KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHEN IGNITION IS NOT OFF . CAN AND DOES FALL OUT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE NO MATTER WHAT GEAR THE SELECTOR SHIFT IS IN ( INCLUDING PARK). *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Equinox years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
638 reportsPROBLEMS WITH POWER WINDOWS AND DOOR SPEAKERS. HAD READ ABOUT ISSUES WITH THE WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE FRAME. I TOOK THE RUBBER BOOT OFF TO FIND 4 BROKEN WIRES. I WOULD IMAGINE THE OTHER DOORS ARE SIMILAR. HAVEN'T CKD THEM AS OF YET. I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU LIKE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION IN ANY DIRECTION. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION IN ANY DIRECTION. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.
I CAN PULL THE IGNITION KEY FOR MY 2005 OUT OF THE IGNITION OR IT CAN FALL OUT WHILE THE CAR IS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE KEYS WEAR OUT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN APRIL 2004. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKED THE KEY OUT (FORTUNATELY DIRECTLY INTO MY HAND SO …
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I CAN PULL THE IGNITION KEY FOR MY 2005 OUT OF THE IGNITION OR IT CAN FALL OUT WHILE THE CAR IS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE KEYS WEAR OUT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN APRIL 2004. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKED THE KEY OUT (FORTUNATELY DIRECTLY INTO MY HAND SO I WAS ABLE TO REINSERT IT QUICKLY.) I HAVE TO REPLACE KEYS ABOUT 2 YEARS BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS WEAR OUT. SO FAR NOTHING HAS HAPPENED WHEN THIS OCCURS BUT I AM PETRIFIED THAT THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF WHICH WILL LOCK UP THE STEERING, ETC. I DON'T INTENTIONALLY TAKE THE KEY OUT WHILE DRIVING, BUT WHAT IF IT FALLS OUT? IT'S SO LOOSE IN THE IGNITION THAT IT COULD.I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY EQUINOX OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED GM WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED. THEIR REACTION WAS BASICALLY, "OH WELL, TRY A NEW KEY." I DID, AND THE DEALER RIPPED ME OFF FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY TO "PROGRAM" KEYS THAT DON'T NEED TO BE PROGRAMMED (I DIDN'T FIND THIS OUT UNTIL A COUPLE YEARS LATER WHEN I BOUGHT THE NEXT SET OF KEYS ONLINE AND DIDN'T NEED TO PROGRAM THEM.) NOW, I JUST BUY KEYS ON LINE WHEN THE OLD ONES WEAR OUT. GIVEN THE PROBLEMS GM HAD WITH IGNITIONS IN THIS TIME SPAN, I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT CLOSELY. WHO KNOWS WHAT PROBLEMS (DEATHS?) MAY HAVE OR WILL OCCUR BECAUSE IF IT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BIT AFRAID OF THIS PROBLEM, AND NOW AM EVEN MORE SO. UPDATED 06/09/14 *BF *TR
ON TRIP STOPPED FOR GAS,PULLED KEY OUT ONLY WENT 1/2 WAY. WAS STUCK WOULD NOT GO IN OR OUT. COULD NOT TURN KEY TO START THE VEHICLE.WAS WAITING FOR SERVICE, HEARD THE DOOR LOCKS CYCLE ON THEIR OWN, PANIC BUTTON ON. THEN KEY WOULD TURN AND VEHICLE WOULD START. REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AS PER THE DEALER. COST $587. THIS HAPPE…
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ON TRIP STOPPED FOR GAS,PULLED KEY OUT ONLY WENT 1/2 WAY. WAS STUCK WOULD NOT GO IN OR OUT. COULD NOT TURN KEY TO START THE VEHICLE.WAS WAITING FOR SERVICE, HEARD THE DOOR LOCKS CYCLE ON THEIR OWN, PANIC BUTTON ON. THEN KEY WOULD TURN AND VEHICLE WOULD START. REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AS PER THE DEALER. COST $587. THIS HAPPENED TWICE BOTH TIMES WHILE TRYING TO FUEL UP THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS TWICE AGAIN AND DO NOTICE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE KEY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN AND ROLLED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT AND THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN AND ROLLED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT AND THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
I CONTACTED CHEVROLET EARLY ON ABOUT THIS PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL, THEY CLAIMED IT IS NOT COVERED. YET, ONLINE I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT NUMEROUS CONSUMERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. RECENTLY, IT SEEMED THAT GM WAS RECALLING VEHICLES WITH A SIMILAR IGNITION PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THEM AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED SIMPLY BECAUSE IT D…
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I CONTACTED CHEVROLET EARLY ON ABOUT THIS PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL, THEY CLAIMED IT IS NOT COVERED. YET, ONLINE I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT NUMEROUS CONSUMERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. RECENTLY, IT SEEMED THAT GM WAS RECALLING VEHICLES WITH A SIMILAR IGNITION PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THEM AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED SIMPLY BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SHUT OFF. THIS WAS ALL DONE OVER THE PHONE WHICH IS AN AMAZING DIAGNOSTIC TOOL THEY HAVE. I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT. WHEN ASKED WHAT THE COST WOULD BE, I WAS ADVISED THAT WOULD BE NORMAL SERVICE FEES WHICH IS A WASTE OF MONEY SINCE IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO REPAIR IT AT MY MECHANIC WITHOUT ANY DEALER DIAGNOSTIC FEES. ITS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT YET NO ONE WILL ADMIT IT. *TR
1ST TIME, GOING DOWN STEEP HILL, COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE, THOUGHT BRAKES DIED, HAD TO USE THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP, JUST MISSED A TRUCK BY A FOOT, WOULD OF HIT ME ON DRIVER SIDE. THAT WAS IN 2012 HAD SUV TOWED TO ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, NON GM DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION SENSOR, REPLACED IT, RE-TOWED TO GM DEALER IN MOON TOW…
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1ST TIME, GOING DOWN STEEP HILL, COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE, THOUGHT BRAKES DIED, HAD TO USE THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP, JUST MISSED A TRUCK BY A FOOT, WOULD OF HIT ME ON DRIVER SIDE. THAT WAS IN 2012 HAD SUV TOWED TO ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, NON GM DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION SENSOR, REPLACED IT, RE-TOWED TO GM DEALER IN MOON TOWNSHIP. THEY CHECKED IT OUT IT WAS OK SINCE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. 2ND TIME WAS IN 2013, STOPPED COMING DOWN A HILL AGAIN, NO POWER AGAIN, CALLED AAA THEY TOWED TO GM DEALER IN MOON TOWNSHIP PA. AGAIN IGNITION SENSOR REPLACED AND ALSO SOME OTHER WIRES BURNED WHICH WERE ALL REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS AROUND 33,000 ON IT ONLY. *TR
EQUINOX WAS ON A RECALL PREVIOUS OWNER RECEIVED NOTICE ,I NEVER DID, I HAVE BEEN PURSUING THIS MATTER FOR OVER 7 YEARS,GIVEN TO THE RUN-AROUND BY CHEVY CAN AT -1800-222-1020. *TR
Official recalls
104V302000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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