RoadVitals

2005 Chevrolet Classic

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
49
Latest Sep 2, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Feb 14, 2005
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
7
13 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 49 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Classic, most frequently naming the electrical, steering and airbags categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 430 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical2541.0%
  • Steering1423.0%
  • Airbags58.2%
  • Seat belts34.9%
  • Fuel system23.3%
  • Powertrain (other)23.3%
  • Suspension23.3%
  • Brakes23.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

SUSPENSION:REAR

Feb 14, 2005
9,402 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE BOLTS THAT ARE NOT TO SPECIFICATION AND COULD FRACTURE UNDER HIGH LOADS THAT CAN OCCUR IN SOME DRIVING CONDITIONS.
The risk: IF THE BOLT FRACTURE, THE REAR SUSPENSION LINKAGE COULD DETACH FROM THE KNUCKLE AND THE REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN INBOARD OR OUTBOARD. SUDDEN CHANGES IN VEHICLE HANDLING COULD OCCUR, PARTICULARLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, AND THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 05020View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Sep 2, 2017

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE THEFT BYPASS SYSTEM, ON MY 2005 CHEVY CLASSIC. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. IT WAS FOR THE IGNITION KEY ROTATION. WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR (SUDDENLY) DYING. I TOLD THEM THAT IT HAD DIED WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY (TWICE), WHILE DRIVING ON THE CITY STREETS, AND IN MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS PAST FRIDAY, LATE IN THE EVENING, MY CAR (SUDDENLY) DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, THE DRIVERS AROUND ME WERE PAYING ATTENTION -- I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN AWFUL ACCIDENT. SEVERAL PEOPLE, KINDLY, PUSHED MY CAR INTO A PARKING LOT. WHILE IN THE PARKING LOT, A MECHANIC STOPPED TO LOOK AT THE CAR. HE TOLD ME THAT MY CHEVY IS WELL KNOWN FOR HAVING A DEFECTIVE PASS-LOCK SENSOR SECURITY SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL. YET, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND THAT INFORMATION -- GM IS NOT HELPFUL! AFTER AN HOUR OR SO, THE CAR STILL WOULDN'T START. I HAD A FRIEND TOW ME HOME. I AM OLDER AND DISABLED AND MUST HAVE A RELIABLE VEHICLE. I NEED TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE TO MY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT, VIA THE FREEWAY. YET, I HAVE (ALREADY) EXPERIENCED MY CAR (SUDDENLY) DYING ON THE FREEWAY. I AM TERRIFIED OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT AND (POSSIBLY) HURTING/KILLING MYSELF AND/OR SOMEONE ELSE. I, TRULY, BELIEVE THAT THIS DEFECT IS GM'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX FREE OF CHARGE. OR, PERHAPS THERE IS A RECALL THAT I'M UNAWARE OF? EITHER WAY, PLEASE HELP ME. I AM THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE.

NHTSA ID
11021186
Incident
Sep 1, 2017
Mileage
49,500 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 14, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID
10884891
Incident
Jul 9, 2016
Mileage
143,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Apr 19, 2016

I ARRIVED AT WORK AND WAS TOLD BY COWORKERS THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. THEY WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I REMOVED THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL TO AVOID DRAINING MY BATTERY. ON THE DRIVE HOME, AFTER RECONNECTING BATTERY, I DISCOVERED MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING EITHER. I SAW ON THE INTERNET A RECALL (GM 13036) THAT COVERED THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON SEVERAL MODELS INCLUDING THE MALIBU WHICH MY CAR NEARLY IDENTICAL TO. UNFORTUNATELY IT DOES NOT COVER MY MODEL AND IT SHOULD! CLEARLY THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE AND 2005 CLASSIC SHOULD BE INCLUDED. I CURRENTLY AM DRIVING WITH THE LIGHTS STUCK ON AND HAVE TO DISCONNECT / CONNECT BATTERY TERMINAL EVERY TIME I DRIVE.

NHTSA ID
10860398
Incident
Apr 17, 2016
Mileage
117,247 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 20, 2016

I HEARD SOME CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. WAS TOLD BY A CHAIN REPAIR SHOP THAT THE STRUTS PROBABLY NEEDED REPLACING. I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO LOUD FOR THAT, BUT I TRUSTED THEIR OPINION. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS WAY OFF CENTER. AS I WENT TO MAKE A U-TURN, I LOST STEERING COMPLETELY. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF TRAFFIC SAFELY WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER ON THE FREEWAY. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE MOUNTING TABS FOR THE STEERING GEAR WHERE EVERYTHING IS ATTACHED RUSTED OUT COMPLETELY FROM THE SUBFRAME AND NEEDED A CRADLE SO HE COULD RE-ATTACH THE STEERING COMPONENTS. ALSO, THE STEERING RACK WAS DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS WAS $1390, WHICH WAS ACHIEVED BECAUSE OF FINDING USED PARTS.

NHTSA ID
10850648
Incident
Mar 13, 2016
Mileage
56,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 8, 2015
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported

AS I SLAMMED ON BRAKES CAR SHUT DOWN CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK AND BRAKES TO NOT FUNCTION WELL. I ENDED UP REAR ENDING PERSON IN FRONT. ALSO THE AIRBAG BURNED MY LEFT HAND.

NHTSA ID
10780700
Incident
Sep 29, 2015
Mileage
140,000 mi
Filed Aug 4, 2015

CAR WOULDN'T START. USUALLY IT STARTS RIGHT UP BUT IT WOULDN'T START UP. AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB WE FOUND IT WAS THE ANTITHEFT SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID
10746049
Incident
Jul 31, 2015
Mileage
95,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 8, 2015

2005 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR IGNITION RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS. *SMD THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10691428
Incident
Dec 10, 2014
Electrical
Filed Feb 10, 2015

THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, GM RECALLED THIS VEHICLE UNDER RECALL NUMBER 14350, ALL THE DEALERSHIP DID WAS APPLY SMALL TWO SMALL KEY RINGS, THIS DID NOTHING TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM, WHEN I CALLED GM TO COMPLAIN THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS THE PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER, THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THIS APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, I PAID MY MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH, I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED BY GM. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10682627
Incident
Jan 8, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

02-00-89-002X

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on When and How to Submit a Field Product Report (FPR) (U.S. and Canada Dealers Only).

PIT3271P

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Classic by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006000
2005Viewing491043.6
2004401040.1

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.