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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

Power Train complaints

114 reports
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87,000 miles · Apr 5, 2010
Power Train

MY EQUINOX WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS BEING HELD IN PLACE BY ONE RUSTY PIECE OF METAL. HE TOLD ME THAT IF I WERE TO HIT A BUMP IT WOULD DISLODGE AND WOULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND HARM TO CAR. NOT GOOD NEWS FOR A MOTHER. HE IS REPLACING THIS PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323871

98,000 miles · Mar 27, 2010
Power Train

THE CENTER CARRIER BEARING HAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE AXEL ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE REPAIR SHOP (TIRE CENTER) TOLD ME THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON AND HAVE SEEN IT ON THIS MODEL MANY TIMES. A CHEVY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE. THERE IS A TON OF INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE IS…

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THE CENTER CARRIER BEARING HAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE AXEL ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE REPAIR SHOP (TIRE CENTER) TOLD ME THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON AND HAVE SEEN IT ON THIS MODEL MANY TIMES. A CHEVY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE. THERE IS A TON OF INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #10322508

50,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT SPEEDS UNDER 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL INTO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THE TRANSMISS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT SPEEDS UNDER 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL INTO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. REPAIRS WERE MADE UNDER THE CONTACTS FACTORY WARRANTY. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE UTILIZING THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM, HE TAPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IT WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE. HE CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MOMENTS LATER, THE CRUISE DISENGAGED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10315637

6,000 miles · Mar 1, 2010
Power Train

THE FAILURE IS THAT MY 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX. THE ON-DEMAND ALL WHEEL DRIVE DOESN'T ENGAGE. IT MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN MAY 2005. I MOVED TO MONTANA THAT YEAR AND WHEN THE VEHICLE SLIPS THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS SUPPOSED TO AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE. IT DOESN'T AND IT MA…

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THE FAILURE IS THAT MY 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX. THE ON-DEMAND ALL WHEEL DRIVE DOESN'T ENGAGE. IT MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN MAY 2005. I MOVED TO MONTANA THAT YEAR AND WHEN THE VEHICLE SLIPS THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS SUPPOSED TO AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE. IT DOESN'T AND IT MAKES A FUNNY NOISE. I'VE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN MANY TIMES WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND NO DEALERSHIP COULD RECREATE THE SLIPPING DUE TO THE LACK OF SNOW OR ICE OR WATER ON THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIPS HOOKED MY VEHICLE UP TO A COMPUTER AND NO CODES WOULD EVER COME BACK AS BEING A PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE STILL MAKES THIS NOISE WHEN THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRIES TO ENGAGE. I NEVER KNEW THERE WAS A WAY TO REPORT THIS ISSUE IF A SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN'T RECREATE THE ISSUE. I FOUND THIS WEBSITE ON HEADLINE NEWS W/ ROBIN MEAD. GREAT REPORTING!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315264

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2010
Power Train

CARRIER BEARING FOR CHEY EQUINOX: RUBBER SEAL SEPARATED FROM CARRIER MOUNT WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVE SHAFT TO SLAM INTO THE PLATE, IN TURN CAUSED THE DRIVE SHAFT TO COME APART WHILE THE AUTO WAS MOVING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10306146

84,000 miles · Jan 27, 2010
Power Train

THE CENTER BEARING ON MY DRIVESHAFT BROKE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED BUT IN GOOD CONDITION. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING WITH MY VEHICLE TO CAUSE THE BEARING TO BREAK. I SIMPLY MADE A TURN AND THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED THE NOISE AND THAT IT WAS DRIVING HORRIBLY. AS I TRAVELED A FEW MORE FEET DOWN THE ROAD IT JUST GOT WORSE. I TOOK IT INTO A …

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THE CENTER BEARING ON MY DRIVESHAFT BROKE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED BUT IN GOOD CONDITION. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING WITH MY VEHICLE TO CAUSE THE BEARING TO BREAK. I SIMPLY MADE A TURN AND THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED THE NOISE AND THAT IT WAS DRIVING HORRIBLY. AS I TRAVELED A FEW MORE FEET DOWN THE ROAD IT JUST GOT WORSE. I TOOK IT INTO A CHEVY DEALER AND I AM CURRENTLY AWAITING ON REPAIR. *CN

NHTSA ODI #10302895

95,000 miles · Dec 14, 2009
Power TrainSuspension

2005 CHEVY EQUINOX DRIVE SHAFT BEARING WORE DOWN, VEHICLE NEVER SHOOK. THERE WAS A DRAGGING NOISE I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, HE DROVE IT, IT RAN SMOOTH, HE LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT 6 INCHES IN ALL DIRECTIONS. NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE DRIVE SHAFT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10295560

58,000 miles · Nov 24, 2009
Power Train

CARRIER BEARINGS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293418

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2009
Electrical SystemPower TrainSuspension

I HAVE WENT THROUGH 3 WHEEL BEARINGS, 2 CARRIER BEARINGS WHICH TOOK 3 WEEKS TO GET FROM DEALER SO CAR WAS LAID UP., 2 STABILIZER BARS, ALL WIRING WAS CORRODED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, BATTERY GOES DEAD IF DOOR IS OPEN FOR 15 MINUTES. SUN ROOF HAS RATTLED FROM DAY ONE. PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF LIFT GATE AND INSIDE BACK DOOR FROM DAY …

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I HAVE WENT THROUGH 3 WHEEL BEARINGS, 2 CARRIER BEARINGS WHICH TOOK 3 WEEKS TO GET FROM DEALER SO CAR WAS LAID UP., 2 STABILIZER BARS, ALL WIRING WAS CORRODED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, BATTERY GOES DEAD IF DOOR IS OPEN FOR 15 MINUTES. SUN ROOF HAS RATTLED FROM DAY ONE. PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF LIFT GATE AND INSIDE BACK DOOR FROM DAY ONE. WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER. MY 2005 EQUINOX IS A BIG PIECE OF JUNK!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292476

69,500 miles · Nov 10, 2009
Power Train

CARRIER BEARING IS BAD ON MY SUV. CURRENTLY, IT ONLY MAKES AN ANNOYING NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. OTHER REPORTS ON THE INTERNET NOTED THEM FALLING OFF OR NEEDING REPLACEMENT. INTERNET REPORTS THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH HAS CAUSED A NATIONAL BACKORDER. THIS APPEARS TO BE TOO COMMON OF A PROBLEM TO NOT INDIC…

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CARRIER BEARING IS BAD ON MY SUV. CURRENTLY, IT ONLY MAKES AN ANNOYING NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. OTHER REPORTS ON THE INTERNET NOTED THEM FALLING OFF OR NEEDING REPLACEMENT. INTERNET REPORTS THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH HAS CAUSED A NATIONAL BACKORDER. THIS APPEARS TO BE TOO COMMON OF A PROBLEM TO NOT INDICATE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291800

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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