The Lemon Index2005 Chevrolet Suburban.
The 2005 Chevrolet Suburban is about average by owner complaints: 58 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 86, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 8 recalls, and it gets 14 to 15 mpg combined. The best Chevrolet Suburban year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 229 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Chevrolet Suburban year. 2005 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 50K to 101K miles on the car (185 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 50K–85K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 18K–82K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 78K–159K miles
Recalls 8
- wheels 2007
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, …
- engine 2006
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN 8.1L V8 (RPO L8-VIN G) ENGINE HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL PULSE DAMPER RETAINER CLIP MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE DAMPER.
- fuel system, gasoline 2006
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, 2…
Show all 8 recalls
- seat belts 2005
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, ESPECIALL…
- brakes 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHROD RETAINER MAY BE MISSING.
- transmission & drivetrain 2005
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 TRA…
- brakes 2005
CERTAIN TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH BOSCH HYDRO-BOOST BRAKE ASSEMBLIES, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE ACCUMULATOR MAY CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE HYDRO-BOOST ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL OPERA…
- fuel system, gasoline 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.3L (RPO L59) V8 ENGINES, THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE RETAINER SCREWS WERE NOT MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY BREAK.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Chevy told dealers about
Chevy sent dealers 800 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Whine noise from rear axle
- Intermittent no start, service stability message, anti-lock brake system (abs) light…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side — · rollover ★★★☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $4300–4600 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 5.3L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Instrument panel failure. Speedometer stuck below 0 (zero). Tire pressure readings keep changing in minutes ranging 20-46. Schedule for replacement of the instrument panel cluster and will cost $450-600.
2005 Chevrolet Suburban owner · NHTSA complaint 10225149
More owner reports
Dt: the vehicle has been in the shop 3 times for transmission problems. The dealer has changed different parts, however the problem continued.
NHTSA complaint 10126396
Instrument cluster failure. Gauges not accurate. I was told instrument cluster would need to be replaced at my cost.
NHTSA complaint 10241652
Quick answers
Is the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 86; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Chevrolet Suburban year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2005 Chevrolet Suburban problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (34%), transmission & drivetrain (22%) and brakes (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban have?
8 safety recalls (latest: wheels). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban get?
14 to 15 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2005 Chevrolet Suburban problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 50,000 and 101,900 miles. The middle report was at 71,000 miles, from 185 complaints.
Does the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 22% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban cost in fuel a year?
About $4300 to $4600 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban have?
5.3L 8-cyl.
What Chevrolet Suburban year is better than the 2005?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2010 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works