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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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150,000 miles · Mar 6, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemSteeringCrash

ON 2/17/15, I, ALONG WITH 3 OF MY CHILDREN, WERE DRIVING ALONG THE ROADWAY AT APPROX. 7AM. AS I WENT AROUND A MINOR BEND IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT SLAMMING THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTO THE SNOWBANK AROUND THE GUARDRAIL. IT CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD AS I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND LIGHTLY MOVE THE WHEEL TO G…

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ON 2/17/15, I, ALONG WITH 3 OF MY CHILDREN, WERE DRIVING ALONG THE ROADWAY AT APPROX. 7AM. AS I WENT AROUND A MINOR BEND IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT SLAMMING THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTO THE SNOWBANK AROUND THE GUARDRAIL. IT CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD AS I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND LIGHTLY MOVE THE WHEEL TO GET US BACK INTO OUR LANE. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND AS I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN IT UP, I WAS SENT INTO A SPIN UNTIL THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO THE SNOW ON OUR SIDE OF THE ROAD, BRINGING US TO A STOP. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED & AS I TRIED TO PULL AWAY, I REALIZED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON. IT HAD SHUT ITSELF DOWN. I HAD MY BROTHER LOOK AT IT & TEST DRIVE, HE FOUND NOTHING, SO I ASSUMED IT WAS A 1 TIME EVENT AND PROCEEDED TO USE THE VEHICLE. ON 2/22/15, MY NEPHEW AND MY DAUGHTER USED THE VEHICLE TO GO TO TOWN. HE GOT LESS THAN 3 MILES FROM HOME, HEADING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, WHEN HE REALIZED THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO STEERING. HE LOOKED DOWN & SAW THAT ONCE AGAIN, THE VEHICLE HAD SHUT ITSELF OFF. HE TOO ENDED UP CRASHING. LUCKILY HE WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RD, INTO THE SNOWBANK JUST BEFORE A SEMI WENT SPEEDING BY. AGAIN, NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. IT CONCERNS ME WITH THE MASSIVE RECALL THAT I FOUND ONLINE, THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE LIST, BUT MANY PPL SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED IN OUR INCIDENTS. BUT THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT SAFE & SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROADS IN THIS CONDITION. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT BOTH INCIDENTS WERE DURING A CLEAR SPOT IN TRAFFIC. NOW THE VEHICLE SITE IN MY DRIVE BECAUSE I DO NOT TRUST THAT WHATEVER THEY DO WILL FIX IT & I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE PASS THIS DEATH TRAP ON TO ANYONE ELSE. I CONTACTED GM HOPING FOR A BIT OF HELP & PERHAPS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLES, BUT THEY REFUSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692420

166,000 miles · Nov 12, 2014
Air BagsPower TrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARK, THE SHIFT LEVER INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO DRIVE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARK, THE SHIFT LEVER INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO DRIVE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

NHTSA ODI #10654583

106,000 miles · Oct 13, 2014
Air BagsFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed ControlCrash

VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AT THE FRONT DOOR. VEHICLE WENT RIGHT AFTER IMPACT AT FULL THROTTLE INTO A 12 FT DITCH. TURNED 90 DEGREES OUT OF THE DITCH,CAME OUT OF THE DITCH, ACROSS A 4 LANE ROAD. FRONT LEFT WHEEL CAUGHT ON A CURB, VEHICLE STILL A FULL THROTTLE WITH DRIVER TRYING TO BRAKE. VEERED TO THE LEFT, JUMPED …

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VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AT THE FRONT DOOR. VEHICLE WENT RIGHT AFTER IMPACT AT FULL THROTTLE INTO A 12 FT DITCH. TURNED 90 DEGREES OUT OF THE DITCH,CAME OUT OF THE DITCH, ACROSS A 4 LANE ROAD. FRONT LEFT WHEEL CAUGHT ON A CURB, VEHICLE STILL A FULL THROTTLE WITH DRIVER TRYING TO BRAKE. VEERED TO THE LEFT, JUMPED A 2 FT DITCH, WENT TO THE RIGHT, HIT A 3 FT ROCK, KNOCKED THE ROCK INTO THE DITCH AND CAR ENDED UP ON TOP OF THE ROCK. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THIS THIS. VEHICLE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 953 FT AT FULL THROTTLE BEFORE HITTING THE ROCK. GM HAD REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH ONCE UNDER POLICY VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR WHEN PARKED SOMETIMES. EVEN AFTER REPLACING IGNITION SWITCH WE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION. NATIONWIDE INSURANCE HAS POSSESSION OF THE CAR AND IS PAYING AN OUTSIDE VENDOR TO DOWN LOAD THE DATA FROM THIS ACCIDENT. GM WAS CALLED AN WE GOT ONE PHONE CALL BACK ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT A WEEK AGO. DO HAVE PICTURES AND VIDEO FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE. ALSO HAVE A DIAGRAM OF THE DISTANCES THE CAR TRAVELED WHILE CHANGING DIRECTIONS AFTER BEING HIT. BEST TIME TO CALL IS BETWEEN 10AM AND 1PM AS I DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS AND CAN NOT TALK. OR AFTER 6PM TO 9PM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644312

56,000 miles · Sep 13, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

I HIT A POLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT I HIT THE POLE A LITTLE OFF THE CENTER ON THE FRONT END I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MATTERS I'M VERY UPSET WITH THIS AND I GUESS THERE'S NOT MUCH I CAN DO MY CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632922

30 miles · Jun 11, 2014
Air BagsStructureSuspensionCrash

DRIVING DOWN STREET CUT OFF BY SEMI RAN INTO FLASHING SIGN WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. OVER HALF PASSENGER FRONT BUMPER WAS CRUSHED RADIATOR SMASHED, WHOLE FRONT PASSENGER QUARTER SMASHED. CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597688

70 miles · Jun 11, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE KEY WAS DETACHING FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V302000 (POWER TRAIN). WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE KEY WAS DETACHING FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V302000 (POWER TRAIN). WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70.

NHTSA ODI #10597676

175,000 miles · Apr 24, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE - HAD AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY - GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 - SLAMMED BRAKES - GOT REAR-ENDED AND THEN REAR-ENDED PERSON IN FRONT OF ME - AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584591

32,000 miles · Mar 19, 2014
Air BagsService BrakesSteeringCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN AND ROLLED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT AND THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN AND ROLLED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT AND THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ODI #10573394

130,000 miles · Mar 14, 2013
Air BagsSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE RACK AND PINION AND STEERING SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE AIR BAG FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10502783

145,000 miles · Dec 19, 2012
Air BagsCrash

I WAS DRIVING, HIT ICE, FISH TAILED, STARTED TO SPIN, WENT HEAD FIRST INTO THE MEDIAN, PROBABLY GOING 30-45 MPH. AFTER THAT WE CAME TO A STOP, AND WERE HIT BY A SEMI TRAILER TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45-60 MPH. NEITHER IMPACT SET THE AIR BAGS OFF AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD HAVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10489315

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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