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2005 Chevrolet Tahoe

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 246.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

243 reports with mileage · 50 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 126 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports14 fire reports9 injury reports

Visibility complaints

9 reports
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135,000 miles · Mar 16, 2015
Visibility

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE SUNROOF GLASS CAME OFF THE ROOF AND SHATTERED. I HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE AND I AM NOW ASSUMING IT IS RELATED TO THIS SUN ROOF PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL AT ONE TIME, BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. WHAT DO I DO? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694579

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineVisibility

2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. FUEL PUMP ERUPTION, DUE TO THE SMELL OF COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED A LEAK FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *MW ALSO, THE WINDOW SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10659537

62,000 miles · Aug 8, 2014
Electrical SystemVisibility

THE LIFTGATE AND GLASS WILL NOT UNLOCK AND THERE IS NO RELEASE FROM THE INSIDE SO YOU ARE TRAPPED IF SOMETHING HAPPENS. I HAVE LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL AND THERE IS NOT. I HAVE CONTACTED GM WITH NO RESPONSE AS WELL AS SEEING HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE POST ONLINE THAT ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION. THIS MAKES THE CAR A DEATH…

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THE LIFTGATE AND GLASS WILL NOT UNLOCK AND THERE IS NO RELEASE FROM THE INSIDE SO YOU ARE TRAPPED IF SOMETHING HAPPENS. I HAVE LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL AND THERE IS NOT. I HAVE CONTACTED GM WITH NO RESPONSE AS WELL AS SEEING HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE POST ONLINE THAT ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION. THIS MAKES THE CAR A DEATH TRAP IN CASE OF ACCIDENT, FIRE, GOING IN WATER AS YOU CANNOT GET OUT OF THE CAR FROM THE INSIDE IF YOU ARE IN THE REAR NOR CAN SOMEONE RUN AROUND THE BACK AND OPEN THE HANDLE TO TRY TO GET SOMEONE OUT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ASAP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621018

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2009
Visibility

MY CHEVY 2005 Z71- TAHOE HAD IT'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPLACED AT THE GM DEALER. TWO METAL RIVETS EXTENDING THROUGH THE WIPER BLADE ATTACH IT TO THE LONG WIPER ARM. THE RIVETS BROKE AND WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY CAME OFF WIPER ARM AT SLOW SPEED IN A HEAVY RAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273318

48,000 miles · Jan 23, 2009
Electrical SystemVisibilityFire

OCCASIONALLY SMELLED ELECTRICAL BURNING INSIDE VEHICLE. AC/HEATER BLOWER CUT OUT BUT CAME BACK ON. DECEMBER 2008 AC/HEATER BLOWER STOPPED COMPLETELY. WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM WHICH FUSE TO CHECK. WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING ELSE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSIS. JANUARY 2009 WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE BLOWER MOT…

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OCCASIONALLY SMELLED ELECTRICAL BURNING INSIDE VEHICLE. AC/HEATER BLOWER CUT OUT BUT CAME BACK ON. DECEMBER 2008 AC/HEATER BLOWER STOPPED COMPLETELY. WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM WHICH FUSE TO CHECK. WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING ELSE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSIS. JANUARY 2009 WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR AND CONNECTOR SHORTED OUT AND MELTED (NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY). AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE CONTACTED MANUFACTURER ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALL, WAS TOLD THEY WOULD SPLIT COST OF REPAIR. DEALER REPAIR FACILITY WOULD NOT GIVE US THE FAULTY PARTS. SAID MANUFACTURER WOULD GET THE FAULTY PARTS DUE TO THEM AGREEING TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIRS. STILL COST ME $262 FOR DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR. TOTAL REPAIR PRICE ORIGINALLY $323. MANY MANUFACTURER VEHICLES HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY ANYTHING. FAULTY PART WAS UPGRADED BY MANUFACTURER AND HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256102

43,400 miles · Oct 24, 2008
VisibilityInjury

DEVICE, NOW REPORTED BY CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TO BE AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL THERMOSTAT,LOCATED DIRECTLY OVER DRIVER'S HEAD IN 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE CONTINUOUSLY (WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING) EMITS 100+/- MILLIGAUSS OF ELECTRICAL CHARGE. MY EXPOSURE TO THIS DURING FIRST WEEK OF MY OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE AFTER MY JULY 21, 2008, PURCHAS…

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DEVICE, NOW REPORTED BY CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP TO BE AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL THERMOSTAT,LOCATED DIRECTLY OVER DRIVER'S HEAD IN 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE CONTINUOUSLY (WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING) EMITS 100+/- MILLIGAUSS OF ELECTRICAL CHARGE. MY EXPOSURE TO THIS DURING FIRST WEEK OF MY OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE AFTER MY JULY 21, 2008, PURCHASE CAUSED ME TO HAVE DEBILITATING HEADACHES AND TINNITUS; ALSO, MY MEMORY SEEMS TO BE LESS SHARP THAN BEFORE EXPOSURE. TWO CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND I IDENTIFIED THE DEVICES CAUSING HIGH RADIATION EXPOSURE TO MY HEAD,AND SELLING DEALER DISCONNECTED THERMOSTAT;DISCONNECTING THERMOSTAT RESULTS IN FRONT DEFROSTER,AND ALL HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS BEING RENDERED VIRTUALLY UNCONTROLLABLE. ORIGINALLY SELLING DEALER OFFERED TO RELOCATE THE THERMOSTAT AWAY FROM MY HEAD,BUT DEALER LATER RETRACTED THAT OFFER. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE OF THE THERMOSTAT EMITTING HIGH LEVEL OF RADIATION AND REPORTED TO ME THE THERMOSTAT/DEVICE IS PERFORMING ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATION AND MAY NOT BE RELOCATED. WITH THERMOSTAT CONNECTED,I GET DEBILITATING HEADACHES AND TINNITUS,THE RELATED LONG TERM PHYSIOLOGICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF WHICH I DO NOT KNOW. IF THE THERMOSTAT IS DISCONNECTED,MY INABILITY TO CONTROL TEMPERATURE AND AIRFLOW INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT RENDER THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNDER MANY WEATHER CONDITIONS. POSTSCRIPT: IT OCCURS TO ME THAT THE RADIATION EXPOSURE FROM THE TAHOE THERMOSTAT SEEMS MANY TIMES HIGHER THAN THE RADIATION EXPOSURE ASSOCIATED WITH CELL PHONE USAGE;AND THE THERMOSTAT RADIATION IS EMITTED CONTINUALLY WHILE DRIVING. I AM INFORMED THAT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME SEVERAL YEARS AGO,VOLVO OFFERED FOR SALE IN EUROPE,A RETROFIT PACKAGE TO GROUND OUT HIGH RADIATION LEVELS IN ITS VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246632

175,000 miles · Aug 29, 2008
Visibility

DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER CAME LOOSE THEN FROZE AND BECAME INOPERABLE ON THE WINDSHIELD LEFT EDGE DURING RAINSTORM CAUSE WAS THE NUT WHICH HOLDS THE WIPER ON THE ROTATING SHAFT COMING LOOSE AND MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED/ TORQUED PROPERLY AT THE FACTORY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240246

29,000 miles · Feb 27, 2008
VisibilityFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. OCCASIONALLY, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS IF SOMEONE WAS SMOKING A CIGAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BLOWER RESISTOR SHORTED AND MELTED THE CONNECTOR. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE BURNING OCCURRED EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH WAS DEACTIVATED. HE IS IN POS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. OCCASIONALLY, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS IF SOMEONE WAS SMOKING A CIGAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BLOWER RESISTOR SHORTED AND MELTED THE CONNECTOR. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE BURNING OCCURRED EVEN WHEN THE SWITCH WAS DEACTIVATED. HE IS IN POSSESSION OF THE OLD PARTS. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

NHTSA ODI #10219315

18,230 miles · Mar 7, 2007
Visibility

1. DRIVING DURING A MINOR SNOWSTORM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. 2. I COULD NOT SEE CLEARLY AND HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY NAVIGATING THE ROADWAY. 3. AS THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AT A LOCAL DEALER. THAT DEALER INFORMED ME THAT…

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1. DRIVING DURING A MINOR SNOWSTORM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. 2. I COULD NOT SEE CLEARLY AND HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY NAVIGATING THE ROADWAY. 3. AS THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AT A LOCAL DEALER. THAT DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE WIPER TRANSMISSION WAS BAD, THOUGH THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I PURCHASED A NEW WIPER TRANSMISSION AND HAD IT INSTALLED BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE LINKAGES ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, SUCH AS SNOW, MIGHT CAUSE FAILURE. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, WHEREBY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE SUPPOSED TO OPERATE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, AND IF THE UNDERLYING COMPONENTS ARE OF INFERIOR QUALITY, IT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY NON-PROBLEMATIC MATERIALS. THE SERVICING DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO MY NOT CLEANING THE AREA SURROUNDING THE WIPER ARMS. BUT THIS IS NOT CORRECT, AS I DID CLEAN THIS AREA. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE DURING A STORM WITHOUT HAVING TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY TO MANUALLY CLEAN THE WIPERS AND SURROUNDING AREAS. IF THE LINKAGES ARE UNABLE TO HANDLE SNOW AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THEN THEY MUST BE UPGRADED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184446

Official recalls

5

14V070000 · Electrical System

Feb 11, 2014

Monroe Truck Equipment (Monroe) is recalling certain model year 2006, 2008 and 2009 Chevrolet C7500 vehicles, 2005-2006 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles, and 2009 Ford F-350, and F-450 vehicles, equipped with Sure Power-brand battery equalizers or DC-DC converters containing a particular epoxy sealing, aka 'potting', compound. The specific potting compound used in the subject products for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Monroe will notify owners, and Sure Power will replace the equalizers or converters, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2014. Owners may contact Monroe at 1-608-328-8127.

06V417000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 31, 2006

CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A FRONT PASSENGER'S LEVEL OF INJURY MAY BE INCREASED.

Remedy: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM AT 1-877-477-1022 TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPURCHASING THEIR VEHICLE.

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.

05V103000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages

Mar 18, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHROD RETAINER MAY BE MISSING. IF THE RETAINER IS MISSING, THE BRAKE BOOSTER PUSHROD COULD DISENGAGE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKES WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHROD RETAINER AND INSTALL ONE IF IT IS MISSING FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER BEGAN CONTACTING OWNERS BY TELEPHONE ON MARCH 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

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.

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.