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Electrical system

2005 GMC Envoy Electrical problems

Owners have filed 225 complaints about the 2005 GMC Envoy's electrical system with NHTSA - 36% of all its complaints, most recently on January 28, 2026. They describe 2 crashes, 11 fires and 3 injuries. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.

Complaints
225
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Fires
11
Injuries
3
Deaths
0

Electrical complaints

Electrical systemEngine & cooling

1) I just purchased the vehicle in Oct 2026 & 3 days after purchase, it broke down in Walmart parking lot due to, all the antifreeze pouring out. 2) December 2026 had to replace the front tires as they were stripped to the threads from rubbing against the fender wells. 3) January 2026 Wouldn't start, wouldn't turn over or anything. Had the ignition replaced. Ran fine for one week. 4) Currently won't start. Broke down.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11714041
Electrical systemAirbagsVisibility & wipers

On steering wheel where the GMC logo is . Melted/Melting from underneath. Some type of clear color gooey. Have been told it is seal for airbag. Also none of the chimes are not working at all example * seat belts, door,blinkers,dashboard chimes *dummy lights*,along with Bose stereo. Last issues are REAR VIEW MIRROR... KEEPS FALLING OFF. have taken to dealership SEVERAL TIMES! Now they are saying that I need to contact my auto insurance provider to put in claims.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11601561
Electrical systemFire

The driver side window control caught fire, while the vehicle was sitting overnight. It was sitting by itself without reason to catch fire, but it did burn inside the driver side door.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11570382
Electrical system

Unknown All the cluster panels quite working. RPM, Speed, Oil, Water, Gas shows always empty. Danger because have to guess my speed and never know if I have enough gas, oil, or water in my car. Also sometimes when I shut off my car I cannot get the key out of the steering column. Cannot leave my car without my keys.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11563182
Electrical systemFire

The contact owned a 2005 GMC Envoy. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH the entire dashboard illuminated and needles on gauges had begun to move independently. The contact heard an abnormal "popping" sound from the front end of the vehicle and gray smoke was emitted from under the hood, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull off of the roadway and placed the vehicle into park (P) with difficulty. The contact exited the vehicle and moved away towards the rear end. The contact stated that...

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she noticed flames under the vehicle located at the front end. The contact stated that within 3 minutes of observing the flames under the vehicle, the entire front end became engulfed by flames. The police and fire department arrived on the scene. The contact stated that the fire department used a chemical to extinguish the flames, the contact stated that the flames had burned not only the front end and front tires but the front part of the passenger cabin including the seats. The contact stated that the highway patrol wrote a report and had been informed by the fire department that the fire appeared to have been caused by the electrical system. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11519085
Electrical systemAcceleration & cruise controlFire

I purchased my vehicle in oct of 2021 in Nov 2021 is when my car started failing my car started to lose power also started smoking from the lower passenger side no warning lights came on besides the oil warning light since Nov 2021 my car has been losing power it only goes up to about 40 m.p.h I have been smelling fuel coming from some where my tail and license plate light and back driver side inside car light stopped working the engine light turns on and off the steering wheel makes the car lose a little bit of...

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power when I turn the wheel or when I roll up and down the windows or adjust my seat my ac does not work the back ac turns on by it's self to the heater does not work when I have it turned all the way to the 5 I hear clicking knocking noises in the back passenger side of the car my fuel injectors had puddles of oil in them the car gets really hot and blows hot air the engine is always hot the seatbelt lights are constantly flashing my check engine light as of today flashes on and off and the car jumps also my car caught on fire under the hood where the O2 sensor is started smoking than caught on fire.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Vehicle speed control · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11473932
Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBrakes

All the gages have stopped working correctly. They do not report proper information to driver . The electrical wiring to the rear wiper, license plate lights and rear hatch stopped working. The most dangerous thing is the ABS brake system dash lights and bell comes on every time the car is driven and the brake pedal goes to the floor when trying to stop.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · Service brakesNHTSA 11459277
Electrical system

While driving in a 40 mph zone I glanced at the speedometer and it read 70 mph! I immediately applied the brakes to slow the vehicle down before I realized that the speedometer indication was inaccurate. Upon coming to a complete stop the speedometer indicated 40 mph. This happened several times before resuming normal operation. Since then I have noticed the gauge "sticking" when letting off of the gas pedal. This is creating an un-safe condition for myself as well as the occupants of this vehicle. I do not know...

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when the speed indication is truly accurate. I have since learned that this is a common defect on this vehicle as well as other gm models made during this time frame. There should definitely be a recall on this problem before an accident occurs.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11340209
Electrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 gmc envoy. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the ignition switch was replaced. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer declined to offer assistance since the vehicle was not repaired by an authorized dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11330395
Electrical system

The gas gauge stays on empty when there is a full tank of gas. There rear windshield wiper comes on by itself. The radio plays like it is in a tin box. Every so often it will play normal. But most of the time it doesn't. This happens when it is moving or in park.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11232096
Electrical system

Fuel light stays on constantly & fuel gauge always showing empty when vehicle running in motion or stationary

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11163534
Electrical systemLights

I had just drove my truck the night before headlights worked fine. I went to leave the next night and no headlights at all. So vehicle was stationary when I realized I had no headlights. I have to drive with my brights on at night. I have no regular headlights at all. Then my passenger side window just quit working as well.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11128576
Electrical system

My 2005 gmc envoy xl has the same recalled master window switch units as other recalls, both sides front driver and passenger doors burnt with a bad smell as I was driving. Why? Why is my vehicle not included in the recall when everything is the same as other recalled vehicles ?? I was driving on the parkway when I noticed a burning smell with nowhere to pull over for a few miles in great panic with cars going past me at 65 mph plus as I was being cautious to get to an exit so I could figure out what the...

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problem was. It was the door switch so I lifted it out of the door and unplugged it so I could continue my trip. Scary situation . Plus my mechanic can't get the answer if just replacing the switch will make it work or does it need programmed into the computer ?

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11061235
Electrical systemDriver assistance

Suv dies and won't start back until it cools down. I was traveling 55 mph on a five lane highway and the vehicle just died. I had the vehicle towed to the local dealer and it couldn't be diagnosed.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Electronic stability control (ESC)NHTSA 11020714
Electrical systemAirbagsEngine & cooling

My seat covers were originally cloth but at time of purchase they were replaced with leather seat coverings and there is recall #06v417000 has me very concerned.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · EngineNHTSA 11010574
Electrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 gmc envoy. While driving various speeds, the instrument panel malfunctioned. The contact stated that the speedometer, fuel, and oil gauges fluctuated and incorrectly reported the speed, fuel quantity, and oil quantity. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 129,872.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10969280
Electrical systemLights

I've had my 2005 envoy for a little over a year and had my headlights flash on and off while driving on the road and freway. On one occasion while driving on a two lane highway ay night the lights went out completely for a few seconds. I was so scared wss really glad for no one behind me or on coming traffic. On another occassion I had to pull over on city street as my lights were going on and off and I could see the car ahead was a cop and I didnt want him to think I was flashing for help especially at 2 in the...

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morning. Ive also had to exit the freeway because my lights started going on and off and on and wasnt sure if they would just go out completely while I was driving and since it was night time I didnt want to take the chance of causing an accident and hurting someone else or myself. I have a teenage daughter and am afraid to transport her and her friends in my car.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 10956023
Electrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 gmc envoy. The contact stated that the vehicle randomly stalled more than three times. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The vin and failure mileage were not available.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10898600
Electrical systemFire

Car was parked for 10 minutes when we noticed smoke coming from the interior upon opening the car door we realized the dashboard was engulfed in flames.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10876962
Electrical systemLightsFuel system

Reading numerous complaints that compare to mine the fuel gauge, oil gauges, air conditioner are all malfunctioning in my car and I'm very upset because all of this should have been recalled. I purchased my car brand new in 2005 and I will never buy a gmc car again for this reason it's one thing to recall repair parts that were broken that to repair malfunction parts. Very disappointed. In short my gauges don't work, my air conditioner only works on one side and now my headlights low bean don't work. Gmc needs to recall and repair.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10871808
Electrical systemFire

Front passenger side door panel caught on fire while parked in the driveway.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10852857
Electrical systemAirbags

Service airbag light goes on and off randomly. While driving the speedometer reads 0 oil pressure guage reads no pressure, all guages read 0, then speedometer reads random speeds.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bagsNHTSA 10825353
Electrical system

Problem with both headlight low beam malfunction; going on and off. Problem started on 1/10/16 and continues until today despite replacing both headlight low beam fuses and relay.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10820119
Electrical systemLightsDriver assistance

I had trouble with the gauge that shows overheating.I took the car in to put in a thermostat thinking it was the problem,but when I took it in they said that my cluster was bad and the gauges were messed up.I paid $392.00 For the cluster and $100.00 For labor.I bought this vehicle used with 119,000 miles on it on 6/20/2011 and on 2/23/2013 I had the cluster replaced with mileage of 132,356. I put on new brakes at this time since the had a habit of grabbing and making me slide and jerk to a stop.The only problem I...

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have now is the the door locks mess up once in awhile but other than that I take my envoy in every 4000 miles for an oil change and a check up it is now 12/15/2015 and I only have 142,000 miles on it and it is still running ok.I keep checking once a month for recalls on my vehicle sometimes a dome light will come on .But not often.My envoy has not rust and the interior is in as good as it was when I purchased it from the previous owner which is in excellent condition

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Electronic stability control (ESC)NHTSA 10810675
Fuel systemElectrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 gmc envoy 360. The contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the fuel gauge indicated that the vehicle was full of fuel but when coming the a stop, the fuel gauge indicated an empty reading level. The failure occurred constantly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Incident Fuel system, diesel · Electrical systemNHTSA 10808521

GMC Envoy electrical complaints by year

Envoy electrical problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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