2005 Chevrolet Silverado Body & Structure Problems

Frame is rotten badly but cab and bed hardly any rust. Used bad metal for frame and crossmembers.

WE TOOK OUR 2005 CHEVY Z71 SILVERADO IN FOR THE INSPECTION AND IT WOULDN'T PASS DUE TO ROTTED FRAME. SO NOW WE HAVE A USELESS TRUCK THAT LOOKS AND DRIVES FINE BUT WON'T PASS INSPECTION. NOW WE'RE HEARING ABOUT SEVERAL SAME MODEL TRUCK ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. WE HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN THE BEST CARE OF ALL OUR VEHICLES AND HAVE BEEN LOYAL GM CUSTOMERS. BUT IT SURE SEEMS THE QUALITY OF GM PRODUCTS ARE NOT WHAT THEY USED TO BE. ESPECIALLY FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE INVEST IN THEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. MA 10/1

FRAME IS ROTTED,WONT PASS INSPECTION,BRAKE LINES ARE ALSO ROTTED HAD TO REPLACE TWICE. *TR

I WENT TO SLOW TO MAKE TURN AND BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR SUDDENLY SO I USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. I BELIEVE ALL LINES WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AS OTHER LOOK AS RUSTY. RUST HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR LAST 2 YEARS WITH ROTORS NEEDING REPLACE THEN BEARINGS IN FRONT RUSTED AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND PEDAL WOULD SURGE. THIS IS THE WORSE CHEVY TRUCK I EVER BOUGHT AS EVEN SEEING RUST ALREADY IN LOWER PANELS AND ENTIRE FRAME. LOOKS BAD FOR ONLY 53,474 MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE CHANGING THE OIL, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME, UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM, BRAKE LINES, REAR AXLES, HITCH ASSEMBLING, AND REAR SPARE TIRE CARRIER ASSEMBLY WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

I STARTED SEEING RUST SPOTS AROUND THE BOTTOM THE CAB AND HAD TO PUT IT IN THE SHOP BECAUSE RUST HAD EATEN THROUGH, THE REPAIRMAN SAID IT LOOK AS IF THE AREA HAD NEVER BEEN TREATED FOR CORROSION, THIS VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS AND HE SAID HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT IT WANT CONTINUE. I FEEL GM SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND MAKE SURE IT DOSE NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

THE BRAKE LINES ,FUEL LINES AND THE FRAME CROSSMEMBERS ARE ALL SEVERELY RUSTED. IT JUST IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I LOOSE MY BRAKES, GO UP IN FLAMES OR DROP MY GAS TANK ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE BODY ON THIS TRUCK IS NOT TOO BAD. IT HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT, AND IT IS CLEANED QUITE OFTEN. THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS RUSTED VERY BADLY. I EXPECTED MORE FROM SOMETHING THAT COSTS SO MUCH. CANT AFFORD A NEW ONE AND IF I COULD IT WOULDN'T BE A GM. HAVE ALWAYS OWNED GM IN THE PAST. *TR

PARKED TRUCK AT OUTSIDE STALL AND WENT INDOORS. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES I HEARD NOISES AND WENT OUTSIDE. FOUND THE WHOLE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED 6 MINUTES LATER THE FIRE SPREAD TO TWO ADDITIONAL VEHICLES. THE HEAT MELTED AND CONSUMED EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE FRAME. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR SUSPECTS THE FIRE INITIATED DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND GENERATED FROM EITHER THE DRIVER SIDE DASH BOARD OR LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE. THE DAMAGE WAS TOO DESTRUCTIVE TO PINPOINT EXACT CAUSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE FRAME BED OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED. THE CONTACT THEN PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE SPRING SHACKLES TO THE FRAME WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE FRAME AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,617.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE CABLE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 12/16/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE CABLE DID NOT BREAK. THE ENTIRE MECHANISM BROKE LOOSE AND RELEASED THE MOUNTING BRACKET, JACK STAND, TIRE IRON, TIRE AND RIM ONTO THE HIGHWAY. UPDATED 12/23/11 UPDATED 02/15/12*LJ UPDATED 02/17/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SPARE TIRE CABLE FRACTURED CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE STRANDS WHERE THE CABLE FRACTURED WERE UNEVEN AND CONTAINED RUST. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE UNSURE WHAT THE APPROXIMATE SPEED WAS WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 01/13/12*LJ

DRIVING HOME DOWN TWO LANE ROAD AT 35 MPH. CAME TO CURVE AND SLOW TRAFFIC AHEAD. WENT TO APPLY BRAKES LIKE NORMALLY, THEY FAILED. PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR WITH LITTLE TO NO STOPPING EFFECTS ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS A 5 SPD STANDARD. I WAS ABLE TO DOWN SHIFT AND APPLY PARK BRAKE TO SLOW VEHICLE. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP COMPLETELY AND HAD TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD INTO THE ROAD SIDE DITCH TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE STOPPED TRAFFIC. ONCE STOPPED I GOT OUT TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE. NO COSMETIC DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE VEHICLE. I DID SEE BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING FROM UNDER THE TRUCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE. CLOSER LOOK REVEALED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUST COMPLETELY IN HALF AND BLEED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DRY. NOTICED THAT THE OTHER LINES WERE IN SIMILAR CONDITION. THEY ALL SEEM TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED AT THE POINT WHERE THE BRAKE LINES IS RETAINED BY A GREEN PLASTIC CLIP ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FRAME RAIL. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME, REPLACED VISIBLE BAD LINES. TWO MONTHS LATER BRAKE SECTION IN REAR OF TRUCK HID BY UNDERCOATING FAILED AS WELL. THANKFULLY WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED THIS TIME. TRUCK IS WELL MAINTAINED AND CLEANED AND WAXED SEASONALLY. THE UNDER SIDE OF THIS TRUCK IS HORRIBLE. THERE IN NOT A PLACE ON IT THAT ISN'T RUST. SHOULDN'T HAVE THIS FROM A US MADE PRODUCT. I HAVE OLDER VEHICLES FROM THE 60'S THAT HAVE SAT FOR YEAR AND LOOK ALMOST NEW UNDERNEATH. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHICLES. I JUST HOPE THAT NOBODY GETS HURT OR KILLED BECAUSE THERE VEHICLES RUSTS OUT AND CAUSES CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEMS TO FAIL. I ALSO HOPE THAT THE NHTSA WILL TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE AND HELP TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. SHAMEFUL GM OWNER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE A FLAT TIRE BUT DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARE TIRE BRACKET WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND ADVISED THAT THE SPARE TIRE BRACKET WAS CORRODED AND THE ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECALLED AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,471.

LETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE PROBLEMS WITH 2005 CHEVY SILVERADO. DOT/I#2010-1208. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE HAS SEVERE CORROSION ON THE FRAME. WITHIN TWO YEAS, THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE HAD CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING TO FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY. THE CONSUMER SUED ALLEGING BREACH OF WARRANTY. THE CASE WAS HEARD, HOWEVER GM EXPERTS TESTIFIED THAT THE CORROSION WAS CAUSED BY SEA AIR AND THEY WERE NOT UNDER ANY OBLIGATION TO COVER CORROSION CAUSED BY THE ENVIRONMENT. THEY ALSO TESTIFIED THAT THE CORROSION WAS PRIMARILY COSMETIC AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD DRIVING CONDITION. THE CONSUMER STATED TWO DAYS LATER, AS HE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE BRAKE LINES RUPTURED AND THE DRIVE SHAFT SHEARED IN HALF, NEARLY CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET K1500 SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ROUTINE INSPECTION, A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE FRAME HAD FRACTURED DUE TO STRESS FROM THE LIFT KIT INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. HE THEN ADDED THAT THE PREVIOUS DEALER( SOUTHERN COMFORT CONVERSIONS) INSTALLED THE LIFT KIT AND THAT IT WOULD COST $11,000 FOR REPAIRS.THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103.000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT END VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRAME SPLIT IN HALF. AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,000. UPDATED 10/24/07. *JB

WHEN THE TEMP OUTSIDE IS ABOUT 40 DEGREES OR COOLER, SOMETHING UNDER THE VEHICLE RATTLES(DRIVER FRONT). THIS RATTLING IS METAL ON METAL, AND SOUNDS LIKE RAPIDLY BANGING 2 STEEL CANS TOGETHER. THE NOISE DISSIPATES AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, BUT IS QUITE NOTICEABLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD DURING THE FIRST 10 MINS OF USAGE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TONNEAU COVER USED ON THE BED OF THE PICKUP TRUCK DOES NOT CATCH PROPERLY. THE CLIPS HOLDING THE LID IN PLACE ONLY CATCH 1/8" ON THE BED OF THE TRUCK. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE LID OPENS AND THE CONTENTS OF THE TRUCK BED EJECTS. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TONNEAU COVER IS STEFFENS ENTERPRISES INC. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER. UPDATED 05/04/06

FRONT BUMPER IS BEGINNING TO SAG. *JB