RoadVitals

2005 Chevrolet Suburban 2500

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.
6
Latest Aug 26, 2013
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.
0
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.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban 2500, most frequently naming the electrical, tires & wheels and engine categories. 128 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

  • Electrical233.3%
  • Tires & wheels233.3%
  • Engine116.7%
  • Steering116.7%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 26, 2013

UNIROYAL LIBERATOR . THE TREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED ABOUT 11AM ON SATURDAY JULY 15, 2013 ON EAST BOUND I-10 JUST EAST OF OZONA, TEXAS. SPEED WAS ~79 MPH AS PART OF A BOY SCOUT CONVOY RETURNING FROM A HIGH ADVENTURE OUTING. VEHICLE WAS A 2005 K2500 SUBURBAN, LIGHTLY LOADED WITH MYSELF, 4 SCOUTS AND TWO BACK PACKS. WEATHER WAS OVERCAST AND 76 DEGREES F. NOT TOWING. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED AT 80 PSI BEFORE THE TRIP STARTED AND THE TIRE CASING WAS STILL INFLATED WHEN REMOVED TO PUT ON THE SPARE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10537372
Incident
Jul 15, 2013
Mileage
16,903 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 10, 2012
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2500. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETECTED A SHORTAGE WITHIN THE CIRCUITS UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD, WHICH RESULTED IN THE WIRES BECOMING MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID
10479658
Incident
Oct 9, 2012
Mileage
107,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 10, 2011

THE SPEEDOMETER READS ERRONEOUSLY HIGH AND OFTEN EXCEEDS 100 MPH READINGS WHILE MY GPS READS AT 70MPH. THERE IS NO TIME AT WHICH INDICATED SPEED READINGS CAN BE TRUSTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10424594
Incident
Sep 1, 2011
Mileage
106,389 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 7, 2011

2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN STEERING GEAR FAILURE X5. THE STEERING GEAR AND INTERMEDIATE DRIVE SHAFT HAS FAILED 5 TIMES SINCE 2006. VEHICLE HAS 85K MILES ON IT. *LN

NHTSA ID
10381069
Incident
Jan 5, 2011
Mileage
84,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 30, 2011

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT HEAD BROKE OFF. 1ST BOLT INITIALLY THEN SECOND BOLT NEXT TO IT BROKE AS WELL. NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO MOTOR OR AFTERMARKET PARTS ADDED THAT WOULD AFFECT THIS PART AND CREATE FAILURE. EXHAUST GAS ENTERS THE UNDERHOOD AREA . THE EXHAUST MAKES A BLACK PLUME UP SIDE OF MOTOR. CONCERNED THAT THE LEAK COULD WORSEN LEADING TO EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE ESCAPING HOT EXHAUST GAS COULD LEAD TO FIRE. IN ADDITION, I WOULD THINK THE EPA WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT EFFECTS ON VEHICLE EMISSIONS. THE LEAKING EXHAUST GAS IS NOT PASSED THROUGH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE LEAKING GAS IS ALSO NOT SAMPLED BY THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND COULD EFFECT THE SENSORS INPUT TO THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. I SEE BY DOING SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCHES ON THIS TOPIC THAT THE BOLT FAILURE AND LEAKING EXHAUST MANIFOLD PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE BROKEN BOLTS YET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10379624
Incident
Jul 1, 2010
Mileage
68,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 3, 2008
Crash reported1 injury reported

ROLLOVER ACCIDENT OF 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN. RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED TREAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TIRES WERE BIG O PATHMAX LT245/75R16. TIRES HAD 10,465 MILES OF USE AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. THE TREAD ON REMAINING INFLATED TIRES SHOWED BELTS BETWEEN TREAD EVEN THOUGH THE TREAD ITSELF LOOKED OK. DRIVER WAS INJURED, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10247610
Incident
Jul 14, 2008
Mileage
36,321 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.

23-NA-001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.

03-06-01-023I

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

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 Suburban 2500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2011700—
2010510—
2009100—
2008702—
2006200—
2005Viewing600—
2004200035.6
2003210028.8
2002330238.9
2001340138.0
2000700—
1999120034.7
1998100—
1997100—
1996100—
1995400—
1994500—

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.