IllustrationAIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND IT SHOWS IN THE DISPLAY WHEN STARTED TO "SERVICE AIR BAG". NO PREVIOUS ACCIDENT OR ANY INDICATION AS TO THE CAUSE JUST WAS ON ONE DAY WHEN I STARTED IT.
2005 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Avalanche 1500 years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 38.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Avalanche 1500 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
180–25K
1725–50K
3150–75K
2175–100K
17100–150K
6150K+
110 reports with mileage · 19 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 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
10 reports2005 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG AND TRACTION CONTROL SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON ALSO THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE STABILITY SYSTEM WAS DISABLED. *SMD
SERVICE AIR BAG GOES ON AND HAS BEEN DOING SO EVER SINCE THEN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN HUMIDITY IS HIGH OR AFTER A RAIN. IT STAYS ON UNTIL THINGS DRY OUT. HOWEVER, WHEN THIS IS ON THE AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED. *TR
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. *TR
AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON. NO ACCIDENTS HAS OCCURRED TO WARRANT THE LIGHT COMING ON. *TR
SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND MESSAGE IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. *TR
THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYING ON IN MY 2005 CHEVY AVALANCHE. IT USE TO BE INTERMITTENT WHENEVER IT WAS RAINING OR WET OUTSIDE BUT NOW IT IS ON STEADY AFTER A RAINSTORM ON JULY 18/10. I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY AVALANCHE, GM AS PUT OUT SERVICE BULLETINS…
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THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYING ON IN MY 2005 CHEVY AVALANCHE. IT USE TO BE INTERMITTENT WHENEVER IT WAS RAINING OR WET OUTSIDE BUT NOW IT IS ON STEADY AFTER A RAINSTORM ON JULY 18/10. I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY AVALANCHE, GM AS PUT OUT SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT THE WIRING BUT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS IF YOUR WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL CHEVY AVALANCHE + OTHER MODEL OWNERS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY GM. THE WEBSITE THAT I FOUND MOST OF MY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON IS CHEVYAVALANCHEFANCLUB.COM IF THIS VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS MOST LIKELY TO FAIL WHICH MOST LIKELY WILL CAUSE EXCESSIVE BODILY DAMAGE OR EVEN DEATH OF THE PASSENGERS AND DRIVER THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF GM WOULD OWN UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THE PROBLEMS. *TR
"SERVICE AIRBAG" SENSOR LIGHT AND "IDIOT" LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF. I HAVE BEEN ON A FEW FORUMS ABOUT THIS AND THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. MANY DIFFERENT IDEAS ON WHAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM BUT GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX IT FOR EVERYONE.
I HAVE HAD MY SENSOR LIGHT AND THE WARNING LIGHT THAT SAYS "SERVICE AIRBAGS" COME ON AND IT WON'T GO OFF. I HAVE BEEN ON A FEW AUTO FORUMS ABOUT THIS AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERS CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS AND PEOPLE ARE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED, BUT IT DOESN'T.…
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I HAVE HAD MY SENSOR LIGHT AND THE WARNING LIGHT THAT SAYS "SERVICE AIRBAGS" COME ON AND IT WON'T GO OFF. I HAVE BEEN ON A FEW AUTO FORUMS ABOUT THIS AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERS CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS AND PEOPLE ARE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED, BUT IT DOESN'T. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON WET ROADS, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A ROADSIDE BANK. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND THE SAFETY BELT FAILED TO KEEP THE CONTACT SECURE IN THE SEAT, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE THROWN OVER THE STEERING WHEEL AND STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT INCURRED INTERNAL ABDOM…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON WET ROADS, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A ROADSIDE BANK. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND THE SAFETY BELT FAILED TO KEEP THE CONTACT SECURE IN THE SEAT, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE THROWN OVER THE STEERING WHEEL AND STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT INCURRED INTERNAL ABDOMINAL INJURIES AS WELL AS HEAD LACERATIONS. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE RESIDENCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER.
Official recalls
106V289000 · 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.
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.