2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX RADIO WITH 6 CD CHANGER. PROBLEM IS THE CD PLAYER WORKS FOR ONE MINUTE THEN STOPS, IT CLICKS AND LIGHT BLINKS BUT DOES NOT PLAY. *KB
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Equinox years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Equipment complaints
14 reportsI BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX IN MARCH WITH LESS THAN 38,000 MILES. THE AC NEVER REALLY GOT COLD. I CALLED GM AS WELL AS LOOKING @ BLOGS ON THE INTERNET. IT SEEMED LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM. THEY ONLY USED THIS COMPRESSOR FOR ONE YEAR IN ANY VEHICLE. I WROTE A NICE LITTLE LETTER EXPLAINING THAT MY 2005 EQUINOX WITH NOT QUIT 43,…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX IN MARCH WITH LESS THAN 38,000 MILES. THE AC NEVER REALLY GOT COLD. I CALLED GM AS WELL AS LOOKING @ BLOGS ON THE INTERNET. IT SEEMED LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM. THEY ONLY USED THIS COMPRESSOR FOR ONE YEAR IN ANY VEHICLE. I WROTE A NICE LITTLE LETTER EXPLAINING THAT MY 2005 EQUINOX WITH NOT QUIT 43,000 MILES ON IT HAD A AC COMPRESSOR PROBLEM. I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF THIS CAR AND IT WAS EXPLAINED THIS WAY FROM THE START. I RECEIVED A VERY NICE CALL FROM AN [XXX]@ GM, HER NUMBER IS 1-866-790-5600 X32738. I WENT THROUGH MY PROBLEM VERY CAREFULLY AND EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS DIAGNOSED FROM A TRUSTED MECHANIC. SHE UNDERSTOOD BUT TOLD ME IT HAD TO BE LOOKED AT BY A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. I CONTINUED TO LET HER KNOW I PAID FOR THIS DIAGNOSIS ONCE AND REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO PAY OVER AGAIN. I CALLED BACK A FEW TIMES TO MAKE SURE IT WOULD BE WORTH MY TIME AND MONEY. I WAS PRETTY MUCH ASSURED THAT IF IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT GM WOULD HELP OUT SO I STARTED TO CALL THE LOCAL DEALERS. I STARTED @ 7:30AM THIS MORNING, I CALLED [XXX] OF CAPE CORAL, FL, THE VICTORY LAYNE IN FORT MYERS AND THEN PALM AUTO MALL IN PUNTA GORDA. ALL SERVICE MANAGERS WHERE BUSY SO I WENT TO [XXX] @ 8AM TO FIND THAT [XXX] WAS ON VACATION AND NO ONE COULD HELP ME. I DID GET A CALL BACK FROM A BOB PILGRIM FROM PALM AUTO MALL IN PUNTA GORDA AND SAID HE WOULD SEE ME AT 1PM. PALM AUTO MALL IS ALMOST AN HOUR AWAY AND 31.5 MILES FROM ME. I ARRIVED AND THE SERVICE THERE WAS GREAT, AFTER ABOUT 1 AND A HALF HOURS [XXX] ASKED ME IN HIS OFFICE TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE POLICY IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND THAT THEY MAKE NO EXCEPTIONS, THAT THE 2ND OWNER DOESN'T GET AND HELP IN THIS KIND OF CASE AND YES THE COMPRESSOR WAS GONE WITH NO REAL REASON WHY IT WOULD GO IN SUCH A SHORT TIME (MILEAGE). I ASKED WHY I WASN'T TOLD THIS I WAS TALKING TO [XXX] AND THAT SHE WAS ENCOURAGING ME TO GO TO A CHEVY DEALER [XXX] AGREED THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD OF THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION A
2005 CHEVY EQUINOX...AC BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN IT'S BEEN EXPOSED IN THE HEAT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. WHEN CAR IS MOVING WITHOUT STOPPAGE THE AC RETURNS TO NORMAL. WHEN THERE ARE LONG STOPS, THE AIR GETS HOT AGAIN. HAVE TAKEN IT TO MANY REPAIR SHOPS, THEY HAVE CHARGED THE FREON, NO PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPRESSOR. THEY SEEM TO THINK I…
Read full complaint
2005 CHEVY EQUINOX...AC BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN IT'S BEEN EXPOSED IN THE HEAT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. WHEN CAR IS MOVING WITHOUT STOPPAGE THE AC RETURNS TO NORMAL. WHEN THERE ARE LONG STOPS, THE AIR GETS HOT AGAIN. HAVE TAKEN IT TO MANY REPAIR SHOPS, THEY HAVE CHARGED THE FREON, NO PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPRESSOR. THEY SEEM TO THINK IT MIGHT BE A SENSOR. *KB
6 DISC CHANGER IS JAMMED AND PRODUCING AN ERROR MESSAGE. WILL NOT EJECT OR LOAD CDS. CHEVY DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS UNFIXABLE, RECOMMENDED REPLACING IT WITH AN AFTERMARKET UNIT. TECH ACKNOWLEDGED THE RECURRING COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. I AM HESITATING TO REPLACE WITH ANOTHER FACTORY UNIT. VERY FRUSTRATING, B…
Read full complaint
6 DISC CHANGER IS JAMMED AND PRODUCING AN ERROR MESSAGE. WILL NOT EJECT OR LOAD CDS. CHEVY DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS UNFIXABLE, RECOMMENDED REPLACING IT WITH AN AFTERMARKET UNIT. TECH ACKNOWLEDGED THE RECURRING COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. I AM HESITATING TO REPLACE WITH ANOTHER FACTORY UNIT. VERY FRUSTRATING, BASED ON OTHER ONLINE COMPLAINTS AND FORUMS VOICING THEIR COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. AGAIN, SEEMS LIKE A FACTORY/MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT WILL FALL ONTO THE SHOULDERS OF THE CONSUMER. THANKS GM. *TR
AT APROX 100K MILES THE CD PLAYER JAMMED AND WON'T PLAY CDS NOR EJECT OR ACCEPT THEM. SINCE I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS THE CD PLAYER SAYS IT HAS AN ERROR ALL THE TIME AND ATTEMPTS TO CLEAR THE ERROR AND RUNS AND RUNS. IT STILL REMAINS JAMMED AND STILL GIVES ME AN ERROR ACROSS THE SCREEN EVERY 10 MINUTES. *TR
MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX STARTING MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF THE INTERSTATE AND WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES AND TURNING. IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOCKED FROM THE MIDDLE OF MY CAR TO THE BACK OF MY CAR. I WAS TOTALLY CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND WAS VERY SHAKEN. I STOPPED AND LOOKED AT MY TIRES AND TO SEE I…
Read full complaint
MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX STARTING MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF THE INTERSTATE AND WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES AND TURNING. IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOCKED FROM THE MIDDLE OF MY CAR TO THE BACK OF MY CAR. I WAS TOTALLY CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND WAS VERY SHAKEN. I STOPPED AND LOOKED AT MY TIRES AND TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS HANGING DOWN FROM THE CAR. I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT WAS OBVIOUS. IT WAS 9:00AM. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP SO I DROVE THERE. I WAS SCARED AND SHAKEN AND DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM WAS GOING TO CAUSE ME TO HAVE A WRECK OR POSSIBLY BE STRANDED. WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP, A GENTLEMAN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WENT FOR A DRIVE WITH ME. MY CAR DIDN'T MAKE THE LOUD GRINDING, BUT ONLY A LITTLE. HE SAID THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD TAKE OFF ALL 4 WHEELS AND CHECK THE BRAKES. MY HUSBAND LEFT WORK TO PICK ME UP AS THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE DONE BEFORE LUNCH. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED ME AT WORK AND SAID IT WAS NOT THE BRAKES, BUT IT WAS PROBABLY THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, BUT HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND HE WOULD CALL ME AFTER LUNCH. HE ASKED IF I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE CAR, I SAID NO, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE THAT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW. HE AGREED. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 5 MONTHS TODAY, JANUARY 24TH AND MY MILEAGE IS PAST THE WARRANTY BY 1,424 MILES. MY CAR HAS 37,700 MILES ON IT. MY HUSBAND OWNS A 1996 CHEVY S10 PICKUP WITH OVER 200,00 MILES ON IT AND NOTHING THIS MAJOR HAS EVER HAPPENED WITH HIS TRUCK. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. HE SAID HE WOULD BUILD A BUSINESS CASE DOCUMENT TO PRESENT TO GM BOARD FOR REVIEW. I THINK GM SHOULD PAY FOR EXPENSES TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. I MADE A PUN COMMENT THAT SINCE THIS COST WAS AROUND $2400 THAT I WANTED GM TO BAIL ME OUT, COMPARED TO THE BILLIONS THEY JUST RECEIVED FROM AMERICAN TAXPAYERS. GM SUCCESS DEPENDS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. AGAIN MY CAR ONLY HAS 37,700 MILES ON IT. *TR
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…
Read full complaint
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
THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND IT CHOOSES WHEN TO GO UP AND DOWN AND ALSO I WOULD HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR IN ORDER TO WORK THE WINDOW. ALSO THE STALLS ON NUMEROUS OCCASION TO START. THE BRAKES ARE BRAND NEW AND A PROBLEMS STILL OCCURS WHEN TRYING TO STOP IT SHAKES EVEN WHEN GOING A LOW SPEED. *TR
PROBLEMS WITH CAR BEGAN IMMEDIATELY (TRANSMISSION, AIR CONDITIONER, ODOMETER, WINDOW MOTOR, CAR SHIFTING ABRUPTLY, AND SKIDDING ON ANY WET SERVICE.) FINALLY WENT INTO 20 FT SKID, WHEELS LOCKED, NO RESPONSE TO STEERING. CAR HIT POLE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK. CAR TOTALED. *TR
NUMEROUS FAILURES ON THIS CAR. THE A/C AND TRANSMISSION DEFECTIVE IN THE FIRST 100 MILES. THE POWER WINDOW FAILED. TRANSM. SHIFTED ON CURVES AND WOULD MOMENTARILY LOSE ALL CONTROL OF CAR. COMPLAINED THAT HAD NO WHEEL DRIVE IN WET OR SNOW. WOULD JUMP SIDEWAYS OR SKID. ,NOW HEAD-ON INTO PHONE POLE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, SEA…
Read full complaint
NUMEROUS FAILURES ON THIS CAR. THE A/C AND TRANSMISSION DEFECTIVE IN THE FIRST 100 MILES. THE POWER WINDOW FAILED. TRANSM. SHIFTED ON CURVES AND WOULD MOMENTARILY LOSE ALL CONTROL OF CAR. COMPLAINED THAT HAD NO WHEEL DRIVE IN WET OR SNOW. WOULD JUMP SIDEWAYS OR SKID. ,NOW HEAD-ON INTO PHONE POLE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK. AS A RESULT, HIT STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD. INJURIES. *TR
Official recalls
104V302000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration