IllustrationDT: CONSUMER STATES THAT 2005 GMC ENVOY SLE DOESN'T HAVE A REAR DOOR AJAR WARNING. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO GET A MODEL WITH THAT ON IT, IT DOESN'T COME STANDARD.*AK
2005 GMC Envoy
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Envoy years
Owner complaints for the 2005 GMC Envoy are substantially higher than the model-year median of 22.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Envoy 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
280–25K
5925–50K
8750–75K
10775–100K
88100–150K
16150K+
385 reports with mileage · 103 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 183 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 164 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
27 crash reports14 fire reports22 injury reports
What owners actually said
488 reportsSEVERE CAR CRASH WITH MY LEASED 2005 GMC ENVOY. MUCH SIDE AND FRONT DAMAGE OCCURED, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. GMC WILL BE SENDING SOMEONE FROM THE PROTECTION ALLEGATION DEPARTMENT TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE AIR BAGS WITHIN THE NEXT 14 DAYS. THE ACCIDENT OCCURED ON 4/22/05. I DO NOT WANT THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND G…
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SEVERE CAR CRASH WITH MY LEASED 2005 GMC ENVOY. MUCH SIDE AND FRONT DAMAGE OCCURED, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. GMC WILL BE SENDING SOMEONE FROM THE PROTECTION ALLEGATION DEPARTMENT TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE AIR BAGS WITHIN THE NEXT 14 DAYS. THE ACCIDENT OCCURED ON 4/22/05. I DO NOT WANT THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND GIVEN BACK TO ME FOR THE FOLLOWING 2 REASONS: THE VEHICLE INCURRED (IN MY OPINION, POLICE REPORT, ALLSTATE INSURANCE CO., STERLING AUTO BODY REPAI SHOP) ETC ... EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE 2ND REASON IS THE AIRBAGS, AS STATED, DID NOT DEPLOY. IF ANYONE WERE TO BE SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. I HAVE READILY AT MY DISPOSAL ANY AND ALL ADDITIONAL INFO. WHICH I WILL GLADLY SUBMIT WHEN NECESSARY.
WHILE GOING OVER ANY TYPE OF BUMPS AT NIGHT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE FOG LIGHTS FLICKERED ON/OFF. ALSO, THE LENS COVERING THE HEADLIGHTS WERE LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS. IT WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED.*AK
PURCHASED NEW 05 ENVOY XL 12/04. WINDSHIELD IS SO DEFECTIVE IT IS DIFIFCULT TO FOCUS OR SEE CLEARLY TO DRIVE. CAUSES EXTREME EYE STRAIN AND HEADACHE TO THE POINT OF BEING UNABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WITH ANOTHER WINDSHIELD THEY FOUND AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. IT IS JUST AS DEFECTIVE. ENVOY IS EXTEMELY DIFF…
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PURCHASED NEW 05 ENVOY XL 12/04. WINDSHIELD IS SO DEFECTIVE IT IS DIFIFCULT TO FOCUS OR SEE CLEARLY TO DRIVE. CAUSES EXTREME EYE STRAIN AND HEADACHE TO THE POINT OF BEING UNABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WITH ANOTHER WINDSHIELD THEY FOUND AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. IT IS JUST AS DEFECTIVE. ENVOY IS EXTEMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FOCUS CLEARLY THRU WINDSHIELD. IT WILL MAKE YOU LITERALLY SICK TO TRY AND DRIVE IT IT CAUSES INABILITY TO FOCUS CLEARLY, EXTREME EYE STRAIN/PAIN, MIGRAINE HEADACHES, DIZZINESS AND NO ONE WANTS TO RIDE IN IT BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU SICK. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE...CAN'T SEE WELL. DEALERSHIP WON'T FIX. SAYS THEY HAVE A MEMO SAYING NOT TO FIX ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL DEFECTIVE. WE HAVE WAITED 3MONTHS FOR A REP. TO BE AVAILABLE. SAY THEY HAVE NONE TO LOOK AT IT. THEY ARE REASSIGNING REPS SOON TO OUR AREA. THERE MUST BE SOMEONE FOR GMC WHO CAN FIX THIS DANGEROUS AND 'SICKENING' SITUATION. $40,000+ VEHICLE AND CAN'T DRIVE IT. IT IS SO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS YOU CAN'T SEE WELL TO FOCUS IT IS SO DISTORTED. EVERYTHING IS WAVY, OUT OF FOCUS AND HURTS YOUR EYES. TO TRY AND DRIVE IT ON A BRIGHT, SUNNY DAY IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AS THE BRIGHTNESS MAKES THE DISTORTION ALL THE WORSE. I HAVE HAD TO WEAR THREE PAIRS OF SUNGLASSES AT ONE TIME TRYING TO DARKEN IT ENOUGH TO DRIVE ON A SUNNY DAY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER HEARD A LOUD BANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. DRIVE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS WITH THE MEMORY SEATS AND MIRRORS. ON PRIOR YEAR ENVOYS, WHEN YOU PRESSED THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE REMOTE, THE SEATS AND MIRRORS WOULD RECALL TO THAT DRIVERS POSITION. NOW YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE 1 OR 2 BUTTON ON THE DOOR, WHILE IN PARK, TO RECALL THE SEAT AND MIRROR POSITIONS. THERE IS NO TIE WITH THE REMOTE AN…
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THE ONLY PROBLEM IS WITH THE MEMORY SEATS AND MIRRORS. ON PRIOR YEAR ENVOYS, WHEN YOU PRESSED THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE REMOTE, THE SEATS AND MIRRORS WOULD RECALL TO THAT DRIVERS POSITION. NOW YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE 1 OR 2 BUTTON ON THE DOOR, WHILE IN PARK, TO RECALL THE SEAT AND MIRROR POSITIONS. THERE IS NO TIE WITH THE REMOTE AND THE MEMORY SEATS. I DON'T KNOW WHY GM WOULD DO AWAY WITH THIS FEATURE, BUT IT IS VERY INCONVENIENT AND IN MY OPINION - A BIG STEP BACKWARDS.*AK
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY WIFE WAS IN HER 2005 GMC ENVOY WHEN IT WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S TIRE, AND WAS DRIVEN INTO A CONCRETE POWER POLE AT 40 MPH HEAD ON. THE POWER LINES WERE KNOCKED DOWN. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED, AND HER HEAD HIT THE STEERING, CAUSING A BUMP ON THE HEAD, A BLACK EYE AND A CUT LIP.*AK
I WAS DRIVING ALONE AND THE DASH BOARD LIGHT WENT OUT I AND THE 4WD LIGHT CAME ON I COULD NOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. I PULLED OVER AND COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM CAR OR PUT THE CARD BACK INTO DRIVE .THE CAR SHOP HAD TO REROUTE SOME WIRE BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY AFTERMARKET ADD ONS. *JB
Official recalls
206V417000 · Air Bags:frontal
Oct 31, 2006
CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A FRONT PASSENGER'S LEVEL OF INJURY MAY BE INCREASED.
Remedy: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM AT 1-877-477-1022 TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPURCHASING THEIR VEHICLE.
05V035000 · Visibility:windshield
Feb 3, 2005
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING.' THE WINDSHIELD URETHANE BEAD MAY NOT HAVE ADHERED TO THE BODY IN CERTAIN AREAS DURING THE CURE PROCESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CRASH OCCURS, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE RETAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
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
2RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights
Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights
The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.
DP10001 · Fuel Level Gauge System Failure
Opened Jan 7, 2010 · Closed May 23, 2011
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Other; Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Other
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.
Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.