Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
570–25K
10225–50K
12850–75K
8375–100K
61100–150K
31150K+
462 reports with mileage · 63 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 189 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports34 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
525 reports
80,000 miles · Apr 11, 2013
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH THE FUEL GAUGE AND SPEED ODOMETER READINGS FLUCTUATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH THE FUEL GAUGE AND SPEED ODOMETER READINGS FLUCTUATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #10505931
20,000 miles · Mar 29, 2013
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND AN INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND AN INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. ..UPDATED 05/10/13 *BF UPDATED 05/24/2013 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10504919
74,320 miles · Mar 29, 2013
Air Bags
SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED AND COMES AND GOES THROUGHOUT THE DRIVE. AFTER DISCUSSING WITH FRIENDS FOUND OUT THERE ARE APPROX. 5-10 OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL AND AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE IN MY AREA WITH THE PROBLEM. IF YOU SEARCH THE WEB, THERE ARE A LOT OF TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NOT AN …
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SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED AND COMES AND GOES THROUGHOUT THE DRIVE. AFTER DISCUSSING WITH FRIENDS FOUND OUT THERE ARE APPROX. 5-10 OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL AND AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE IN MY AREA WITH THE PROBLEM. IF YOU SEARCH THE WEB, THERE ARE A LOT OF TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT!!! THE PROBLEM IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND SOUNDS LIKE A MONEY MAKER FOR THE DEALERSHIPS!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10504916
88,000 miles · Mar 20, 2013
VisibilityFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH THE HEATER ACTIVATED WHEN HE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE CONNECTOR FOR THE HEATER BLOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AS THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE HEATER BLOWE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH THE HEATER ACTIVATED WHEN HE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE CONNECTOR FOR THE HEATER BLOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AS THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE HEATER BLOWER, WHICH HE DISCOVERED WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
NHTSA ODI #10503808
61,000 miles · Mar 10, 2013
Service Brakes
WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING, MY BRAKES BEGAN PULSATING RAPIDLY, EVENTUALLY STOPPING ABOUT 10 FEET BEYOND WHERE I INTENDED TO STOP. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AN NONE COMING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, I HAD THE VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTEM EVALUATED ONLY TO FIND OUT THE …
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WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING, MY BRAKES BEGAN PULSATING RAPIDLY, EVENTUALLY STOPPING ABOUT 10 FEET BEYOND WHERE I INTENDED TO STOP. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AN NONE COMING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, I HAD THE VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTEM EVALUATED ONLY TO FIND OUT THE ROOT CAUSE IS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSORS ACTIVATING DUE TO CORROSION AND RUSTING. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN TYPICAL WITH THESE MODELS OF VEHICLES FOR MANY YEARS. IN READING ONLINE POSTS, I SEEN THIS IS A COMMON AND KNOWN ISSUE, BUT THE DEALER DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT, THEREFORE A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN BODILY INJURY OR DEATH! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10502242
100,990 miles · Feb 15, 2013
Electrical System
WHILE USING A 12V AIR PUMP PLUGGED INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER OUTLET WITH THE VEHICLE OFF AND NO KEY IN IGNITION, IT SHORTLY STOPPED WORKING. SOON AFTER SMOKE STARTING COMING FROM BEHIND THE DASH TRIM. I QUICKLY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND PULLED OFF THE FRONT TRIM HOUSING THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER TO FIND THE WIRE'S INSULATION MEL…
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WHILE USING A 12V AIR PUMP PLUGGED INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER OUTLET WITH THE VEHICLE OFF AND NO KEY IN IGNITION, IT SHORTLY STOPPED WORKING. SOON AFTER SMOKE STARTING COMING FROM BEHIND THE DASH TRIM. I QUICKLY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND PULLED OFF THE FRONT TRIM HOUSING THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER TO FIND THE WIRE'S INSULATION MELTED. I THEN LOOKED FOR THE FUSE FOR THAT AND FOUND IT TO BE MELTED AS WELL. THE FUSE WAS RATED AT 15A, AND THE CORRECT FUSE RECOMMEND BY GM. AFTER PULLING THE FUSE, I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY AND HAD NO MORE SMOKE. USING A CONTINUITY TESTER, I CHECKED BOTH WIRES FOR, AND CONFIRMED, SHORT TO GROUND ON BOTH. THE ENTIRE LINE OF WIRES GOING BACK TO THE FUSE BOX MAY BE JUST AS MELTED AND THUS STILL SHORTING TO GROUND. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10498319
135,000 miles · Jan 27, 2013
Air Bags
I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SAFETY AIRBAGS BEING NON OPERATIONAL IN MY TRUCK FOR A WHILE NOW..DEALERSHIP IS WANTING TO CHARGE IN EXCESS OF $300 FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN READING ON MULTIPLE FORUMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVROLET SUV/TRUCKS MODEL YEAR 2003-2011. DUE TO THE FRONT IMPACT SENSORS GOING OUT ON TH…
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I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SAFETY AIRBAGS BEING NON OPERATIONAL IN MY TRUCK FOR A WHILE NOW..DEALERSHIP IS WANTING TO CHARGE IN EXCESS OF $300 FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN READING ON MULTIPLE FORUMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVROLET SUV/TRUCKS MODEL YEAR 2003-2011. DUE TO THE FRONT IMPACT SENSORS GOING OUT ON THE VEHICLE AND YET CHEVROLET/GM HAS NOT DONE A SAFETY RECALL ON THESE. I WAS TOLD BY A DEALER THAT IF ONE OF THESE SENSORS GOES OUT THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL NOT DEPLOY IS IN A CRASH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10494855
93,000 miles · Jan 14, 2013
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, HE NOTICED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT WIRES ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK WERE THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT HAD P…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, HE NOTICED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT WIRES ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK WERE THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT HAD PLANS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
NHTSA ODI #10492894
60,000 miles · Dec 28, 2012
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE HEATER ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND OBSERVED THAT THE WIRING …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE HEATER ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND OBSERVED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED. THERE WERE NO FLAMES VISIBLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA ODI #10490305
111,200 miles · Dec 25, 2012
Service Brakes
WHILE AT A STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKES, THE PEDAL SUDDENLY DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. A CHECK REVEALED THAT THE RIGID BRAKE LINE FROM THE EHCU TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10490041
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year