RoadVitals

2005 GMC Envoy Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
17
Latest Jul 12, 2024
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.
3%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 17 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 visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jun 2, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, WATER FROM THE RAIN ENTERED THE DOOR MODULE RESULTING IN A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT BOARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V406000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT NEEDED A NOTICE THAT WAS ADDRESSED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,400.

NHTSA ID
10723007
Incident
May 25, 2015
Mileage
117,400 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 10, 2015

LOW BEAM RELAY (HEADLAMP DRIVER MODULE (HDM) BURNED OUT--SAME THING HAPPENED 4-9-2015. THIS TIME MELTED THE FAN RELAY AND FUSED THE TWO RELAYS TOGETHER. 2006 & 2007 ENVOYS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THE HDM OVERHEATED AND CAUSED HEADLAMP AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS TO FAIL AND NOT ILLUMINATE. GMC PLANS TO CHARGE APPROXIMATELY $800 FOR ENTIRE NEW SET UP BECAUSE BOX IS NOT SOLD WITHOUT ALL RELAYS. WAS TOLD POSSIBLE FURTHER EXPENSE IF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE FOUND. *TR

NHTSA ID
10704920
Incident
Aug 16, 2013
Visibility
Filed Feb 23, 2015

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME. MY NEIGHBOR ALERTED ME THAT MY REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. I WENT OUTSIDE AND SUBSEQUENTLY OBSERVED GLASS EVERYWHERE INSIDE, ON TOP, THE BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR GMC MODEL THERE IS WHOLE BLOG DEDICATED TO IT ON EDMUNDS.COM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10690043
Incident
Feb 21, 2015
Mileage
242,423 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 11, 2013

WE PARKED OUR GMC ENVOY IN THE DRIVEWAY THE EVENING OF 6/8/13 AROUND 7:30 PM. I HADN'T USED THE REAR HATCH AT ALL ON THIS DAY. MY HUSBAND WAS OUTSIDE AND LEFT AND CAME BACK IN HIS VEHICLE AFTER MIDNIGHT. SO SOMETIME IN THE EARLY HOURS OF 6/9/13 THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. AT FIRST WE THOUGH SOMETHING OR SOMEONE BROKE IT, HOWEVER THERE WERE NO FOREIGN OBJECTS FOUND THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT THE BREAK. IT WASN'T A NICK OR CRACK, THE GLASS WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. MOST OF THE GLASS WAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND ALL OVER THE SIDE WALK WITH ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED FROM THE INSIDE. AFTER DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH I FOUND MANY OTHER INSTANCES OF THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER GMC ENVOYS. IN SOME CASES PEOPLE WERE NEAR ENOUGH AND SOME BEING INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND INCURRED INJURIES WITH NO KNOWN OR APPARENT CAUSE FOR THE GLASS TO BE SHATTERED. THANK GOODNESS WE WERE INSIDE SLEEPING AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE PROBLEM COMES IN THAT I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED EVEN WITH MY INSURANCE AS MY DEDUCTIBLE HASN'T BEEN MET, SO WE HAVE PLASTIC OVER IT. WITH ALL THE REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE GMC CLAIMS TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. I'M GOING TO TAKE IT IN TO A DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING, BUT WONDER IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO COMPENSATE REPLACING THE GLASS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10516208
Incident
Jun 10, 2013
Mileage
122,467 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 26, 2012

REAR WINDSHIELD/BACK WINDOW SHATTERED ON IT'S OWN WHILE PARKED IN PARKING LOT. COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY OR WHAT HAD CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SHOP FOR WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED, AND WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR TO LEAVE THE SHOP THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AGAIN. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT AT THE TIME AND THIS SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF BOTH OF US. THE SHOP COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS AND REPLACED THE WINDOW FOR A 2ND TIME. WHEN I GOT HOME I GOOGLED 'GMC ENVOY, REAR WINDOW' AND SEE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS WITH ENVOYS OF DIFFERENT YEAR MODELS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO HERE FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE OF US DRIVING THESE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490084
Incident
Dec 20, 2012
Mileage
90,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Apr 23, 2012

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT STOP WIPING WHEN CONTROL IS MOVED TO STOP. MUST STOP VEHICLE, TURN IGNITION OFF IN ORDER TO TURN THE WIPERS OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10456198
Incident
Mar 16, 2009
Mileage
40,500 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jan 28, 2012

AT APPROXIMATELY 8 AM FRIDAY JANUARY 27TH I OPENED THE BACK HATCH OF MY GMC ENVOY. APPROXIMATELY 4-6 INCHES PULLING IT DOWN TO SHUT IT THE ENTIRE WINDOW SHATTERED ALL OVER ME, THE GROUND AND INSIDE MY CAR. I CALLED MY INSURANCE, PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE TO HAVE IT REPLACED, IT WAS FIXED AND THEN TODAY JANUARY 28TH, ONE DAY AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED I WAS CLOSING THE DOOR AGAIN AND AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME POINT IN CLOSING IT COMPLETELY SHATTERED AGAIN. THIS IS TWICE IN TWO DAYS. I WAS TOLD THE FIRST TIME IT PROBABLY HAD TO DO WITH THE WEATHER BUT THE WEATHER WAS WARMER TODAY THAN YESTERDAY AND SEVERAL FORUMS HAVE SHOWN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VEHICLE ISSUE VS A WEATHER ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10445713
Incident
Jan 27, 2012
Mileage
94,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Dec 28, 2011

THE REAR WINDSHIELD OF MY 2005 GMC ENVOY XL EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON TODAY. I LIFTED THE FULL HATCH (NOT JUST THE WINDOW SECTION) TO PLACE ITEMS IN THE BACK THAT I HAD PURCHASED AT HOME DEPOT. I PLACED A CAN OF PAINT, ONE BAG, AND A BAG OF SAND IN THE BACK - NOTHING THAT WAS NEAR THE GLASS OF THE HATCH. I THEN CLOSED THE HATCH WITH ENOUGH FORCE FOR IT TO CLOSE SECURELY, BUT NOT WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE. AS I WALKED TO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO ENTER THE CAR, I HEARD A LOUD POP THAT I THOUGHT WAS SOMEONE HITTING THE BACK OF MY CAR WITH THEIR VEHICLE. AS I WALKED AROUND TO THE BACK, MY REAR WINDOW WAS SHATTERED INTO A MILLION TINY PIECES. THERE WERE NO OBJECTS OR PEOPLE AROUND THE WINDOW CLOSE ENOUGH TO BREAK IT - IT JUST SHATTERED FOR NO REASON AT ALL! THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF ISSUES WITH REAR WINDSHIELDS, BUT I FOUND INFORMATION THAT DIFFERS ON LINE. FORTUNATELY, THE DEDUCTIBLE ON MY INSURANCE IS ONLY $200. HOWEVER, FOR OTHERS, I HAVE SEEN WHERE THEY HAVE HAD TO PAY UP TO $1500 OUT OF POCKET FOR THE EXPENSE BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE THE WINDOW. THE COMPANY THAT IS COMING TO REPLACE IT SAID THE WINDOW ITSELF COSTS $937, NOT INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10441492
Incident
Dec 28, 2011
Mileage
180,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalFuel system+2 more
Filed Sep 14, 2011

THE WIPERS WERE THE FIRST TO GO. THAT NEEDED A CONTROL MODULE. THE TOUCH PADS FOR THE TAIL GATE WERE NEXT. FIRST THE DROP DOWN THEN THE SWING. THEN THE RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER DOOR INSIDE HANDLE STOPPED WORKING. THEN THE LEFT SIDE REAR DOOR OUTSIDE HANDLE DOESN'T WORK. THEN THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DOESN'T WORK. THEN THE FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T WORK. NOW THE PASSENGER'S WINDOW DOESN'T OPEN. 5TH SPEED ON THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING. WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH GMC? THAT IS A HIGH END VEHICLE AND AS SUCH SHOULD NOT BE PLAGUED WITH SUCH PROBLEMS. *KB

NHTSA ID
10425433
Incident
Sep 3, 2009
Mileage
72,000 mi
Fuel systemVisibility
Filed Sep 23, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC ENVOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW ON THE LIFTGATE SUDDENLY EXPLODED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIFTGATE WOULD NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FUEL SENSOR LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC TWICE (THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE WHAT TYPE OF REPAIR) BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10357160
Incident
Sep 11, 2010
Mileage
120,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Aug 25, 2008

I HAVE A 2005 ENVOY THAT I PURCHASED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO FROM A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. ON THE DAY OF THE FAILURE, I DID NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I FOUND THAT THE BACK TRUNK HATCH HAD SOMEHOW OPENED ON ITS OWN, CAUSING IT TO SEPARATE FROM THE GLASS. THE TRUNK HATCH WAS BROKEN IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT ON BY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OR OBJECT. AFTER NOTICING THIS DEFECT, I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY WHERE THEY FILED A CLAIM WITH THE WARRANTY COMPANY. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DECIDED THAT THE STRUTS WERE NOT THE CAUSE OF THE DEFECT AND WORKED PROPERLY AND COULD NOT HYPOTHESIS ON WHY THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. HE REPORTED THIS TO THE WARRANTY COMPANY WHO THUS DENIED THE CLAIM BECAUSE THEY DO NOT COVER THE GLASS ON THE AUTOMOBILE. I WAS DISPLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME AND CONTACTED BOTH THE WARRANTY COMPANY AND THE GMC HEADQUARTERS MYSELF, HOPING THAT THIS INITIATIVE WOULD RESOLVE THE SITUATION. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THERE IS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE HATCH TO OPEN ON ITS OWN. THE COMPANY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE STRUTS AND ARE REQUIRING ME TO PAY FOR THE GLASS REPLACEMENT AND LABOR FOR SOMETHING THAT I NEITHER CAUSED NOR COULD HAVE PREVENTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10239706
Incident
Aug 20, 2008
Mileage
72,200 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 16, 2006

I TURNED ON THE DEFROSTER ON A COLD EVENING IN A GMC ENVOY I HAD RENTED FROM NATIONAL RENT A CAR. IT WAS, I BELIEVE, A 2005 MODEL. IT WAS A COLD NIGHT AND THE DEFROSTER HAD TO BE TURNED ON. WHILE DRIVING, FIVE MINUTES LATER, A LARGE "CRACK" WAS NOTED. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED STARTING IN THE EXACT SHAPE OF THE CENTRAL DEFROSTER. THE SINGLE EXIT DEFROSTER IS A HAZARD AS HEAT IS TOO CONCENTRATED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10150472
Incident
Dec 20, 2005
Visibility
Filed Nov 17, 2005

I RECENTLY BOUGHT AN GMC ENVOY XUV SUDDENLY ONE DAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND IT STARTED RAINING, I TURNED ON THE WIPERS AND THEN ADJUSTED IT TO THE SLOWEST MODE. THEY STOPPED WORKING AND I HAD TO DRIVE HOME IN THE RAIN WITH POOR VISIBILITY. I ALSO BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE AND AS OF THIS DATE THERE ARE ONLY APPROXIMATELY 6000 MILES ON THE CAR. I CALLED TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD IT MAY NOT BE COVERED BY MY WARRANTY SO FAR I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED AND THEREFORE HAVE NOT BEEN USING THIS VEHICLE. UNTIL I GET BETTER SERVICE AT GMC I WILL CONTINUE TO NOT USE IT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10143059
Incident
Oct 28, 2005
Mileage
5,932 mi
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed Aug 30, 2005

2005 GMC ENVOY HAS DEVELOPED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. *MR THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT SIDE COVER WAS COMING OFF AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE. BOTH ISSUES WERE RECURRENT. *SC

NHTSA ID
10135604
Incident
Aug 1, 2005
Mileage
212 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 20, 2005

PURCHASED NEW 05 ENVOY XL 12/04. WINDSHIELD IS SO DEFECTIVE IT IS DIFIFCULT TO FOCUS OR SEE CLEARLY TO DRIVE. CAUSES EXTREME EYE STRAIN AND HEADACHE TO THE POINT OF BEING UNABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WITH ANOTHER WINDSHIELD THEY FOUND AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. IT IS JUST AS DEFECTIVE. ENVOY IS EXTEMELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FOCUS CLEARLY THRU WINDSHIELD. IT WILL MAKE YOU LITERALLY SICK TO TRY AND DRIVE IT IT CAUSES INABILITY TO FOCUS CLEARLY, EXTREME EYE STRAIN/PAIN, MIGRAINE HEADACHES, DIZZINESS AND NO ONE WANTS TO RIDE IN IT BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU SICK. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE...CAN'T SEE WELL. DEALERSHIP WON'T FIX. SAYS THEY HAVE A MEMO SAYING NOT TO FIX ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL DEFECTIVE. WE HAVE WAITED 3MONTHS FOR A REP. TO BE AVAILABLE. SAY THEY HAVE NONE TO LOOK AT IT. THEY ARE REASSIGNING REPS SOON TO OUR AREA. THERE MUST BE SOMEONE FOR GMC WHO CAN FIX THIS DANGEROUS AND 'SICKENING' SITUATION. $40,000+ VEHICLE AND CAN'T DRIVE IT. IT IS SO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS YOU CAN'T SEE WELL TO FOCUS IT IS SO DISTORTED. EVERYTHING IS WAVY, OUT OF FOCUS AND HURTS YOUR EYES. TO TRY AND DRIVE IT ON A BRIGHT, SUNNY DAY IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AS THE BRIGHTNESS MAKES THE DISTORTION ALL THE WORSE. I HAVE HAD TO WEAR THREE PAIRS OF SUNGLASSES AT ONE TIME TRYING TO DARKEN IT ENOUGH TO DRIVE ON A SUNNY DAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10118143
Incident
Dec 17, 2004
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed Mar 14, 2005

THE ONLY PROBLEM IS WITH THE MEMORY SEATS AND MIRRORS. ON PRIOR YEAR ENVOYS, WHEN YOU PRESSED THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE REMOTE, THE SEATS AND MIRRORS WOULD RECALL TO THAT DRIVERS POSITION. NOW YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE 1 OR 2 BUTTON ON THE DOOR, WHILE IN PARK, TO RECALL THE SEAT AND MIRROR POSITIONS. THERE IS NO TIE WITH THE REMOTE AND THE MEMORY SEATS. I DON'T KNOW WHY GM WOULD DO AWAY WITH THIS FEATURE, BUT IT IS VERY INCONVENIENT AND IN MY OPINION - A BIG STEP BACKWARDS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10114094
Incident
Mar 3, 2005

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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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .