10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 11
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,794 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 GMC Envoy electrical problems

electrical problem

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2005 GMC Envoy Owner Comments (Page 6 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #42

Jan 032011

Envoy 6-cyl

  • 82,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Overheated and melted electrical connection at fan speed switch under dash!

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #41

Jan 012011

Envoy 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
2005 Envoy instrument cluster going bad. It will seem fine then the mph go way off and who knows if you can trust the other gauges while on the road. I've read that most GMC Envoy have this problem and GMC is not acknowledging the known problem. Dealership said it will cost me 575 dollars to have it replaced.

- Crosby, TX, USA

problem #40

Sep 192010

Envoy

  • 73,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 GMC Envoy XL. While driving 45 mph, the speedometer displayed that the vehicle was traveling 85 mph. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where the instrument cluster was replaced. The contact called the manufacturer and dealer who offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

- Augusta, GA, USA

problem #39

Apr 152010

Envoy

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 GMC Envoy. The contact was driving at an unknown speed when the speedometer failed. The dealer was informed of the failure and stated that the warranty did not cover the repair for the instrumental panel. Any repairs would be at the contacts expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 87,000.

- Laurel , MD, USA

problem #38

Aug 312010

Envoy

  • 69,000 miles
For the last few months my 2005 GMC Envoy denali has had repeated problems with the fuel gauge. After re-fueling the vehicle, the gauge will go to empty and illuminate the empty tank warning light. The check engine light also comes on. Within a few miles the fuel gauge will begin to fluctuate wildly for a period of time, making it impossible to know how much gas is in it. The fuel gauge sometimes begins to operate again after the car has been driven for a few days. Car has become unsafe because it is difficult to determine how much fuel is in it and empty tank sensor "cries wolf." Also, the fuel gauge has begun to register a full tank when really the gas tank is near empty. Once you start driving the fuel gauge begins to fall slowly until about 10 minutes later it finally registers the proper gas level... I've thought my husband filled up the tank and almost run out of gas because the fuel gauge didn't tell me I was out of gas until I was on the highway stuck in traffic - away from a nearby gas station. The trip odometer is not an exact science so it cannot be relied upon. (mpg vary depending out temperature, city vs. Highway miles, mph, etc). Message boards show that this is a common problem and eventually lead to the car stalling unexpectedly, even during highway travel. See www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/2005/GMC/Envoy/fuel+system. "

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #37

Jul 132010

Envoy

  • 100,000 miles
Out of nowhere my front head lights went out. Its not the fuse or the bulbs, both front low lights went out. The high beams work. There is no power going to the lights and I have to buy a new switch. I also had to replace the engine almost a year ago because the O rings went up. The gas gauge is broken and my passenger window will not go down. I feel so stuck with this car!

- Shady Side, MD, USA

problem #36

Oct 262005

Envoy

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car switches into all 4W and higher by itself. I had been to a dealership 3 times in one year for which they were unable to find the problem. Now my warranty is up. After that I took it to a transmission shop where they supposedly fixed the problem for over 800.$ a week later it did it again. Now I have the 4WD disconnected for safety reasons. I would be driving on the freeway at 60-75 mph and if would switch and not come out no matter what I do. I have owned this vehicle for almost 5 years and it has done this the whole time. I am a single mom and I drive my 17 and 7 year old around in this car. Even with it disconnected it still tries to switch. There is no specific time, temperature, or other reason this happens. It has happened when I turn on the car and sometimes I can go a couple of weeks and other times it happens daily. I also have had my lights not go on for no reason and also the doors lock and can only be unlocked by using the key. And the hatchback will not open at all when this happens. Electrical?? help!!

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #35

Jun 132010

Envoy

  • 55,628 miles
2005-Envoy orig owner> speedometer started going crazy pegged at 120 when I was doing only 65(gps says speed) then it went down to 20 still doing 65- this morning all fine. Today after work same craziness. Like others wondering why was this model left out of safety recall? won't be buying a GMC again that's for sure. Bought car 5 years ago next month and less the 70,000. Can see there is a known issue - based on all the hits you get on the internet when you google it.

- Gilroy, CA, USA

problem #34

May 282010

Envoy

  • miles
I have a 2005 GMC Envoy. I have had several issues with the ignition switch, the fuel gauge sensor, and the rear hatch. I have replaced the ignition switch four times, purchased a new battery, and a new starter, as well as a fuel sensor. I still have intermittent issues with my car not starting for no apparent reason and stalling out while driving and especially when decelerating. The stalling is a severe safety hazard as I travel very busy highways during my daily commute. My wife and children, as well as myself, have been stranded many times when the vehicle would not start after operating fine prior to turning off ignition. We have had the vehicle in the shop many times and have been told there is nothing that can be done for us because they have no idea what the cause is. At this point, I do not allow my wife to drive the vehicle anymore out of fear for the safety of her and my children. This is a significant stress for us that I feel we should not have to endure.

- Commerce Twp, MI, USA

problem #33

Jan 282010

Envoy

  • 70,125 miles
I was on my way to work during the winter months and my blower fan stopped working. At first I couldn't see very good out my window and my headlamps started dimming. There is an overload someone near the blower and my vehicle only has 70,000 miles on it. I think this should be a recall because you need heat and light to see when you drive and without it can cause accidents. I was down in a ditch when mine went out and thank god someone was watching over me. The price you pay for a nice vehicle their should be no defects with under a 100,000 miles. I have still from this day haven't had the money to replace it because my truck payments and insurance break my budget.

- Laketon, IN, USA

problem #32

Aug 302009

Envoy 6-cyl

  • 53,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The gas gauge stopped working and shows that the vehicle is on empty. The "low fuel' indicator on the dash will blink randomly and "ding" to draw my attention to it. The gas cap was replaced a week later but the problem has not been resolved. It continues to read "empty." Since then the speedometer has also stopped working. The speedometer hand has completely dropped below the 120 mph mark, although for a few weeks it would register that I was driving much faster than the speed of traffic around me. Moreover, it would register 30 mph when the vehicle was completely stopped. Yet, it has since stopped working altogether. The vehicle has also recently stalled in reverse and several times has surged/accelerated quickly when I am driving slowly and push the gas pedal to accelerate. I have an appointment with the local GMC dealership and have called the national GMC dealer to document my complaint(s).

- Tumwater, WA, USA

problem #31

Jun 102009

Envoy 6-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
2005 GMC Envoy gas gauge does not work. Car had 42000 miles when it quit. Car now has 50200 miles on it. Gas gauge reads empty and sometimes will float just above empty even with a full tank of gas. Car has left family along side road while waiting for help. Should be a recall as there is thousands of complaints on this issue. Updated 02/01/10 updated 02/02/10.

- Weirton, WV, USA

problem #30

Nov 152009

Envoy

  • 95,000 miles
The speedometer constantly shows different speeds. Will be driving down expressway at 65mph and next thing you know it shows 90mph so you slow down 65 again and realize that everyone flies by. The best I can figure is it will suddenly show a different speed than one is actually going from 20mph less to 40mph more. Different every time.

- Onsted, MI, USA

problem #29

Jul 292009

Envoy

  • 52,000 miles
There was ignition switch failure while driving the vehicle. The power steering and brakes gave out, the engine shut off, and all the lights on the dash came on. It resembled the car running out of gas without doing so. After I pulled off the road with great difficulties, I put the car in park and the vehicle got stuck in it. The engine would not turn over after this occurred and needed to be towed. There is no release switch which the tow truck driver said there should be so he could get it onto the truck, so the vehicle has to be drug with the wheels locked onto the flatbed and then pushed off in the same manner. We paid to have it fixed and it has now happened again 5 months later. There are many reports of this online and it is not just with the GMC Envoy denali it also includes the Chevy trailblazer and possibly other vehicles manufactured by GM. There was one person online that said they keep spare ignition switches in the vehicle and the tools to swap it out because of how frequently it happens. The dealership replaced the part and it is not available as far as I know, because it was not returned to me. The vehicle was a 2005 GMC Envoy denali.

- Newton, NJ, USA

problem #28

Jul 152009

Envoy

  • 75,000 miles
2005 GMC Envoy instrument cluster defective speedometer malfunctioning.

- Powder Springs, GA, USA

problem #27

Jun 102007

Envoy

  • 58,000 miles
I have a 2005 GMC Envoy. The Envoy began experiencing problems at approximately 58, 000 miles when the gas tank began reading empty no matter how much gas was in the tank. Eventually, after much complaining to my local dealership they stated they would only repair the problem if I paid for half of the repairs. I refused. Later, at approximately 80,000 miles, my speedometer began malfunctioning. The speedometer works intermittently, just recently it was stuck at 120 mph even in park. Now, the battery gauge has begun to malfunction. The battery charge ranges from the lowest to the highest with no real rhyme or reason. It is apparent by reading on the internet forums that this is a major product defect as it happens to many, many GMC owners, especially 2002-2005 Envoy owners. I have filed complaints with GMC directly and received responses that are not satisfactory. These items should be a recall effort and repaired by GMC as they are clearly product default not just general ware and tear of the vehicle. These problems are costly and present safety issues while driving.

- San Marcos, TX, USA

problem #26

Aug 172007

Envoy

  • 56,000 miles
Gas gauge has not worked since 2007. Headlights and some dash lights as well as ext temp gauge sometimes flicker. No positive response from dealer for gas gauge. Was initially told headlights were supposed to do this, a "feature". I asked them to document this for me, they said they would look at it. Replace body control module, no change. Said it could be this or that, but out of warranty at my expense. I told them I would pay for it, but if it did not fix the problem I would not. They refused to work further on it.

- Dalzell, SC, USA

problem #25

Feb 042009

Envoy

  • 77,000 miles
I have a 2005 GMC Envoy that has just started having issues with the fuel gauge. I have filled the gas tank and the gauge reads empty with the fuel light on. Then 10 minutes later the light goes out and it reads that I do have fuel. Then a little later it starts going down and reads empty again. I have re-stopped to get gas to find that the tank is full. This is wrong and there should be a recall on this item. It draws the driver's attention away from driving and must have caused accidents somewhere in the usa.

- Flanders, NJ, USA

problem #24

Jan 282009

Envoy

  • miles
I have had my 05 GMC Envoy for several months now and have taken it to be repaired at least once a month! my issue is with the electrical system and the headlights and console "flashing" at night. I have taken it to the dealership twice and the first time they checked the battery, some cables and gave it back to me saying they could not find anything. The second time I took it back about a month later because the light were still flashing. The dealership had it for 2 days and told me it was my alternator. I did not believe them and did not get my alternator changed ($675) and my car has been starting and running fine. My headlights still flicker, but there is nothing I can do about it. I have read several other complaints about this and most of them go through a new battery and alternator and it still does not fix the problem. This is something GMC needs to look into and fix because it is a huge safety hazard.

- Wales, WI, USA

problem #23

Jan 142009

Envoy

  • 44,864 miles
The check engine light kept coming on and I took it to the dealer for repair and was told "it's ok. Forget it." On 01-09-2009 while traveling on Texas highway 60, I had the cruise control set for 70 mph. Traffic was normal but continually passed me as if I was going slower. I pulled over at a convenience store and parked the vehicle. The speedometer registered 45 mph in park. I continued home gauging speed by the other traffic. The vehicle was parked. On 01-14-2009, my wife and daughter were in the vehicle returning from school. The speedometer appeared to be working. At approximately 3:00 pm while driving home, the electric door locks began to lock and unlock themselves. At the same time, the A/C went to maximum heat and high blower. My wife stopped the vehicle and put it in park. The side curtain air bags deployed, striking my daughter in the left temple resulting in a mild concussion. Onstar notified the police of a collision. I contacted the dealer who referred me to GMC customer assistance. The agent told me that this kind of thing happens when traveling too fast and turning too sharp. An investigator was dispatched to gather computer information and determine if there had been a collision. His results were there was no collision and the bags deployed per command from the vehicle control system based on the vehicle traveling 20 mph and turning too sharp. The vehicle was actually traveling 20 mph on a residential street in a straight line. Turning right would have resulted in going through a fence and left would have put the vehicle in a park. GMC refused to investigate the discrepancies between the computer and the driver's account further. I contacted a local GM dealer who has as much concern about this incident as I do. No repairs have been initiated to date as it is unclear what is at fault. Several GM technicians and service managers believe there is a problem with the vehicle control system but are unable to proceed without approval.

- Pampa, TX, USA

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