2005 Chevrolet SUBURBAN 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
94 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 85 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 94 complaints (25.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 11.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 8.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 24 |
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 24; Electrical System: 22; Air Bags: 7; Service Brakes: 6; Power Train: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 29 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2006: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 19; 2009: 16; 2010: 17; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2013: 7; 2014: 9; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10360161 · 2010-10-12 (October 12, 2010)
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND MY CAR MADE A CLICKING SOUND AND THEN BEGIN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT MADE A REALLY LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR FELL ONTO THE ROAD AND WAS BEING DRAGGED ALONG AND THE IT WOULD NOT GO ANYMORE. I TRIED PUTTING IT IN PARK AND IT WOULD NOT STOP, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS UNTIL I PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND TURNED IT OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THE DRIVE SHAFT BROKE IN TWO. IT WAS A VERY SCARY INCIDENT WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10363562 · 2010-11-01 (November 1, 2010)
ONE WEEK AGO I WAS DRIVING TO MY BACK ABOUT 6 TO 7 MILES AND MY BRAKES WENT OUT. I WAS SO SCARED I ALMOST DIED IT WAS A HEAVY TRAFFIC AREA. THIS TIME IT WAS MY FRONT ROTOR CRACKED RIGHT IN HALF. I SEE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THIS ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. I HAVE ASKED AROUND AND NOBODY HAS EVER SEEN OR HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THIS IS CRAZY AND I TAKE MY KIDS IN THIS CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166783 · 2006-08-28 (August 28, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT WITH WATER INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS RAIN WATER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS CLEANED AND COMPLETELY RESEALED. A COWL WATER DEFLECTOR WAS ADDED TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE IN THE FUTURE. UPDATED 9/18/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 48,822 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10210013 · 2007-11-26 (November 26, 2007)
TRANSMISSION HOT LIGHT CAME ON AS TRAVELING THE INTERSTATE. PULLED OVER UNTIL LIGHT WENT OUT. LEFT THE INTERSTATE, LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. AS TRYING TO PULL OFF ROAD, TRUCK STOPPED (ENGINE ON, BUT WOULD NOT ADVANCE FORWARD). HAD TO REPLACE WITH ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210013 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251550 · 2008-12-12 (December 12, 2008)
I HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THERE NOT BEING A RECALL ON MY 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. SOMETIME EARLIER THIS YEAR MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED JUMPING TO HIGHER SPEEDS AS I WAS DRIVING AND THEN GOT TO THE POINT IT WAS GOING ALL THE WAY PAST 120MPH. SOMETIMES IT WOULD RESET TO 0 AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. MOST RECENTLY IT HAS GONE PAST 120 AND WILL NOT RETURN TO THE NORMAL FUNCTIONS IT SHOULD HAVE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, HOWEVER, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I CANNOT AFFORD THE $40…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10251550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10493684 · 2013-01-21 (January 21, 2013)
ELECTRICAL CLUSTER SPEEDOMETER WENT HAYWIRE THEN QUIT ODOMETER DID THE SAME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10493684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10654073 · 2014-11-10 (November 10, 2014)
HAD SERVICED THE TRANSFER CASE AND HAD TAKEN IT BACK TWICE NOW BESIDES A NOISE LIKE THAT OF A POWER STEERING PUMP GOING BAD ( WHINING ) , HAD A TURNING CLUNK NOISE COMING AND AT A STOP LIGHT I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER SIDE, GOT TO PARK IT AND SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING .BRING IT BACK TO SEE IF THE MECHANIC WILL WORK ON IT SINCE IT HASN'T BEEN 30 DAYS. PLEASE NOTIFY ME OF ANYTHING DO TO THE TRANSFER CASE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10654073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478855 · 2012-10-06 (October 6, 2012)
MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL GAUGE AND DELAYED STARTS. I CHANGED THE PUMP AND NOTICED THE ORIGINAL PUMP WAS MISSING A SPRING ON ONE OF THE PUSH RODS. THE WEAR AND TEAR MADE THE PUMP HANG. I HAVE THE PUMP AND PHOTOS TO DELIVER. THIS PUMP IS A FLEX FUEL PUMP. THERE ARE SO MANY POSTS ON THIS DELAYED START ISSUE. I HAVE RECENTLY POSTED THE CAUSE OF MY ISSUE. I NOTICED THE DEFECT IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE I PERFORMED THE REPAIR AND NOT THE DEALER. THEY WERE QUICK TO OFFER ME A QUOTE …
Owner-reported narrative. 196,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10503597 · 2013-03-19 (March 19, 2013)
GAS SMELL WHEN IDLING....TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND THE (FLEXIBLE) FUEL LINE LEAKING. THEY SHOWED ME THE PROBLEM AND IT SURE LOOKED LIKE THE LINES WERE CROSSED WHEN THEY WERE INSTALLED, EVEN THE MECHANIC SAID SOMETHING TO THAT NATURE, BUT I WILL GUARANTEE YOU HE WOULD NEVER ADMIT THAT......IT IS GOING TO COST ME $651.00 TO HAVE JUST ONE LINE REPLACED............THE LINE WORE A HOLE THRU IT WHERE THE LINES WERE CROSSED AND RUBBING ON EACH OTHER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503597 at NHTSA ↗