Illustration2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE Z71. UPON TURNING, COULD HEAR AND FEEL IN STEERING COLUMN A POPPING TYPE NOISE/FEEL. TOOK IT FOR SERVICE, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS BROKE. PART REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tahoe 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
3825–50K
5450–75K
4575–100K
64100–150K
24150K+
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
What owners actually said
293 reportsERRATIC SPEEDOMETER INDICATIONS, SPEEDOMETER STUCK ON 120MPH WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED CALIBRATED BY MEMORY USING THE TACHOMETER. THE SAME COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED BY MULTIPLE PURCHASERS OF THIS VEHICLE FOR YEARS THAT THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY A DASH CLUSTER FOR CONSUMER PAID REPLACEMENT OF$450.00. *TR
MY 2005 CHEVY TAHOE HAS DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER. THE GAUGE READS 20-30 MPH FASTER THAN IT SHOULD AND THEN IT EVENTUALLY PEGS OUT AT 120 MPH. IT WILL RETURN TO 0 AFTER THE SWITCH IS CYCLED ON/OFF BUT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW YOUR SPEED WHEN IT'S MALFUNCTIONING. *TR
I AM WRITING THIS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A FIRE HAZARD WITH THE SEAT WARMERS IN 2005 CHEVY TAHOE. I HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICAL TO THE REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE MY SEAT WARMER WOULD GET WARMER THAN USUAL AND AFTER 2 TO 3 MINUTES WOULD SHUT OFF. COME TO FIND OUT THE SEAT WARMER PAD HAD SHORTED OUT AND BURNT. I HAVE THE SEAT WARMER PAD THAT IS CH…
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I AM WRITING THIS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A FIRE HAZARD WITH THE SEAT WARMERS IN 2005 CHEVY TAHOE. I HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICAL TO THE REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE MY SEAT WARMER WOULD GET WARMER THAN USUAL AND AFTER 2 TO 3 MINUTES WOULD SHUT OFF. COME TO FIND OUT THE SEAT WARMER PAD HAD SHORTED OUT AND BURNT. I HAVE THE SEAT WARMER PAD THAT IS CHARCOALED AND BURNT. I HAVE CONTACTED AND SPOKE TO GM REPRESENTIVES 4 TIMES INFORMING THEM OF THE FIRE HAZARD ALL I GET IS THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, MY VEHICLE HAS TO MANY MILES AND I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP OTHER THAN GM. THIS IS A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD AND I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE AWARE AND GM NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE. *CN
2005 CHEVY. TAHOE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT(LED PANEL) $300.00 REPLACEMENT VALUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
MY SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2005 CHEVY TAHOE Z71 4X4 STOPS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY SHOWS WE ARE GOING WAY SLOWER OR 0 WHEN WE ARE DRIVING. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY TAHOE, THAT HAS OVER 100,000 MILES. I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THE PEDAL WOULD STICK A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ODD ABOUT THAT. (BECAUSE I THOUGHT MAYBE MIGHT FOOT WASN'T ACCELERATING PROPERLY) THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING WITHOUT WARNI…
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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY TAHOE, THAT HAS OVER 100,000 MILES. I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THE PEDAL WOULD STICK A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ODD ABOUT THAT. (BECAUSE I THOUGHT MAYBE MIGHT FOOT WASN'T ACCELERATING PROPERLY) THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING WITHOUT WARNING I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AROUND 65 MPH AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DRAG HORRIBLY. I IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO CHECK MY TRANSMISSION FLUID, WHICH WAS FULL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AAMCO, THEY PLACED IT ON THE MACHINE AND EVERYTHING CAME BACK FINE, HOWEVER, WHEN THE MECHANIC DROVE THE VEHICLE HE DETERMINED IT WAS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. THE VEHICLE REPAIRS TOTAL @ $1800.00 WHICH I DON'T HAVE ESPECIALLY AROUND THE HOLIDAY'S. THE VEHICLE IS NOW SITTING IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WHEN I LIVED IN GEORGIA IN 10/2006, IT HAD 55,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME WITH NO VISIBLE ABUSE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INCORRECT READING, REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED BEING TRAVELED. IN ADDITION, FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE FUEL GAUGE WHICH RESULTED IN AN INACCURATE READING AT ANY GIVEN FUEL LEVEL CAPACITY. THE VEHI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INCORRECT READING, REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED BEING TRAVELED. IN ADDITION, FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE FUEL GAUGE WHICH RESULTED IN AN INACCURATE READING AT ANY GIVEN FUEL LEVEL CAPACITY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
STOPPED TO CHECK AIR PRESSURE IN TIRES, THAT'S WHEN I SAW THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WITH A 6 INCH SIDEWALL SEPARATION LEADING FROM THE RIM SIDEWALL TO THE TIRE TREAD. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE HAS A 3 INCH SEPARATION STARTING INTO THE SIDEWALL. *TR
2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. THE SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AT 20 MPH. PERSONAL RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT CHEVROLET HAS ACKNOWLEDGED A DEFECT IN DRIVE MOTORS WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FROM A PARTS MANUFACTURER IN 10 MODELS PRODUCED FROM 2003 TO 2007. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD THAT CHEVROLET NEEDS TO…
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2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. THE SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AT 20 MPH. PERSONAL RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT CHEVROLET HAS ACKNOWLEDGED A DEFECT IN DRIVE MOTORS WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FROM A PARTS MANUFACTURER IN 10 MODELS PRODUCED FROM 2003 TO 2007. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD THAT CHEVROLET NEEDS TO ADDRESS VIA A RECALL OF ALL EFFECTED MODELS. *TR
Official recalls
514V070000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.