IllustrationFUEL GAGE STARTED TO READ INCORRECTLY AFTER FILLING TANK - INITIALLY WOULD DROP TO EMPTY AND THEN READ CORRECTLY AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 100 MILES - NOW READS INCORRECTLY ALL THE TIME. AFTER FILLING IT WILL SHOW EMPTY AND WILL NEVER READ MORE A QUARTER TANK FULL. *TR
2005 GMC Envoy
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Envoy years
Owner complaints for the 2005 GMC Envoy are substantially higher than the model-year median of 22.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Envoy 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
280–25K
5925–50K
8750–75K
10775–100K
88100–150K
16150K+
385 reports with mileage · 103 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 183 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 164 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
27 crash reports14 fire reports22 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
164 reportsMY 2005 GMC ENVOY'S GAS GAUGE HAS BEEN BROKE SINCE IT HAD 70,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS 104,000, BUT I HAVE BEEN TRACKING FILL UPS BY MILEAGE FOR OVER THREE YEARS NOW. EVERYONE I KNOW THAT HAS A TRAILBLAZER OR ENVOY HAS THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
INACCURATE FUEL GAUGE RESULTED IN RUNNING OUT OF GAS TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY; ONE OF THE EVENTS NEARLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER FILLING GAS TANK BEFORE HEADING OUT OF TOWN ON 4/22/11, FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED EMPTY. GAUGE HAS BEEN ACTING ERRATICALLY FOR THE PAST WEEK NOW. NEWS REPORT OF NHTSA INVESTIGATION MADE ME AWARE THAT I COULD REPORT THIS SOMEWHERE. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE HAS ALSO BEEN ACTING SIMILARLY ERRATIC, STARTING A FEW DAYS BEFO…
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IMMEDIATELY AFTER FILLING GAS TANK BEFORE HEADING OUT OF TOWN ON 4/22/11, FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED EMPTY. GAUGE HAS BEEN ACTING ERRATICALLY FOR THE PAST WEEK NOW. NEWS REPORT OF NHTSA INVESTIGATION MADE ME AWARE THAT I COULD REPORT THIS SOMEWHERE. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE HAS ALSO BEEN ACTING SIMILARLY ERRATIC, STARTING A FEW DAYS BEFORE FUEL GAUGE BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING.
FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY AFTER FILL UP. MOVES FROM EMPTY, TO 1/2 FULL, TO 1/4 FULL TO EMPTY, BACK TO 1/4 FULL, BACK TO EMPTY. I CAN'T DETERMINE HOW MUCH GAS IN MAY TANK. THIS COULD CAUSE ME TO UNEXPECTEDLY RUN OUT OF GAS WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON PROB…
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FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY AFTER FILL UP. MOVES FROM EMPTY, TO 1/2 FULL, TO 1/4 FULL TO EMPTY, BACK TO 1/4 FULL, BACK TO EMPTY. I CAN'T DETERMINE HOW MUCH GAS IN MAY TANK. THIS COULD CAUSE ME TO UNEXPECTEDLY RUN OUT OF GAS WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN GMC ENVOY AND CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZERS. THERE IS NO WARNING IN THE OWNERS MANUAL OR SUGGESTION THAT THE GAUGE AND SENSORS BE REPLACED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR - BETWEEN $600 AND $900.
I OWN A 2005 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOW ON FUEL, BUT IN REALITY, THE VEHICLE WAS FULL OF GASOLINE. I NOTICED THAT WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL, THE GAUGE WILL DISPLAY HALF OF A TANK. WHEN HALF OF A TANK OF FUEL IS I…
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I OWN A 2005 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOW ON FUEL, BUT IN REALITY, THE VEHICLE WAS FULL OF GASOLINE. I NOTICED THAT WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL, THE GAUGE WILL DISPLAY HALF OF A TANK. WHEN HALF OF A TANK OF FUEL IS IN THE VEHICLE, THE GAUGE DISPLAYS THAT IT IS EMPTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,500. *TR
THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED EMPTY AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK WITH 20 GALLONS. THE GAUGE CONTINUED TO READ EMPTY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE. IT IS OBVIOUS THIS IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM THAT NEEDS RECALLED AND FIXED. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IF YOU DON'T K…
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THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED EMPTY AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK WITH 20 GALLONS. THE GAUGE CONTINUED TO READ EMPTY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE. IT IS OBVIOUS THIS IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM THAT NEEDS RECALLED AND FIXED. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE AMOUNT OF FUEL YOU HAVE. *TR
FUEL GAUGE IS FAULTY. WILL NOT RECORD EXACT CAPACITY OF FUEL IN TANK. THIS LEAD TO THE VEHICLE RUNNING OUT OF GAS DURING OPERATION. AVOIDED A CRASH, JUST BARELY.
THE FUEL GAUGE IS INOPERABLE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE IN THE 2004 -2007 GMC ENVOY, CHEVY TRAILBLAZERS AND BUICK RANIER. I KNOW AT LEAST 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. THE DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS NOT A CLASS ACTION ISSUE BUT TO MANY COMMENTS ARE ON THE INTERNET. …
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THE FUEL GAUGE IS INOPERABLE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE IN THE 2004 -2007 GMC ENVOY, CHEVY TRAILBLAZERS AND BUICK RANIER. I KNOW AT LEAST 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. THE DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS NOT A CLASS ACTION ISSUE BUT TO MANY COMMENTS ARE ON THE INTERNET. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AT INTERSECTIONS AND PARKING LOTS WHEN PROCEEDING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AFTER BEING STOPPED. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STATED THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL ISSUE WITH THE GM PRODUCTS. GM SHOULD BE RECALL ALL VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE FUEL SENDING UNITS AT NO CHARGE OR A REDUCED CHARGE(COST OF PART OR LABOR WHICHEVER IS THE LEAST COST TO THE OWNER). THE GOVERNMENT HAS BAILED THEM OUT NOW IT IS TIME FOR GM TO DO THE RIGHT THING. ALSO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY ALSO AND THIS RESULTED IN SPEEDING TICKETS. I HAVE REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACTURED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AT THE COST OF $150.00 VS $600.00 WITH THE LOCAL GM DEALER.
I HAVE A 2005 GMC ENVOY XL-SLT AND THE FUEL GAGE HAS STOP WORKING PROPERLY I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE ENVOY I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL CAUSE A SYSTEM FAILURE AND SHUT DOWN IN THE HIGHWAY UNEXPECTED AND CAUSE A COLLISION, THEIR NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIX FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE I…
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I HAVE A 2005 GMC ENVOY XL-SLT AND THE FUEL GAGE HAS STOP WORKING PROPERLY I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE ENVOY I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL CAUSE A SYSTEM FAILURE AND SHUT DOWN IN THE HIGHWAY UNEXPECTED AND CAUSE A COLLISION, THEIR NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIX FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THEIR ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM . *TR
Official recalls
206V417000 · 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.
05V035000 · Visibility:windshield
Feb 3, 2005
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING.' THE WINDSHIELD URETHANE BEAD MAY NOT HAVE ADHERED TO THE BODY IN CERTAIN AREAS DURING THE CURE PROCESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CRASH OCCURS, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE RETAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 10, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OR 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
2RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights
Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights
The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.
DP10001 · Fuel Level Gauge System Failure
Opened Jan 7, 2010 · Closed May 23, 2011
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Other; Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Other
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.
Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System
The Office of Defects Investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, and Saab 9-7x vehicles.Of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.Of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. One complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.Summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.