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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

Service Brakes complaints

45 reports
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10,800 miles · Nov 15, 2012
Service Brakes

OVERALL PROBLEM: THE ABS SYSTEM KEPT KICKING IN AT LOW SPEED STOPS AND THE ABS/TC LIGHT CAME ON IT STARTED OUT AS AN OCCASIONAL ABS SENSATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH GOT WORSE OVER A MATTER OF A COUPLE WEEKS. THE TIMES WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE BRAKING WAS GENTLE` AND GRADUAL, SO IT WAS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE ABS T…

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OVERALL PROBLEM: THE ABS SYSTEM KEPT KICKING IN AT LOW SPEED STOPS AND THE ABS/TC LIGHT CAME ON IT STARTED OUT AS AN OCCASIONAL ABS SENSATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH GOT WORSE OVER A MATTER OF A COUPLE WEEKS. THE TIMES WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE BRAKING WAS GENTLE` AND GRADUAL, SO IT WAS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE ABS TO COME ON AND MY BRAKING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED. AFTER THE FIRST WEEK THE ABS/TC LIGHT CAME ON AND THE PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY (EXAMPLE: AT LEAST TWICE ON MY 15 MINUTE COMMUTE). AFTER CONFIRMING THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES, THE DEALER DECIDED IT WAS MY WHEEL HUB AND I PAID FOR THAT (EXPENSIVE) REPLACEMENT. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR ONE DAY, AND THEN RETURNED EVEN MORE SEVERELY AND I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO STOP SAFELY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON CHEVROLETFORUM ONLINE FOR OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE, WE FOUND THAT IT WAS LIKELY THE "PIGTAIL WIRE HARNESS". THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE DEALER AND REPLACED ON THAT SECOND TRIP. HERE'S A LINK TO THE FORUM, IN CASE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT OTHER'S ARE EXPERIENCING: HTTP://CHEVROLETFORUM.COM/FORUM/EQUINOX-23/2006-CHEVY-EQUINOX-LT-ABS-TRACTION-CONTROL-LIGHT-PROBLEMS-41758/PAGE3/. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484855

64,000 miles · Aug 5, 2012
Service BrakesTraction Control System

ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. FEELS LIKE BRAKES ARE STICKING OR NOT RESPONDING. I'LL BE PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AND AS SOON AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF IT IMMEDIATELY SLOWS DOWN. WHEN I GOT OUT, IT SMELLED LIKE BURNED RUBBER AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKE AREA. I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE TO GET IT REPAIRED AND NOT…

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ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. FEELS LIKE BRAKES ARE STICKING OR NOT RESPONDING. I'LL BE PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AND AS SOON AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF IT IMMEDIATELY SLOWS DOWN. WHEN I GOT OUT, IT SMELLED LIKE BURNED RUBBER AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE BRAKE AREA. I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE TO GET IT REPAIRED AND NOTHING HAS WORKED SO FAR. I GOT NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS PUT ON 3 MONTHS AGO AND THEY'RE ALREADY WORN OUT. I'VE ONLY PUT ON ABOUT 1200 MILES ON THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469242

101,152 miles · Jul 30, 2012
Service BrakesCrash

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE STALLED ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. HAVE BEEN HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS BRAKES WHEN I PRESSED ON THEM I HAD NO BRAKES HAD TO GO OFF SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP SO I WOULDN'T HIT STOPPED VEHICLES. THEN THE ENGINE DOES NOT WANT TO START BACK UP AFTER IT STALLS AND THE TRACTION …

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WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE STALLED ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. HAVE BEEN HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS BRAKES WHEN I PRESSED ON THEM I HAD NO BRAKES HAD TO GO OFF SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP SO I WOULDN'T HIT STOPPED VEHICLES. THEN THE ENGINE DOES NOT WANT TO START BACK UP AFTER IT STALLS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 YEARS AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. I THOUGHT I BOUGHT A LEMON BUT WHEN I READ OTHER PEOPLE AND THEIR PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS IT SOUNDS LIKE THEIR ALL LEMONS!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468210

115,000 miles · Jul 18, 2012
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL DRUM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL DRUM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ODI #10466495

89,012 miles · May 30, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

10-14-11 PROBLEMS WITH ABS LIGHT, FOLLOWED BY TC LIGHT COMING ON, FOLLOWED BY THE CAR SLOWING OR JUMPING FORWARD WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, DIFFICULTY STOPPING. LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. SLOWED TO MAKE A TURN ON A 2 WAY ROAD, CAR TRAVELED OVER DOUBLE YELLOWS, OFF ROAD, INTO A PULL OUT AREA BEFORE STOPPING. LUCKILY I WAS TRAVELING AT A …

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10-14-11 PROBLEMS WITH ABS LIGHT, FOLLOWED BY TC LIGHT COMING ON, FOLLOWED BY THE CAR SLOWING OR JUMPING FORWARD WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, DIFFICULTY STOPPING. LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. SLOWED TO MAKE A TURN ON A 2 WAY ROAD, CAR TRAVELED OVER DOUBLE YELLOWS, OFF ROAD, INTO A PULL OUT AREA BEFORE STOPPING. LUCKILY I WAS TRAVELING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED & THERE WERE NO ON COMING VEHICLES. BY STOPPING AND TURNING OFF ENGINE, LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT BUT COME BACK ON AFTER ABOUT A MILE. CAR WOULD STALL OR JUMP FORWARD, BRAKING DIFFICULT. NEW BRAKES INSTALLED, PROBLEMS CONTINUED. 10-26-11 TOOK CAR BACK & HAD BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS & SENSORS REPLACED. PROBLEMS CONTINUE. 11-18-2011 CAR TAKEN TO CHEVY MECH. & TESTED. THEY DECIDED I NEEDED THE LF JUMPER HARNESS & SPEED SENSOR REPLACED. 4 WEEKS AGO: SLIGHT GRINDING SOUND FROM FRONT WHEELS WHILE TURNING. CHECK ENGINE & TC LIGHTS CAME ON, STALLING & BRAKING PROBLEMS. TOOK CAR IN FOR 100,000 SERVICE, DROVE 30 MILES TO MY HOME. CAR RAN PERFECTLY. LATER THE SAME DAY CAR RAN FINE FOR 2 MILES, THEN ABS & TC LIGHTS CAME ON, BEGAN TO LUG DOWN & STALL, SURGE FORWARD, STALL. CAR STALLING CONTINUALLY. TOWED CAR. MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT IS WRONG. TOMORROW HE WILL TOW THE CAR TO THE CHEVY DEALER FOR EVALUATION. QUESTION FOR CHEVROLET AND NHTSA~~MY CAR IS A 2005. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM & REALIZE THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE EQUINOX, A SAFETY PROBLEM TO MYSELF, MY FAMILY & OTHER CHEVY OWNERS & MOTORISTS. WHY HAVEN'T THESE VEHICLES BEEN RECALLED, WHY HAS CHEVROLET BEEN ALLOWED TO CONTINUE SELLING THE EQUINOX WITH THIS LIFE THREATENING BRAKE AND T/C PROBLEM? SCARY. NOT ONLY AM I OUT MONEY FOR TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT NOW I FIND OUT THAT APPARENTLY THERE IS NO FIX TO THE PROBLEM! I OWN A VEHICLE I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING, I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE CAR WILL DECIDE TO SHIFT, STALL, BRAKE OR NOT BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460096

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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