What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2005 Chevrolet Silverado

Early-defect pattern

21.2% of complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado came in its first year of service — a higher share than 95% of the 245 2005 model-years on record. That points to problems present from new rather than wear. The most-reported system is electrical system (65 complaints), typically at 4.5 yr or about 66,000 miles.

Complaints
359
Median age at failure
4.3 yr
Median mileage
53,474 n=307
Crash / fire / tow
7% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
65 reports · 66,000 mi
4.5 yr
7.7%
Service brakes
61 reports · 95,000 mi
9.3 yr
4.9%
Service brakes, hydraulic
28 reports · 29,500 mi
1.8 yr
7.1%
Air bags
28 reports · 64,000 mi
8.2 yr
21.4%
Power train
28 reports · 53,006 mi
1.8 yr
0%
Steering
24 reports · 27,842 mi
1.9 yr
0%
Engine cooling
22 reports · 8,432 mi
1.5 yr
0%
Suspension
19 reports · 1,000 mi
1.0 yr
5.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

08E050000 2008-08-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E106000 2007-12-17
Wheels:hub

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.

WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E066000 2007-08-28
Equipment:electrical

CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.

IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.

06V289000 2006-08-03
Engine cooling

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER.

IF THE DAMPER COMES LOOSE, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

06E064000 2006-07-17
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E060000 2006-06-29
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

06E023000 2006-03-13
Exterior lighting:headlights

CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

05V455000 2005-10-05
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A POWER STEERING HOSE THAT IS NOT TO SPECIFICATION. UNDER EXTREME STEERING MANEUVERS, SUCH AS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FULLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE BRAKING, THE HOSE MAY FRACTURE AND LEAK FLUID.

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD BE LOST AND INCREASED STEERING EFFORT WOULD BE REQUIRED. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRO-BOOST POWER BRAKES, IT COULD ALSO RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST AND INCREASED BRAKING EFFORT WOULD BE REQUIRED. IF THE POWER STEERING FLUID SPRAY WERE TO SPRAY ONTO HOT ENGINE PARTS, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

05V163000 2005-04-22
Seat belts:rear/other

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 S

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.

05V161000 2005-04-22
Parking brake

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND BUILT WITH EITHER PBR PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS OR TRW PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS, THE PARKING BRAKE FRICTION LININGS MAY WEAR TO AN EXTENT WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CAN BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN IMMOBILIZING A PARKED VEHICLE.

IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD, UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Service brakes, hydraulic 1,449 mi 3 mo in service
I REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SEEM TO WANT TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS LATER THE PROBLEM REPEATED ITSELF BUT WITH THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS COMING ON.*AK
Service brakes, hydraulic 1,444 mi 3 mo in service
REAR BRAKES; HANGING UP, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SEEM TO WANT TO MONE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THREE WEEKS LATER THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED.*AK
Service brakes, hydraulic 466 mi 7 mo in service
2005 SILVERADO LS EXTENDED CAB: EXTREME HEAT WITH SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE FRONT DISC BRAKES. EXTREMELY HOT HUBS LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT. PROIR TO TODAYS PRE-FIRE CONDITONS, I REPORTED TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER THAT THE FRONT BRAKES SEEM TO "STICK" WHILE DRIVING AND WERE HOT WITH A BURNING SMELL. (TRUCK WAS PURCHASED LAST MONTH AND HAS ONLY 466 MILES) INTERMITTENT HOT HUBS AND BURN SMELL, BUT NO SMOKE. TODAY, REPORTING FIRE CONDITIONS WITH THE EXTREME HEAT AND BILLOWING SMOKE. LEFT A MESSAGE TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND WILL PUT IN THEIR SHOP TOMMORROW THE 8TH OF APRIL 2005.*AK
Electrical system mileage not reported 4 mo in service crash / fire / tow
THIS IS A FAILURE OF ALL AUTOS. WHY NOT REQUIRE ALL AUTO MAKERS TO HOOK UP CARS LIGHTS TO THEIR WINDSHIELD WIPERS? THAT WAY IF WIPERS ARE ON LIGHTS ARE ON. *JB

Other Silverado model years

2017201420122011200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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