Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 125 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 125, in the owner's own words
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while attempting to check the Carfax report, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 42,000 and upon checking the Carfax, it was discovered that the mileage was 260,000.
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.
SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE AND DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR VEHICLE IS IN.
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
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.
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.
STEERING WHEEL LOCKS ON HIS OWN, BRAKE ENGAGES FOR NO REASON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OFF
WHEN I START MY CAR START MY CAR IT SAYS SERVICE SEVILLA TRACK AND SERVICE AIRBAG WITH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS HAPPENING MY WIPER BLADES DON'T WORK AND MY CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK AS WELL I'VE ALSO NOTICED THIS HAPPENING ON MY MOM'S 2000 CHEVY TAHOE AND ON MY PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2001 GMC YUKON I THINK IT IS ACROSS THE BOARD GM ELECTRICAL PROBLEM
WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES ON STREET THE TAHOE STARTED TO SMELL LIKE SMOKE, WE THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS THERE WHERE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DASH BOARD WAS COMPLETELY MELTED FROM THE FIRE, THE FRONT WINDSHILLED SHATTERED WITH FORCE TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE AIR CONDITION SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE, IT BECAME INOPERABLE AS SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HEATER UNIT HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V070000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE BULBS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EMISSION CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A CLICKING SOUND WOULD COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE IGNITION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
REAR LIFT GATE WILL NOT UNLOCK AND IT DOESN'T HAVE A MANUAL RELEASE INSIDE NOR DOES IT HAVE A KEY ACCESS FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE TO UNLOCK IT. IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT/WRECK SOMEONE COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE WITH NO WAY OUT. SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHT IN DASH DOES NOT ILLUMINATE - UNABLE TO TELL WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARDS! CHEVY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND ISSUE A RECALL TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM BEING INJURED. *TR
ON FEBRUARY 7TH THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED AS MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING HOME FROM THE STORE. WE CONTACTED GM TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON OUR VEHICLE. WE WERE INSTRUCTED THERE WERE NOT AND WE SHOULD CONTACT GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. ON FEBRUARY 11TH THEY HAD US TAKE OUR VEHICLE TO A GM DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY CONDUCTED AND INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHY. GM RETURNED OUR VEHICLE TO US ON MARCH 3RD STATING THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WAS CAUSED BY SHORTED WIRES IN THE WIRING HARNESS. SINCE OUR VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO US WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL MORE ISSUES THAT WERE NOT PRESENT PRIOR TO THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER SEAT IS STUCK IN ONE POSITION, THE REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK, THE REAR LOCKS WILL NOT WORK, THE FUEL SYSTEM IS LEAKING GAS, AND THE BATTERY IS DEAD, EVEN HAVING TO BE JUMP STARTED WHEN IT WAS RETURNED TO US. GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS, STATING THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE AIRBAG BLEW, WHILE WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT SMOKE INSIDE THE DASH, WE BELIEVE THE AIRBAG BURNT/SHORTED THE WIRES AFTER IT DEPLOYED. GM CLAIM NUMBER [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE 79450 MILES, PURCHASED TRUCK NEW IN 2006. SPEEDOMETER ERRATIC FOR A FEW WEEKS AND NOW SHOWS ANYWHERE FROM 0-120+ MPH SITTING STILL OR DRIVING. TO DEALER ON 3/5/2015 WITH 80730 MILES. AFTER COMPLAINING DEALER QUOTED ME $400.00 DOWN FROM $535.00 TO REPLACE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. CHEVROLET SAID THEY WILL NOT HELP ME AT ALL BUT ISSUED ME A FILE AND REFERENCED THEIR BULLETIN #. THERE ARE OVER 600 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE, THIS WILL BE MY LAST GM PRODUCT EVER. *TR
2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. FUEL PUMP ERUPTION, DUE TO THE SMELL OF COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED A LEAK FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *MW ALSO, THE WINDOW SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CRANK VEHICLE, IT JUST TURNED OVER ACTING LIKE IT WAS NOT FIRING. WILL FINALLY CRANK AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. AFTER HAVING ISSUE LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC, HE STATED THAT IGNITION WAS SENDING A FALSE SIGNAL TO CAM. SHORTLY AFTER THE ODOMETER STARTED GIVING A ERROR AND CANNOT GET THE PRESENT MILEAGE ANY LONGER. JUST LEARNED OF THIS SITE AND WAS TRYING TO SEE IF OTHERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. HAVE NOT YET TAKEN TO MECHANIC ON ISSUE WITH ODOMETER. *TR
MY REAR LIFTGATE AND WINDOW FOR MY 2005 CHEVY TAHOE WILL NOT UNLOCK. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE. I'VE READ A BLOG OF ALMOST 300 DIFFERENT OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE ...WWW.CHEFSEATTLE.COM/BLOG/SITE-NEWS/SUBURBAN-REAR-LIFTGATE-WONT-UNLOCK-HOW-TO-FIX. IS CHEVROLET GOING TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE? WHAT IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE IN THE VEHICLE AND PEOPLE NEED TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE REAR LIFTGATE DOOR? IS IT GOING TO TAKE A DEATH FOR SOMEONE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE INSTEAD OF CHARGING OWNERS ALMOST $500.00 TO FIX THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT OUR FAULT? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN AND START THE VEHICLE AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO START, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A FUEL LEAK NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE INITIAL FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06E043000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
THE LIFTGATE AND GLASS WILL NOT UNLOCK AND THERE IS NO RELEASE FROM THE INSIDE SO YOU ARE TRAPPED IF SOMETHING HAPPENS. I HAVE LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL AND THERE IS NOT. I HAVE CONTACTED GM WITH NO RESPONSE AS WELL AS SEEING HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE POST ONLINE THAT ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION. THIS MAKES THE CAR A DEATH TRAP IN CASE OF ACCIDENT, FIRE, GOING IN WATER AS YOU CANNOT GET OUT OF THE CAR FROM THE INSIDE IF YOU ARE IN THE REAR NOR CAN SOMEONE RUN AROUND THE BACK AND OPEN THE HANDLE TO TRY TO GET SOMEONE OUT IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ASAP! *TR
I WAS AT A RED LIGHT AND THE CAR TRIED TURNING OFF AND ALSO I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT ON THE RADIO AND ON THE STEELING WHEEL AS WELL. I AM VERY SCARED THAT THIS ISSUE WITH THE SPEED WILL CAUSE ME A FATAL ACCIDENT AND I HAVE TWO KIDS. *TR
APPROXIMATELY 5:50 P.M. AS MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY ROAD THE CAR STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. MANY OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE STEERING LOCKED. I WAS ABLE TO CRANK AGAIN TO PULL IT INTO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT. I WAS NOT COMPLETELY IN THE PARKING SPACE AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT UPSETTING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC FOR THIS BUSINESS, BUT COULD NOT CRANK THE CAR TO GET IT COMPLETELY IN THE PARKING SPACE. AS I WAS OUT OF TOWN, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED APPROXIMATELY 75 MILES. WHEN THE GUY CAME TO TOW THE CAR ALL THE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON, STEERING STILL LOCKED AND UNABLE TO START ENGINE UP. THE GUYS AT THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS TOWED STARTED WORKING ON THE VEHICLE ON FRIDAY MORNING BY CLOSING THEY STILL HAD NOT FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. AROUND LUNCH TIME ON MONDAY THEY REALIZED IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE PART WAS $49.52 BUT THE LABOR WAS COSTLY. I ENDED UP PAYING $476 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. REALLY DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR FOR QUITE SOME TIME. CAN'T BELIEVE MY VEHICLE WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL WHEN IT IS THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS. MY STATEMENT ON THE REPAIR ORDER STATES, "THE CUSTOMER SAYS THE CAR STOPPED AS SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD." *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL SEEM TO BE REPORTING THE CORRECT SPEED THEN CHANGES TO A SPEED WE COULD NOT BE GOING. USUALLY UNDER REPORTING THE CORRECT SPEED. WE WILL BE GOING BETWEEN 50 AND 60 MPH AND IT WILL READ 30. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND WE HAVE TRIED TO COMPENSATE BY USING THE TACHOMETER BUT LATELY I DON'T FEEL I CAN TRUST IT EITHER. THE REPAIR IS BETWEEN $400 AND $500 AND I NOW READ OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LIKE ME WHO HAVE NOT REPORTED THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS SITE TODAY. *TR
OUR SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT TELL US HOW FAST WE ARE GOING ALL THE TIME. MOST OF THE TIME IT IS FINE BUT OCCASIONALLY IT WILL REGISTER A DIFFERENT SPEED THAN WHAT WE ARE TRAVELING. SOMETIMES IT SAYS WE ARE GOING SLOWER THAN WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING AND SOMETIMES IT SAYS WE ARE GOING FASTER THAN WE ARE GOING. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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