LT245/75R16. Driving north on I-77 around Charlotte, NC around 7:40 PM and the tire blew out. I saw in my left rearview mirror the treads roll off the right side of the highway. I did not run over anything. Travel speed was 65 to 70 mph in medium traffic. No warning lights came on. Did not lose control and was able to navigate to the left side of highway when enough space opened up after a guide rail. All that was left was the rim and shredded sidewalls. Tire was installed in August, 2025 and had just about 3000 miles on it when the blowout occurred. The passenger side of the vehicle was about 3 feet from the fog line, and traffic for the exit ramp was very close to the vehicle. Called 911 and NCDOT helped remove the rim and put on the spare. My wife and daughter were in the vehicle.
The worst 2005 Chevrolet Express problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Brakes6
- Body5
- Electrical4
- Suspension4
- Fuel system2
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes6
- Body5
- Electrical4
- Suspension4
- Fuel system2
- Lights2
- Seat belts2
- Wheels2
- Airbags1
- Driver assistance1
- Locks1
- Steering1
- Tires1
- Transmission1
Recalls 8
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- What is wrong
- Customizers is recalling 3 vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, "platform lift system accessible for motor vehicles," the anti-stow interlock may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user. The pressure sensing switch that detects the presence of weight on the platform was not adjusted to the necessary sensitivity level. The lift could stow even though someone or something is still on the lift.
- Risk
- A lift occupant can be injured should the lift begin to stow unintentionally.
- Remedy
- Customizers is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e097). Owners may contact ricon at 1‑818‑267‑3000.
Recall number 09V307000 · Recall details
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- What is wrong
- Main mobility is recalling 185 model year 2005 through 2009 chevrolet express and gmc savana vans manufactured between april 1, 2005 and june 25, 2009, equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, "platform lift installations in motor vehicles." the threshold warning system may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user in a certain spot within the defined threshold area.
- Risk
- The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.
- Remedy
- Main mobility is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e095). Owners may contact ricon at 1‑818‑267‑3000 or main mobility at 1‑716‑759‑6811.
Recall number 09V270000 · Recall details
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- What is wrong
- Main mobility is recalling 185 model year 2005 through 2009 chevrolet express and gmc savana vans manufactured between april 1, 2005 and june 25, 2009, equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, "platform lift installations in motor vehicles." the anti-stow interlock may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user. The pressure sensing switch that detects the presence of weight on the platform was not adjusted to the necessary sensitivity level. The lift could stow even though someone or something is still on the lift.
- Risk
- The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.
- Remedy
- Main mobility is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e097). Owners may contact ricon at 1‑818‑267‑3000 or main mobility at 1‑716‑759‑6811.
Recall number 09V272000 · Recall details
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- What is wrong
- Mobility is recalling 86 my 2005-2006 ford e-series and chevrolet express van equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, "platform lift installations on motor vehicles." the threshold warning system may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user in a certain spot within the defined threshold area.
- Risk
- The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.
- Remedy
- Mobility is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e095). Owners may contact ricon at 1‑818‑267‑3000 or mobility at 714‑674‑0480.
Recall number 09V049000 · Recall details
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- What is wrong
- Mobility is recalling 43 my 2005-2006 ford e-series and chevrolet express vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, "platform lift system accessible for motor vehicles." the anti-stow interlock may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user. The pressure sensing switch that detects the presence of weight on the platform was not adjusted to the necessary sensitivity level. The lift could stow even though someone or something is still on the lift.
- Risk
- A lift occupant can be injured should the lift begin to stow unintentionally.
- Remedy
- Mobility is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e097). Owners may contact ricon at 1‑818‑267‑3000 or mobility at 714‑674‑0480.
Recall number 09V050000 · Recall details
Seat belts
- What is wrong
- On certain full-size passenger, cargo, or cutaway vans, the front and rear seat belt buckles will not latch or will not unlatch.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, a seat occupant may not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the buckles and, if found to be inoperative, the entire buckle assembly would be replaced. For buckles found to be operative, dealer will replace only the upper buckle cover. The recall will be conducted in phases. The first phase mailing began during march 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438 or gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463.
Recall number 05V558000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting
- What is wrong
- Certain conversion vans built on gmc/chevrolet chassis fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment." the housing lens of the center high mounted stop lamp does not allow enough light to emit from the lamp.
- Risk
- Following vehicles may not be fully informed of vehicle braking. Rear-end collisions and injury to occupants may occur.
- Remedy
- Santa fe is working with audiovox to replace the center high-mounted brake lamp assembly. Owners may contact santa fe at 1‑800‑274‑1886 or asa at 1‑574‑266‑3172.
Recall number 05V530000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic
- What is wrong
- 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 operating conditions.
- Risk
- If a separation occurred and the hood of the vehicle were open, fragments from the accumulator could cause injury to people in the immediate area. The presence of this crack or fractured surface could allow the hydraulic fluid to leak from the accumulator circuit of the booster assembly. The loss of fluid would cause increased steering and braking effort and a crash may occur without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two-function valve. If the hydro-boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge. The recall began on march 23, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc trucks at 1‑866‑996‑9463 and hummer at 1‑800‑732‑5493.
Recall number 05V043000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2005 Chevrolet Express 644
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of...
- This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have...
- This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of...
- This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the...
- This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on When and How to Submit a Field...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire...
What 2005 Chevrolet Express owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I was driving and out of no where my brakes “ all four wheels “ locked up as if I was hauling a heavy load . I put on my hazard lights to warn the semi behind me. So I maintained control of my line until the cargo van slowed down to a safe speed for me to pull over . I thought the semi was going to run into the back of me, luckily the southbound line was clear so the semi took off pass me. So as I was coming to a safe stopping speed my brake pedal was stiff as well and when the cargo van slowed down to a safe speed, I pulled over to check my brakes with a warm liquid “ all four brakes were hot “ .
I was in a front end Collison due to a brake failure and when I have a steel gate at about 30 mph no airbag deployed. Car was towed by the Upper Darby Police Department and it is totaled. I sustained injuries. There was no airbag light brake warning light came when I attempted to use the emergency brake when regular failed
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Express. The contact stated that while driving, the front passenger’s side tire started to wobble. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the tie rod needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving, the headlights failed to operate without engaging the lever. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the bulbs were replaced; however, the high-beam headlights failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Hole warn in front passenger side brake line from battery cable going to engine starter motor. The shielding on electrical cable rubbed and wore a hole in the brake line causing fluid to flow out and caused brakes to fail. No one was injured and no accident. I was backing out of the driveway the brakes failed, next I saw a large puddle of fluid on driveway, I just put it in park. The battery cable crosses over the break line and both are fastened to the frame near each other. I can provide break line and photo. The van has 60,000 miles on it, I purchased it new in 2005.
Paint is peeling from ALL parts of the exterior vehicle, even around the window frames and door frames! It appears that NO PAINT PRIMER was used, at all! My white van has missing paint from about 75% of the vehicle, with bubbling going on, in the remainder of paint that has yet to fall off! Looking at ANY Chevy van that is on the roadways, one can easily see that the paint has also been falling off those vehicles, as well! This is a well-known defect in the painting practices of most ALL Chevrolet Vans, and should be dealt with on a class-action basis, since all Chevrolet Van owners are forced to live with an inferior paint scheme on these vehicles! But new owners are not aware of these shortcomings, until they see the paint fall off their vans, for no apparent reason! And it is clearly seen that NO PAINT PRIMER was used, when you look at the paint chip that fell off! Shame on Chevrolet and shame on the federal safety agency agency for allowing any auto manufacturer to put out such inferior products to unsuspecting consumers!
Both rear tires veerubber taiga h/t size lt 245/75r16 dot # 6msg-ch had become unserviceable due the inside side wall belt plys separating rendering the vehicle unsafe to operate. The tires were replaced on 5 mar 2021 with new copper stfr solarus lt245/75r16 through mavis tire which had installed the taiga tires mentioned above on 21 may 2020. This is unacceptable for these ties since they only approximately 15000 miles on them and they had a service life of 45000 miles. This issue came to light when we were operating our van on a highway traveling at approximately 60 miles an hour.
When driving on dry pavement the traction control or stabilitrak will kick on and it pulls to the right really hard on and off and its hard to control the vehicle. The first time it happened I actually thought I had a flat tire. When this is happening it feels like the anti-lock brakes also kick in as it is very hard to stop also. I have had this happen at 45mph and its terrifying im afraid if this happened at 70mph it would cause you to lose control of the vehicle
Paint peeling off, has been for years.
The brakes on my vehicle were inspected at homewood chevrolet in illinois and they did not need pads or anything, however, the brakes brakes release on their own when you are driving. There was a hydraulic recall and I never received any information..the headlights on my car also keep burning out within weeks of having them changed. The vehicle has some suspension issue as well. There was also a recall for that which I received no notice for.I have not moved since purchasing this vehicle.
Compare the 2005 Chevrolet Express
Other model years
19951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120232024
Questions about the 2005 Chevrolet Express
Is the 2005 Chevrolet Express reliable?
Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Express, 1.5 times a typical Express model year.
What is the 2005 Chevrolet Express year score?
The 2005 Chevrolet Express scores 54 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Express: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Chevrolet Express?
Brakes, with 6 complaints. Next is body (5).
How many recalls does the 2005 Chevrolet Express have?
8 recalls, covering equipment adaptive/mobility, seat belts and exterior lighting.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2005 Chevrolet Express?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history