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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

What owners actually said

638 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSteering

THE FRONT LIGHTS ON THE CAR COMES ON AT NIGHT WHEN CAR IS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, NOT BEING USED BY PERSONS. THIS CAR MAY NOT START IN THE MORNING BECAUSE THE BATTERY MAYBE DEAD, DUE TO LIGHTS COMING ON BY IT SELF. WE HAD THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH REPLACED IN THE PAST WEEK, AND THAT'S WHEN THE LIGHTS STARTED TO ACT UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694736

130,000 miles · Mar 13, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,0…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10694136

85,000 miles · Mar 7, 2015
Power TrainSteering

IN THE PAST THE TRANSMISSION HAS QUIT WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, NOW THE STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN DRIVING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692714

150,000 miles · Mar 6, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemSteeringCrash

ON 2/17/15, I, ALONG WITH 3 OF MY CHILDREN, WERE DRIVING ALONG THE ROADWAY AT APPROX. 7AM. AS I WENT AROUND A MINOR BEND IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT SLAMMING THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTO THE SNOWBANK AROUND THE GUARDRAIL. IT CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD AS I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND LIGHTLY MOVE THE WHEEL TO G…

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ON 2/17/15, I, ALONG WITH 3 OF MY CHILDREN, WERE DRIVING ALONG THE ROADWAY AT APPROX. 7AM. AS I WENT AROUND A MINOR BEND IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT SLAMMING THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTO THE SNOWBANK AROUND THE GUARDRAIL. IT CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD AS I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND LIGHTLY MOVE THE WHEEL TO GET US BACK INTO OUR LANE. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND AS I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN IT UP, I WAS SENT INTO A SPIN UNTIL THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO THE SNOW ON OUR SIDE OF THE ROAD, BRINGING US TO A STOP. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED & AS I TRIED TO PULL AWAY, I REALIZED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON. IT HAD SHUT ITSELF DOWN. I HAD MY BROTHER LOOK AT IT & TEST DRIVE, HE FOUND NOTHING, SO I ASSUMED IT WAS A 1 TIME EVENT AND PROCEEDED TO USE THE VEHICLE. ON 2/22/15, MY NEPHEW AND MY DAUGHTER USED THE VEHICLE TO GO TO TOWN. HE GOT LESS THAN 3 MILES FROM HOME, HEADING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, WHEN HE REALIZED THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO STEERING. HE LOOKED DOWN & SAW THAT ONCE AGAIN, THE VEHICLE HAD SHUT ITSELF OFF. HE TOO ENDED UP CRASHING. LUCKILY HE WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RD, INTO THE SNOWBANK JUST BEFORE A SEMI WENT SPEEDING BY. AGAIN, NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. IT CONCERNS ME WITH THE MASSIVE RECALL THAT I FOUND ONLINE, THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE LIST, BUT MANY PPL SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED IN OUR INCIDENTS. BUT THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT SAFE & SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROADS IN THIS CONDITION. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT BOTH INCIDENTS WERE DURING A CLEAR SPOT IN TRAFFIC. NOW THE VEHICLE SITE IN MY DRIVE BECAUSE I DO NOT TRUST THAT WHATEVER THEY DO WILL FIX IT & I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE PASS THIS DEATH TRAP ON TO ANYONE ELSE. I CONTACTED GM HOPING FOR A BIT OF HELP & PERHAPS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLES, BUT THEY REFUSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692420

115,000 miles · Mar 3, 2015
Engine

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP HAD BEEN CHANGED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP HAD BEEN CHANGED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #10691759

100,000 miles · Feb 10, 2015
Engine

I PURCHASED THE EQUINOX ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO AND IT HAD 1 PRIOR OWNER. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES.. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH START UP. AND RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CAR IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK LAST WEEK IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS JUST NOT RUNNING PROPER…

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I PURCHASED THE EQUINOX ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO AND IT HAD 1 PRIOR OWNER. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES.. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH START UP. AND RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CAR IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK LAST WEEK IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS JUST NOT RUNNING PROPERLY, I ENDED UP STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A VERY DANGEROUS INTERSECTION.. WHEN I FINALLY IT HOME IT STALLED AGAIN IN THE DRIVEWAY.. I'M REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING HOW THIS VEHICLE HAS SO MANY ISSUES AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS! I WORK HARD TO PAY THE BILLS I ALREADY HAVE AND REALLY CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP FIXING THING OR PAY FOR A NEW VEHICLE.. PLEASE TELL CHEVY TO PULL THEIR HEADS OUT OF THEIR BUTTS AND TRY HELPING SOME HARD WORKING FOLKS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO KILL THEM! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682617

120,000 miles · Feb 9, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE KEY WOULD RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE KEY WOULD RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10682106

130,503 miles · Feb 2, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

I TRIED STARTING CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND WOULD NOT START. PUMPED THE GAS PEDAL WHILE TRYING TO START AND FINALLY STARTED. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. HAD THE FUEL FILTER CHANGED AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE READ SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680718

46,000 miles · Jan 28, 2015
Electrical SystemService BrakesSuspension

RECEIVED VEHICLE UPON MY MOTHERS PASSING. HAD 45K ON IT, GARAGED AND ONLY IN TOWN DRIVING. IN JUST OVER YEAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE REAR ROCKER JOINT, AC UNIT, FRONT RIGHT SPEAKER, FRONT BRAKES AND STARTER. NOW, THERE IS A WATER NOISE UNDER HOOD AND TRUCK IS STARTING TO ROCK WHEN AT STOP LIGHT. IT IS ALSO TRYING TO RUN HOT BUT NO…

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RECEIVED VEHICLE UPON MY MOTHERS PASSING. HAD 45K ON IT, GARAGED AND ONLY IN TOWN DRIVING. IN JUST OVER YEAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE REAR ROCKER JOINT, AC UNIT, FRONT RIGHT SPEAKER, FRONT BRAKES AND STARTER. NOW, THERE IS A WATER NOISE UNDER HOOD AND TRUCK IS STARTING TO ROCK WHEN AT STOP LIGHT. IT IS ALSO TRYING TO RUN HOT BUT NO LIGHTS, LEAKS OR ISSUE CAN BE FOUND. THE BACK SPOILER WAS LOOSE HTTP BEFORE THEN AND LEAKS IN THE BACK. LIFT GATE HARD TO OPEN AND MOLDING AROUND FRONT WINDSHIELD IS COMING LOOSE. I HAVE 65K ON THIS TRUCK. THERE IS NO WAY THIS TRUCK SHOULD HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. I FEEL UNSAFE IN THIS LIGHTLY USED AUTO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679460

88,000 miles · Jan 8, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION CYLINDER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE DEALER AND THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION CYLINDER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI #10671163

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