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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 And Engine Cooling complaints

111 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentSteering

THE CHEVY EQUINOX IS OVER-ALL A PIECE OF GARBAGE. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2004 IT HAS GIVEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW, BUT I DOESN'T PERFORM LIKE A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. SINCE I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE IT HAS OVER HEATED ON ME, THE AC SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPAIRED, THE GAGE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON AS IF SOMETHING…

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THE CHEVY EQUINOX IS OVER-ALL A PIECE OF GARBAGE. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2004 IT HAS GIVEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW, BUT I DOESN'T PERFORM LIKE A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. SINCE I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE IT HAS OVER HEATED ON ME, THE AC SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPAIRED, THE GAGE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON AS IF SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, WHEN I DRIVE ON THE EXPRESS WAY AND HIT 60 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL START SHAKING WHEN AS I'M BRAKING, THE ONE BELT THAT THE EQUINOX HAS SNAPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND THREE WEEKS AFTER I GOT THE BELT FIXED AS I WAS DRIVING AND I TURNED ON THE AC THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. KEEP IN MIND THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED EARLIER THIS YEAR SO MAJORITY OF THESE EXPENSES ARE COMING OUT OF MY POCKET, AND GUESS WHAT, YESTERDAY ON 9NOV2008 THE EQUINOX DIED ON ME. I CAN'T EVEN GET IT TO START. WHEN I TURN THE KEY ALL THE VEHICLE IS DOING IS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE BUT IT'S NOT TURNING OVER. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE BATTERY BECAUSE THE HORN WORKS, THE GAGE LIGHTS COME ON, THE RADIO WORKS, BUT IT'S JUST NOT TURNING OVER. IT'S BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN, AND THERE'S NO TELLING HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO SET ME BACK. THIS VEHICLE HAS GIVEN ME AND MY WIFE SO MUCH HEART ACHE, AND WHAT I JUST LISTED WERE SOME OF THE HIGH LIGHTS OF PROBLEMS THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS GIVEN US. TIMES ARE TOUGH RIGHT NOW AND THIS EQUINOX IS NOT MAKING THINGS ANY EASIER. THE GM COMPANY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR MAKING SUCH A CRAPPY PRODUCT SUCH AS THIS VEHICLE. NEVER AGAIN WILL I EVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY OR ANY OTHER GM PRODUCT. I REGRET EVER BUYING THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248245

1,200 miles · Oct 18, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

BOUGHT 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX BRAND NEW. CHEMICAL SMELL IN CAB AT ABOUT 1200 MILES AND AT 19,000 A/C LEAK DETECTED AND COMPRESSOR AND PARTS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245871

60,000 miles · Oct 12, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BOUGHT A 2005 EQUINOX 4 MONTHS AGO, PAID $4000.00 DOWN ON THIS CAR AND THEN 2 MONTH LATER I HAD TO PUT OUT $ 956.00 ON THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE AIR COMPRESSOR HAD WENT OUT. NOW 2 MONTHS LATER THE CAR HAD STARTED GETTING A LITTLE OVER HEATED. I PUT ENGINE COOLANT IN IT AND IT SEEMED TO BE DOING BETTER. 2 WEEKS AFTER PUTTING THE …

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I BOUGHT A 2005 EQUINOX 4 MONTHS AGO, PAID $4000.00 DOWN ON THIS CAR AND THEN 2 MONTH LATER I HAD TO PUT OUT $ 956.00 ON THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE AIR COMPRESSOR HAD WENT OUT. NOW 2 MONTHS LATER THE CAR HAD STARTED GETTING A LITTLE OVER HEATED. I PUT ENGINE COOLANT IN IT AND IT SEEMED TO BE DOING BETTER. 2 WEEKS AFTER PUTTING THE ENGINE COOLANT IN IT RUNS HOT AGAIN WORSE THAN BEFORE AND I AM BEING TOLD THAT IT HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I TOOK IT TO A PLACE THAT I TRUST WITH MY VEHICLE REPAIRS FIRST BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT DUE TO BEING AFRAID IT WOULD MESS IT UP EVEN MORE. THEY CALLED AND TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THAT'S WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO COME AND TOW THE VEHICLE TO THEIR SHOP AND CHECK IT OUT AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. OR EITHER SEE ABOUT GIVING ME ANOTHER CAR. I'M NOT GOING TO KEEP PUTTING MONEY OUT TO GET THIS CAR FIXED AND NOTHING IS UNDER WARRANTY ANY MORE. THERE ARE A FEW OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. A COUPLE OF TIMES IT'S ACTED LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO START, AND I CAN GET OUT OF IT AND LOCK IT AND BEFORE I WALK AWAY IT WILL UNLOCK BY IT SELF. ALSO I HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF IT AND THE BELL WILL KEEP DINGING LIKE THE KEY IS STILL IN IT. I'VE NOTICED THAT WHEN I'M MAKING A SHARP TURN THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE NOISE WITH THE FRONT TIRE OR SOMETHING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BE FIXING THIS CAR EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. IT'S CRAZY... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245201

39,700 miles · Jul 31, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

OUR 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX BEGAN TO BLOW WARMER AIR THAN USUAL WHEN IN THE COLDEST AIR CONDITIONING SETTING. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS AN INTERNAL VALVE IN THE COMPRESSOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. $1,050.00 TO REPLACE. OUR VEHICLE IS 9 MONTHS AND 4,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. WE TOOK THE…

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OUR 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX BEGAN TO BLOW WARMER AIR THAN USUAL WHEN IN THE COLDEST AIR CONDITIONING SETTING. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS AN INTERNAL VALVE IN THE COMPRESSOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. $1,050.00 TO REPLACE. OUR VEHICLE IS 9 MONTHS AND 4,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HE SAID WITHOUT HAVING TO LOOK ANYTHING UP. IT'S A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 MODEL YEAR EQUINOX AND THE PART IS BACK ORDERED FOR 2 MONTHS BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236554

15,113 miles · Jun 16, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TOOK DELIVERY O '05 EQUINOX IN JUNE OF '04. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR I BEGAN HAVING AN ODOR OF COOLANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HAD COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSHED AND TANK CLEANED OUT IN APRIL OF '05. THIS WAS APPARENTLY BEFORE A TSB WAS ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM. IN MARCH OF '06 I HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND …

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TOOK DELIVERY O '05 EQUINOX IN JUNE OF '04. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR I BEGAN HAVING AN ODOR OF COOLANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HAD COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSHED AND TANK CLEANED OUT IN APRIL OF '05. THIS WAS APPARENTLY BEFORE A TSB WAS ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM. IN MARCH OF '06 I HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIS TIME THEY HAD A TSB FOR IT AND CHANGED THE HOSES AND COOLANT UNDER WARRANTY. AGAIN IN JULY OF '06 DEALER REPLACED THE TANK AND COOLANT DUE TO COOLANT GELLING IN TANK. IN AUGUST OF '06 WITH 35,557 MILES ON THE CAR (JUST UNDER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY THERE WAS AGAIN THE SMELL ACCOMPANIED BY OVERHEATING. DEALER FOUND LEAKS IN THE FRONT AND REAR HEAD GASKET. JUST BARELY GOT THIS JOB IN UNDER WARRANTY! WITHIN WEEKS I WAS BACK AT THE DEALER FOR A HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS WITH THE PROBLEM OF THE HEAD GASKET. (WHY DIDN'T THEY CHECK THIS WHEN THEY WERE DOING THE HEAD GASKET IF THAT WAS THE CASE?) ANYWAY I WAS BACK TO THE DEALER BY DECEMBER DUE TO THE SOUND OF AIR IN THE SYSTEM AFTER THE HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT. THEY FOUND A LEAK BETWEEN THE TRANNY AND THE BACK OF THE BLOCK. THEY REPLACED THE METAL HEATER O-RING THAT WAS LEAKING. I NEVER ASKED FOR ANY OF THE OLD PARTS FROM THE DEALER. I RECENTLY HAD THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC (NOT THE DEALER) BECAUSE OF THE SMELL OF COOLANT IN THE CABIN AND THE SOUND OF WATER RUSHING/AIR IN THE SYSTEM. HE TOLD ME THERE IS A TSB FOR HTH PROBLEM AND I WOULD HAVE TO FLUSH THE SYSTEM AND CHANGE ALL THE HOSES. THAT WAS THE END OF MARCH AND I WAS SAVING $ FOR THE JOB. THIS WEEK MY CAR OVERHEATED ALL THE WAY TO THE RED AND WHEN I CHECKED THE RESERVOIR IT WAS EMPTY. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE OR FLUSH THE COOLANT SYSTEM EVERY FEW MONTHS OR YEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO LAST MUCH LONGER. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON A REMEDY FOR THE SITUATION I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH I HAVE NOT LISTED HERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231225

65,550 miles · Jun 14, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

BEGINNING IN 2007, THE CAR WOULD STALL A LITTLE WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. IT WOULD CATCH AND START, BUT THE NOISE WAS OF SOME CONCERN. EARLY THIS YEAR, THE CAR WOULD FAIL TO START AT ALL WHEN I WENT TO CRANK IT. I'VE HAD IT IN THE SERVICE SHOPS AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, AND THEY'VE BOTH TOLD ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG…

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BEGINNING IN 2007, THE CAR WOULD STALL A LITTLE WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. IT WOULD CATCH AND START, BUT THE NOISE WAS OF SOME CONCERN. EARLY THIS YEAR, THE CAR WOULD FAIL TO START AT ALL WHEN I WENT TO CRANK IT. I'VE HAD IT IN THE SERVICE SHOPS AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, AND THEY'VE BOTH TOLD ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I WAS STRANDED AGAIN TODAY, BUT THE CAR FINALLY STARTED AFTER I WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP, THE FOLKS WORKING ON IT RAN EVERY TEST THEY NEW OF AND TRIED TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM BUT COULDN'T. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231014

77,000 miles · May 15, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

77K MILES ON VEHICLE, LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD, HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, ALSO IGNITION CYLINDER FAILURE, DEXCOOL COOLANT SUPPOSEDLY IS DEGRADING THE NYLON MATERIAL IN COOLANT LINES, THE ENTIRE HEAD GASKET UNIT HAS TO BE REPLACED ($1500), I HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS FOR VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT MISSED A SCHEDULE P…

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77K MILES ON VEHICLE, LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD, HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, ALSO IGNITION CYLINDER FAILURE, DEXCOOL COOLANT SUPPOSEDLY IS DEGRADING THE NYLON MATERIAL IN COOLANT LINES, THE ENTIRE HEAD GASKET UNIT HAS TO BE REPLACED ($1500), I HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS FOR VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT MISSED A SCHEDULE PREVENTABLE MAINTENANCE/OIL CHANGE/ETC...FOR VEHICLE AND I BOUGHT VEHICLE BRAND NEW OFF OF LOT WITH 83 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227849

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionVisibility

I HAVE A LEAKING HEAD GASKET, I BOUGHT THIS EQUINOX 6 MONTHS AGO AND ITS 1,200.00 TO FIX IT AT THE DEALER SHIP. I JUST PAID 306.00 TO REPLACE THE MOTOR IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. FRONT END MAKES LOTS OF NOISES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226490

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE A 205 CHEVY EQUINOX AND THE 2ND DAY I TOOK MY WIFE FOR A DRIVE & WE BOTH NOTICED A BAD ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTILATION. IT CAUSED HER TO GET SICK. I TOLD THE DEALER AND THEY DID AN IONIZER CLEANING THING, BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK, BECAUSE AFTER 2 DAYS, FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS I'VE BEEN SICK WITH UPSET STO…

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I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE A 205 CHEVY EQUINOX AND THE 2ND DAY I TOOK MY WIFE FOR A DRIVE & WE BOTH NOTICED A BAD ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTILATION. IT CAUSED HER TO GET SICK. I TOLD THE DEALER AND THEY DID AN IONIZER CLEANING THING, BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK, BECAUSE AFTER 2 DAYS, FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS I'VE BEEN SICK WITH UPSET STOMACH, NAUSEA, HEADACHE, SINUS PROBLEMS, EARACHE. HAD TO TAKE OFF WORK BECAUSE I WAS FEELING BAD. I'VE READ SOME OTHER REPORTS ON THIS TYPE VEHICLE AND NOTICED PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221573

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE IN 2005, I'VE HAD NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE THERE'S BEEN TROUBLE WITH THE ENGINE CRANKING EXCESSIVELY. AFTER TOO MANY TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I FINALLY TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER WHEN IT STARTED GETTING WORSE. THIS WAS ON 8/31/07. MY RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER WAS THAT THIS I…

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SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE IN 2005, I'VE HAD NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE THERE'S BEEN TROUBLE WITH THE ENGINE CRANKING EXCESSIVELY. AFTER TOO MANY TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I FINALLY TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER WHEN IT STARTED GETTING WORSE. THIS WAS ON 8/31/07. MY RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER WAS THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" DUE TO SERVICE BULLETIN #03-06-03-001C. I'VE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM, AND IT GETS WORSE AND WORSE. THIS IS NOT A "NORMAL" PROBLEM. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL FOR ALL OF ITS CUSTOMERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216195

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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