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2005 Chevrolet SSR

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2005 SSR.

Body TRUCKTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2005 Chevrolet SSR is a pickup truck pairing a 4-speed automatic transmission with an engine specified for 6 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, returning EPA fuel economy of 14 city, 18 highway, and 15 combined mpg. Across the 2003–2006 production span, 31 owner complaints have been logged against the 2005 model year, with latches, locks, and linkages emerging as the top issue area despite zero recalls for the year itself. Positioned between the 2003 launch — which recorded the highest complaint count at 37 — and the markedly cleaner 2006, with only 5 complaints, the 2005 reads as a settled, mid-cycle data point and a useful reference for researchers tracking the SSR's reliability arc.

Model year2006 2005 2004 2003

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy14/18/15 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731172. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP295-40R20OEM · verified

Wheel / rim8-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731172
Engine air filter	19256977 discontinued
Fuel filter	19368932 discontinued
Spark plug	12621258
Battery	88866306
Front wiper blades	15828972 discontinued · alt 15828971
Serpentine belt	12576446 alt 12587562
Thermostat	12600171 alt 12570307

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	191.7 in
Overall width	78.3 in
Overall height	63.8 in
Wheelbase	116.1 in
Curb weight	4760 lb
Track (front / rear)	64.2 / 65 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	53/47

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	14 / 18 / 15 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Premium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the SSR of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.5–5.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.50 sec — 2005 Roadster Regular Cab

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2005	Roadster Regular Cab 6.0L V8	5.50 sec	14.10 sec	390 hp	RWD
2005	Roadster Regular Cab 6.0L V8	5.60 sec	13.90 sec	390 hp	RWD
2004	Roadster Regular Cab 5.3L V8	7.40 sec	15.30 sec	300 hp	RWD
2003	Roadster Regular Cab 5.3L V8	7.00 sec	15.40 sec	300 hp	RWD
2003	Roadster Regular Cab 5.3L V8	7.90 sec	16.00 sec	300 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	5
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	5.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid	GM part number 88861800

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.20 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	7.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-62
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	62.0 psi
RPM	45-59 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance	11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Engine Oil Pressure	6

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	31 ft-lbs / 23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	110 ft-lbs / 148 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.142 in / 0.787 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.142 in / 0.787 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	1.08 in / 0.728 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head or head bolt bosses · M11 Bolts:

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	70 degrees; M8 Bolts:	70 degrees
1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 mi	Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2005 Chevrolet SSR sits near the middle of a short four‑year span in which federal complaint volumes remained modest (31 complaints) and no recalls were issued, mirroring the low‑recall environment of 2003 (0 recalls) and 2004 (0 recalls) but preceding the single recall that appeared in 2006. Across the generation, the number of Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) rose steadily—from 442 in 2003 to 557 in 2005—indicating growing manufacturer‑issued guidance despite the stable complaint count. Investigations remained constant at one per year, while the 2005 model’s complaint profile was dominated by Latches/Locks/Linkages (11 reports) and Electrical System issues (5 reports), with no crash or fire complaints reported. This pattern suggests that 2005 did not exhibit heightened safety or reliability problems relative to adjacent years, making it a comparatively safe choice within the SSR’s brief production run.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

557

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’03 ’04’05’06

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 31 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Latches/Locks/Linkages11

Electrical System5

Structure3

Fuel/Propulsion System2

Power Train,Engine1

Power Train,Electrical System,Structure,Engine1

Fuel System, Gasoline,Power Train,Service Brakes1

Structure,Latches/Locks/Linkages1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 557 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5358D	2025-02-19	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific SSR. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 78 battery Vehicles taking 6 qt Engine oil filter 12731172 Engine air filter 19256977 Fuel filter 19368932 Spark plug 12621258

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2005 SSR take?

6 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2005 SSR have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the SSR get?

EPA figures are 14 city / 18 highway / 15 combined mpg.