Model year record

2005 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 recalls & problems

The 2005 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 has 1 safety recall and 94 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (46 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints94filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

WheelsDec 17, 2007

Hub

Recall 07E106000130,000 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.
Risk: WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.

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.

Fuel economy

Suburban 1500 4WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Suburban 1500 2WD FFV

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Suburban 1500 4WD FFV

14mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel

Suburban 1500 AWD FFV

14mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/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	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel	46	0	0	57,250 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Driveline	12	0	0	51,100 mi
Air bagsFrontal › Sensor/control module	8	1	0	77,791 mi
Service brakes	6	1	1	88,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	4	0	0	55,274 mi
StructureBody › Hatchback/liftgate; Frame and members	4	0	0	55,800 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine	3	0	0	73,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	3	0	0	—
VisibilityPower window devices and controls	2	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	2	0	0	—
Seat beltsRear/other	2	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulic	2	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 NOTICED CORRODED AND WHAT I WOULD CALL CHARRED OR BURNT WIRING ON THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE REAR LIFT GATE OF MY SUBURBAN. I NOTICED IT WHEN I OPENED THE LIFT GATE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR OF THE SUBURBAN. IT APPEARS THAT THE RUBBER GROMMET MATERIAL PROTECTING THE WIRING HARNESS, WAS BURNT OR MELTED AWAY. THE RUBBER HOSE THAT SUPPLIES WATER TO THE REAR WINDOW WASHER/WIPER HAD A HOLE IN IT, AND MAY HAVE BEEN LEAKING WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID ONTO THE WIRES FOR A TIME. THE WIRES WERE BARE IN SOME SPOTS, SOME OF THE WIRE INSULATION LOOKED MELTED/BURNT AWAY, AND THEY LOOKED CORRODED/WITH A GREEN COLOR TO THEM. THE CONNECTOR THAT CONNECTS THE HARNESS, TO THE REST OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,…
Oct 22, 2018 · 158,724 miles
Service brakesCrash
I HAD A RUSTED BRAKE LINE (DRIVER SIDE FRONT) FAIL JUNE 25TH, 2017. THIS TRUCK IS 12 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES. IMMEDIATELY ALL BRAKING WAS LOST AND THE PEDAL PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. REPEATED PRESSING THE BRAKE ONLY PUMPED OUT ALL THE BRAKE FLUID. THIS WAS A SUDDEN AND CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF BRAKING. THE WORST PART IS, BRAKING IS SUPPOSED TO BE SPLIT AND INDEPENDENT BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, SO IF YOU LOSE THE FRONT, THE REAR BRAKES STILL WORK, AND VICE VERSA. WELL I LOST ALL BRAKING, I HAD NO FRONT OR REAR BRAKING! THIS SHOULD BE A CLEAR SAFETY PROBLEM AND A MANDATORY RECALL! I CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BECAUSE OF COURSE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T WORK EITHER.…
Jun 25, 2017 · 88,000 miles
Air bags
FOR APPROXIMATELY THE LAST 4 YEARS THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. GIVEN ALL THE AIRBAG PROBLEMS IN RECENT YEARS AND THE FACT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2005 GM SUVS AND GIVEN AIRBAGS ARE VITAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT GM NEEDS TO PROVIDE OWNERS WITH THESE PROBLEMS A FREE FIX OR BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES IMMEDIATELY FOR REPAIRS BEFORE ALOT OF PEOPLE GET HURT OR KILLED.
Jan 1, 2011 · 87,000 miles
Air bags
2005 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 4X4 FLEX FUEL, 5.3L. THIS VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK. TACHOMETER PEGS AND STICKS. THE SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AT ZERO. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT GENERAL MOTORS/GM SHOULD DO A FREE RECALL FOR AS MANY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY ABS SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF NUMEROUS TIMES A DAY, AND CLUSTER STATES SERVICE AIR BAG. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD ALSO FIX THIS FOR FREE UNDER A RECALL AS OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY THIRD MAJOR COMPLAINT, IS THE VEHICLE STARTING PROBLEM/HARD START. IT TAKES TWO TURNS OF THE ENGINE FOR THE VEHICLE TO TURN ON AND STAY RUNNING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON VARIOUS SEARCH…
Aug 7, 2016
Air bags
I TURNED MY 2005 SUBURBAN ON AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN TO THE CHEVY/GM DEALER WHO SAID, "THE RIGHT, FRONT, AIR BAG SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE." IT WOULD COST $375 TO FIX IT. I DID NOT GET IT FIXED AT THAT TIME. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS ARE INOPERABLE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT ABOUT 150,000 MILES. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS BY THE COMPANY.
Mar 5, 2016 · 150,000 miles
Service brakes
FIRST INCIDENT EASTERN PA: 05/19/2014 APROX 119000 MILES: AFTER HITTING THE BRAKES HARD TO AVOID A VEHICLE THAT PULLED IN FRONT OF ME, THE BRAKES FAILED (BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR WITH LITTLE BRAKING ACTION). MANAGED TO SAFELY STOP. FOUND BURST BRAKE LINE IN THE REAR END OF VEHICLE. TWO REAR CORRODED REAR BRAKE LINES REPLACED BY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. SECOND INCIDENT MILFORD MA: 09/17/2015 127336 MILES: HIT BRAKES GOING DOWN DRIVEWAY. BRAKES WERE SOFT AND SANK TO FLOOR. BRAKE LINE GOING TO FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS BURST. ALL THE BRAKE FLUID DRAINED QUICKLY OUT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. ORDERED ACDELCO 22932592 GM ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT HYDRAULIC BRAKE PIPE KIT AND AM IN THE…
May 19, 2014 · 119,000 miles
Vehicle speed control
THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE BEGAN "CATCHING," NOT MOVING SMOOTHLY. AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS IT WOULD NOT RESET TO 0 WHEN STOPPED THEN AFTER 1 MORE DAY IT QUIT REGISTERING COMPLETELY.
Feb 22, 2015 · 58,908 miles
Steering
HAD SERVICED THE TRANSFER CASE AND HAD TAKEN IT BACK TWICE NOW BESIDES A NOISE LIKE THAT OF A POWER STEERING PUMP GOING BAD ( WHINING ) , HAD A TURNING CLUNK NOISE COMING AND AT A STOP LIGHT I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER SIDE, GOT TO PARK IT AND SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING .BRING IT BACK TO SEE IF THE MECHANIC WILL WORK ON IT SINCE IT HASN'T BEEN 30 DAYS. PLEASE NOTIFY ME OF ANYTHING DO TO THE TRANSFER CASE. *TR
Nov 9, 2014

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