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ProblemsByVinFile / 2005-CHEVROLET-SILVERADONHTSA data synced 4 days ago
2005 · Chevrolet
Chevrolet Silverado problems
1,185 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. 5 active recall campaigns on file.
Reliability score
5.6 / 10
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
0
Critical
5
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2005 Silverado?
Avoid — the electrical system
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the electrical system was repaired or replaced.
1 fatality report and 45 fire-related complaints on the electrical system
Brakes: 270 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 41,096–105,452 mi
Reliability score 5.6/10 — around the segment average
5 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
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What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2005 Silverado· engine
In june, 2011, I began noticing my antifreeze levels were dropping slightly. There were no noticeable leaks of antifreeze anywhere. I attributed it to evaporation & added coolant. Over time the truck started using more & more antifreeze. A friend of mine noticed a puff of white…
The problem addressed in your NHTSA action number: pe05020 for earlier model years of the same truck are occurring in my 2005 truck. This has LED to near rear-end collisions. The brakes go into an "anti-lock" condition at slow speeds while braking, no matter what the weather…
I was driving to the store and when I looker at my speedometer I was doing 110mph and when I came to a stop it displayed 60mph that happened 12/31/08 at 70,000 miles. So far my problems with my 2005 silverado at 20,000 miles I had the steering wheel clump fixed by packing it…
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet silverado 3500. While driving between 5-30 MPH, the collapsible steering column is very loose and rattles loudly. The contact has not yet scheduled a repair appointment. The current mileage was 20,000 and failure mileage was 5,000.
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Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing may make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips of occupants, especially smaller occupants, seated in this position
A lap portion of the seat belt routing that is not low and snug on the hips can allow the lap belt to ride up on an occupant's abdomen instead of fitting low around their hipbones, and therefore, can expose them to more risk of abdominal and internal organ injury.
Fix: Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on july 21, 2005. Owners may contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463, or Hummer at 1-800-732-5493.
On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions and built with either pbr parking brake systems or trw parking brake systems, the parking brake friction linings may wear to an extent where the parking brake can become ineffective in immobilizing a parked vehicle
If the parking brake does not hold, unintended vehicle movement could occur, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a low-force spring clip retainer for vehicles equipped with a pbr parking brake system. On vehicles equipped with the trw parking brake system, dealers will install a redesigned parking brake cable assembly. The recall began on july 29, 2005. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC at 1-866-996-9463.
On certain trucks, the bolt that attaches the intermediate steering shaft to the steering gear may not meet specification
If this happens while the vehicle is moving, a crash could occur without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will replace the intermediate steering shaft bolt free of charge. The recall began on january 24, 2005. Owners may contact GMC at 1-866-996-9463 and Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.6 out of 10 based on 1,185 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado?
On the NHTSA data, the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the electrical system was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 1 fatality report and 45 fire-related complaints on the electrical system; Brakes: 270 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 41,096–105,452 mi; Reliability score 5.6/10 — around the segment average; 5 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is electrical, with 336 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 71,131 miles. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 71,131 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Chevrolet Silverado has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 1,185 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 4 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Chevrolet/Silverado.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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