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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

Engine complaints

55 reports
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112,000 miles · Aug 16, 2013
Engine

MY CHEVY HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AFTER ONLY 112K. FROM WHAT CHEVY MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME IT'S BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY EGR VALVE ON THE VEHICLES BECAUSE GM FAILED TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF SAID VEHICLES TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM THE START. WINDOW MOTORS HAVE GONE BAD AFTER ONLY 45K MILES,…

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MY CHEVY HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AFTER ONLY 112K. FROM WHAT CHEVY MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME IT'S BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY EGR VALVE ON THE VEHICLES BECAUSE GM FAILED TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF SAID VEHICLES TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM THE START. WINDOW MOTORS HAVE GONE BAD AFTER ONLY 45K MILES, BLOWN GASKET, THE NON STARTING, NO AC UNLESS I'M TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, HAVING TO PULLOVER AND STOP TURN CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON TO GET THE HEAT TO KICK ON IN THE WINTER. I'VE CONTACTED GM BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT IT. THE CHEAPEST I COULD FIND FOR MY CAR WAS 3000 TO REPLACE THE GASKETS. I MIGHT AS WELL DROP A NEW ENGINE IN THE CAR FOR THAT BUT WHY PAY THE 3000 TO REPLACE ENGINE FOR IT TO CRAP OUT ONCE AGAIN! WANDER IF I COULD PUT AN 08 ENGINE IN IT?? NEVER WILL I BUY AN EQUINOX AGAIN NOT IN A MILLION YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535812

115,000 miles · Aug 8, 2013
EngineVisibility

BOUGHT A NEW 2005. 2 MONTHS AFTER WARRANTY WENT OUT THE IGNITION MESSED. HAVE TO WIGGLE THE KEY TO GET IT TO TURN. TWO MONTHS LATER THE HEAT/AC BLOWER CONTROL SWITCH WENT OUT. AT 120,000 MILES LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, FIXED THAT. 3 MONTHS LATER BLOWN HEAD GASKET, FOUND BAD FUEL INJECTOR WHILE FIXING THAT. 6 DAYS …

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

NHTSA ODI #10534242

117,000 miles · Aug 7, 2013
Engine

CAR STARTED OVERHEATING AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BAD HEAD GASKET AND REPAIRED. AFTER THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPAIRED THE EQUINOX STARTED OVERHEATING AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR LASTED 3 WEEKS BEFORE IT FAILED AS WELL WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSIS AS BEFORE, …

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CAR STARTED OVERHEATING AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BAD HEAD GASKET AND REPAIRED. AFTER THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPAIRED THE EQUINOX STARTED OVERHEATING AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR LASTED 3 WEEKS BEFORE IT FAILED AS WELL WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSIS AS BEFORE, A BAD HEAD GASKET. I CONTACTED GM. THEY OFFERED NO SOLUTIONS, OFFERED NO HELP IN REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THEY KNOW THE ENGINES IN THE 2005 AND 2006 (VIN F) ARE BAD ENGINES SUFFERING FROM A POOR DESIGN. THEY DIDN'T MAKE THE ENGINES ONLY FOR 2 YEARS BECAUSE THEY WORKED SO WELL. NUMEROUS REPORTS ABOUT THE BAD ENGINES WITH GM'S RESPONSE SIMPLY TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON A CAR THAT WON'T LAST PAST 100K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533995

161,000 miles · Jun 8, 2013
Engine

THIS VEHICLE TAKE 4QT OF OIL ,BUT THE BOOK SAID 4.5 QT THAT WILL OVER FILL DIP STICK SHOW OVER A QT FULL CHECK WITH PART DEPT AT CHEVROLET AND WAS TOLD THAT IT ONLY TAKE 4QT WITH FILTER INCLUDED OTHER SERVICE MANUAL ALSO SAY 4QT WITH FILTER 'BECAUSE OF THIS DIFFERENT IN MANUAL CAPACITY THIS HAS CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE OVER THE YEA…

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THIS VEHICLE TAKE 4QT OF OIL ,BUT THE BOOK SAID 4.5 QT THAT WILL OVER FILL DIP STICK SHOW OVER A QT FULL CHECK WITH PART DEPT AT CHEVROLET AND WAS TOLD THAT IT ONLY TAKE 4QT WITH FILTER INCLUDED OTHER SERVICE MANUAL ALSO SAY 4QT WITH FILTER 'BECAUSE OF THIS DIFFERENT IN MANUAL CAPACITY THIS HAS CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE OVER THE YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10515807

94,052 miles · Jun 3, 2013
Engine

SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEMS A LOT OF EQUINOX OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. BLOWN HEADGASKET W/ A PRICE TAG OF 1800.00 TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10514862

101,261 miles · May 24, 2013
Engine

BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 101,000 MILES. I NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS DISAPPEARING AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE TECHNICIAN WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE COOLANT WAS MIXING WITH THE OIL AND I SHOULD HAVE IT CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY.…

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BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 101,000 MILES. I NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS DISAPPEARING AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE TECHNICIAN WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE COOLANT WAS MIXING WITH THE OIL AND I SHOULD HAVE IT CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513366

110,000 miles · Feb 12, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATED PEDAL TO START THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FLOOD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATED PEDAL TO START THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FLOOD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10497943

92,000 miles · Jan 2, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE MOTOR AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 02/20/13*LJ UPDATED 02/21/2013 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10490778

36,212 miles · Nov 17, 2012
Engine

WITH ONLY 36,212 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE, THERE IS NOW A REAR HEAD GASKET LEAKING. NOW, AS A SENIOR CITIZEN WITH A FIXED INCOME, I NEED TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. IT SEEMS TO ME WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE AN ENGINE SHOULD LAST LONGER!! POOR WORKMANSHIP!!!! I SINCERELY HOPE THIS INFORMATION IS SHARED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. *…

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WITH ONLY 36,212 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE, THERE IS NOW A REAR HEAD GASKET LEAKING. NOW, AS A SENIOR CITIZEN WITH A FIXED INCOME, I NEED TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. IT SEEMS TO ME WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE AN ENGINE SHOULD LAST LONGER!! POOR WORKMANSHIP!!!! I SINCERELY HOPE THIS INFORMATION IS SHARED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484991

100,000 miles · Oct 22, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EGR VALVE THAT WAS OFFERED BY THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT FIT SECURELY ON THE VEHICLE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS CONTACTED IN REGARD TO THE ISSUE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO PURCHASE THE PART ELSEWHERE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EGR VALVE THAT WAS OFFERED BY THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT FIT SECURELY ON THE VEHICLE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS CONTACTED IN REGARD TO THE ISSUE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO PURCHASE THE PART ELSEWHERE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE PART WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10481468

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.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Equinox problems