2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

Above average

Owners filed 269 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 1 time.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
63,000 milesMedian miles at failure

241 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System47
0101
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel42
000
Service Brakes39
300
Steering19
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic17
000
Tires9
000
Air Bags8
508
Power Train › Automatic Transmission7
100
Engine and Engine Cooling7
001
Fuel/Propulsion System6
010

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Steering06E010000
Filed Feb 1, 20061,360 vehiclesFabtech Motorsports

Defect. CERTAIN FABTECH AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS, P/NOS. FTS71000 AND FTS71001, INSTALLED FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2001-2006 GM C/K 2500 PICK UP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE PIN LOCATED INSIDE THE PITMAN ARM CAN SHEAR OFF DUE TO A REVERSE BENDING FATIGUE CONDITION, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Risk. LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH WITH POTENTIAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy. FABTECH WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PITMAN AND IDLER ARMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FABTECH AT 909-597-7800.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer
Filed Jan 6, 2026202,000 milesNY

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 122,000. After obtaining a Carfax report, it was discovered that the mileage was 202,000.

Tires
Filed Jun 10, 2025WY

I bought tires from Walmart.com website in July 15 2023 and had them installed on a 2005 Chevrolet 2500 HD pickup. This was at the Walmart Laramie store. Between that time and Fall of 2024 one of the tires had a flat and Walmart Laramie, Wy replaced it. On October 7 2024 going to Riverton, Wy. the right rear passenger tire had a blow out. This was on I-80 going west towards Rawlins. It scared the beejeezus out of my young grandchildren. Four hours later, it was replaced with the spare (I did not have a jack in the vehicle and called a tow company). I took the tire to Walmart Riverton and they told me in the tire center that the tire was too badly damaged. They wondered where I had bought the tires. I told them in Laramie at Walmart. They looked me up online and found the tires. They told me they could not replace the tire although it was under warranty. The problem was that they are car tires and not light truck tires!!! They told me to call up Laramie Walmart and the tire manager would take care of me. I went home and did so. Jackson the tire manager said he wasn't going to replace them and that it was all my fault and that I forced them to put those tires on! He lied to me about what happened with the tires and them installing them. I went back to Riverton Walmart and again talked to the tire manager (Tyrone). He said that he would talk to the store Manager and they would make it right. He said he would order the correct ones, install them and then charge the Laramie store.

Fuel/Propulsion SystemFire
Filed Mar 25, 2025MI

Fuel fitting break and leak fuel everywhere I have had two of these trucks that have done this and it has made my animals sick

SteeringCrash
Filed Feb 27, 2022IN

I got into an accident with my 2005 chevy silverado by rear ending some one at a stop sign. I pulled up behind the vehicle and stopped to wait for them to go the it was my turn she didn't look well enough and had to hit her breaks again and so then did I but my truck did not stop in time because the breaking system delayed

Structure › Body
Filed Dec 15, 2021CT

Frame is rotten badly but cab and bed hardly any rust. Used bad metal for frame and crossmembers.

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Jan 25, 2021200,000 milesIN

OCTOBER 29,2020 I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED AND WHEN I WENT TO APPLY MY BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NOTHING NOT EVEN A LIGHT CAME ON TO NOTIFY MY OF AN ISSUE. I ALSO TRIED TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT SNAPPED AND AT THAT POINT I HAD TO LEAVE THE ROAD WAY TO AVOID HITTING ANY CARS OR ANYONE, AND IN DOING SO IWENT TOWARDS A DITCH AND RAMPED A DRIVEWAY. WE HAVE ;LOOKED INTO THE RECALLS AND ITS THE SAME PARTS WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH ON THIS TRUCK AND WHY IT CAUSED ME TO WRECK. HYDRO BOOST SYSTEM, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CODES THAT I PULLED FROM THE NHTSA. THESE ALL ARE WHATS HAS HAPPENED WITH MY VEHICLE. 04V376000 05V161000 05V043000 IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFO PLEASE LET ME KNOW I HAVE A VIDEO I TRIED TO SEND FROM THE HOMEOWNERS SECURITY CAMERA OF THE TRUCK RAMPING HIS DRIVE BUT IT WAS TOO LARGE TO UPLOAD AND I HAVE TO GET ANOTHER COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT IF YOU WOULD LIKE THAT.

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Apr 11, 2019138,000 milesWA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH RUGGED TERRAIN TIRES, SIZE: LT265/75/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE STARTED TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DISCOUNT TIRE TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF PLY SEPARATION TO THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY 26 DAYS LATER, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY DISCOUNT TIRE AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Wheels
Filed Mar 4, 201999,500 milesID

I HAVE HAD TWO VALVE STEM FAILURES IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. THE VALVE STEMS THAT WERE PUT IN WHEN I REPLACED THE TIRES ARE RATED AT 65 PSI MAX. THE TRUCKS RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE IS 80 PSI. THE TWO TIRE INSTALLERS THAT I TALKED TO SAY THE 65 PSI VALVE STEMS ARE INSTALLED FOR ALL VEHICLES. IS THIS REALLY SAFE?

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jul 7, 2018182,000 milesAZ

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN TOWN ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, WITH THE AC ON AND THE BLOWER IN THE HIGH POSITION, THE BLOWER STARTED TURNING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. A SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC WAS NOTED AND THE BLOWER COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE COMPRESSOR FOR THE AC CONTINUED TO CYCLE ON AND OFF. THE OTHER LOWER SETTINGS FOR THE BLOWER DID NOT WORK EITHER. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PLUG THAT GOES TO THE RESISTOR PACK NEXT TO THE BLOWER HAD A BADLY-BURNED CONTACT FOR THE GROUND WIRE GOING TO THE BLOWER. THE PLASTIC AROUND THE PLUG WAS MELTED AND BURNED AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS MELTED OFF. A SERIOUS FIRE COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY STARTED UNDER THE DASH DUE TO THE INTENSE HEAT AND ARCING OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS PUTTING ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER. DOING RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO TRUCKS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS, BUT I DO NOT FIND ONE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 7, 2018182,000 milesAZ

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR, I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO MAINTAIN THE 45 MILE PER HOUR SPEED. AFTER LESS THAN 60 SECONDS, THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY TO 85 MILES PER HOUR. STEPPING ON THE BRAKE AT FIRST DID NOT CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN IT DID FINALLY CANCEL, I CONTINUE TO DRIVE MANUALLY. THE CRUISE CONTROL THEN TOOK OVER AGAIN AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY, EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT. ONCE AGAIN, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL CANCELLED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED OFF AT THE MAIN SWITCH ON THE TURN SIGNAL STEM. LATER ON, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED BACK ON AND TESTED AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULTS. AFTER THE THIRD ATTEMPT TO SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 45 MPH, THE CRUISE WOULD NOT SET AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY SPECIFIC ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. BUT THEY DID INDICATE THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE ITSELF WOULD PROBABLY BE AT FAULT. IF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IS LEFT IN THE ON POSITION, BUT THE CRUISE IS NOT SET, IT MAY RANDOMLY TAKE OVER THE THROTTLE AND ACCELERATE OR SOMETIMES HOLD ITS OWN SPEED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT DIFFERENT RATES OF SPEED. THIS CREATES A HAZARDOUS SITUATION FOR ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH OTHERS THAT MAY BE IN THE PATH OF THE TRUCK WHEN IT RANDOMLY ACCELERATES. AS OF THE TIME OF THIS WRITING, A SOLUTION HAS NOT BEEN FOUND TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION.

Equipment › Appliance › Air ConditionerFire
Filed Jun 18, 2018150,000 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, GREY SMOKE EMERGED THROUGH THE VENTS AND FLAMES SUDDENLY APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT THE CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *TT

Air Bags
Filed May 21, 2018145,000 milesMO

SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING ON VEHICLE.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 23, 2018189,000 milesFL

DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER TURNS ON BY ITSELF. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE DRIVER IS DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING AND MUST LOOK DOWN TO FIND THE OFF SWITCH. OFTEN, THE SEAT HEAT COMES BACK ON AGAIN ALMOST RIGHT AWAY.. THIS SITUATION SEEMED TO OCCUR IN APPROX 2003 TO 2007 MODELS. INTERNET FORUMS SHOW THAT GM HAS SERVICE BULLETINS THAT INSTRUCT TECHNICIANS TO DO A 'FIRMWARE FIX". THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO STOP THIS CONDITION WAS TO LOCATE AND DISCONNECT A SMALL GREEN CONNECTOR UNDER THE SEAT THAT DISABLES THE SEAT HEATER. CHANGING THE CONTROL MODULE DIDN'T REMEDY THE SITUATION. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND IS INTERMITTENT. SEEMS LIKE GM HAS REMEDIED THE SITUATION IN NEWER MODELS. SEEMS TO ME THEY SHOULD BE RECALLING OLDER MODELS TO INCORPORATE SOME SORT OF "FIX". THE DISTRACTION OF LOCATING AND TURNING OFF THE HEATER IS AS BAD AS "DRIVING WHILE TEXTING". I ALWAYS HAVE TO PULL OVER TO GET IT SHUT OFF. OFTEN, WHEN I RESUME DRIVING, THE HEATER WILL COME BACK ON. EVENTUALLY IT STOPS TURNING ITSELF ON.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 16, 2018133,606 milesOH

MY 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 HD WITH 133,606 MILES EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE APRIL 13,2018 AT 9PM EASTERN STANDARD TIME. INCIDENT HAPPENED IN GREENVILLE, OHIO ON GARDENWOOD DR. HEADING WEST. STOPPED AT A 4 WAY STOP WITH NO INDICATION OF ANY KIND OF MUSHY BRAKES ETC. TOOK OFF FROM STOP AND ACCELERATED TO 25MPH THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. WENT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET, WHEN A RABBIT DARTED IN FRONT OF TRUCK. HIT THE BRAKES WITH MODERATE FIRM PRESSURE, BUT NOT EXTREME AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. HAD ZERO BRAKING FORCE. DUMB FOUNDED, I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO FIND THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY LEFT BOOT IN THE DARK. AFTER 40 YARDS OF COASTING AND APPLYING THE PARKING BREAK WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK. THANK GOD FOR THE RABBIT, CAUSE THE ROAD DEAD ENDS INTO STATE ROUTE 118. THE BRAKE LINE FAILED UNDER DRIVERS SIDE DOOR NEAR FRAME AND RUNS TO THE MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. AFTER REMOVING LINES, THE LINES THAT LOOKED GOOD WERE BRITTLE IN SPOTS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO VISUALLY INSPECT WITHOUT REMOVING. TWO OTHER LINES THAT DIDN'T FAIL COULD BE EASILY SNAPPED IN TWO WITH ALMOST ZERO FORCE. ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM OTHER THAN THE STEEL LINES HAD BEEN REPLACED IN THE PAST 2YRS. POWER WASHED UNDER THE TRUCK AT A MINIMUM OF EVERY 6 MONTHS. SPRAYED WD 40 ON BRAKE LINES EVERY 6 MONTHS PAST 4YRS, DUE TO MECHANIC INFORMING ME THAT THE LINES COULD GO BAD ALONG FRAME AND THAT THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO REPLACE. THOUGHT I HAD DONE A GOOD JOB AT PREVENTING SUCH AN INCIDENT. HAVE EXTENSIVE MECHANICAL

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 29, 2018NJ

2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE FAILURE, LINES HAD TO REPLACED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. *LD *JS

Steering
Filed Mar 5, 2018AR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY TWO YEARS, THE PITTMAN ARM WOULD PREMATURELY FRACTURE. THE PART HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN THREE TIMES. THE PART HAD TO BE REPLACED A FOURTH TIME BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE OEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED 16 TSBS ON THE STEERING, THREE RECALLS ON THE STEERING, AND 27 TSBS ON THE SUSPENSION. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Electrical System
Filed Feb 5, 2018160,000 milesPA

HEATER CONTROLL MODULE FAILURE WIRES HEAT UP AND MELT THE SHEILDING AND THE CONNECTOR ENDS.

Power Train
Filed Aug 10, 2017128,000 milesIL

NO SEPTEMBER 3RD 2016 I WAS AT STUTZ EXCAVATING DRIVING FOR THEM AND WENT I GOT OFF AND WALKED TO MY PICKUP I GOT IN THE TURNED THE KEY AND THE HOUR METER WAS ON 00.0 AND THE MILES HAD 127300 OR SO I HAD JUST CHANGE THE OIL AND HAD OVER 4000 HRS ON MY TRUCK SOMEONE BROKE IN AND HACKED MY PICKUP IN STUTZ EXC LOT AND ON DEC 20TH I WAS LEAVING DR BUGERS LOT AT 5:10 PM AND MY HEAD LIGHT WOULD NOT WORK I GOT HOME AND THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED FINE I SINCE THEY READ ABOUT CAR HACKS AND PULLED THE RADIO FUSE AND AND TRUCK HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS INFILL APRIL 28 MY TRUCK WOULD NOT GO I REVERS AND THE DOOR LOCKS LOCKS THEMSELF AND THE HRS WERE GOING UP WITH DRIVING IT THE DEALER SAID YOU CAN NOT EARESE THE HOUR ON THAT TRUCK THEY ARE BURNED IN THE COMPUTER. SO IF STUTZ CAN REMOVE THE HOUR THEY CAN REMOVE THE MILES FROM THE TRUCK I GOT POLICE REPORTS ON THE VW JETTA BUT NONE ON THE PICKUP THE PICKUP AND CAR WAS MOVING THREW EDWARDSVILLE WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT I GOT HOME WITH MY FOG LIGHTS AND AGAIN THE EDWARDSVILLE POLICE ARE FRIENDS WITH STUTZ AND TOLD ME IT CAN'T HAPPEN SO NOW I LIVE IN FEAR THAT STUTZ CAN SHUT MY LIGHTS OFF ON A RAINY NIGHT ON A DARK ROAD MIKE WEBER AT 3832 RAMOND RD IS CHRIS STUTZ FATHER IN LAW SO MOST OF THE BRACK IN HAVE BEEN HAPPING AT HOME AND AGAIN COPS REFUSE TO BELIEVE ME

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 15, 2017100,000 milesMD

THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERS AND GOES DARK RANDOMLY I CANT SEE MY SPEED OR WHAT GEAR I AM IN. ON MY WAY TO WORK AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN BREAK PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD ZERO BRAKES.UPON INSPECTION I FOUND A BREAK LINE HAD CORRODED THROUGH AND RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 100 THOUSAND MILES. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS

Engine
Filed Mar 31, 2017205,000 milesVA

ENGINE POWERING DOWN....FOREST TO RE-START ENGINE

20 of 269 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20266200Routine
202528100Routine
2024139410Routine
202347120Routine
202294320Routine
202184610Routine
20201051030Routine
201974760Routine
201852520Routine
201754550Routine
2016123520Routine
2015176660Routine
201440220Routine
201351310Routine
201253300Routine
2011104420Routine
201021510Routine
200961530Routine
2008191440Routine
2007204390Above average
2006177180Routine
2005 — this page2691150Above average
20043682102Fatalities reported
2003449280Above average
2002351361Fatalities reported
2001300130Above average
2000132340Routine
199981221Fatalities reported
199873230Routine
199764213Fatalities reported
19962000Routine
19953000Routine
19943000Routine

Compare every Silverado 2500 year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 1, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.