75 complaints reported

2005 Chevrolet Suburban Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
75
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2010

2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN THE SPEEDOMETER JUST WENT OUT @ 42,600K MILES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2010
Nov 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED HE NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 30 TO 40 MPH THAT THE SPEEDOMETER READ 120 MPH, AND WHEN DRIVING 70MPH THE SPEEDOMETER READ 0 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER PANEL FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2010
Apr 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2009
Apr 2010

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Z71 WITH 59,799 MILES. THE SPEEDOMETER ON IT RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY. THE DAY THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY I WAS ON AN HOUR LONG TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY. DURING THE TRIP I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWED I WAS GOING 95 MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUED TO INCREASE EVEN WHEN I SLOWED DOWN, UNTIL IT PASSED 120 MPH WHERE IT WAS STUCK FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IT STARTED TO SLOWLY GO BACK DOWN. SINCE THAT DAY THEN THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUES TO SHOW THE INCORRECT SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE SPEEDOMETER SOMETIMES READS AS HIGH AS 120 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING, AND AT OTHER TIMES DISPLAYS THE VEHICLE GOING 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING, AND OTHER TIMES SHOWS CORRECTLY AT 0 MPH. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET WORSE WHEN I DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON LONGER TRIPS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BUT THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2005
Mar 2010

WE OWN A 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN, AND THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO JUMP AROUND AND ACT ERRATICALLY. IT NOW SHOWS ABOUT 60 MPH, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP. GOES UP ABOVE 120 MPH WHILE DRIVING THROUGH TOWN. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND JUST LIKE OTHERS REPORTED, WAS TOLD WE WERE GOING TO BE TAKEN FOR OVER $600 FOR A REPAIR THAT IS OCCURRING IN VIRTUALLY EVERY 2005 GM TRUCK (ALONG WITH OTHER YEARS). WE CAN NO LONGER TELL WHAT SPEED WE ARE DRIVING, WHICH IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY FOR MY TEENAGE DRIVERS THAT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2010
Mar 2010

WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPED TO 20 MPH AND NEVER DROPPED BACK DOWN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2010
Mar 2010

SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS STOP IT SHOW 70 MPH. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2010
Mar 2010

SPEEDOMETER FOR CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2005 NO WORKING PROPERLY, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS STOP THE SPEEDOMETER SHOW 70 MPH. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2010
Mar 2010

2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN SPEEDOMETER FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED SPEEDOMETER STOPPED INDICATING CORRECT SPEED, INDICATED 120 MILES PER HOUR. SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2010
Feb 2010

IN ,MAY 2009 MY SPEEDO WAS OUT OF WHACK SAYS IM DRIVING 100MPH DOWN STREET, BURIED AT 120MPH ON HIGHWAY. CAME BACK TO LIFE LATER BUT NOW ITS HIT OR MISS IF IT WORKS. I HAVE TO USE MY MAGELLAN FOR SPEEDO NOW AND CHEVY DEALER SAID IF I WAS UNDER 70K THEY COULD FIX IT FOR FREE BUT SINCE IM AT 85K AND THEY SAY I HAVE TO PAY IN FULL (APPROX $750.00) AND CHEVY NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THIS I LEARNED OF THE PROBLEM FROM A FRIEND. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2009
Jan 2010

ON A HIGHWAY TRIP HOME, THE SPEEDOMETER GOT STUCK AT 73MPH AND STEADILY INCREASED IN SPEED UNTIL IT JUST POINTS DIRECTLY DOWNWARD. IT STAYS FACING DOWNWARD AND DOESN'T MOVE AT ALL NO. THE CHEVY DEALERS ALSO SAY THAT THERE IS A RECALL BUT OUR CARS VIN NUMBER DOESN'T MEET THE RECALL. THEY AGREE CHEVY SHOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. WHEN I CONTACTED CHEVY, THEY TOLD ME THE WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE AND TO STOP CONTACTING THEM REGARDING THE PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2010
Nov 2009

2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN APPROX. 64,000 MILES I HAVE A FAULTY READING SPEEDOMETER, WHICH I FEEL IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I NEVER KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING. THANKFULLY I HAVE NOT HAD A ACCIDENT OR GOTTEN A SPEEDING TICKET YET. I TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC, WHO TRIED REPLACING THE SPEED SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION, TO NO AVAIL. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2003 & 2004 MODELS. I TRIED CALLING THE GM HOTLINE AND WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR 2005. I CALLED A LOCAL DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE SAME THING. I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIXED BEFORE IT REACHES 70,000 MILES. THE DEALER DID ASK IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I ASSUME THEY WOULD SAY IF I WASN'T, THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT SHOULD HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING. WHAT OR WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2008
Aug 2009

JUST GOT INTO MY 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN 1500. THE SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING. REGISTERING 100MPH WHILE I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, NOT WORKING AT ALL WHILE I DROVE BACK TO THE HOUSE. THERE IS A LAWSUIT FOR 2004 MODELS AND ONLY UP TO 70,000MILES. THIS IS A CLUSTER FAILURE AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF SUBURBAN,TAHOE, AND SIMILAR MODEL OWNERS. THE DEALERSHIPS ARE CHARGING AN AVERAGE OF $450.00 TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT THAT, JUDGING FROM THE LAWSUIT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT AFFECTS MY MONITORING OF MY SPEED AND ENDANGERS THE PUBLIC AND ALSO PUTS DRIVERS IN A BAD POSITION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. GM IS OBLIGATED TO REPAIR A PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD KNOWLEDGE OF. THERE ARE TOO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD TO ALLOW THIS DEFECT AND POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE TO GO UNCHECKED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2009
Aug 2009

WE HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN WITH 50,000 MILES. OUR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK, OTHER GAUGES (I.E. FUEL, OIL, TEMP) WORK INTERMITTENTLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS! THE COST TO FIX THIS IS $650 AND AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE! CHEVROLET HAS EVEN RECALLED THE 2003/2004 MODELS FOR THIS REASON! WHY NOT 2005? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2009
Jul 2009

ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER...OFTEN THE NEEDLE STICKS AT 120 MPH WHEN ONLY GOING ABOUT 30...SOMETIMES AT 40 WHEN ACTUALLY NOT MOVING AT A STOPLIGHT. IT READS ERRATICALLY ALL OF THE TIME. STARTED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO (75,000 MILES). VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR, SO I KEEP MY PORTABLE GPS RUNNING TO GET ACTUAL SPEED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2007
Jul 2009

WE BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN IN EARLY 2006. IN EARLY 2008 THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO ACT UP (BOUNCING, STEADILY DECREASING UNTIL ZERO) WE HAVE JUST COMPLETED A LONG TRIP AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING FOR 4 HOURS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2008
Jun 2009

AS I HAVE READ THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. MY SPEEDOMETER ON OUR 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 67,000 MILES QUIT WORKING. ON A LONG TRIP IT WOULD ONLY SHOW 45-60 MPH. I KNOW I WAS GOING ALOT FASTER. WHEN I ACCELERATED IT WOULD SLOWLY JUMP UP TO SPEED. SEVERAL TIMES THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS AFFECTED ALSO. WE HAD THE CLUSTER REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FROM DEC 08 UNTIL MAY OF 09 IT HAPPENED 10 TIMES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2008
May 2009

ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER... SAYS THE VEHICLE IS MOVING 120 MPH WHEN IN A VILLAGE AND 30 ON THE HIGHWAY... IT READS ERRATICALLY ALL OF THE TIME. STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO (78,000 MILES) THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IS CHEVROLET GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? I HAVE READ NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2009
May 2009

SPEEDOMETER SHOWS 110 MPH WHEN CARS ARE PASSING ME. I BELIEVE AM GOING ABOUT 55 OR 60 MPH. I UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN THE DASHBOARD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2009
Apr 2009

I HAVE A 2005 1500 CHEVY SUBURBAN THAT THE SPEEDOMETER READS ERRATIC. IT GOES 120+ WHILE AT A RED LIGHT OR 25 CRUISING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS NOW. I TALK TO THE DEALERS AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE 600-900 DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIRS. NOT KNOWING HOW FAST OR SLOW YOU ARE GOING ONLY GUESTAMATING IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR MYSELF ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE I SHARE THE ROAD WITH. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2008
Feb 2009

IN NOVEMBER, MY SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2005 SUBURBAN 1500 STARTED FLUCTUATING ALL OVER THE PLACE. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T EVEN READ ON THE NUMBERS. CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID THEIR WAS A RECALL ONLY UP TO 2004. I READ ON LINE THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CLUSTER. NOW IN BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY MY GAS GAGE IS READING WRONG. THINGS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE NOT WORKING RIGHT. THIS ALL STARTED HAPPENING UNDER 50,000 MILES. MY HUSBAND IS LAID OFF AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. PLEASE HELP!! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2008
Feb 2009

SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. IT IS STUCK ON 30MPH. THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHAT SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING AT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2009
Feb 2009

THE SPEEDOMETER IN MY 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN JUST STOPPED WORKING. THE NEEDLE IS INDICATING 30MPH ALL THE TIME. THIS INITIALLY LEAD TO ME THINKING I WAS GOING SLOWER THAN I REALLY WAS UNTIL I FIGURED OUT THAT IT WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2009
Feb 2009

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY SUBURBAN WITH ABOUT 55,000 MILES ON IT. FOR THE PAST 6-8 MONTHS, MY SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER GAUGES (OIL, ETC.) WILL STICK CAUSING INACCURATE READINGS. AT TIMES MY SPEEDOMETER IS ABOUT 30 MPH OFF FROM THE REAL SPEED, AND FOR THE MONTHS THE OIL GAUGE HAS READ OFF THE CHARTS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2008
Feb 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS INACCURATE READINGS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE CANNOT DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE SPEED, WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $600. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE YEAR, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 5/26/09 *CN THE SPEEDOMETER IS BROKEN AND THE ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATION MAKES A BUZZING SOUND. UPDATED 05/28/09.*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2008

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2005 Chevrolet Suburban has 75 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.