2005 Chevrolet Tahoe: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe: 5 recalls, 293 owner complaints and up to 16 mpg combined.

Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #05V055000 · 2005 · 7,194 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock and transmission braking effect." under certain vehicle starting conditions, the shift lever position indicator located in the instrument panel cluster May not illuminate. If the shift lever position…
Why it matters: The vehicle May move in an unintended direction resulting in possible injury to others outside of the vehicle.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2005.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #05V103000 · 2005 · 707 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, the brake pedal pushrod retainer May be missing. If the retainer is missing, the brake booster pushrod could disengage from the brake pedal.
Why it matters: This could result in a loss of brakes which could result in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for the brake pedal pushrod retainer and install one if it is missing free of charge. The manufacturer began contacting owners by telephone on March 10, 2005.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #05V163000 · 2005 · 1,359,824 vehicles
What's wrong: 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. Appropriate use of a child seat or booster seat, as recommended for small children, does improve the fit condition for this user group. In addition to…
Why it matters: 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.
The 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #06V417000 · 2006 · 794 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain vehicles originally built with cloth seats that were equipped with an automatic air bag passenger sensing system and later reupholstered with aftermarket leather seat cover kits are involved. Testing has indicated that the aftermarket leather seat covers can cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction.
Why it matters: If the passenger sensing system malfunctions, the front air bag on the passenger side May be disabled when it should be enabled, or enabled when it should be disabled. In either case, in the event of a crash that requires air bag deployment, a front passenger's level of injury May be increased.
The fix: Because a replacement leather seat cover that is compatible with the passenger sensing system is not available, general motors (gm) will repurchase these vehicles in accordance with the terms stated in gm's letter to owners. The recall began on November 6, 2006. Owners should contact gm at…
Electrical Vehicle recall #14V070000 · 2014 · 22 vehicles
What's wrong: The specific potting compound used in the subject products for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.
Why it matters: Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Monroe will notify owners, and sure power will replace the equalizers or converters, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2014.
2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Fuel system Equipment recall #06E043000 · 2006 · 88,303 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n g3727, with date codes x52911 through x60801 sequentially or x600141 and a mexico country or origin marking on the fuel filter housing manufactured from October 18, 2005, through March 21, 2006, sold for use on the vehicles listed above and on certain school buses. (to see the school bus engine sizes, click on "document search" and then "bus applications"). The…
Why it matters: This condition May cause an inadequate seal at the connection, potentially leading to a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
The fix: Honeywell will notify owners and replace the fuel filters free of charge. The recall began on October 18, 2006.
Wheels Equipment recall #07E106000 · 2007 · 130,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Wheel separation can result in a vehicle crash.
The 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 14 mention a fire, 12 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (126): the most common themes are electrical failure (15), fire / smoke (14), door / lock issues (9).
- Transmission & drivetrain (24): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (14), warning light on (5), noise or vibration (3).
- Airbags (19): the most common themes are fails to deploy (7), warning light on (5).
- Steering (19): the most common themes are steering problems (16), noise or vibration (11).
The 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe has 293 owner complaints, ranking #13 of 36 Tahoe model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 279). Complaints peaked in 2008 (47 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 80,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2004 (467 complaints, 2 recalls), 2006 (114 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Regular |
| 4.8 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Regular |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 15 | Regular |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Regular |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 15 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe.
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FAQ
Does the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe problems?
Owners have filed 293 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (126), transmission & drivetrain (24), airbags (19).
What gas mileage does the 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe get?
EPA ratings run up to 16 mpg combined (4.8 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 6 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.