Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Chevrolet SSR problems

Owners filed 31 complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet SSR with NHTSA between Apr 2005 and Mar 2021. The most-cited component is latches/locks/linkages (12).

Complaints
31
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Latches/locks/linkages12
  2. Electrical system6
  3. Structure5
  4. Power train4
  5. Fuel/propulsion system2
  6. Engine2
  7. Air bags2
  8. Fuel system, gasoline1
  9. Service brakes1
  10. Engine and engine cooling1
  11. Seat belts1
  12. Tires1
  13. Visibility1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20054
200614
20070
20080
20090
20102
20113
20120
20132
20142
20150
20162
20170
20181
20190
20200
20211

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Latches/locks/linkages

12 reports
“DRIVER'S INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXIT BY USING DOOR UNLOCK FUNCTION ON KEYFOB, LOWERING WINDOW AND REACHING OUTSIDE TO OPEN DOOR. THIS WORKED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WHILE I TRIED TO WORK WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLE. NOW THE LOCKING MECHANISM WILL NOT ALLOW EVEN THIS METHOD OF EXIT. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 34,000 MILES ON IT. THEY CLAIM THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM; HOWEVER, THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS ON THE INTERNET WHICH DESCRIBE THIS PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS NOT UNDER WARRANTY SINCE VEHICLE IS A 2005. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *KB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2011Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10419707

Electrical system

6 reports
“CAR STARTED SFIFTING ON ITS OWN WHILE IN MOTION. WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE TCM. THE ONLY THING I COULD DO IS TO BUY A USED ONE. I WAS TOLD MINE WAS A 1 YEAR BUILD MODEL. VERY HARD TO FIND! WHY IF GM KNEW THEY WERE JUNK , ARE THEY NOT MAKING REPLACMENTS? THIS IS THERE FAULT. THERE ARE NO AFTERMARKET ONES. ALSO, I WAS TOLD I NEED A FUSE BLOCK. ALSO MADE BY GM WITH NO RECALL ! THEY ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE! $50,000.00 FOR A DEATH TRAP?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2021Electrical systemODI 11399938

Structure

5 reports
“ENGINE OVER HEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONS, CENTER SWITCHES MALFUNCTION, CENTER SWITCH FAILURES. FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, FUEL SYSTEM DELIVERY SYSTEM MAKE VEHICLE STALL. REAR TRANSMISSION SEAL LEAKS, CLUTCH RELEASE SPRING SPRING OUT. ABS LIGHTS, OIL LIGHTS & ENGINE OVER HEATING LIGHTS COMES ON, TRANSMISSION SLAVE LEAKS. ENGINE FAN MALFUNCTIONS, IT NEVER COMES ON. TEMPERATURE GAGE LOCKS, HEAT & GAS GAGE LOCKS. THESE ISSUES HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF GM CORPORATION. THESE GUYS REFUSE TO PAY FOR THEIR MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS, THEY WANT TO SHARE COST. AS A CONSUMER I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SHARE THE COST OF THESE MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 22, 2013Power train, Electrical system, Structure, EngineODI 10556986

Power train

4 reports
“THE ENGINE RATTLES AT ANY RPM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT P0430 INDICATES FAILED CATALYTIC CONVERTER (GM DEALER VERIFIED). FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS AT 15000 MILES IN 2011, HAPPENED AGAIN NOW IN 2014 AT 47000 MILES. WHEN REPLACED AT 15000 MILES, IT WAS COVERED UNDER FEDERAL WARRANTY 8YR/80000MILES. NOW CHEVROLET REFUSES TO COVER THE COST ($1600 FOR THE PART, EST. $300 IN LABOR). DEALERSHIP MANAGER OFFERED TO DO ALL THE WORK UNDER A $500 'CUSTOMER DEDUCTIBLE'. I ACCEPTED THE OFFER AND WAS TOLD THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. IT'S BEEN OVER A MONTH NOW AND MY TRUCK CONTINUES TO RATTLE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THE CURRENT CONDITION WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. MY COMPLAINT IS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS FAILED TWICE SINE THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO SERVICE AND THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS NO SIGNS OF BEING AVAILABLE ANYTIME SOON. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2014Power train, EngineODI 10618724

Fuel/propulsion system

2 reports
“FUEL GAGE READS WAY PASS FULL”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2018Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11093714

Engine

2 reports
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.