Total Complaints
2 filings
CHEVROLET W4500 · model year
2005 CHEVROLET W4500
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2005CHEVROLETW4500 carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 W4500 is power train:driveline:driveshaft with 1 filings, followed by visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:fan/motor (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2005 W4500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20110714VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET W4500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WITH THE HEATER IN OPERATION, HE BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA AND RESUMED DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE WITHIN THE AIR CONDITIONERS BLOWER MOTOR AND THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER RESISTOR AND CONNECTOR WERE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000. UPDATED 08/31/2011 *LN
Mileage: 177,000
20050617POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DT: WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TRUCK SHOOK. DEALER SAID THEY FIXED IT ABOUT 5 TIMES, BUT CALLER INSISTED IT WAS NOT FIXED. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT CALLED CALLER BACK YET. *AK
Mileage: 800
Compare 2005CHEVROLETW4500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2005 CHEVROLET W4500 have?▼
The 2005 CHEVROLET W4500 has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 CHEVROLET W4500?▼
The most-complained component for the 2005 CHEVROLET W4500 is POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR.
Is the 2005 CHEVROLET W4500 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.