NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
LAST WEEK, I FILLED UP MY GAS TANK AS USUAL. WHEN I WENT TO PULL OFF, THE GAS LIGHT FAILED TO GO OFF, THE GAS NEEDLE DID NOT MOVE AND THE BELL TO INDICATE THAT THE TANK WAS EMPTY WENT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT'S MY FUEL SENDING UNIT AND THAT HE'S SEEN SEVERAL OF THESE DEFECT LATELY...AND THAT I SHOULD CHECK FOR A RECALL. SINCE, I'VE HAD TO MONITOR WHEN I GAS UP AND HOW FAR I DRIVE...WHICH IS NOT ONLY FRUSTRATING, IT'S SCARY! THE NEEDLE NOW FLOATS FROM FULL TO EMPTY AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT RESTS ON E. VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS 2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER...THIS MODEL IS NOT GIVEN AS AN OPTION IN LATER SCREEN WHERE I ENTERED "SUBURBAN". I OWN A CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. THANK YOU *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WHEN SPEEDOMETER STARTED READING 80 THEN 90 THEN 100, THEN EVENTUALLY 120 MPH. PULLED OVER, SPEEDOMETER ONLY RETURNED TO 45. HAD TO START AND STOP ENGINE 7 TIMES TO GET TO RESET. HAPPENS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 2 WEEKS. CAN'T COUNT ON ITS ACCURACY FOR MY SAFETY IN DRIVING.*AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER AND CENTER SECOND ROW SEATS CAME UNLATCHED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER EACH TIME WHERE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. UPDATED 12/1/2006 - *NM
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE CAR FOR A MONTH AND THE DASH LIGHTS AND HEAD LIGHTS WOULD DIM ON AND OFF BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED FROM AND HAD MY CAR FOR A WEEK AND REPLACED CONTROL MODULE CAR STILL PROCEED TO DO THE SAME THING BROUGHT IT IN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NORMAL BECAUSE CAR HAD PCM AFTER 4 MONTHS OF GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THESE DEALERSHIPS CAR WAS FINALLY FIXED DUE TO A RECALL IN A SCREW AND WIRE NOT BEING GROUNDED CORRECTLY. NOW MY CAR IS IN THE DEALERSHIP WITH NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND ARE TRYING TO SAY THAT CAR WAS HIT BY LIGHTING CAR WOULD NOT START BURNING SMELL CAME FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD OF CAR. NOW CAR DOES NOT RUN OVER 15 MPH WITH DYING OUT BATTERY ONLY HOLD CHARGE OF 10 VOLTS. *JB
VEHICLE WAS IN SHOP ONE TIME ALL READY BECAUSE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE THEY SAID LOOSE GROUND ALL FIXED. THEN ON 9/11/2006 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. A DRIVER FAILED TO YIELD WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. I HIT HIM BROAD SIDE AT 45 MILES PER HOUR. SMASHED FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE, SMASHED THE SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE IN BUCKLING HIS DASH AND HIS VEHICLE FLIPPED ON ITS SIDE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS OK, THEY SENT OUT A PERSON TO INVESTIGATE AND HE STATES THAT EVERYTHING IS OK. BUT AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT EVERY POLICE OFFICER DID NOT BELIEVE ME WHEN I TOLD THEM THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR DID THE PARAMEDIC, THEY HAD TO GO LOOK FOR THEMSELVES AND SEE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF. I HAVE PICTURES OF BOTH VEHICLES IF YOU SHOULD NEED THEM. I FEEL THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT WITH WATER INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS RAIN WATER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS CLEANED AND COMPLETELY RESEALED. A COWL WATER DEFLECTOR WAS ADDED TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE IN THE FUTURE. UPDATED 9/18/2006 - *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY IN A PASSING SITUATION, A LIGHT STATING "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LOST A MAJORITY OF THE ENGINE POWER, AND THE TACHOMETER WOULD NOT PASS 1200 RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE.
THE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS STOPPED WORKING 6 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW SUBURBAN. THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHICH MEANS THE SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK IF IN AN ACCIDENT. THE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT SIX TIMES. NOW GM STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FURTHER AND THEIR SOLUTION IS FOR ME TO BUY A NEW CAR WHEN MY CAR IS ONLY 2.5 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE WORN ON THE INSIDE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED FIVE SETS OF TIRES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,223 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPDATED 04/03/08. *LJ
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BEING ON AN INCLINE AND WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER IN DRIVE THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACK IF THE BRAKES ARE NOT APPLIED. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS IS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. UPDATED 4/14/2006 - *NM
CONSUMER 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN NAVIGATION GIVES INCOMPLETE DATA. *TS THE DEALER SUGGESTED TO THE CONSUMER THAT HE BORROW THE LATEST VERSION DVD VERSION 4.1 TO SEE IF THE SITUATION IMPROVES. *JB
SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING ON OUR 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN. STARTED OUT GOING FROM 20 TO 100 AND NOT REGISTERING THE PROPER SPEED. NOW IS STUCK AT 120 MPH. COST RANGES FROM 300 TO 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX. HAVING TO USE GPS FOR SPEED WHICH IS A DISTRACTION AND SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
WHILE DRIVING OUR 2005 SUBURBAN ON THE INTERSTATE, THE CHECK TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY THE BACK END BECAME SQUIRRELLY. PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN AT THE SIDEWALL. THE TREAD CAUGHT ONTO THE WHEEL WELL FLARE, CAUSING ABOUT $500 IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THE SUBURBAN, A P265/70R16 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS RADIAL. THE VIN NUMBER ON THE SUBURBAN IS [XXX]. THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 12,000 MILES OF USAGE WHEN THE BLOWOUT HAPPENED. I CONTACTED GM (SERVICE REQUEST CLAIM #[XXX]) AND HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER AT JOHN SERETTI CHEVROLET IN MOON, PA INSPECT THE TIRE. HE COULD FIND NO PUNCTURES, FOREIGN OBJECTS OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. GM REVIEWED THIS AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO DECLARE A DEFECT, SO THEY REFERRED ME TO THE TIRES MANUFACTURER, FIRESTONE. THE FIRESTONE SHOP IN MOON, PA ALSO COULD NOT FIND ANY PUNCTURE OR EXTERNAL DAMAGE. THE MANAGER THERE SAID THE BLOWOUT COULD HAVE HAPPENED FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS OTHER THAN A DEFECT AND TRIED TO SUGGEST THAT IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN WITH TOO LITTLE TIRE PRESSURE. THAT CANNOT BE THE CASE. THE TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED AND THE AIR PRESSURE CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN THE PREVIOUS MONTH AND THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR PRESSURE SENSOR THAT WARNS OF DROPS. THAT SENSOR WENT OFF AT THE SAME TIME THE TIRE BLEW. FIRESTONE SOLD US A REPLACEMENT TIRE AT A PRORATED COST BASED ON THE USAGE FROM THE ORIGINAL. *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
WHILE DRIVING INTO WORK THE REAR END HOUSING EXPLODED AND THE DRIVE SHAFT DROPPED TO PIECES BOTH FLEW ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY SOME COMING OUT RED HOT. *JB
ON TWO OCCASIONS MY 2005 SUBURBAN HAS STAYED ON CRUISE CONTROL EVEN AFTER TURNING OFF CRUISE CONTROL. MY VEHICLE KEPT A CONSTANT SPEED AT WHICH IT WAS SET WHEN I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON FLAT HIGHWAYS. I WAS NOT DESCENDING. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL TOOK AN EXTREMELY LONG TIME TO ACTIVATE. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL FINALLY ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND MADE A LOUD REVVING NOISE. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE RPM INCREASED FROM 1,800 TO APPROXIMATELY 4,300. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
FAULTY TRANSMISSION AND PRESSURE PUMP. *NM
GENERAL MOTORS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED AN SUV/TRUCK RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS. THE RECALL WENT INTO EFFECT IN 14 COLD-WEATHER STATES AND CANADA...BUT IT EXCLUDED WISCONSIN!!!! IT DID SO BECAUSE GM SAID IT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FROM WISCONSIN. THAT'S LUDICROUS! MANY HERE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS IN IOWA, MICHIGAN, AND ALL THE REST. I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM, TOOK MY 2001 SUBURBAN TO MY GM DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND WAS TOLD I'D BE REIMBURSED SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. THEN THE WISCONSIN EXCLUSION WAS ANNOUNCED. MANY PEOPLE HERE WILL BE OPERATING UNSAFE VEHICLES...AND THAT'S NOT RIGHT! PLEASE HELP. MARK & SHARON LEIDER. *NM
STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I START MY VAN IT WANTS TO KEEP TURNING OVER. AND WHEN IT FINALLY STARTS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. THE CAR LOT THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM SAYS THERE'S NOTHING THAT THEY CAN FIND THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. BUT IT KEEPS ACCRUING. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DEALER. THEY DIDN'T MAKE MY VAN, GM MOTORS DID. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS GREAT.*JB
THIS IS A PRE-CAUTIONARY COMPLAINT AS A RESULT OF MY SHOCK REGARDING GM'S 8.1L ENGINE IN THE SUBURBANS. ALSO WOULD APPLY TO SILVERADO HD AS WELL. THE VEHICLE IS USING EXCESSIVE OIL WHICH TO MY SURPRISE GM SAYS IS NORMAL. OIL USAGE IS 1.25 QTS PER 2000 MILES AND GM INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD USE AS MUCH AS 1QT PER 1000 MILES (ASSUMING 10 MILES TO THE GALLON). THE CONCERN IS REGARDING EMISSIONS DURABILITY AND INDIRECT FAILURES AS A RESULT OF THIS OIL LOADING INTO THE EXHAUST AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. GM WOULD NOT PROVIDE DETAILS TO ME BUT, INDUSTRY NORMS ARE ASSUMING WORST CASE 1/2 OF THIS LEVEL OF EXPECTED OIL USAGE. GM WAS UNCONCERNED AND HAS A BULLETIN FOR THEIR DEALERS STATING THIS. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BOTH FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT FOR POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURE AND FOR EMISSIONS DURABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAS NO QUICK EXIT FROM THE THIRD SEAT AND THE TAILGATE. IT TAKES TOO MUCH FORCE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE IS SO LONG THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT SHOW THE ROAD VERY WELL EVEN AFTER ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE TAKE TOO MUCH FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. LASTLY, THE PICKUP ON THE TRANSMISSION IS SLUGGISH WHICH IS A CONCERN IN EMERGENCY CONDITIONS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER, AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE ALL ISSUES ARE WITH THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE.*AK
THE ANTILOCK BRAKES COME ON AT LOW SPEED, WHICH IS STARTLING AND INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS DEFECT IS ACKNOWLEGED BY GENERAL MOTORS, THOUGH THEY REFUSE TO ISSUE A RECALL. THEY TELL ME TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS DEFECT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
DT: THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE DEALER HAS CHANGED DIFFERENT PARTS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB
2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN K-1500 4WD; WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEED ~10-15 MPH AND APPLIED BRAKES HARD WITH SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTE LOSS OF BRAKES RESULTING IN MVA AND DAMAGE TO THREE VEHICLES, INCLUDING MY OWN
MANUFACTURER PROMISED TO PURCHASE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DUE TO THE HYDROBOOST BRAKE RECALL. THEY PROMISED TO MAKE THE FIRST PAYMENT UPON RECEIPT OF THE NEW VEHICLE. OWNER HAD IN HER POSSESSION AN ALERT BULLETIN ABOUT THE HYDROBOOST. NEITHER MANUFACTURER NOR DEALERSHIP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY. NOTICE STATED, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY TO STOP DELIVERY AND ANY PURCHASES FOR THE SUBURBANS AND OTHER GM TRUCKS DATED FEBRUARY 4, 2005. HIGHLIGHTED SENTENCE STATED NOT TO ALLOW CONSUMERS TO PURCHASE. *AK
2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN (LESS THAN 1 WEEK OLD) -CAR WAS PLACED INTO PARK ON A DRIVEWAY WITH HILL -PARKING FOOT BRAKE WAS ENGAGED -I LEFT THE VEHICLE AND STARTED WALKING INTO THIS HOUSE -AT 30 YDS I HEARD SOMETHING BEHIND ME AND TURNED TO REALIZE THE CAR WAS ROLLING -I RAN BACK, JUMPED INTO THE CAR AND SLAMMED THE BRAKE ON -I TESTED THIS 3 MORE TIMES AND REPEATED THIS CONDITION. -THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR IS SAYING THE CAR IS IN PARK, BUT IT IS NOT LOCKING -AN ADDITIONAL CONCERN WAS THAT PARKING BRAKE DID NOT HOLD UP WITH 3 CHILDREN IN MY HOUSEHOLD THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN. NOT TO MENTION IT NEARLY RAN ME OVER. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR!!! NOT MORE THAN 400 MILES ON IT. CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING LOOKED AT BY THE CHEVY DEALER. THIS IS SERIOUS AND THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO INFORM THE AGENCY.I*=*AK -
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Z71 WITH 59,799 MILES. THE SPEEDOMETER ON IT RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY. THE DAY THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY I WAS ON AN HOUR LONG TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY. DURING THE TRIP I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWED I WAS GOING 95 MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUED TO INCREASE EVEN WHEN I SLOWED DOWN, UNTIL IT PASSED 120 MPH WHERE IT WAS STUCK FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IT STARTED TO SLOWLY GO BACK DOWN. SINCE THAT DAY THEN THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUES TO SHOW THE INCORRECT SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE SPEEDOMETER SOMETIMES READS AS HIGH AS 120 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING, AND AT OTHER TIMES DISPLAYS THE VEHICLE GOING 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING, AND OTHER TIMES SHOWS CORRECTLY AT 0 MPH. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET WORSE WHEN I DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON LONGER TRIPS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BUT THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB *TR
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE MIRRORS FAILED. THE OBJECTS APPEARED FAR AWAY THAN NORMAL. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE HAD A TOW MIRROR PACKAGE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MIRROR COULD BE REPLACED, BUT THE DRIVER HAD TO PAY FOR IT. *AK THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT HAD COME ON. *SC
2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. CONSUMER STATES DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER. *TGW CONSUMER SENT IN DUPLICATE LETTER ON 3/25/2010. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK AT 120 MPH. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HER VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL, AS HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE RANGE. THE SECOND PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, DUE TO THE INTERAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. *JB UPDATED 04/12/10.*JB
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026