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2005 Chevrolet Equinox

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 382.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

507 reports with mileage · 131 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 159 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 114 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 111 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

56 crash reports13 fire reports32 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

38 reports
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165,000 miles · Jan 6, 2020
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND TURNING ON CURVE TOO FAST, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE SWERVED LEFT AND RIGHT ULTIMATELY COMING TO A STOP AFTER CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DURING THE IMPACT THE CONTACT HEAD WAS HIT ON THE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND TURNING ON CURVE TOO FAST, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE SWERVED LEFT AND RIGHT ULTIMATELY COMING TO A STOP AFTER CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DURING THE IMPACT THE CONTACT HEAD WAS HIT ON THE WINDSHIELD AND ABRASION TO THE KNEE WERE SUSTAINED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT SOUGHT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,000.

NHTSA ODI #11297402

65,000 miles · Mar 27, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND DRIVING STRAIGHT PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND ANKLE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND DRIVING STRAIGHT PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND ANKLE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. *DT *TR

NHTSA ODI #11191960

140,000 miles · Sep 6, 2018
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 24 MPH ON AN EXIT RAMP, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY DROVE OFF THE SIDE OF THE RAMP AND CRASHED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE HEAD …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 24 MPH ON AN EXIT RAMP, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY DROVE OFF THE SIDE OF THE RAMP AND CRASHED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND HIPS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A FIELD INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE INSPECTION RESULTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #11127938

146,500 miles · Sep 15, 2017
Air BagsCrashFireInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALL THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO XTREME COLOR INC. IN KANSAS CITY, KS 66102; 913-281-0830. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALL THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO XTREME COLOR INC. IN KANSAS CITY, KS 66102; 913-281-0830. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK AND BACK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,500.

NHTSA ODI #11023592

195,000 miles · Jul 18, 2017
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V302000 (POWER TRAIN), THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY YOUMANS CHEVROLET (220 RIVERSIDE DRIVE, MACON, GA, PHO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V302000 (POWER TRAIN), THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY YOUMANS CHEVROLET (220 RIVERSIDE DRIVE, MACON, GA, PHONE: 478-746-8531). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG AREA WAS BEGINNING TO MAKE SOUNDS. THE CONSUMER DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #11006179

133,000 miles · Apr 13, 2017
Air BagsFuel/propulsion SystemSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE'S THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE'S THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO SECURE THE PASSENGERS DURING HARD BRAKING AND THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE SENSORS ILLUMINATED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

NHTSA ODI #10972229

155,000 miles · Dec 19, 2016
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON 12/15/2016 WHERE I HIT SOMEONE FROM BEHIND. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND DIDN'T NOTICE THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPING. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, IT WAS TOO LATE AND MY CHEST WENT FLYING AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN MY EQUINOX HIT THEM, MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND MY CHEST HIT THE…

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I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON 12/15/2016 WHERE I HIT SOMEONE FROM BEHIND. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND DIDN'T NOTICE THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPING. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, IT WAS TOO LATE AND MY CHEST WENT FLYING AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN MY EQUINOX HIT THEM, MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT. THE FORCE WAS SO HARD THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT COME OUT. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS AN AIR BAG INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I COULD NOT CATCH MY BREATH AND I TESTED OUT MY SEAT BELT AND REALIZED IT DOES NOT LOCK WHEN BREAKING. IT IS ACTUALLY LOSE THE WHOLE TIME I AM DRIVING. THIS IS NOT SAFE FOR ME OR A PASSAGE THAT I HAVE IN THE CAR. TESTED OUT THE PASSAGE SIDE AS WELL AND IT IS THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10936302

215,000 miles · Aug 7, 2016
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury

DRIVING DOWN STREET WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT HEARD LOUD POP AND THEN WASN'T ABLE TO TURN AND CRASHED INTO TREE LEFT FENDER HOOD HEADLIGHT ALL PUSHED DAMAGE TO TIRE AND ON TOP OF THAT AIRBAG DIDN'T IMPLORE AND HIT HEAD ON THE POST

NHTSA ODI #10893857

98,857 miles · May 31, 2016
Air BagsEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT RANDOMLY FLASHED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,857.

NHTSA ODI #10871652

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2016
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT RANDOMLY CUTS ON DURING USE OF THE VEHICLE. IT CAN RANDOMLY TURN ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON DURING INITIAL POWERING UP OF VEHICLE BEFORE DRIVING VEHICLE AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #10870193

Official recalls

1

04V302000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Jun 30, 2004

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, 'THEFT PROTECTION.' AN IGNITION KEY PARK LOCK CABLE END FITTING WAS NOT FULLY SEATED ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER NAIL HEAD DURING INSTALLATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN PREVENT THE CABLE AUTO-SET FROM CORRECTLY ADJUSTING THE CABLE. AN INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED CABLE PREVENTS THE SHIFTER FROM LOCKING IN THE 'PARK' POSITION WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE KEY CYLINDER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING SHIFT LOCK WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS REMOVED. DEALERS WILL REPAIR VEHICLES THAT EXHIBIT THE SUBJECT CONDITION. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 17, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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