There are 12 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Suburbanin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for tire replacement, he was informed that the entire chassis was severely corroded. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE REAR HATCH OF THE VEHICLE, THE REAR HATCH FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,210.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE DOOR IN AN OPEN POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESIGNED WITH A MANUAL LOCK TO ACCESS THE REAR LIFTGATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
THE DRIVER WAS SITTING AT THE STOP LIGHT FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEARD A REVVING NOISE. THE DRIVER'S RIGHT FOOT REMAINED ON THE BRAKE. SHE NEVER PUT HER FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, YET THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE SUBURBAN WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A TRUCK, SPUN AND WAS HIT AGAIN ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SITTING AT THE LIGHT BEHIND OUR SUBURBAN AGREED THAT OUR CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN IT SUDDENLY WENT INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE SUBURBAN WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. *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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE HODO LATCH FAILED AND THE HOOD OPENED, BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 125,000.
LIFT GATE WILL NOT OPEN. DANGER OF ACCIDENT AND NOT BEING ABLE TO ESCAPE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND CANNOT MANUALLY OPEN. *TR
THE HINGE ON THE REAR HATCH GLASS CAME UNBONDED FROM THE GLASS. THIS CAN PROBABLY CAUSE GLASS MOVEMENT AND SHATTERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TT
THIS IS A PREVENTATIVE COMPLAINT ABOUT A 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN REAR GLASS HINGE. SINCE FINDING OURS BROKEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON, WE HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS OF SUBURBANS AND TAHOES WITH THE SAME ISSUE, SOME EVEN STATING THE GLASS FLEW OFF INTO THE ROAD. *TR
REAR HATCH OF MY 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN FAILED TO OPEN. THERE IS NO DEVICE INSIDE THE VEHICLE TO EFFECT ESCAPE, IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAT WOULD AFFECT OPENING OF ANY OF THE FOUR SIDE DOORS, AND QUICK EXIT MANDATORY. I AM A RETIRED JERSEY CITY FIREFIGHTER, AND DID NOT REALIZE THE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
LIFTGATE DOES NOT HAVE A KEY LOCK ENTRY AND WILL NOT UNLOCK USING THE DRIVER SIDE LOCK/UNLOCK DOOR PANEL OR THE HAND HELD KEY REMOTE THEREFORE I CANNOT OPEN IT AT ALL. IT IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING SINCE WE GOT THE SUBURBAN FOR THE SPACE BUT, BESIDES THAT - IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY THIS COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THERE IS NO MANUAL RELEASE. IF THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WERE DAMAGED AND THE SIDE DOORS WERE UNABLE TO BE OPENED THERE IS NO WAY OF OPENING THE REAR DOOR. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME. I GET FLASHES OF A CAR ACCIDENT AND A FIRE WITH MY KIDS TRAPPED INSIDE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE! I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE IS NO MANUAL SAFETY LEVER! I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE LIFTGATE NOT OPENING ON SEVERAL BLOGS AND WEBSITES. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TYPE IN SUBURBAN REAR LIFTGATE WON'T UNLOCK. PLEASE REVIEW AS I DO FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE BEFORE IT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF CONSUMERS. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET SURBURBAN. THE BACK HATCH WINDOW HAS PLASTIC OR RUBBER HINGES TO HOLD IT TO THE FRAME. THE WINDOW ALSO HAS A BOLT TO HOLD THE PISTON CYLINDERS SO THE WINDOW COULD CLOSE AND OPEN. THE WINDOW FRAME WHERE IT HOLDS THE HINGE BROKE OFF AND NOW THE HINGE OR BOLT THAT HOLDS THE CYLINDERS FOR THE WINDOW IS COMING LOOSE. I HAVE CANNOT OPEN THE WINDOW HATCH IN THE REAR OR IT WILL NOT CLOSE. I BOUGHT THE SUBURBAN BRAND NEW AND I DON'T THING THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING IN FOUR YEARS. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026