Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reports
177,000 miles · Jul 14, 2011
Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET W4500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WITH THE HEATER IN OPERATION, HE BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM UNDERNE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET W4500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WITH THE HEATER IN OPERATION, HE BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA AND RESUMED DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE WITHIN THE AIR CONDITIONERS BLOWER MOTOR AND THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER RESISTOR AND CONNECTOR WERE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000. UPDATED 08/31/2011 *LN
NHTSA ODI #10412244
800 miles · Jun 17, 2005
Power Train
DT: WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TRUCK SHOOK. DEALER SAID THEY FIXED IT ABOUT 5 TIMES, BUT CALLER INSISTED IT WAS NOT FIXED. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT CALLED CALLER BACK YET. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10125672
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 W4500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year