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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Latches/locks/linkages12
- Electrical system6
- Structure5
- Power train4
- Fuel/propulsion system2
- Engine2
- Air bags2
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Service brakes1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Seat belts1
- Tires1
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
14
0
0
0
2
3
0
2
2
0
2
0
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
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.
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”
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?”
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”
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”
Fuel/propulsion system
2 reports
“FUEL GAGE READS WAY PASS FULL”
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.