aug 11, 2008
Electrical System

I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT THE SPEEDOMETER OF MY MODEL VEHICLE HAD A RECALL (2005 SUBURBAN). I MISPLACED THE LETTER BUT DECIDED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO PAY $100 DEDUCTIBLE. I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THE SPEEDOMETER CAN NOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT PRESENTING THE LETTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10237771

48,500 miles · Jul 16, 2008
Electrical System

2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 48,500 MILES SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY 2005 CHEVY VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234523

49,024 miles · Jun 11, 2008
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN. AT A LITTLE OVER 49,000 MILES MY SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE BEGAN TO REPORT INACCURATE READINGS WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN MOTION. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS THE NEEDLE FELL ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT OF THE PANEL AND WOULDN'T MOVE. AFTER GETTING QUOTE FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE NEW AND CHECKING WITH SOME AREA JU…

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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN. AT A LITTLE OVER 49,000 MILES MY SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE BEGAN TO REPORT INACCURATE READINGS WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN MOTION. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS THE NEEDLE FELL ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT OF THE PANEL AND WOULDN'T MOVE. AFTER GETTING QUOTE FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE NEW AND CHECKING WITH SOME AREA JUNK YARDS I LEARNED THERE WERE POSSIBLE RECALLS ON OTHER CHEVY TRUCKS AND SUV'S. ONCE I CHECK ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. ON TONIGHT I CALLED AND LEARNED THAT THE 2004 SUBURBAN HAS A RECALL BUT NOT THE 2005 SO I OPENED A CASE WITH CHEVEROLET CONSUMER ASSISTANCE TO SEE ABOUT GETTING MY TRUCK FIXED AS I CAN'T AFFORD $500 TO FIX A MECHANICAL DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED CHEVROLET EXPENSE AND NOT THE CONSUMER. I'M NOW DRIVING AROUND NOT KNOWING WHAT SPEED I'M DRIVING AND RISKING GETTING A SPEEDING TICKET WHICH IS ANOTHER EXPENSE. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER WITH 2 KIDS AND THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA ODI #10230782

50,000 miles · Jun 2, 2008
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN AT 50K MILES WITHOUT WARNING STARTED TO INDICATE INCORRECT SPEEDS. THE SPEED READINGS INITIALLY WERE SLOWER THAN MY ACTUAL SPEED AND LATER AS THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED MUCH HIGHER. THE INITIAL INCORRECT SPEEDS WERE ONLY NOTICED AFTER FRIENDS FOLLOWING ME QUESTIONED MY HIGH RATE OF SPEED…

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THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN AT 50K MILES WITHOUT WARNING STARTED TO INDICATE INCORRECT SPEEDS. THE SPEED READINGS INITIALLY WERE SLOWER THAN MY ACTUAL SPEED AND LATER AS THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED MUCH HIGHER. THE INITIAL INCORRECT SPEEDS WERE ONLY NOTICED AFTER FRIENDS FOLLOWING ME QUESTIONED MY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. MY WIFE DRIVES MY 4 CHILDREN AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10229614

52,780 miles · Apr 20, 2008
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILURE. SPEEDOMETER STUCK BELOW 0 (ZERO). TIRE PRESSURE READINGS KEEP CHANGING IN MINUTES RANGING 20-46. SCHEDULE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER AND WILL COST $450-600. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225149

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.