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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
55,500 miles · Aug 12, 2011
Service Brakes, Electric

I HAVE BEEN HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS IN MY 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT SEEN, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE BRAKES STARTED TO BUZZ. THE DAY BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT FIXED, THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS STANDING ON THE…

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I HAVE BEEN HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS IN MY 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT SEEN, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE BRAKES STARTED TO BUZZ. THE DAY BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT FIXED, THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS STANDING ON THE PEDAL, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH FRONT SPEED SENSORS (THAT'S WHAT THE CODES SAID WAS WRONG). I TOOK IT HOME, AND THAT NIGHT, THE BRAKES VERY BRIEFLY BUZZED AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY, THEY BUZZED AGAIN. THE 3RD DAY, THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON BUT ONLY AFTER I LOST MY BRAKES AGAIN FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. THE MECHANIC TRACED THE ENTIRE WIRING SYSTEM LOOKING FOR ANY PROBLEM AND FOUND NOTHING. HE FINALLY REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY ON THE SECOND ROUND OF MAINTENANCE BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT THE CODE WAS TELLING HIM THAT TIME. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND WHEN I WENT OUT FOR LUNCH (ABOUT 3 HOURS LATER), THE BRAKES BUZZED AGAIN (NO WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THIS TIME). THAT WAS YESTERDAY. I NOW HAVE IT AT THE CHEVY DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS. SO FAR, THEY'VE GOTTEN ANOTHER CODE SAYING THAT THE SAME HUB ASSEMBLY THAT WAS REPLACED THIS WEEK IS THE PROBLEM. SOMEHOW, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE. I'M WAITING TO HEAR WHAT ELSE HAD TO BE FIXED AND WHETHER IT WILL REALLY AMELIORATE THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10419188

48,000 miles · Aug 6, 2011
Electrical System

SEVERAL TIMES I GO TO START MY EQUINOX, AND IT WON'T START. IT SEEMS AS IF IT OVER STARTS THEN SHUTS BACK OFF, THEN I HAVE TO PUSH ONTO THE GAS FOR THE VEHICLE TO START MOST OF THE TIME BUT SOMETIMES IT HAS TO SIT FOR A MINUTE FOR IT TO EVEN BE TRIED AGAIN. I HAVE CALLED AROUND AND HAS THIS ISSUE LOOKED AT BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KN…

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SEVERAL TIMES I GO TO START MY EQUINOX, AND IT WON'T START. IT SEEMS AS IF IT OVER STARTS THEN SHUTS BACK OFF, THEN I HAVE TO PUSH ONTO THE GAS FOR THE VEHICLE TO START MOST OF THE TIME BUT SOMETIMES IT HAS TO SIT FOR A MINUTE FOR IT TO EVEN BE TRIED AGAIN. I HAVE CALLED AROUND AND HAS THIS ISSUE LOOKED AT BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS, CHEVROLET SAYS WHEN IT SHUTS OFF IT'S SO THAT THE STARTER DOESN'T BURN UP OVER TIME, AND THAT'S AS FAR AS IT'S GONE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10417743

74,080 miles · Aug 3, 2011
Unknown Or Other

SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO GIVE AN ACCURATE READING. RADIO FADED IN AND OUT. AFTER AROUND A MINUTE OF THIS OCCURRING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SLOWED DOWN AND DID NOT REGAIN POWER EVEN WITH THE GAS PEDAL PRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY BROUGHT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT …

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SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO GIVE AN ACCURATE READING. RADIO FADED IN AND OUT. AFTER AROUND A MINUTE OF THIS OCCURRING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SLOWED DOWN AND DID NOT REGAIN POWER EVEN WITH THE GAS PEDAL PRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY BROUGHT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT 1 MILE OR LESS THE VEHICLE AGAIN DID THE SAME THING AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC.

NHTSA ODI #10417479

74,126 miles · Aug 3, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

I RECEIVED MY VEHICLE BACK ON 8.2.11 IT HAD BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP SINCE 5.14.11. THE REPAIR MAN REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION MODULATOR. HE NOTED THAT IT DID "ACT UP" FOR HIM, HOWEVER IT HAD NOT ACTED UP SINCE HIS LAST ATTEMPT AT FIXING IT. IT WAS RAINING WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR. IN THE FIRST 10 MILES I NOTICED TH…

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I RECEIVED MY VEHICLE BACK ON 8.2.11 IT HAD BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP SINCE 5.14.11. THE REPAIR MAN REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION MODULATOR. HE NOTED THAT IT DID "ACT UP" FOR HIM, HOWEVER IT HAD NOT ACTED UP SINCE HIS LAST ATTEMPT AT FIXING IT. IT WAS RAINING WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR. IN THE FIRST 10 MILES I NOTICED THE STEERING PULLED TO THE LEFT A COUPLE OF TIMES. AFTER I HIT DRY ROAD THIS DID NOT OCCUR. AFTER ABOUT 30-60 MILES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE GETTING IT BACK, THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED FAILING AND THE VEHICLE WHILE GOING 55MPH STARTS TO FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING TO CEASE TO OPERATE AND STUTTERS. IT IS ALSO NOTED THAT IT FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT TO THE APPROPRIATE GEAR. THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY 8.5.11. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10416938

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2011
Electrical System

I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX WITH 32K MILES ON IT, SOON AFTER MY PURCHASE WE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE KEY TO TURN THE IGNITION OVER, YOU COULD NOT PHYSICALLY TURN THE KEY OVER, IT WOULD GET STUCK AND THEN IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WHERE EVER WE GO, NOT VERY SAFE FO…

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I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX WITH 32K MILES ON IT, SOON AFTER MY PURCHASE WE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE KEY TO TURN THE IGNITION OVER, YOU COULD NOT PHYSICALLY TURN THE KEY OVER, IT WOULD GET STUCK AND THEN IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WHERE EVER WE GO, NOT VERY SAFE FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO DRIVES THIS CAR AWAY AT COLLEGE BUT THAT HAS BEEN OUR ONLY SOLUTION SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10416367

60,000 miles · Jul 29, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED EVERY TIME HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON HE HAD TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED EVERY TIME HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON HE HAD TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,500.

NHTSA ODI #10416296

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2011
Unknown Or Other

2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PARTS CHANGES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER IS TRYING TO CHARGE A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPAIR A SMALL PIPE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED SHE WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE PART WHICH SHE DIDN'T NEED.

NHTSA ODI #10415870

20,000 miles · Jul 26, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANYTIME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANYTIME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000. SM.

NHTSA ODI #10415249

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2011
Equipment

2005 CHEVY EQUINOX...AC BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN IT'S BEEN EXPOSED IN THE HEAT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. WHEN CAR IS MOVING WITHOUT STOPPAGE THE AC RETURNS TO NORMAL. WHEN THERE ARE LONG STOPS, THE AIR GETS HOT AGAIN. HAVE TAKEN IT TO MANY REPAIR SHOPS, THEY HAVE CHARGED THE FREON, NO PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPRESSOR. THEY SEEM TO THINK I…

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2005 CHEVY EQUINOX...AC BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN IT'S BEEN EXPOSED IN THE HEAT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. WHEN CAR IS MOVING WITHOUT STOPPAGE THE AC RETURNS TO NORMAL. WHEN THERE ARE LONG STOPS, THE AIR GETS HOT AGAIN. HAVE TAKEN IT TO MANY REPAIR SHOPS, THEY HAVE CHARGED THE FREON, NO PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPRESSOR. THEY SEEM TO THINK IT MIGHT BE A SENSOR. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10414027

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX LT- AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF DRIVING IT WITH NO PROBLEMS THE HEAD CRACKED. GM IS TAKING NO ACTION TO TRY AND REMEDY THIS SITUATION. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413509

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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