IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115000.
2005 Chevrolet Silverado
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Silverado years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Silverado 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
840–25K
4025–50K
4850–75K
4275–100K
42100–150K
11150K+
267 reports with mileage · 49 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 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports7 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
316 reportsTHE 4 WHEEL DRIVE BUTTONS FAIL TO WORK EVERY SO OFTEN. I WAS COMING HOME FROM ANN ARBOR, MI. ONE NIGHT AND MY INDICATOR LIGHT SAID I WAS IN NEUTRAL FOR SOME REASON. I PLAYED WITH IT FOR A BIT AND NO LUCK. MY FRIEND WAS WITH ME AND HE OWNS A REPAIR FACILITY IN SOUTH LYON, MI. HE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG! THE ENCODER MOTOR FOR THE…
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THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE BUTTONS FAIL TO WORK EVERY SO OFTEN. I WAS COMING HOME FROM ANN ARBOR, MI. ONE NIGHT AND MY INDICATOR LIGHT SAID I WAS IN NEUTRAL FOR SOME REASON. I PLAYED WITH IT FOR A BIT AND NO LUCK. MY FRIEND WAS WITH ME AND HE OWNS A REPAIR FACILITY IN SOUTH LYON, MI. HE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG! THE ENCODER MOTOR FOR THE TRANSFER CASE IS BAD. IT IS AN ELECTRIC ITEM AND FAILS. THE ENCODER MOTOR IS WHAT SHIFTS IN TO 4 HI, 4 LOW, AUTO 4 WHEEL AND 2 HI. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN TOWARD THE END OF FEB 2010 WHEN MY TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL, 2 HI WAS MY ONLY OPTION. ANOTHER FRIEND OF MINE HAS A 2004 SILVERADO AND HER ENCODER MOTOR WENT BAD ON THE FREEWAY. HER PROBLEM WAS THAT HER TRUCK THREW HER INTO 4 LOW WHILE SHE WAS AT 70 MPH. OMG IS THAT SAFE???? GM NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE PEOPLE START TO CRASH OR WORSE GETTING HURT AND DYEING AS A RESULT. *TR
HELLO, I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY SILVERADO WITH 76,000 MILES ON IT, THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE GEAR SELECTOR ILLUMINATION IN THE DASH GAUGE CLUSTER I CAN NOT TELL WHAT GEAR IT IS IN UNLESS IT IS VERY CLOUDY OR DARK, I AM WORRIED THAT THE TRUCK COULD PUT IT IN REVERSE INSTEAD OF DRIVE OR VISE VERSA. *TR
VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER IS INOPERATIVE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS READING IS 0 MPH, OR SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK ABOVE 65 AT A DEAD STOP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER INCREASED TO 120 MPH AND WOULD NOT MOVE REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED THAT HE WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WER…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER INCREASED TO 120 MPH AND WOULD NOT MOVE REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED THAT HE WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90000. UPDATED 02/17/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK. THE NEEDLE IS STUCK ON 120 MPH. UPDATED 02/17/10.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 CHEVROLET PICKUP. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AROUND A CURVE HE HEARD A NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A MANUFACTURER DESIGN OF THE WHEEL BEARING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 CHEVROLET PICKUP. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AROUND A CURVE HE HEARD A NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A MANUFACTURER DESIGN OF THE WHEEL BEARING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 87,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AT A LOW SPEED THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84120. UPDATED 01/05/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AT A LOW SPEED THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84120. UPDATED 01/05/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS SHOULD NOT HAVE ACTIVATED ON DRY PAY PAVEMENT UNDER NORMAL SPEED CONDITIONS. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ABS SENSOR BEING MOVED OUT OF ALIGNMENT DUE TO CORROSION. UPDATED 01/07/10.*JB
2005 SILVERADO PICKUP. HEATER FAN MOTOR RESISTOR MELTING WIRES TOO A POINT THAT THE WIRES COULDN'T BE TOUCHED WITHOUT BEING BURNED. WARRANTY EXPIRED BUT PROBLEM EXISTS. TOLD DEALERSHIP THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. IE: IF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS WERE TO COME INTO CONTACT THERE WOULD MOST LIKELY BE A FIRE. *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2005 SILVERADO IS BAD. I HAVE 73,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE NEVER DRIVEN SO FAST IN MY LIFE. IT STARTED IN MAY OF 2009 AND IT CORRECTED ITSELF NOW WE ARE FACING THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN READING UP ON THIS I FIND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS HAVING THIS ISSUE. DRIVING APROX.30 BUT IT SAYS 120. *TR
FOR QUITE SOME TIME, OUR 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WOULD HAVE AN ODOR AND THE #5 POSITION ON THE FAN FOR HEATER WOULD STOP WORKING, THEN START AGAIN. RECENTLY IT COMPLETELY STOPPED AT ALL LEVELS. WE CAN NO LONGER CIRCULATE HEAT OR AC IN THE VEHICLE. WE CHECKED THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR UNIT, IT HAD MELTED AND ALSO MELTED THE WI…
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FOR QUITE SOME TIME, OUR 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WOULD HAVE AN ODOR AND THE #5 POSITION ON THE FAN FOR HEATER WOULD STOP WORKING, THEN START AGAIN. RECENTLY IT COMPLETELY STOPPED AT ALL LEVELS. WE CAN NO LONGER CIRCULATE HEAT OR AC IN THE VEHICLE. WE CHECKED THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR UNIT, IT HAD MELTED AND ALSO MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS UP UNDER THE DASH. WE NOW HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH UNITS AT GREAT EXPENSE TO US., NOT TO MENTION THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE...WE USUALLY HAVE SOME GRANDCHILDREN STRAPPED IN CAR SEATS...WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN QUITE DANGEROUS TO THEM, HAD IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME, NOT JUST THE MILEAGE INDICATED. *TR
Official recalls
806V289000 · 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.
05V455000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
Oct 5, 2005
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A POWER STEERING HOSE THAT IS NOT TO SPECIFICATION. UNDER EXTREME STEERING MANEUVERS, SUCH AS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE BRAKING, THE HOSE MAY FRACTURE AND LEAK FLUID.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD BE LOST AND INCREASED STEERING EFFORT WOULD BE REQUIRED. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRO-BOOST POWER BRAKES, IT COULD ALSO RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST AND INCREASED BRAKING EFFORT WOULD BE REQUIRED. IF THE POWER STEERING FLUID SPRAY WERE TO SPRAY ONTO HOT ENGINE PARTS, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POWER STEERING HOSE(S) FOR TWO SUSPECT DATE CODES AND REPLACE THEM IF REQUIRED. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727, OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.
05V161000 · Parking Brake
Apr 22, 2005
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOW-FORCE SPRING CLIP RETAINER FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
05V163000 · Seat Belts:rear/other
Apr 22, 2005
ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE SUGGESTED SEAT BELT FIT/ROUTING FOR ADULTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEATING POSITION, IS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TEXT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.
05V055000 · Power Train:manual Transmission:shift Pattern Indicator
Feb 14, 2005
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT." UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR LOCATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. IF THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, THE DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
05V043000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Feb 8, 2005
CERTAIN TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH HYDRO-BOOST BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR MAY CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WERE OPEN, FRAGMENTS FROM THE ACCUMULATOR COULD CAUSE INJURY TO PEOPLE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. THE PRESENCE OF THIS CRACK OR FRACTURED SURFACE COULD ALLOW THE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE ACCUMULATOR CIRCUIT OF THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. THE LOSS OF FLUID WOULD CAUSE INCREASED STEERING AND BRAKING EFFORT AND A CRASH MAY OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FOR FUNCTIONAL OPERATION OF THE TWO-FUNCTION VALVE. IF THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY FAILS THE TEST, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC TRUCKS AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.
05V018000 · Steering:gear Box:shaft Sector
Jan 21, 2005
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR MAY NOT MEET SPECIFICATION. THE BOLT MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
04V376000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Aug 2, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.3L (RPO L59) V8 ENGINES, THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE RETAINER SCREWS WERE NOT MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE TUBE RETAINER SCREW BREAKS, FUEL COULD LEAK FROM THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER JOINT, THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND, IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE RETAINER SCREWS. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON JULY 30, 2004, WITH A FOLLOWUP OWNER LETTER BEGAN AUGUST 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463. NOTE: THE GM BULLETIN LISTS THE TAHOE AND YUKON MODELS BECAUSE CANADIAN VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE BULLETIN. NO U.S. TAHOE OR YUKON VEHICLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE U.S. CAMPAIGN.
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.