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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
69,000 miles · May 10, 2013
Exterior Lighting

CONDENSATION WATER IN HEADLIGHTS SOMETIMES VERY BAD,,,,, *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511453

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2013
Exterior Lighting

CPSC: I12C0328A. 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER STATED THAT HEADLIGHT LENSES ON VARIOUS NEWER VEHICLES MADE FROM THE CLEAR PLASTIC FADES AND BECOMES CLOUDY AND IS NO LONGER SAFE. *LN

NHTSA ODI #10510064

54,402 miles · Apr 14, 2013
Service Brakes

VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SHUTTER WHEN STOPPING AND ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO TAKE LONGER TO STOP. TOOK THE CAR TO ASE CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL HUB AND SPEED SENSOR. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WHAT FINALLY FIXED IT WAS REPLACING THE JUMPER HARNESS #15773652. I SPENT OVER $700 ON …

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VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SHUTTER WHEN STOPPING AND ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO TAKE LONGER TO STOP. TOOK THE CAR TO ASE CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL HUB AND SPEED SENSOR. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WHAT FINALLY FIXED IT WAS REPLACING THE JUMPER HARNESS #15773652. I SPENT OVER $700 ON THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE MECHANICS DID NOT EVEN KNOW TO LOOK FOR THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A BULLETIN ISSUED BY GM ON THIS. THE HARNESS AND INSTALL IS ONLY A $68 FIX AND I HAVE HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS IN OVER A YEAR. I HAVE READ ENOUGH REPORTS ON THE INTERNET TO KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 EQUINOX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508160

55,000 miles · Apr 13, 2013
Power Train

CARRIER BEARING ON 2005 EQUINOX TOTALLY GONE. MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT IS BENT WHICH MOST LIKELY CAUSED THE CARRIER BEARING TO WEAR DOWN. MECHANIC SAID IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BEND THE DRIVESHAFT UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF VEHICLE AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT…

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CARRIER BEARING ON 2005 EQUINOX TOTALLY GONE. MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT IS BENT WHICH MOST LIKELY CAUSED THE CARRIER BEARING TO WEAR DOWN. MECHANIC SAID IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BEND THE DRIVESHAFT UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF VEHICLE AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE HEARD A THUMPING NOISE IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR THE PAST 6 YRS. SEVERAL SHOPS AND DEALERSHIP WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508114

186,000 miles · Apr 3, 2013
Unknown Or Other

WE HAD SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN, I WENT TO GET IN MY CAR FROM WORK TO GO HOME AND THE CAR WAS AN INCH DEEP IN THE FLOOR BOARDS. I COULD NOT TELL WHERE THIS WATER ACTUALLY CAME FROM. I WAS VERY UPSET, THIS WAS AFTER 5:00 PM ON A FRIDAY SO NEEDLESS TO SAY I DID NOT CALL INSURANCE COMPANY UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK. I HAD NOT LEFT ANY …

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WE HAD SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN, I WENT TO GET IN MY CAR FROM WORK TO GO HOME AND THE CAR WAS AN INCH DEEP IN THE FLOOR BOARDS. I COULD NOT TELL WHERE THIS WATER ACTUALLY CAME FROM. I WAS VERY UPSET, THIS WAS AFTER 5:00 PM ON A FRIDAY SO NEEDLESS TO SAY I DID NOT CALL INSURANCE COMPANY UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK. I HAD NOT LEFT ANY WINDOWS DOWN BECAUSE IT HAD RAINED ALL WEEK. I SPOKE WITH A CHEVROLET DEALER NOT THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM, THEY ARE NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. HE INFORMED ME THAT WE NEEDED TO GUT THE CAR AND DRY IT OUT FIRST IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHERE THE WATER WAS LEAKING IN AT. I SPOKE WITH MY INS. AGENT AND ASKED WOULD THIS BE COVERED AND SHE DID NOT KNOW. SHE CALLED HER STATE FARM OFFICE AND RETURNED A CALL BACK TO ME. SHE STATED THAT AN ADJUSTER IN THE OFFICE TOLD HER THAT MY INSURANCE WOULD PAY FOR THE DRYING OUT OF MY CAR, BUT WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE MECHANICAL ISSUE. I WAS GIVEN A CLAIM NO. I CALLED THE ADJUSTER AND SHE SET UP A RENTAL CAR AND TOLD ME THAT THE CHECK WOULD BE PAYABLE TO ME AND I WOULD PAY THE DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS ON A WEDNESDAY, ON FRIDAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE AGENT WHO STATED TO ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY ANYTHING BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE WAS KNOWN FOR MULTIPLE LEAKS. I WAS TOLD ONE THING THEN ANOTHER. I WAS VERY FRUSTRATED AND CALLED GM TO COMPLAIN TO THEM THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL IF THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. THEY WERE GOING TO CALL ME BACK AND NEVER ANOTHER WORD FROM THEM. I EXPLAINED TO INS. AND TO GM, AND ALSO TO THE INSURANCE COMMISSION THAT THIS WAS A HAZARD ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR WAS FOGGING UP FROM INSIDE AND I HAD ICE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR DUE TO COLD WEATHER.I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. I AM SENDING ALL DOCUMENTATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR ## VIN PASSED ##

NHTSA ODI #10505481

132,715 miles · Mar 21, 2013
Service BrakesCrash

I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 35 MPH APPROACHING A CURVE IN THE ROAD. I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR FISHTAILED AND SLID SIDEWAYS OFF THE ROAD, DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE CAR THEN TURNED HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, I HIT A MAILBOX, THEN A PHONE POLE. THE ENTIRE TIME MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWING AND CONTI…

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I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 35 MPH APPROACHING A CURVE IN THE ROAD. I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR FISHTAILED AND SLID SIDEWAYS OFF THE ROAD, DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE CAR THEN TURNED HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, I HIT A MAILBOX, THEN A PHONE POLE. THE ENTIRE TIME MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWING AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR THEN WENT BACK UP THE EMBANKMENT, HIT ANOTHER MAILBOX AND CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD FOR A VERY LONG DISTANCE WITHOUT SLOWING WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. STEERING WAS NOT RESPONDING, THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, NO HELP, THEN FINALLY SLAMMED IT IN PARK AND PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON TO STOP THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503876

140,000 miles · Mar 20, 2013
Fuel/propulsion SystemCrashInjury

FROM STOPPED POSITION PUT CAR IN REVERSE MOVED APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET, STOPPED. CAR IMMEDIATELY MOVED IN REVERSE AT A HIGH SPEED AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE, CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. TOTAL INCIDENT ON VIDEOTAPE FROM SECURITY CAMERA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503819

130,000 miles · Mar 14, 2013
Air BagsSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE RACK AND PINION AND STEERING SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE AIR BAG FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10502783

110,000 miles · Feb 22, 2013
Power Train

I HEARD A RATTLING COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR, SO I TOOK IT MY REPAIR SHOP. HE SAID IT WAS A BROKEN CARRIER BEARING, AND ORDERED THE PART. SAID IT WOULD BE $550 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THE NEXT DAY HE CALLED AND SAID HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO REPLACE JUST THE ONE PART, BUT THAT THE ENTIRE DRIVE SHAFT MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPLACED, FOR AR…

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I HEARD A RATTLING COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR, SO I TOOK IT MY REPAIR SHOP. HE SAID IT WAS A BROKEN CARRIER BEARING, AND ORDERED THE PART. SAID IT WOULD BE $550 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THE NEXT DAY HE CALLED AND SAID HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO REPLACE JUST THE ONE PART, BUT THAT THE ENTIRE DRIVE SHAFT MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPLACED, FOR AROUND $1200. VERY CONSISTENT WITH OTHER OWNERS' ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499726

110,000 miles · Feb 12, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATED PEDAL TO START THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FLOOD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATED PEDAL TO START THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FLOOD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10497943

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