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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

Steering complaints

50 reports
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45 miles · May 1, 2021
Service BrakesSteeringSuspensionCrash

BRAKE WON'T RELEASES AFTER PUTING ON BRAKE PEDAL KEY FALLS OUT OF IGNITION WHILE DRIVE ING STEERING SEEMS LIKE GOING TO FALL APART WHEN TURNINGS CAT HARDLY PUT GAS IN IT CODE 0445 LARGE EVAP LEAK DETECTOR

NHTSA ODI #11414716

140,000 miles · Sep 30, 2020
Steering

STEERING WHEEL GOT LOCKED I TRIED WITH DIFFERENT KEYS EVEN A NEW DEALERS KEY AND IT STILL DIDN'T UNLOCK . IT WAS PARKED

NHTSA ODI #11362021

114,000 miles · Jan 9, 2020
SteeringSuspension

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED BACK ON 02/2019. THE DRIVE SHAFT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON 07/2019 AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DEEMED THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE ON 12/23/19. THE CONTACT CALLED THE STATE POLICE FOR VEHICLE FRAUD AN DWAS STILL WAITING FOR A CALLBAC…

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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED BACK ON 02/2019. THE DRIVE SHAFT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON 07/2019 AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DEEMED THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE ON 12/23/19. THE CONTACT CALLED THE STATE POLICE FOR VEHICLE FRAUD AN DWAS STILL WAITING FOR A CALLBACK. THE CONTACT ALSO CONTACTED COUNTY ATTORNEY GENERAL AN RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE DEALER M C'S AUTO SALES 1343 CONNELLSVILLE ST, LEMONT FURNACE, PA 15456 (724) 438-0191 STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT ITAND REFUSED TO REFUND THE PURCHASE. THE DEALER TRIED TO REPOCESS THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY BUT WAS UNSUCESSFUL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.TF

NHTSA ODI #11298077

91,000 miles · May 19, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

RIGHT WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERS LOT, IT NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET, INTAKE GASKET COIL PACK, AND A THERMOSTAT. LUCKILY THE DEALER PAID FOR THAT. SINCE THEN, I NOTICED WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN, IF THERE'S A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD, IT FEELS LIKE I'M RUNNING OVER A BOULDER. WHILE SLOWING DOWN MOST TIMES, THE FRONT END OF TH…

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RIGHT WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERS LOT, IT NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET, INTAKE GASKET COIL PACK, AND A THERMOSTAT. LUCKILY THE DEALER PAID FOR THAT. SINCE THEN, I NOTICED WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN, IF THERE'S A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD, IT FEELS LIKE I'M RUNNING OVER A BOULDER. WHILE SLOWING DOWN MOST TIMES, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BOG DOWN ABOUT AN INCH, WAS TOLD MAYBE A MOTOR MOUNT? RPMS ALWAYS BOG UP AND DOWN FOR NO REASON LIKE IT'S TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. A FEW WEEKS AGO MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING MY AIR BAGS WON'T DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER THE RPMS BOGGING AND FRONT END BOGGING DOWNWARD BECAME MORE CONSTANT, THEN MY SPEEDOMETER RANDOMLY WILL GO TO 0 WHILE IN MOTION, THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER WILL WORK FINE. RPMS SEEM TO BE WORKING NORMAL WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER IS WORKING NORMAL. THE OTHER DAY, WHILE BRAKING, OF COURSE.... THE BOULDER FEELING WHILE BRAKING, FRONT END BOGGED DOWNWARD, RPMS WENT RIDICULOUSLY HIGH BETWEEN 3-4 BACK AND FORTH ERRATICALLY, AND THE SPEEDOMETER WENT TO 0.. ALL THAT HAPPENED AT ONCE, MADE ME OFFICIALLY REALIZE, IT HAS TO ALL BE A CONNECTED PROBLEM. THEN I FOUND THIS SITE, WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THESE SAME ISSUES, FOR SO LONG.. HOW IN GOD'S NAME IS THIS POS NOT RECALLED?? I CAN'T EVEN IN GOOD CONSCIENCE CHOOSE SOMEONE TO DIE BY SELLING THIS THING TO THEM, I STILL OWE SO MUCH MONEY ON IT. THERE'S SO MANY STORIES OF PEOPLE RANDOMLY STEERING, AND ACCELERATING FULL THROTTLE IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS AND ANY GIVEN TIME. WHAT DEMONIZED TRANSFORMER OF A VEHICLE DID I BUY? HOW ARE THESE THINGS STILL ON THE ROAD? HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE CHEVY OWNS UP TO THIS DEADLY HUNK OF METAL THEY SOLD TO US? PLEASE RECALL ASAP. I LITERALLY CAN'T SELL IT TO ANYONE. IT'S GOING TO KILL SOMEONE! AT THIS YEAR, THERE CAN'T BE MANY MORE ON THE ROAD SINCE THEY KEEP CRASHING. RECALL THE ONES THAT ARE LEFT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11096853

196,000 miles · Mar 21, 2017
EngineService BrakesSteering

MY CAR CRANKS WITHOUT TURNING THE IGNITION OVER AND I REPLACE THE BATTERY BECAUSE MY CAR KEPT QUITTING BUT IT STILL HAS TROUBLE CRANKING.MY HEATER CORE ALSO WENT OUT AFTER ONLY HAVING IT FOR A FEW MTHS.

NHTSA ODI #10967528

215,000 miles · Aug 7, 2016
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury

DRIVING DOWN STREET WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT HEARD LOUD POP AND THEN WASN'T ABLE TO TURN AND CRASHED INTO TREE LEFT FENDER HOOD HEADLIGHT ALL PUSHED DAMAGE TO TIRE AND ON TOP OF THAT AIRBAG DIDN'T IMPLORE AND HIT HEAD ON THE POST

NHTSA ODI #10893857

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2016
Steering

WHEN INSERTING KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE KEY HAS TURN BUT NOT COMPLETELY CRANKED BECAUCE IT WOULD JAM. THIS HAS HAPPENED VERY SELDOMLY SINCE 07/04/2015 APPROMIMATE MILAGE AT THE MOMENT OF INITIAL INCIDENT ESTIMATED AT AROUND 230,000 ORIGINAL MILES.HOWEVER THE WHOLE FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING COLUMN LOCK UP SOMETIMES AT THE TU…

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WHEN INSERTING KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE KEY HAS TURN BUT NOT COMPLETELY CRANKED BECAUCE IT WOULD JAM. THIS HAS HAPPENED VERY SELDOMLY SINCE 07/04/2015 APPROMIMATE MILAGE AT THE MOMENT OF INITIAL INCIDENT ESTIMATED AT AROUND 230,000 ORIGINAL MILES.HOWEVER THE WHOLE FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING COLUMN LOCK UP SOMETIMES AT THE TURN OF KEY. STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP AND U CANT TURN THE KEY ALMOST LIKEIT DONT FIT BECAUSE ITS THE WRONG KEY. KEYS CAN ALSO BE REMOVED DURING OPERATION. THE VEHICLE CAN DRIVE WITH NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND BE THEN PLACED IN PARK WITH STILL NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THE KEY ONCE PLACED OUT PARK, EASILY SLIDES IN AND OUT OF IGNITION.

NHTSA ODI #10870194

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2016
Steering

WHEN DRIVING AND HIT THE LEAST LITTLE BUMP YOU CAN HEAR SOMETHING TOWARD LOWER RIGHT AS IF IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE STEERING LIKE SOMETHING FROM THE STEER WHEEL UP UNDER NEATH THE HOOD WHERE THE STEERING IS HOOKED UP TO

NHTSA ODI #10852671

117,000 miles · Jan 28, 2016
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT 50 MPH OR HIGHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR THAT WAS CONNECTED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT 50 MPH OR HIGHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ODI #10822750

201,765 miles · Nov 6, 2015
Power TrainService BrakesSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS WATER ENTERING THE MAP LIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE PERTAINING TO THE CONTROL ARM, AND THE AXLE WAS LEAKING FLUID WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO MADE A GRINDING NOI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS WATER ENTERING THE MAP LIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE PERTAINING TO THE CONTROL ARM, AND THE AXLE WAS LEAKING FLUID WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNED, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION HESITATED, THE THROTTLE WAS LIGHT, AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REVERSE UPON THE CHANGE IN WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE VARIOUS FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 201,765.

NHTSA ODI #10788774

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