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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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73,000 miles · Dec 15, 2011
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN A DEER JUMPED A FENCE AND LANDED ON THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WITH EXTREME FORCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN BUT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTNING FAILED. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED AND T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN A DEER JUMPED A FENCE AND LANDED ON THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WITH EXTREME FORCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN BUT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTNING FAILED. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 73,000. UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10440022

127,000 miles · Nov 10, 2011
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #10435127

89,000 miles · May 31, 2011
Air BagsCrash

I WAS BLINDSIDE STRUCK AT THE REAR RIGHT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE BY A PERSON DRIVING A CAR WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT AT APPOX. 45MPH. MY VEHICLE SPUN, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, FLIPPED AND SLID 150 FEET, AND THE FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10403759

68,000 miles · Oct 25, 2010
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,542. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ U…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,542. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ UPDATED 02/14/11

NHTSA ODI #10362218

65,000 miles · Aug 19, 2010
Air Bags

2005 CHEVY EQUINOX 65000 MILES, STARTED ONE DAY AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600 OR AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350531

34,000 miles · Jul 22, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

ACCIDENT OF CHEVY EQUINOX IN THE HOV LANE OF SOUTHBOUND 405 FREEWAY HITTING THE HOV K-RAIL AND TURNING ONTO ITS SIDE. EQUINOX WAS TOTALED NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FRONT OR SIDE UPON IMPACT. REPORTED TO GM, NO ACTION TAKEN BY GM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344771

80,000 miles · Jun 16, 2010
Air Bags

2005 CHEVY EQUINOX, 80,000 MILES. AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON & CONTINUED TO STAY ON WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG FRONT SENSOR MODULE IS BAD & NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. 450.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. IF NOT REPLACED AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK IN A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336577

93,000 miles · Dec 7, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

IT WAS RAINING, TRAFFIC AHEAD WAS COMING TO A STOP AS I WAS BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP MY 2005 EQUINOX CHEVROLET WAS REAR END BY A FORD MUSTANG, PUSHING ME INTO THE HONDA PILOT IN FRONT OF ME. MY AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE NOR DEPLORE, BUT MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT & THE PILOT I WAS PUSHED INTO SUSTAINED BACK …

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IT WAS RAINING, TRAFFIC AHEAD WAS COMING TO A STOP AS I WAS BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP MY 2005 EQUINOX CHEVROLET WAS REAR END BY A FORD MUSTANG, PUSHING ME INTO THE HONDA PILOT IN FRONT OF ME. MY AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE NOR DEPLORE, BUT MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT & THE PILOT I WAS PUSHED INTO SUSTAINED BACK DAMAGE AS WELL. MY VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTAL LOSS BY THE LIABLE INSURANCE COMPANY UNITRIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294705

30,000 miles · Apr 21, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY HER INSURANCE AGENCY AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS DESTROYED. THE ADJUSTER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK REGARDING THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10266217

47,000 miles · Apr 15, 2009
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A CRASH AND THE BRAKES FAILED. SHE CRASHED INTO A CEMENT OVERPASS AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. SHE FEELS THAT THE ABS FAILED AND CAUSED THE BR…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A CRASH AND THE BRAKES FAILED. SHE CRASHED INTO A CEMENT OVERPASS AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. SHE FEELS THAT THE ABS FAILED AND CAUSED THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO FAIL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISED RIBS AND LACERATIONS TO THE FOREHEAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE LOT FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, BUT THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 05/05/09 *BF UPDATED 05/06/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10265433

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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