2005 Chevrolet TAHOE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
293 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 242 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 293 complaints (21.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 34 | 11.6% |
| Steering behavior | 23 | 7.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 5.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 4.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 1.4% |
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 | 64 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 58 |
| Steering | 19 |
| Service Brakes | 17 |
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 15 |
| Power Train | 14 |
| Engine | 13 |
Electrical System: 64; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 58; Steering: 19; Service Brakes: 17; Air Bags: 16; Fuel System, Gasoline: 15; Power Train: 14; Engine: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 38 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 54 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 45 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 64 |
| 150,000 and above | 23 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 54; 75,000 to 99,999: 45; 100,000 to 149,999: 64; 150,000 and above: 23
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (64). 51 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2008 | 47 |
| 2009 | 25 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 28 |
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 36 |
| 2015 | 24 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 11; 2006: 2; 2007: 19; 2008: 47; 2009: 25; 2010: 21; 2011: 28; 2012: 21; 2013: 19; 2014: 36; 2015: 24; 2016: 8; 2017: 7; 2018: 8; 2019: 8; 2020: 4; 2022: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 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 10088818 · 2004-08-30 (August 30, 2004)
WE OWN A 2005 CHEVY TRAIL BLAZER. OUR 11-YEAR OLD SON FELL ASLEEP AND LAY DOWN WITH SHOULDER-HARNESSED SEAT BELT ON IN THE BACK SEAT - PASSENGER SIDE. UPON ARRIVING AT OUR DESTINATION HE WAS AWAKENED. AT THIS POINT HE SAT UP, RELEASED THE LATCH, AN TRIED TO GET OUT. THE SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED AROUND HIS WAIST AND AS HE TRIED TO UNTANGLE THE BELT THE RATCHET GOT SIGNIFICANTLY TIGHTER. WHEN I REALIZED THE PROBLEM DEVELOPING AND GOT AROUND TO HIM THE BELT WAS SO TIGHT THAT I COULD NOT UNTANGLE HIM OR SLIP HIM THROUGH THE LOOP. HE WAS IN SEVER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10088818 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133898 · 2005-08-23 (August 23, 2005)
DT: ON AUGUST 19 2005 THE OWNER WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS WORN OUT. THE OWNER CHECKED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT WAS WORN. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS WORN. OWNER HAS NEVER USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE OWNER GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, THEN THE TRUCK ROLLED FORWARD AS IF THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY BRAKE. THERE WERE NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10133898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145625 · 2005-12-19 (December 19, 2005)
MY COMPLAINT IS A STEADY VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE MY 2005 TAHOE IS IDLING IN TRAFFIC, CAR IN GEAR, BASICALLY CRAWLING ALONG IN TRAFFIC. ALTHOUGH VIBRATION NEVER GETS TO THE POINT OF SEEING THE STEERING WHEEL PHYSICALLY SHAKE, THE VIBRATION GETS STRONGER AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING (GETS HOTTER). VIBRATION CREATES A SENSATION SIMILAR TO A LOW ELECTRICAL CURRENT RUNNING UP YOUR ARM. AFTER SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR 30 TO 40 MINUTES, YOUR FINGERTIPS BECOME ALMOST NUMB. VEHICLE HAS BEE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10145625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165239 · 2006-08-11 (August 11, 2006)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER WAS REPLACED.*AK UPDATED 9/11/2006 - WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING FUNCTION WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 11,583 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133762 · 2005-08-22 (August 22, 2005)
DT: THE FUEL PUMP QUIT PUMPING GAS, THE WIRING GOT HOT ON IT AND IT STARTED SMOKING. TOOKE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID FUEL PUMP WAS BAD AND WIRING OVERHEATED. THEY REPLACED THE PUMP, AND THE WIRING. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 3, 2005. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,927 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134197 · 2005-09-23 (September 23, 2005)
DT: THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED AROUND 8-1-05. AT THIS TIME ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH AREA STARTED FLASHING BEFORE THE BATTERY DIED. THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE IT FAILED PREVIOUSLY. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY BELIEVED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10134197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141762 · 2005-11-04 (November 4, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. WHILE DRIVING THE WHEELS INTERMITTENTLY LOCKED. THE DEALER REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION TO TRY AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS DID NOT COMPLETELY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WILL STILL SLIP FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT MANUALLY BEING CHANGED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184446 · 2007-03-07 (March 7, 2007)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,230 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232684 · 2008-06-30 (June 30, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED HALF A TANK. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GASOLINE. HE HAD TO MANEUVER ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AND AVOID SEVERAL NEAR CRASHES. THE FOLLOWING DAY, AFTER A FULL TANK OF GAS WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE OTHER INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER ILLUMI…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10399099 · 2011-05-04 (May 4, 2011)
THE INCIDENT IS THE VEHICLE STALLING ON THE INTERSTATE WHICH COULD HAVE LEAD TO A ACCIDENT IF THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME HAD NOT SWIRVED AT THE LAST MOMENT. THE FUEL GUAGE REGISTERD 3/4 TANK OF GAS. ONCE STOPPED AT THE NEXT EXIT I WAS ABLE TO PUT 25 GALLONS IN THE TANK. I HAVE SINCE NOTICED THAT THE GUAGE WILL READ SPORATIC READINGS BUT THEN SETTLE BACK TO AROUND THE 3/4 TANK MARK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 155,630 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399099 at NHTSA ↗