RoadVitals

2005 GMC Envoy Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
183
Latest Jan 28, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
38%
of 488 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
13
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

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 GMC Envoy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 183 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.

Owner reports naming electrical

The 25 most recent of 183, in the owner's own words

ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 28, 2026

1) I just purchased the vehicle in Oct 2026 & 3 days after purchase, it broke down in Walmart parking lot due to, all the antifreeze pouring out. 2) December 2026 had to replace the front tires as they were stripped to the threads from rubbing against the fender wells. 3) January 2026 Wouldn’t start, wouldn’t turn over or anything. Had the ignition replaced. Ran fine for one week. 4) Currently won’t start. Broke down.

NHTSA ID
11714041
Incident
Jan 1, 2026
AirbagsElectricalVisibility
Filed Jul 12, 2024

On steering wheel where the GMC logo is . Melted/Melting from underneath. Some type of clear color gooey. Have been told it is seal for airbag. Also none of the chimes are not working at all example * seat belts, door,blinkers,dashboard chimes *dummy lights*,along with Bose stereo. Last issues are REAR VIEW MIRROR... KEEPS FALLING OFF. have taken to dealership SEVERAL TIMES! Now they are saying that I need to contact my auto insurance provider to put in claims.

NHTSA ID
11601561
Incident
Jun 1, 2024
Electrical
Filed Feb 6, 2024
Fire reported

The driver side window control caught fire, while the vehicle was sitting overnight. It was sitting by itself without reason to catch fire, but it did burn inside the driver side door.

NHTSA ID
11570382
Incident
Jul 12, 2023
Electrical
Filed Jan 2, 2024

Unknown All the cluster panels quite working. RPM, Speed, Oil, Water, Gas shows always empty. Danger because have to guess my speed and never know if I have enough gas, oil, or water in my car. Also sometimes when I shut off my car I cannot get the key out of the steering column. Cannot leave my car without my keys.

NHTSA ID
11563182
Incident
Feb 10, 2023
Electrical
Filed Apr 26, 2023
Fire reported

The contact owned a 2005 GMC Envoy. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH the entire dashboard illuminated and needles on gauges had begun to move independently. The contact heard an abnormal "popping" sound from the front end of the vehicle and gray smoke was emitted from under the hood, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull off of the roadway and placed the vehicle into park (P) with difficulty. The contact exited the vehicle and moved away towards the rear end. The contact stated that she noticed flames under the vehicle located at the front end. The contact stated that within 3 minutes of observing the flames under the vehicle, the entire front end became engulfed by flames. The police and fire department arrived on the scene. The contact stated that the fire department used a chemical to extinguish the flames, the contact stated that the flames had burned not only the front end and front tires but the front part of the passenger cabin including the seats. The contact stated that the highway patrol wrote a report and had been informed by the fire department that the fire appeared to have been caused by the electrical system. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11519085
Incident
Apr 25, 2023
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 14, 2022
Fire reported

I purchased my vehicle in oct of 2021 in Nov 2021 is when my car started failing my car started to lose power also started smoking from the lower passenger side no warning lights came on besides the oil warning light since Nov 2021 my car has been losing power it only goes up to about 40 m.p.h I have been smelling fuel coming from some where my tail and license plate light and back driver side inside car light stopped working the engine light turns on and off the steering wheel makes the car lose a little bit of power when I turn the wheel or when I roll up and down the windows or adjust my seat my ac does not work the back ac turns on by it's self to the heater does not work when I have it turned all the way to the 5 I hear clicking knocking noises in the back passenger side of the car my fuel injectors had puddles of oil in them the car gets really hot and blows hot air the engine is always hot the seatbelt lights are constantly flashing my check engine light as of today flashes on and off and the car jumps also my car caught on fire under the hood where the O2 sensor is started smoking than caught on fire.

NHTSA ID
11473932
Incident
Nov 21, 2021
BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 1, 2022

All the gages have stopped working correctly. They do not report proper information to driver . The electrical wiring to the rear wiper, license plate lights and rear hatch stopped working. The most dangerous thing is the ABS brake system dash lights and bell comes on every time the car is driven and the brake pedal goes to the floor when trying to stop.

NHTSA ID
11459277
Incident
Oct 12, 2021
Electrical
Filed Jul 19, 2020

WHILE DRIVING IN A 40 MPH ZONE I GLANCED AT THE SPEEDOMETER AND IT READ 70 MPH! I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN BEFORE I REALIZED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATION WAS INACCURATE. UPON COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED 40 MPH. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE RESUMING NORMAL OPERATION. SINCE THEN I HAVE NOTICED THE GAUGE "STICKING" WHEN LETTING OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. THIS IS CREATING AN UN-SAFE CONDITION FOR MYSELF AS WELL AS THE OCCUPANTS OF THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE SPEED INDICATION IS TRULY ACCURATE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT ON THIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS OTHER GM MODELS MADE DURING THIS TIME FRAME. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS.

NHTSA ID
11340209
Incident
Jul 19, 2020
Mileage
79,462 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 23, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC ENVOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNDISCLOSED SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO OFFER ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11330395
Incident
Mar 5, 2014
Electrical
Filed Jul 15, 2019

THE GAS GAUGE STAYS ON EMPTY WHEN THERE IS A FULL TANK OF GAS. THERE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER COMES ON BY ITSELF. THE RADIO PLAYS LIKE IT IS IN A TIN BOX. EVERY SO OFTEN IT WILL PLAY NORMAL. BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT DOESN'T. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IT IS MOVING OR IN PARK.

NHTSA ID
11232096
Incident
Jan 3, 2018
Electrical
Filed Dec 26, 2018

FUEL LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY & FUEL GAUGE ALWAYS SHOWING EMPTY WHEN VEHICLE RUNNING IN MOTION OR STATIONARY

NHTSA ID
11163534
Incident
Dec 10, 2018
Mileage
166,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 10, 2018

I HAD JUST DROVE MY TRUCK THE NIGHT BEFORE HEADLIGHTS WORKED FINE. I WENT TO LEAVE THE NEXT NIGHT AND NO HEADLIGHTS AT ALL. SO VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN I REALIZED I HAD NO HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHTS ON AT NIGHT. I HAVE NO REGULAR HEADLIGHTS AT ALL. THEN MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW JUST QUIT WORKING AS WELL.

NHTSA ID
11128576
Incident
Aug 31, 2018
Mileage
235,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 8, 2018

MY 2005 GMC ENVOY XL HAS THE SAME RECALLED MASTER WINDOW SWITCH UNITS AS OTHER RECALLS, BOTH SIDES FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS BURNT WITH A BAD SMELL AS I WAS DRIVING. WHY? WHY IS MY VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WHEN EVERYTHING IS THE SAME AS OTHER RECALLED VEHICLES ?? I WAS DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY WHEN I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL WITH NOWHERE TO PULL OVER FOR A FEW MILES IN GREAT PANIC WITH CARS GOING PAST ME AT 65 MPH PLUS AS I WAS BEING CAUTIOUS TO GET TO AN EXIT SO I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. IT WAS THE DOOR SWITCH SO I LIFTED IT OUT OF THE DOOR AND UNPLUGGED IT SO I COULD CONTINUE MY TRIP. SCARY SITUATION . PLUS MY MECHANIC CAN'T GET THE ANSWER IF JUST REPLACING THE SWITCH WILL MAKE IT WORK OR DOES IT NEED PROGRAMMED INTO THE COMPUTER ?

NHTSA ID
11061235
Incident
Dec 23, 2017
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Aug 31, 2017

SUV DIES AND WON'T START BACK UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN. I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH ON A FIVE LANE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE JUST DIED. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND IT COULDN'T BE DIAGNOSED.

NHTSA ID
11020714
Incident
Aug 8, 2017
Mileage
200,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 25, 2017

MY SEAT COVERS WERE ORIGINALLY CLOTH BUT AT TIME OF PURCHASE THEY WERE REPLACED WITH LEATHER SEAT COVERINGS AND THERE IS RECALL #06V417000 HAS ME VERY CONCERNED.

NHTSA ID
11010574
Incident
Apr 13, 2005
Mileage
31,657 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL, AND OIL GAUGES FLUCTUATED AND INCORRECTLY REPORTED THE SPEED, FUEL QUANTITY, AND OIL QUANTITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,872.

NHTSA ID
10969280
Incident
Mar 29, 2016
Mileage
129,872 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 21, 2017

I'VE HAD MY 2005 ENVOY FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND HAD MY HEADLIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND FREWAY. ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY AY NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY FOR A FEW SECONDS. I WAS SO SCARED WSS REALLY GLAD FOR NO ONE BEHIND ME OR ON COMING TRAFFIC. ON ANOTHER OCCASSION I HAD TO PULL OVER ON CITY STREET AS MY LIGHTS WERE GOING ON AND OFF AND I COULD SEE THE CAR AHEAD WAS A COP AND I DIDNT WANT HIM TO THINK I WAS FLASHING FOR HELP ESPECIALLY AT 2 IN THE MORNING. IVE ALSO HAD TO EXIT THE FREEWAY BECAUSE MY LIGHTS STARTED GOING ON AND OFF AND ON AND WASNT SURE IF THEY WOULD JUST GO OUT COMPLETELY WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND SINCE IT WAS NIGHT TIME I DIDNT WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND HURTING SOMEONE ELSE OR MYSELF. I HAVE A TEENAGE DAUGHTER AND AM AFRAID TO TRANSPORT HER AND HER FRIENDS IN MY CAR.

NHTSA ID
10956023
Incident
Feb 14, 2017
Mileage
149,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 25, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC ENVOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STALLED MORE THAN THREE TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10898600
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Electrical
Filed Jun 27, 2016
Fire reported

CAR WAS PARKED FOR 10 MINUTES WHEN WE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE INTERIOR UPON OPENING THE CAR DOOR WE REALIZED THE DASHBOARD WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ID
10876962
Incident
Jun 26, 2016
Mileage
140,000 mi
ElectricalFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Jun 1, 2016

READING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS THAT COMPARE TO MINE THE FUEL GAUGE, OIL GAUGES, AIR CONDITIONER ARE ALL MALFUNCTIONING IN MY CAR AND I'M VERY UPSET BECAUSE ALL OF THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW IN 2005 AND I WILL NEVER BUY A GMC CAR AGAIN FOR THIS REASON IT'S ONE THING TO RECALL REPAIR PARTS THAT WERE BROKEN THAT TO REPAIR MALFUNCTION PARTS. VERY DISAPPOINTED. IN SHORT MY GAUGES DON'T WORK, MY AIR CONDITIONER ONLY WORKS ON ONE SIDE AND NOW MY HEADLIGHTS LOW BEAN DON'T WORK. GMC NEEDS TO RECALL AND REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
10871808
Incident
May 1, 2016
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 2016
Fire reported

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID
10852857
Incident
Mar 28, 2016
Mileage
143,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Feb 10, 2016

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER READS 0 OIL PRESSURE GUAGE READS NO PRESSURE, ALL GUAGES READ 0, THEN SPEEDOMETER READS RANDOM SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID
10825353
Incident
Feb 2, 2016
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 13, 2016

PROBLEM WITH BOTH HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM MALFUNCTION; GOING ON AND OFF. PROBLEM STARTED ON 1/10/16 AND CONTINUES UNTIL TODAY DESPITE REPLACING BOTH HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM FUSES AND RELAY.

NHTSA ID
10820119
Incident
Jan 10, 2016
Mileage
1,310,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 20, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FLICKERED AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT AND FUSE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

NHTSA ID
10750108
Incident
Jul 20, 2015
Mileage
133,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 20, 2015

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AFTER DARK AND MY LOW BEAMS COMPLETELY WENT OUT. I COULD ONLY GET MY HIGH BEAMS TO WORK. CURRENTLY ONLY ONE LOW BEAM IS WORKING AND THE OTHER WILL NOT WORK EVEN AFTER CHANGING THE BULB OR THE FUSE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIALLY HAVING A YOUNG CHILD. IT WAS VERY SCARY GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT AND HAVE YOUR LIGHTS COMPLETELY JUST GO OUT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE ISSUES WITH 06-07 ENVOYS BUT I WANTED GM TO BE MADE AWARE THAT 2005 MODELS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AS WELL.

NHTSA ID
10750063
Incident
Aug 7, 2015
Mileage
133,000 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .