IllustrationOUR SPEEDOMETER JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED WORKING,FROM TIME TO TIME IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS WORKING BUT IT IS NOT GOING THE SPEED THAT IT SAYS. SINCE THIS STARTED OUR OIL GAUGE,AND NOW FUEL GAUGE HAS STOPPED WORKING. *TR
2005 Chevrolet Suburban
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 118.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Suburban years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
110–25K
725–50K
2250–75K
2275–100K
22100–150K
11150K+
95 reports with mileage · 34 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 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
129 reportsON AUGUST 3RD, 2012 MY 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 FIRST SHOWED SIGNS OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILING. THE TACHOMETER SHOWED A READING OF 5,000 RPMS WITH THE ENGINE IDLING. THIS CONTINUED FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN SEEMED TO GO BACK TO NORMAL. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO INDICATE INCORRECT READINGS. BY …
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ON AUGUST 3RD, 2012 MY 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 FIRST SHOWED SIGNS OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILING. THE TACHOMETER SHOWED A READING OF 5,000 RPMS WITH THE ENGINE IDLING. THIS CONTINUED FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN SEEMED TO GO BACK TO NORMAL. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO INDICATE INCORRECT READINGS. BY SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2012 I HAD NOTICED IT WOULD SOMETIMES SHOW A SPEED OF 120 MPH WHILE GOING AN ACTUAL SPEED 50 MPH OR SOMETIMES SHOW 29 MPH WHILE GOING 50 MPH. FOR A WHILE IT WAS MOVING THE NEEDLE BELOW 0MPH. I CAN NO LONGER RELY ON THE GAUGES OF THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 65,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN, TWO AT BACK LEFT, DRIVER'S SIDE CLOSEST TO FIREWALL. CAUSING AUDIBLE EXHAUST LEAK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE SINCE IT DID NOT HAVE A KEY ENTRY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE SINCE IT DID NOT HAVE A KEY ENTRY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
SMELLED GAS IN GARAGE AND MOVED VEHICLE OUTSIDE GARAGE TO INVESTIGATE. FOUND PUDDLE OF GAS ON GARAGE FLOOR WHERE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED. CRAWLED UNDER VEHICLE AND FOUND TWO BRAIDED FUEL LINES CROSSING EACH OTHER AND RESTING ON ONE ANOTHER. THEY HAD WORN A HOLE IN THE BRAIDED FUEL LINE AND WAS LEAKING A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF …
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SMELLED GAS IN GARAGE AND MOVED VEHICLE OUTSIDE GARAGE TO INVESTIGATE. FOUND PUDDLE OF GAS ON GARAGE FLOOR WHERE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED. CRAWLED UNDER VEHICLE AND FOUND TWO BRAIDED FUEL LINES CROSSING EACH OTHER AND RESTING ON ONE ANOTHER. THEY HAD WORN A HOLE IN THE BRAIDED FUEL LINE AND WAS LEAKING A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FUEL. TOOK TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIR. MECHANIC HAD TO CUSTOM REBUILD FUEL LINE TO AVOID CRISS-CROSS ROUTE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. MECHANIC VERY CONCERNED WITH EXISTING DESIGN - PRESSURIZED BRAIDED FUEL LINE WAS SPEWING FUEL BENEATH VEHICLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AS A QUICK SEARCH ON HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/ UNDER "CONSUMER COMPLAINTS" FINDS QUITE A FEW RELATED INSTANCES WITH BOTH THE 2005 AVALANCHES AND SUBURBANS. REFERENCE COMPLAINT NUMBERS: 10465537, 10402272, 10384217, 10275857, 10417685, 10373464, 10401501. I DIDN'T SEARCH OTHER MODEL YEARS. *TR
HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER NOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL ON ALL BLOWER SPEEDS, RUNS CONTINUOUSLY WITH THE IGNITION OFF. DISCHARGES BATTERY WITH IGNITION KEYS REMOVED, AND HAS A BURNING SMELL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A TRASH TRUCK. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT ARM AND LEFT LEG. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A TRASH TRUCK. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT ARM AND LEFT LEG. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS BEING DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND AFTER DIAGNOSING THE VEHICLE, THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TRAVELING FAST ENOUGH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE LIGHT MAY GO OFF. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
I WENT TO WASHINGTON AUTO SHOW TODAY 2/4/2012 AND ONE OF YOUR REP GAVE ME A CARD ABOUT YOUR SERVICE. I CAME HOME AND CHECK OUT YOUR WEBSITE AND FOUND OUT YOU HAVE BEEN RECEIVING COMPLAINTS ABOUT INSTRUMENT PANEL OF CHEVY SUBURBAN. I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN IN MARCH 2005 FROM WIN KELLY CHEVORLET IN CLARKSVILLE, MD. ABOUT MI…
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I WENT TO WASHINGTON AUTO SHOW TODAY 2/4/2012 AND ONE OF YOUR REP GAVE ME A CARD ABOUT YOUR SERVICE. I CAME HOME AND CHECK OUT YOUR WEBSITE AND FOUND OUT YOU HAVE BEEN RECEIVING COMPLAINTS ABOUT INSTRUMENT PANEL OF CHEVY SUBURBAN. I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN IN MARCH 2005 FROM WIN KELLY CHEVORLET IN CLARKSVILLE, MD. ABOUT MIDDLE OF LAST YEAR I NOTICED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER IS ALWAYS STUCK, RUNNING HIGH THAN THE SPEED I AM DRIVING AND JUST EXACTLY AS BEING DESCRIBED BY OTHER OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT DOING TO HELP WITH THIS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND HAVE IT CORRECTED RATHER THAN WE CONSUMERS BEING SADDLED WITH UNEXPECTED REPAIR COST? *KB
THE HINGE ON THE REAR HATCH GLASS CAME UNBONDED FROM THE GLASS. THIS CAN PROBABLY CAUSE GLASS MOVEMENT AND SHATTERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TT
Official recalls
606V289000 · 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.
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.
05V103000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
Mar 18, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHROD RETAINER MAY BE MISSING. IF THE RETAINER IS MISSING, THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUSHROD COULD DISENGAGE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKES WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHROD RETAINER AND INSTALL ONE IF IT IS MISSING FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER BEGAN CONTACTING OWNERS BY TELEPHONE ON MARCH 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.