Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
6 reports
16,903 miles · Aug 26, 2013
Tires
UNIROYAL LIBERATOR . THE TREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED ABOUT 11AM ON SATURDAY JULY 15, 2013 ON EAST BOUND I-10 JUST EAST OF OZONA, TEXAS. SPEED WAS ~79 MPH AS PART OF A BOY SCOUT CONVOY RETURNING FROM A HIGH ADVENTURE OUTING. VEHICLE WAS A 2005 K2500 SUBURBAN, LIGHTLY LOADED WITH MYSELF, 4 SCOUTS AND TWO BACK PACKS. WEATHER WAS …
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UNIROYAL LIBERATOR . THE TREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED ABOUT 11AM ON SATURDAY JULY 15, 2013 ON EAST BOUND I-10 JUST EAST OF OZONA, TEXAS. SPEED WAS ~79 MPH AS PART OF A BOY SCOUT CONVOY RETURNING FROM A HIGH ADVENTURE OUTING. VEHICLE WAS A 2005 K2500 SUBURBAN, LIGHTLY LOADED WITH MYSELF, 4 SCOUTS AND TWO BACK PACKS. WEATHER WAS OVERCAST AND 76 DEGREES F. NOT TOWING. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED AT 80 PSI BEFORE THE TRIP STARTED AND THE TIRE CASING WAS STILL INFLATED WHEN REMOVED TO PUT ON THE SPARE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10537372
107,000 miles · Oct 10, 2012
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETECTED A SHORTAGE WITHIN THE CIRCUITS UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD, WHICH RESULTED IN THE WIRES BECOMING MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE H…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETECTED A SHORTAGE WITHIN THE CIRCUITS UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD, WHICH RESULTED IN THE WIRES BECOMING MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
NHTSA ODI #10479658
106,389 miles · Sep 10, 2011
Electrical System
THE SPEEDOMETER READS ERRONEOUSLY HIGH AND OFTEN EXCEEDS 100 MPH READINGS WHILE MY GPS READS AT 70MPH. THERE IS NO TIME AT WHICH INDICATED SPEED READINGS CAN BE TRUSTED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10424594
84,000 miles · Feb 7, 2011
Steering
2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN STEERING GEAR FAILURE X5. THE STEERING GEAR AND INTERMEDIATE DRIVE SHAFT HAS FAILED 5 TIMES SINCE 2006. VEHICLE HAS 85K MILES ON IT. *LN
NHTSA ODI #10381069
68,000 miles · Jan 30, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT HEAD BROKE OFF. 1ST BOLT INITIALLY THEN SECOND BOLT NEXT TO IT BROKE AS WELL. NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO MOTOR OR AFTERMARKET PARTS ADDED THAT WOULD AFFECT THIS PART AND CREATE FAILURE. EXHAUST GAS ENTERS THE UNDERHOOD AREA . THE EXHAUST MAKES A BLACK PLUME UP SIDE OF MOTOR. CONCERNED THAT THE LEAK COULD WORS…
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EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT HEAD BROKE OFF. 1ST BOLT INITIALLY THEN SECOND BOLT NEXT TO IT BROKE AS WELL. NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO MOTOR OR AFTERMARKET PARTS ADDED THAT WOULD AFFECT THIS PART AND CREATE FAILURE. EXHAUST GAS ENTERS THE UNDERHOOD AREA . THE EXHAUST MAKES A BLACK PLUME UP SIDE OF MOTOR. CONCERNED THAT THE LEAK COULD WORSEN LEADING TO EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE ESCAPING HOT EXHAUST GAS COULD LEAD TO FIRE. IN ADDITION, I WOULD THINK THE EPA WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT EFFECTS ON VEHICLE EMISSIONS. THE LEAKING EXHAUST GAS IS NOT PASSED THROUGH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE LEAKING GAS IS ALSO NOT SAMPLED BY THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND COULD EFFECT THE SENSORS INPUT TO THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. I SEE BY DOING SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCHES ON THIS TOPIC THAT THE BOLT FAILURE AND LEAKING EXHAUST MANIFOLD PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE BROKEN BOLTS YET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10379624
36,321 miles · Nov 3, 2008
TiresCrashInjury
ROLLOVER ACCIDENT OF 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN. RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED TREAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TIRES WERE BIG O PATHMAX LT245/75R16. TIRES HAD 10,465 MILES OF USE AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. THE TREAD ON REMAINING INFLATED TIRES SHOWED BELTS BETWEEN TREAD EVEN THOUGH THE TREAD ITSELF LOOKED OK. DRIVER WAS INJURED, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED…
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ROLLOVER ACCIDENT OF 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN. RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED TREAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TIRES WERE BIG O PATHMAX LT245/75R16. TIRES HAD 10,465 MILES OF USE AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. THE TREAD ON REMAINING INFLATED TIRES SHOWED BELTS BETWEEN TREAD EVEN THOUGH THE TREAD ITSELF LOOKED OK. DRIVER WAS INJURED, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10247610
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 2500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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