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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
15,900 miles · May 13, 2021
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed ControlInjury

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO EXCEED 20 MPH. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SURGE THAT WENT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING AN INJURY TO THE CONTACT. MEDIC…

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THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO EXCEED 20 MPH. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SURGE THAT WENT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING AN INJURY TO THE CONTACT. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE BATTERY TERMINALS WERE DISCONNECTED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET NORFOLK (6252 E. VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, NORFOLK, VA 23502, (757) 266-5804) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,900.

NHTSA ODI #11416474

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

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2021
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, SHE SAW FIRE EMERGING FROM BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO START EVEN WITH THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. THERE WERE NO CRASH OR INJURIES DUE TO THE FIRE. THE AIR BAGS DI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, SHE SAW FIRE EMERGING FROM BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO START EVEN WITH THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. THERE WERE NO CRASH OR INJURIES DUE TO THE FIRE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACT AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE STATUS OF THE POLICE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTIFIED LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11408238

170,000 miles · Feb 8, 2021
Service Brakes

BRAKES WERE PULSATING AND NOT STOPPING ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON

NHTSA ODI #11395300

18,000 miles · Jan 21, 2021
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE OWNER WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THE OWNER HAD ALSO EXPERIENCED SEVERAL SAFETY RELATED FAILURES WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE INVOLVING THE BRAKING SYSTEM THE TRANSMISSION, THE POWER TRAIN AND THE H…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE OWNER WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THE OWNER HAD ALSO EXPERIENCED SEVERAL SAFETY RELATED FAILURES WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE INVOLVING THE BRAKING SYSTEM THE TRANSMISSION, THE POWER TRAIN AND THE HEATING SYSTEM. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER(UNKNOWN) AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ODI #11389216

150,000 miles · Jan 3, 2021
Engine

I HAVE BEEN HAVING MAJOR OVERHEATING IN MY VVEHICAL. I HAVE ONLY BEEN USING IT FOR SHORT DISTANCES DUE TO THE ISSUE BUT NOW HAVE BEEN LETTING IT SIT STILL AFTER READING THAT THE 2005 EQUINOX HAD HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS BEFORE. AND AFTER A UNCLE JUST LOOKING IT OVER I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT'S WRONG. THERE IS OIL UP IN MY ANTIFREEZE AN…

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I HAVE BEEN HAVING MAJOR OVERHEATING IN MY VVEHICAL. I HAVE ONLY BEEN USING IT FOR SHORT DISTANCES DUE TO THE ISSUE BUT NOW HAVE BEEN LETTING IT SIT STILL AFTER READING THAT THE 2005 EQUINOX HAD HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS BEFORE. AND AFTER A UNCLE JUST LOOKING IT OVER I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT'S WRONG. THERE IS OIL UP IN MY ANTIFREEZE AND RUNNING HORRIBLE. I LIKE TO SEE IF THERE WAS EVER A RECALL ON THIS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT IF SO

NHTSA ODI #11386306

35 miles · Dec 5, 2020
Electrical SystemSeat BeltsUnknown Or Other

VEHICLE IS ABLE TO DRIVE WHILE KEY IS OUT OF IGNITION WHEN ENGINE IS ALREADY RUNNING. SEAT BELT DISCONNECTS RANDOMLY. VEHICLE CAN BE OPEN WITH A NICKEL COIN. ECU TRIGGERS WARNING LIGHTS RANDOMLY

NHTSA ODI #11377995

181,000 miles · Nov 20, 2020
Unknown Or Other

WELL I BOUGHT IT FROM A INDIVIDUAL 3 MONTHS AGO N THE SECOND DAY OF GETTING IT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IT FEELS LIKE IT JERKS THE CRAP OUT OF U WHEN TRYING TO TO GAIN SPEED FROM 40-55 RANGE N WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN IT FEELS LIKE IT DON'T WANT TO STOP NOW THE ABS N TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON DASH . I HAVE NO WHERE ON …

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WELL I BOUGHT IT FROM A INDIVIDUAL 3 MONTHS AGO N THE SECOND DAY OF GETTING IT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IT FEELS LIKE IT JERKS THE CRAP OUT OF U WHEN TRYING TO TO GAIN SPEED FROM 40-55 RANGE N WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN IT FEELS LIKE IT DON'T WANT TO STOP NOW THE ABS N TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON DASH . I HAVE NO WHERE ON MY DASH OR ANYWHERE IN THE VEHICLE TO TURN TRACTION CONTROL ON OR OFF . THE PAST TWO WEEKS IT DRINKS GAS LIKE CRAZY IT DON'T WANT TO WARM UP LIKE IT SHOULD FOR HEATER .. IS THIS TO DO WITH A RECALL OR SERVICED ISSUES BC I'M READY TO TRADE IT OFF BEFORE I GET KILLED OR KILL SOMEONE OR MY KIDS GET HURT IN ACCIDENT BC OF THE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #11375486

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

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2020
Electrical System

WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN 2015 TO THE PADDOCK CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN KENMORE NY, MY BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THIS CAUSED THE CD CHANGER TO NO LONGER WORK. IT IS STILL NOT FUNCTIONING, CDS WONT EJECT AND ALL IT DOES IS MAKE A CLICKING SOUND.

NHTSA ODI #11341431

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