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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

Suspension complaints

57 reports
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7,000 miles · Feb 17, 2006
Suspension

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS ONLY HALF AN INCH BETWEEN THE FRONT TIRES AND THE MACPHERSON STRUT SUPPORTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED; THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS WERE AVAILABLE. THE DESIGN OF THE CO…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS ONLY HALF AN INCH BETWEEN THE FRONT TIRES AND THE MACPHERSON STRUT SUPPORTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED; THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS WERE AVAILABLE. THE DESIGN OF THE COIL SPRING MOUNT HAS A RAZOR SHARP EDGE ON THE STRUT WHICH COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10150532

10,588 miles · Jan 9, 2006
Power TrainSuspension

DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON MAY 14, 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, AND TO CHECK ON A NOISE THEY COULD HEAR COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ON SEPTEMBER 19 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSI…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON MAY 14, 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, AND TO CHECK ON A NOISE THEY COULD HEAR COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ON SEPTEMBER 19 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS NOISE. A TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND HEARD THE NOISE , AND DETERMINED IT WAS THE FRONT STRUTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME NOISE PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK ON A THIRD OCCASION O ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH DRUM MODULE, THE FILTERS, AND THE POWER TRAIN DRIVE LINE WAS LUBRICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10147311

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2005
SteeringSuspension

2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING.*MR THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH VARIABLE STEERING. IT WAS THE CONSUMER'S UNDERSTANDING THAT WITH VARIABLE STEERING, THE STEERING WAS LOOSER DURING CITY DRIVING AND WOULD BECOME TIGHTER DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE CONSUEMR FEELS THAT THE STEERING WAS TOO LOOSE, TH…

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2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING.*MR THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH VARIABLE STEERING. IT WAS THE CONSUMER'S UNDERSTANDING THAT WITH VARIABLE STEERING, THE STEERING WAS LOOSER DURING CITY DRIVING AND WOULD BECOME TIGHTER DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE CONSUEMR FEELS THAT THE STEERING WAS TOO LOOSE, THAT THE VEHICLE WANDERED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10124689

700 miles · May 25, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CONTACT STATES: BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2004. THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS CHANGED. THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS BROWN AND THE SMELL WAS SEVERE AND NAUSEOUS. THE CAR HAS BEEN THE SHOP 9 TIMES WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT REASONS. THE ANTIFREEZE LINE WASN'T BLED RIGHT AND THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING IN THE GROUND. THERE WAS A LEAK I…

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CONTACT STATES: BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2004. THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS CHANGED. THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS BROWN AND THE SMELL WAS SEVERE AND NAUSEOUS. THE CAR HAS BEEN THE SHOP 9 TIMES WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT REASONS. THE ANTIFREEZE LINE WASN'T BLED RIGHT AND THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING IN THE GROUND. THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE DOME LIGHT AND SUNROOF, THE SUSPENSION AND ENGINE WOULD TICK, THE HORN DID NOT WORK, THERE WERE FRONT END PROBLEM, THE SHIFTER WOULD STICK, THERE IGNITION PROBLEM, NOISE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, GAS MILEAGE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A TOXIC SMELL FROM THE ANTI-FREEZE, THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED, THE BRAKES MADE NOISES, THE CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE DOME LIGHT HAD FILLED WITH WATER, THE LOWER DASH WAS DRIPPING WATER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN BRAKING,THERE WAS POOR GAS MILEAGE DURING CITY DRIVING, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISES WHEN MAKING TURNS ON THE FRONT STRUTS, THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND, THE SHIFTER WOULD STICK, THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS BINDING, THERE WAS POPPING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FROM COLD, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10119597

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2005
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES, AND I AM WAITING ON A CALL FROM THE DEALER NEXT WEEK FOR UPDATED INFORMATION. THE PROBLEMS ARE: 1) FOUL ODOR, HOSES FOR ANTI-FREEZE SYSTEM REPLACED PER BULLETIN; 2) REAR SQUEAKING, LUBED SAME; 3) TRANSMISSION. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT BRAKES, BUT WAS TO…

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COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES, AND I AM WAITING ON A CALL FROM THE DEALER NEXT WEEK FOR UPDATED INFORMATION. THE PROBLEMS ARE: 1) FOUL ODOR, HOSES FOR ANTI-FREEZE SYSTEM REPLACED PER BULLETIN; 2) REAR SQUEAKING, LUBED SAME; 3) TRANSMISSION. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT BRAKES, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED, AND THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO ADJUST ITSELF ACCORDING TO DRIVING CONDITIONS/ EACH DRIVER'S HABITS, AND 4) POPPING NOISE HEARD WHEN STARTING OR WHEN STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. NOISE SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM GAS TANK AREA. ASKED FOR FUEL LINE/EXHAUST SYSTEM TO BE CHECKED. AS OF THIS TIME REPAIR CENTER CANNOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE NO IDEAS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND A TOTAL OF 6 DAYS. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS IN LIMBO AS THEY ARE 'LOOKING INTO IT' AND WILL CALL ME BACK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10115438

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2004
Suspension

WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR TURNING WHEEL A POPPING NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE PASSENEGER FRONT WHEEL. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT GM CURRENTLY HAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STEADLY GETTING WORSE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10090630

1,130 miles · Aug 30, 2004
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. CONSUMER DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER BALANCED THE WHEELS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10083699

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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