2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Visibility Problems

I HAD JUST DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL WALMART TO GET SUPPLIES BEFORE THE FREEZING RAIN AND ICE GOT HERE. IT WAS 15:50, ABOUT AN HOUSE BEFORE THE FRIDAY NIGHT AFTER WORK CHRISTMAS RUSH WOULD BE RUSHING HOME. AFTER STARTING MY TRUCK, AND LETTING IT WARM A LITTLE SO THE HEAT FROM DEFROSTER WOULD MELT THE ICE AND CLEAR THE FOG ON THE WINDOWS WHICH ENABLES ME TO DRIVE SAFELY. IT IS ALSO AGAINST STATE LAW TO DRIVE WITH UNCLEAR WINDOWS. WELL, TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, MY 5 SPEED MANUAL SELECT BLOWER SWITCH DOES NOTHING. WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK, I TOLD THEM SPEEDS 4 AND 5 DON'T WORK. I KNOW FROM PAST EXPERIENCE THAT THE RESISTORS CAN GO OUT. THEY WOULD NOT FIX. WELL NOW, ALL ARE OUT. I MANAGED TO GET A LITTLE HOT AIR ON WINDSHIELD BUT DECIDED IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND RETURNED TO GET TRUCK THE NEXT DAY. AFTER GOOGLING "BLOWER MOTOR FAN RELAY SWITCH" I WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR DECADES. BEFORE I RETIRED, I WORKED FOR AT&T AS A TECHNICIAN. WE DEAL WITH CORRODED WIRES AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT DAMAGED BY WATER ON A DAILY BASIS. AFTER REMOVING THE RESISTER MODULE, IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS IT WAS DAMAGED BY WATER. NOT ONLY THAT, IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE PROTECTED FROM WATER BY HAVING TWO SEALS, ONE FOAM, ONE RUBBER BUILT INTO IT. OF COURSE THESE WERE PROBABLY PLACED INTO THE MODULE BY A MACHINE BECAUSE YOU COULD THEY DIDN'T FIT PROPERLY INTO THE SLOTS THEY WERE DESIGNED TO FIT IT. NOT ONLY THAT, THE WIRES THAT WERE SUPPOSE TO BE SODERED (SP) TO THE RESISTORS MUST HAVE BEEN DONE BY A MACHINE AS WELL, YOU COULD SEE THE TWO COMPONENTS WERE PRESSED TOGETHER BY SOMETHING NOT DONE BY A WORKER, AND NO SODER (SP) WAS VISIBLE. ON TOP OF THAT, AFTER TESTING ONE OF THE RESISTORS, WHICH TESTED GOOD., THE WIRE THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE MAKING CONTACT WITH THE RESISTER WAS TESTING OPEN, MEANING BAD CONNECTION. WHOEVER MADE THIS MODULE FOR GM IS AT FAULT. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10936029

Incident

Dec 18, 2016

Mileage

15 mi

WITH THE HEATER ON HIGH (SETTING 5), THE FAN STOPPED BLOWING HEAT. I THEN SET THE BLOWER TO SETTING 4, AND THE FAN WORKED FINE. AS SOON AS I THEN PUT THE FAN BACK TO 5, I WOULD HEAR A CLICK BUT THE FAN WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. I THEN BEGAN TO FIDDLE AROUND WITH THE CONNECTOR THAT IS UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH WHICH POWERS THE FAN. IF I MOVE THE ONE WIRE AROUND, THE FAN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY WORK WHILE ON SETTING 5. I UNPLUGGED THIS CONNECTOR FROM THE BLOWER MOTOR, NOTICED THAT THE ONE WIRE SEEMS AS IF IT WAS CAUSING A SHORT (THE WIRE WAS SOMEWHAT BLACK FROM OVER CURRENT). I REMOVED THE PIN FROM THE CONNECTOR, RECRIMPED AND SOLDERED IT. WORKED FINE UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN THE FAN ONCE AGAIN BEGAN TO STOP ONLY ON SETTING 5. I AM ASSUMING THAT THE PROBLEM IS ONCE AGAIN THE CONNECTOR THAT GOES TO THE BLOWER MOTOR POWERING THE FAN RESISTOR. I SAW A FEW REPORTS OF THIS ON HERE ABOUT VEHICLE FIRES ALL OF WHICH POINT TO THIS CONNECTION BEING BAD. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SUBMIT THIS AS WELL DUE TO THE VAST AMOUNT OF ISSUES I HAVE HAD WITH THIS TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10562846

Incident

Feb 6, 2013

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE HEATER BLOWER WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHICH DRAINED THE BATTERY. NOW BOTH PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET, THIS PART WAS A RECALL ITEM IF MADE FROM A CERTAIN MANUFACTURE. APPARENTLY, OUR PART WAS A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER WHICH IS WHY WE DIDN'T GET THE RECALL NOTICE. SINCE OUR PART FAILED, PERHAPS, IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT OR THE OTHER MANUFACTURERS WERE DELINQUENT DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS AS WELL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF WE MAY QUALIFY FOR A RECALL ON THIS PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561368

Incident

Jan 22, 2014

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH THE HEATER ACTIVATED WHEN HE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE CONNECTOR FOR THE HEATER BLOWER. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AS THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE HEATER BLOWER, WHICH HE DISCOVERED WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ID

10503808

Incident

Mar 18, 2013

Mileage

88,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE HEATER/COOLER HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE HEATER RELAY AND THE WIRING HARNESS BECAUSE THE FINGERS WERE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. UPDATED 2/28/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEATER RELAY MELTED AND PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS AS WELL. UPDATED 04/27/11

NHTSA ID

10375480

Incident

Jan 10, 2011

Mileage

40,000 mi

IT SEEMS I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS MOST THE BLOWER WORKS RANDOMLY. I HAVE ALSO SMELLED SMOKE. THE BLOWER STAYS ON AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SHUT OFF AND I HAVE EXITED THE VEHICLE. SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD ISSUES FIRST TIME WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10351622

Incident

Aug 20, 2010

Mileage

82,460 mi

THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K1500 W/T. *TR

NHTSA ID

10327836

Incident

Dec 10, 2009

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DUAL CLIMATE CONTROL ON THE AIR CONDITIONING/ HEATING SYSTEM FAILED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS; WHEN HE HAD THE HEAT ON, ONE SIDE WOULD BLOW HOT AIR AND THE OTHER SIDE COLD AIR AND THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. HE HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, AND RE-START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REFUSE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS NO LONGER VALID. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ON THE FLOORBOARD WOULD ALSO FAIL CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP WORKING; THE HEATING SYSTEM/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WOULD NOT FUNCTION WITHOUT THE FAN. HE REPLACED THE CONNECTORS AT HIS EXPENSE TWICE AND THE CONNECTOR FAILED AGAIN. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE TOLD HIM THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HIM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10308935

Incident

Feb 16, 2009

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED ALONG WITH THE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE. SHE CITED IT AS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM; NONE OF THE GAUGES WERE FUNCTIONING. SHE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED PREVIOUSLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,015. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000. UPDATED 01/1410 *BF UPDATED 01/20/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10298394

Incident

Nov 23, 2008

Mileage

29,000 mi

2005 CHEVY 1500 SILVERADO - HEATER BLOWS HOT AIR ON DRIVERS SIDE, COLD ON PASSENGER SIDE - HAPPENS WITHOUT NOTICE - HAVE SPENT AROUND $300.00 (+) DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX THIS. WAS TOLD BY GM SERVICE TECH IT WAS THE HEATER MOTOR RESISTOR WIRING HARNESS, IT BURNS OUT THE RESISTOR. I REPLACED BOTH, THE RESISTOR BURNED OUT AGAIN AND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS FRIED AGAIN. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF THESE REPORTS - A RECALL IS NEEDED - THIS CONDITION IS NOT SAFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10285115

Incident

Aug 20, 2008

Mileage

76,000 mi

THE WIRES LEADING TO A/C BLOWER ARE SHORTING OUT ONE AT A TIME. IT STARTED WITH THE CLIMATE CONTROL SET ON HI STOPPED WORKING THEN WENT ON DOWN TO 4. COULD POSSIBLE SHORT OUT AND CAUSE A FIRE. I HAVE NOT YET PURCHASED THE NEW PARTS TO REPLACE LOOKED ONLINE FIRST TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284680

Incident

Sep 10, 2009

WHILE PARKED THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE CLIMATE SYSTEM CONTINUED TO RUN. THE KEYS WERE REMOVED, ENGINE OFF. UPON DISCOVERY I COULD NOT TURN OFF THE BLOWER. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO A SHOP. BEFORE I COULD LEAVE THE PARKING LOT THE CAB WAS FULL OF A THICK WHITE SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY BEFORE A FIRE STARTED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT THOUGH AS THE DEALER IS NOT REPORTING THE OCCURRENCES TO GM SO NOBODY IS AWARE OF THE FREQUENCY. AN EASY INTERNET SEARCH RETURNS MANY OCCURRENCES OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279517

Incident

Aug 4, 2009

Mileage

47,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATING CIRCUITS UNDER THE DASHBOARD WERE HEATING UP EXCESSIVELY AND WOULD CRACKLE AND SPARKLE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT A FIRE COULD OCCUR. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER WERE INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 22,588.

NHTSA ID

10276520

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

22,588 mi

THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR IN MY 2005 CHEVROLET STARTED SMOKING, FROM EXCESS HEAT WITHIN THE WIRING TO THE HARNESS OR RESISTOR. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE HARNESS AND RESISTOR, BUT IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. HOPEFULLY THIS FAULTY WIRING HARNESS IS THE ONLY ONE IN THESE MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275819

Incident

Apr 1, 2009

Mileage

45,000 mi

MY BLOWER MOTOR WIRING MELTED AND ALMOST CAUGHT FIRE. I HAD IT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ONCE. 15 MONTHS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I AM SMART ENOUGH TO DISCONNECT IT BEFORE IT CAUSED A FIRE BUT IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND PULLED THE KEY. HAD I NOT KNOWN HOW TO DISCONNECT IT MY TRUCK SURELY WOULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275013

Incident

Apr 14, 2009

Mileage

35,000 mi

A/C-HEATER FAN STOPPED WORKING ON 5, THEN 4, THEN STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. UPON REMOVING THE PLASTIC COVER FOR THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS, I DISCOVERED THAT THE MODULE GOING TO THE FAN AND THE PLUG WERE MELTED TOGETHER. ALSO, THE WIRES ON THE WIRING HARNESS GOING TO THE MODULE WERE MELTED TO THE POINT THAT THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED AND SHORTING ACROSS TO ONE ANOTHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255516

Incident

Jan 12, 2009

Mileage

94,367 mi

2005 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 CAUGHT ON FIRE ON OUR DRIVEWAY, SMOKE CAME UP THROUGH DEFOGGER VENT AND WITHIN SECONDS FLAMES CAME FROM UNDER DASH, TRUCK BURNED IN MINUTES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254349

Incident

Jan 4, 2009

Mileage

36,700 mi

2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. SMELL FROM HEATER/A/C BLOWER. FIRST TOLD BLOWER MOTOR. UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION FOUND THAT BLOWER MOTOR WAS OK BUT RESISTOR AND WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED/BURNED. DAMAGE WAS LOCAL TO HARNESS AND RESISTOR. DEALER WILL NOT COVER DAMAGE. SERVICE BULLETIN EXIST BUT WILL NOT HELP PAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244230

Incident

Sep 28, 2008

Mileage

95,000 mi

2005 4-DOOR CHEVY SILVERADO 4X4 DEFROSTER/HEATER/BLOWER AND DIRECTIONAL INDICATOR AND TEMP GAUGE IN MIRROR FAIL AT ALTITUDE (ABOUT 3,000 FEET) ONLY IN WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS WHERE TEMP. IS AROUND 32 DEGREES. DEALER IS AT A COMPLETE LOSS AS TO THE ISSUE WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH NO "HEATED" AIR PASSING OVER THE WINDSHIELD TO CLEAR AND DEFROST. *JB

NHTSA ID

10174970

Incident

Nov 18, 2006

Mileage

1,000 mi