2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
The Verdict
The 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe has 290 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (126 complaints) and body (71 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 44/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Chevrolet Tahoe, consider the 2025 model year which has 87% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2025 has 87% fewer complaints
View the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 1
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
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 w...
Risk
Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
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.
Reported Nov 2, 2014
Get notified if a recall hits this car.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 94 | 134 | 35 | 24 | 8 |
| 2001 | 147 | 266 | 48 | 31 | 26 |
| 2002 | 136 | 177 | 61 | 51 | 38 |
| 2003 | 129 | 109 | 208 | 71 | 17 |
| 2004 | 82 | 81 | 218 | 59 | 26 |
| 2005 | 71 | 22 | 126 | 49 | 22 |
| 2006 | 55 | 13 | 28 | 10 | 8 |
| 2007 | 420 | 7 | 577 | 114 | 39 |
| 2008 | 194 | 14 | 313 | 54 | 9 |
| 2009 | 131 | 10 | 122 | 31 | 11 |
| 2010 | 172 | 1 | 128 | 12 | 5 |
| 2011 | 231 | 1 | 199 | 20 | 5 |
| 2012 | 95 | 6 | 64 | 10 | 5 |
| 2013 | 141 | 6 | 59 | 16 | 8 |
| 2014 | 49 | 5 | 28 | 6 | 5 |
| 2015 | 189 | 188 | 141 | 102 | 40 |
| 2016 | 65 | 87 | 32 | 30 | 39 |
| 2017 | 34 | 38 | 25 | 30 | 41 |
| 2018 | 31 | 16 | 13 | 27 | 11 |
| 2019 | 22 | 3 | 18 | 44 | 14 |
| 2020 | 10 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 10 |
| 2021 | 53 | 16 | 57 | 249 | 45 |
| 2022 | 33 | 8 | 25 | 82 | 24 |
| 2023 | 18 | 15 | 19 | 120 | 22 |
| 2024 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 33 | 3 |
| 2025 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 19 | 0 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the passenger’s 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 passenger’s side sensing system had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was advised by the mechanic that there was a recall associated to the failure, NHTSA Campaign Number: 06V417000 (Air Bags). The mechanic referred the contact to a dealer for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had checked the NHTSA.gov website and became aware that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.
The gear shifting doesn’t seem to grab properly all the time. It will lurch into gear sometimes and sometime won’t engage in the gear indicated. The indicator lights dimmed and now don’t illuminate so you don’t know what gear you are in. It seems like this is a specific recall to my vehicle but when I enter my vin it says my car is not affected. I hope this can be looked into and repaired under the recall.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS INOPERABLE WHICH MADE IT DIFFICLUT TO DISTINGUISH WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HALL CHEVROLET CHESAPEAKE (3412 WESTERN BRANCH BLVD, CHESAPEAKE, VA 23321) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V055000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER: THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 141,000.
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THE RECALLS WAS UP TO DATE, MY CONCERN IS MOSTLY WHEN I SOMETIMES HIT THE BRAKES I HEAR A HUMMING SOUND. NOT SURE IF IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY RECALL OR NOT.
THE BRAKES AND STEERING LOCKED UP THROWING ME INTO A TELEPHONE POLE AND ALMOST GOING OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD SLAM SIDEWAYS AGAINST THE TREE AND NOT ONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED MY SON WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME IF IT WERE ME I'D BEEN DEAD BECAUSE I HAVE A BRAIN TUMOR AND CANNOT HIT MY HEAD HE HAS SEVERAL INJURIES AND LOTS OF MEDICAL BILLS BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE AT THE TIME OF INJURY
SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE AND DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR VEHICLE IS IN.
FUEL BACK FLOWS OUT THE GAS TANK ON THE GROUND NO MATTER THE FUEL LEVEL. FUEL WILL DUMP ONTO THE GROUND AT VARYING DEGREES. MULTIPLE REPORTS BY THE FORUMS. I WILL BE SUBMITTING THIS LINK SO OTHERS CAN POST TO PROVE THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME THING
VEHICLE STATES SERVICE AIR BAG SYSTEM
'TAHOE RECALLS' FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT FULLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. OVER THE YEARS, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES, INCLUDING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING MALFUNCTIONING. THE FAILURE MADE IT DIFFICULT TO VIEW THE GAUGE INFORMATION. IN ADDITION, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD ONLY OPERATE WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED, AND THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GILCREST CHEVROLET (6030 S. TACOMA WAY, TACOMA, WA) WHERE THE REAR WINDOW MOTOR AND INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES EVENTUALLY RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. *BF. CONSUMER STATED DASH LIGHT REPLACE MULTI WINDSHIELD WIPER AND REPLACED PASSENGER SEAT HEATER.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF COOLANT COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS, WHICH RESULTED IN A BURNING ODOR. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER IN THE OIL WHEN CHECKING THE DIPSTICK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL TRUCK SAT FOR 2-3 DAYS NO ONE DROVE IT. WOKE MY WIFE UP AT ABOUT 9 AM ON 02/08/2019 ENGULFED IN FLAMES BURNED TRUCK TO THE GROUND . FIREMEN HAD TO USE JAWS OF LIFE TO GET DOORS OPEN BURNED COMPLETELY UP AND I ONLY HAD LIABILITY ON IT PURCHASED IT JUST 3 MONTHS AGO FROM A USED CAR LOT. IT CAUGHT A LITTLE BIT OF OUR HOUSE ON FIRE NEWBORN KEPT WATER ON IT TILL FIREMEN ARRIVED IF NOT WHOLE HOUSE WOULD HAVE BURNED WIFE SAID SHE HEARD A POP NOISE WENT OUTSIDE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE ADDING FUEL TO THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL PUMP SHUT OFF AND THE FUEL SPILLED OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS FUELED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,836.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. NOT ABLE TO SEE GEAR PANEL PRND321. RIGHT TURNING SIGNAL DOESN'T WORK SOMETIMES OR MAKE HIGH BEAMS COME ON WHEN IT COMES ON.
WE'VE PUT 21,000 MILES ON THESE TIRES IN 3 YEARS AND HAVE TIRE RUMBLES, VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AND SIDE WALL IS CRACKING AND FLAKING AWAY. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE GOT THE TIRES FROM AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S CAUSING IT. SEEMS TO ME THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THESE TIRES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT WHILE DRIVING.
NOTICED NOISE IN MY POWER STEERING ON INSPECTION FOUND TO BE LOW ON FLUID FINLEY FOUND LEAK AT BREAK SYSTEM. ON RESEARCH FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLUM ON MANY CHEVY AUTOS AND TRUCKS FROM 2003 TO 2006 THOSE ARE THE ONES I FOUND
TAMARA RECALL LIGHTS SHORTING OUT (INSIDE)THEY COME ON WHEN THEY ARE NOT SPOUSE TO.LICENCE PLATE LIGHTS FLICKER.MOVING AND SITTING STILL ON BOTH.TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS (SLIPPING) READ MULTIPLE FORMS ONLINE AND THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE JUNK THAT MAKES ALOT OF PEOPLE NOT WANT THEM.I LOVE MY TAHOE AND WOULD LOVE FOR THE ISSUES TO BE SOLVED FOR ME AND EVERYONE ELSE.
MY CHEVROLET TAHOE 2005 HAS SEVERAL AIRBAG CODES RELATING TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON
REAR HATCH UNLOCKED BUT WILL NOT OPEN WITH LATCH!
290 total