Model year record

2005 Chevrolet Classic recalls & problems

The 2005 Chevrolet Classic has 1 safety recall and 49 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (25 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints49filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths13 · 0reported in complaints

2005 Chevrolet Classic in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

SuspensionFeb 14, 2005

Rear

Recall 05V0540009,402 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE BOLTS THAT ARE NOT TO SPECIFICATION AND COULD FRACTURE UNDER HIGH LOADS THAT CAN OCCUR IN SOME DRIVING CONDITIONS.
Risk: IF THE BOLT FRACTURE, THE REAR SUSPENSION LINKAGE COULD DETACH FROM THE KNUCKLE AND THE REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN INBOARD OR OUTBOARD. SUDDEN CHANGES IN VEHICLE HANDLING COULD OCCUR, PARTICULARLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, AND THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2005 Chevrolet Classic 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2005 Chevrolet Classic NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Classic

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 31 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel; Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module	25	1	0	3	77,000 mi
SteeringLinkages › Arm › Idler and attachment; Hydraulic power assist system	15	2	0	3	100,510 mi
Air bagsFrontal	6	5	1	13	9,017 mi
Seat belts	3	2	0	3	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump	3	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	3	1	1	1	95,000 mi
SuspensionFront	2	0	0	0	—
Power train	2	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	2	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	1	1	0	1	—
EquipmentElectrical › Anti-theft devices	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system
I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE THEFT BYPASS SYSTEM, ON MY 2005 CHEVY CLASSIC. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. IT WAS FOR THE IGNITION KEY ROTATION. WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR (SUDDENLY) DYING. I TOLD THEM THAT IT HAD DIED WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY (TWICE), WHILE DRIVING ON THE CITY STREETS, AND IN MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS PAST FRIDAY, LATE IN THE EVENING, MY CAR (SUDDENLY) DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, THE DRIVERS AROUND ME WERE PAYING ATTENTION -- I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN AWFUL…
Sep 1, 2017 · 49,500 miles
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Jul 9, 2016 · 143,000 miles
Service brakes
I ARRIVED AT WORK AND WAS TOLD BY COWORKERS THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. THEY WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I REMOVED THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL TO AVOID DRAINING MY BATTERY. ON THE DRIVE HOME, AFTER RECONNECTING BATTERY, I DISCOVERED MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING EITHER. I SAW ON THE INTERNET A RECALL (GM 13036) THAT COVERED THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON SEVERAL MODELS INCLUDING THE MALIBU WHICH MY CAR NEARLY IDENTICAL TO. UNFORTUNATELY IT DOES NOT COVER MY MODEL AND IT SHOULD! CLEARLY THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE AND 2005 CLASSIC SHOULD BE INCLUDED. I CURRENTLY AM DRIVING WITH THE LIGHTS STUCK ON AND HAVE TO DISCONNECT / CONNECT BATTERY TERMINAL EVERY TIME I DRIVE.
Apr 17, 2016 · 117,247 miles
Steering
I HEARD SOME CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. WAS TOLD BY A CHAIN REPAIR SHOP THAT THE STRUTS PROBABLY NEEDED REPLACING. I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO LOUD FOR THAT, BUT I TRUSTED THEIR OPINION. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS WAY OFF CENTER. AS I WENT TO MAKE A U-TURN, I LOST STEERING COMPLETELY. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF TRAFFIC SAFELY WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER ON THE FREEWAY. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE MOUNTING TABS FOR THE STEERING GEAR WHERE EVERYTHING IS ATTACHED RUSTED OUT COMPLETELY FROM THE SUBFRAME AND NEEDED A CRADLE SO HE COULD RE-ATTACH THE STEERING COMPONENTS. ALSO, THE STEERING RACK WAS DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS AND NEEDED TO BE…
Mar 13, 2016 · 56,000 miles
Air bagsCrashFire1 injury
AS I SLAMMED ON BRAKES CAR SHUT DOWN CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK AND BRAKES TO NOT FUNCTION WELL. I ENDED UP REAR ENDING PERSON IN FRONT. ALSO THE AIRBAG BURNED MY LEFT HAND.
Sep 29, 2015 · 140,000 miles
Unknown or other
CAR WOULDN'T START. USUALLY IT STARTS RIGHT UP BUT IT WOULDN'T START UP. AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB WE FOUND IT WAS THE ANTITHEFT SYSTEM.
Jul 31, 2015 · 95,000 miles
Electrical system
2005 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR IGNITION RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS. *SMD THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *JB
Dec 10, 2014
Electrical system
THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, GM RECALLED THIS VEHICLE UNDER RECALL NUMBER 14350, ALL THE DEALERSHIP DID WAS APPLY SMALL TWO SMALL KEY RINGS, THIS DID NOTHING TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM, WHEN I CALLED GM TO COMPLAIN THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS THE PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER, THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THIS APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, I PAID MY MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH, I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED BY GM. THANK YOU. *TR
Jan 8, 2010 · 80,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.