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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

Electrical System complaints

159 reports
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104,000 miles · Aug 20, 2014
Electrical System

THE IGNITION ON MY VEHICLE LITERALLY EATS MY KEY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY KEY SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE EVENTUALLY KEY WON'T START VEHICLE. ALSO AFTER WEAR OF NEW KEY, THE KEY COMES OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626665

40,000 miles · Aug 20, 2014
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY STEERED TO THE EXTREME RIGHT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THROUGH A DITCH, ACROSS TRAFFIC, AND THROUGH ANOTHER DITCH. THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT CRASH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE IN O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY STEERED TO THE EXTREME RIGHT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE THROUGH A DITCH, ACROSS TRAFFIC, AND THROUGH ANOTHER DITCH. THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT CRASH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE IN ONE DAY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE IGNITION AND MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT CARRIER BEARING WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/09/14*LJ UPDATED 05/18/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10626601

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2014
Electrical System

2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THERE WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER TUMBLERS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE CONSUM…

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2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THERE WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER TUMBLERS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS, WITH THE IGNITION CYLINDER BINDING UP DUE TO DEBRIS INSIDE THE CYLINDER HOUSING. THE LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10618562

79,655 miles · Jul 30, 2014
Electrical System

KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION. IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10617589

54,269 miles · Jul 10, 2014
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

I HAD TROUBLE INSERTING THE KEY IN TO THE IGNITION. AFTER INSERTED I DROVE THE CAR TO THE STORE. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. AFTER WIGGLING THE KEY AROUND IT FINALLY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE KEY BACK IN THE IGNITION THE STEERIN…

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I HAD TROUBLE INSERTING THE KEY IN TO THE IGNITION. AFTER INSERTED I DROVE THE CAR TO THE STORE. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. AFTER WIGGLING THE KEY AROUND IT FINALLY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE KEY BACK IN THE IGNITION THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT UNLOCK. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE COLUMN UNLOCKED AND THE KEY WAS ABLE TO BE INSERTED AND THE CAR STARTED. THIS HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY SINCE THE ABOVE DATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609563

72,000 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Electrical System

THE KEY BECOMES LOOSE IN THE IGNITION AND CAME OUT WHILE CAR WAS ON OR IN MOTION. SPENT OVER $400 TO REPAIR IT AND NOW GM HAS MADE A MAJOR RECALL IN THE AREA BUT NOT ON THE 2005 EQUINOX. I HAD IT REPAIRED IN OR AROUND NOVEMBER 2013. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608976

125,256 miles · Jul 3, 2014
Electrical System

CAN NOT TURN THE IGNITION KEY. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE 2005 EQUINOX. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ME AND MY PROBLEM BY THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10608101

90,000 miles · Jul 2, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE KEY WOULD DETACH FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT B…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE KEY WOULD DETACH FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER MADE A NEW IGNITION KEY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX MONTHS LATER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10607741

65,000 miles · Jul 1, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

WATER SEEPED IN UNDER SUN ROOF, DOWN FRONT DRIVER SIDE ROOF PILLAR AND THEN INTO CAR BEHIND DASHBOARD THEN DRIPPED DOWN INTO COMPUTER CONTROL DEVICE (WHERE OBDII UNIT HOOKS UP) WHERE IT SHORTED OUT ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL INTO TOWN WHERE SPEED IS 45 MPH AND MY SISTER IN LAW WAS IN CAR AND WE WERE HEADI…

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WATER SEEPED IN UNDER SUN ROOF, DOWN FRONT DRIVER SIDE ROOF PILLAR AND THEN INTO CAR BEHIND DASHBOARD THEN DRIPPED DOWN INTO COMPUTER CONTROL DEVICE (WHERE OBDII UNIT HOOKS UP) WHERE IT SHORTED OUT ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL INTO TOWN WHERE SPEED IS 45 MPH AND MY SISTER IN LAW WAS IN CAR AND WE WERE HEADING TO AIRPORT HOWEVER ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN. BRAKES AND STEERING BECAME REALLY MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. WE COASTED TO A STOP AND AFTER 15 MINS CAR STARTED UP BUT WITH SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHED POWER SO I DROVE INTO A SERVICE STATION WHERE CAR STAYED FOR NEXT 2-DAYS. I DISCOVERED WHAT SHUT CAR DOWN WHEN I STARTED SQUIRTING WATER ONTO ROOF AT A CAR WASH AND WATER STARTED DRIPPING DOWN ONTO CARPET FLOORING BUT FIRST IT SEEPED INTO COMPUTER CONTROL UNIT. I WAITED OUT DRYING OF UNIT AND THEN DROVE HOME AND APPLIED A LOT CAULK TO SUNROOF WHERE GLASS MEET METAL/RUBBER. CAR EXTERIOR ROOF NOW LOOKS TERRIBLE AS CAULK DRIED SORT OF A BROWN CRUD COLOR (CAR IS WHITE) BUT NO MORE (KNOCK ON WOOD) ENGINE STALLING WHEN IT RAINS OR I GO THROUGH A CAR WASH. MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS WHEN ON ROAD AND IN RAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607550

192,000 miles · Jul 1, 2014
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE KEYS CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE CAR REMAINED DRIVABLE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER, REINSERTED THE KEY AND CONTINUED ON THE TRIP. THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED AT ANY TIME. THE IGNITION HAS BEEN REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE BUT THE CAR IS STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607491

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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