2005 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Tahoe years
- About as many complaints as other years 13th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 293 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe. That ranks 13th out of 32 Tahoe model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (126 complaints, 43%), typically at around 65,500 miles. Complaints mention 9 crashes, 14 fires, 12 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 293owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 9complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 126 | 43% | 65,500 | “instrument cluster” (8%) | $740 |
| Power Train | 24 | 8% | 94,250 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 19 | 6% | 122,807 | — | — |
| Steering | 19 | 6% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 18 | 6% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 6% | 100,050 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 16 | 5% | 62,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 13 | 4% | 120,995 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 13 | 4% | 122,418 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 12 | 4% | 82,024 | — | — |
| Tires | 12 | 4% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 9 | 3% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 3% | 96,688 | — | — |
| Visibility | 9 | 3% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 8 | 3% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 3% | 97,750 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 2% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 7 | 2% | 128,756 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 2% | 77,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 2% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 2% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 5 | 2% | 121,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 1% | 129,580 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 8,000 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | 10,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Chevrolet Tahoe recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system
Problem: 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.
Risk: Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Seat belts:rear/other
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages
Problem: 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.
Risk: This could result in a loss of brakes which could result in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Power train:manual transmission:shift pattern indicator
Problem: 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.
Risk: The vehicle may move in an unintended direction resulting in possible injury to others outside of the vehicle.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
P 285 50 R20 Cooper Discoverer HT blew out on Mass Tpke I 90 EB on Aug 8 @ approx 7:00pm while driving. Whole center section came off right rear tire leaving only the sidewalls on the rim. was able to manuever vehicle off I 90 EB off to the shoulder. Vehicle was towed of Turnpike to safe location…
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while attempting to check the Carfax report, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 42,000 and upon checking the…
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the passengerâs side air bag warning light was illuminated while starting the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The independent mechanic determined that the passengerâs side…
The gear shifting doesnât seem to grab properly all the time. It will lurch into gear sometimes and sometime wonât engage in the gear indicated. The indicator lights dimmed and now donât illuminate so you donât know what gear you are in. It seems like this is a specific recall to my vehicle…
Rear hatch/window failed to open via remote keyfob nor driver door button. Vehicle was parked at residence. Found that i could not open hatch nor window manually from in or outside which is an extremely dangerous safety hazard.
Other Chevrolet Tahoe years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tahoe | 27 | 3 |
| 2025 Tahoe | 49 | 1 |
| 2024 Tahoe | 68 | 3 |
| 2023 Tahoe | 229 | 5 |
| 2022 Tahoe | 193 | 4 |
| 2021 Tahoe | 457 | 16 |
| 2020 Tahoe | 57 | 3 |
| 2019 Tahoe | 107 | 2 |
| 2018 Tahoe | 105 | 3 |
| 2017 Tahoe | 174 | 4 |
| 2016 Tahoe | 256 | 8 |
| 2015 Tahoe | 658 | 14 |
| 2014 Tahoe | 90 | 3 |
| 2013 Tahoe | 233 | 4 |
| 2012 Tahoe | 178 | 3 |
| 2011 Tahoe | 447 | 5 |
| 2010 Tahoe | 314 | 3 |
| 2009 Tahoe | 284 | 5 |
| 2008 Tahoe | 528 | 4 |
| 2007 Tahoe | 1,177 | 4 |
| 2006 Tahoe | 114 | 3 |
| 2005 | 293 | 5 |
| 2004 Tahoe | 467 | 2 |
| 2003 Tahoe | 507 | 4 |
| 2002 Tahoe | 449 | 3 |
| 2001 Tahoe | 512 | 5 |
| 2000 Tahoe | 282 | 6 |
| 1999 Tahoe | 552 | 1 |
| 1998 Tahoe | 263 | 2 |
| 1997 Tahoe | 410 | 0 |
| 1996 Tahoe | 283 | 3 |
| 1995 Tahoe | 246 | 6 |
See all Chevrolet Tahoe problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
Similar Chevrolet models
Embed this 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe?
Owners most often report electrical system, power train, air bags problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 126 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Tahoe model years, the 2005 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.