2005 CHEVY EQUINOX HEAD GASKETS WENT AFTER 76,000 MILES. *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 reportsCHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 59,900 MILES. TOOK IT IN TO FIRESTONE THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC ON IT AND SAID THAT THE SPARK PLUGS / WITING WERE BAD. HAD THEM REPLACED FOR AT A COST OF $400. A WEEK LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND CAR OVERHEATED. TOOK IT IN TO FIRESTONE AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY SAID THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN …
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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 59,900 MILES. TOOK IT IN TO FIRESTONE THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC ON IT AND SAID THAT THE SPARK PLUGS / WITING WERE BAD. HAD THEM REPLACED FOR AT A COST OF $400. A WEEK LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND CAR OVERHEATED. TOOK IT IN TO FIRESTONE AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY SAID THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN AND THE #1 CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. REPAIR ESTIMATE $1500 TO REPLACE THE GASKETS, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $1000 IF THE HEAD IS CRACKED. HAVE DONE MUCH RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG GM VEHICLES THAT REQUIRE THE DEX-COOL COOLANT. FOUND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN CA AND MO BUT THAT ONLY COVERED UP TO 2003 MODELS. OBVIOUSLY GM KNOWS THIS TO BE AN ISSUE, SO I HAVE TO WONDER WHY ARE THEY ALLOWED TO CONTINUE SELLING DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH GASOLINE FUMES WERE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRACKED EGR VALVE AND THE PCV VALVE SEVEN DAYS AGO FOR $600 AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH GASOLINE FUMES WERE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRACKED EGR VALVE AND THE PCV VALVE SEVEN DAYS AGO FOR $600 AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 01/14/11*LJ UPDTATED 2/17/11 *CN UPDATED 04/29/11
THE T/C LIGHT STAYS ON AND ACCELERATION IS VERY SLOW. CAR SHOOTS FORWARD WITH LOUD NOISE WITH ACCELERATION. NOV 4TH STARTED...I TOOK IT TO A CAR SHOP AND THEY SAID I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM... *TR
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX LS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE JANUARY 2009 SEEMED TO BE DRIVING PRETTY GOOD. I TOOK IT OUT OF TOWN AND AS I BEGAN TO STOP AT THE STOP LIGHT THE STEERING FELT LOOSE AND THE WHEELS MOVED SIDE TO SIDE ON ITS OWN. I THOUGHT IT STRANGE BUT KEPT ON DRIVING. STARTED UP THE ON RAMP AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A …
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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX LS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE JANUARY 2009 SEEMED TO BE DRIVING PRETTY GOOD. I TOOK IT OUT OF TOWN AND AS I BEGAN TO STOP AT THE STOP LIGHT THE STEERING FELT LOOSE AND THE WHEELS MOVED SIDE TO SIDE ON ITS OWN. I THOUGHT IT STRANGE BUT KEPT ON DRIVING. STARTED UP THE ON RAMP AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOOSE LIKE PLAY IN IT. DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. STARTED TO EXCEL ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND AS I BEGAN TO REACH 60 MILES PER HR THE FRONT END STARTED MOVING LOOSELY LEFT TO RIGHT. THEN I STARTED REACHING 65 MILES PER HR AND THE FRONT BOUNCED AND WOBBLED AS IF IT WERE GOING TO DROP. I HAD TO GO 75 MILES PER HR BEFORE THE JIGGLING OF THE FRONT END OF THE VAN STOPPED. THE VAN DROVE GREAT AT 60 OR LESS. WHENEVER PUTTING ON THE BRAKES THERE WOULD BE A CRUNCHING NOISE AS IF A POLE WAS IN THE WAY KEEPING THE FOOT BRAKE FROM PUSHING DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I WOULD HAVE TO LIGHTLY LIFT MY FOOT THEN PUSH IT DOWN QUICKLY TO STOP THE VAN SAFELY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE SELLING THE VEHICLE. *TR
WATER GETTING IN VEHICLE LEAVING BACK LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FLOOR SOAKING WET WITH MILDEW SMELL , CONCERNED ABOUT DAMAGE TO FLOOR AND MOLD FOR INFANT PASSENGER AS WELL AS SELF. *TR
I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE IN 2005 AND THE REAR DEFOG HAS STOPPED WORKING. I CHECKED THE FUSE AND RELAY FOR THIS CIRCUIT AND EVERYTHING LOOKS FINE. THERE SEEMS NO SHORT IN THE DEFOG WIRE. IT SEEMS TO BE A HVAC MODULE ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,542. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ U…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,542. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ UPDATED 02/14/11
BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX WITH 60,000 MILES. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALED THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL CHEVY VEHICLES WITH 3.4L ENGINES. SOME WITH MILEAGE BELOW 30,000 MILES. GM IS IGNORING ISSUE AND UP TO $3000 REPAIR BILLS. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX THAT I PURCHASED USED IN MARCH 2009 FROM JOHNNY LONDOFF CHEVROLET. I HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THEY WOULD SAY EVERYTHING IS WORKING PROPERLY. I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I'VE PURCHASED IT. THE AIR DIDN'T WORK & I PAID TO GET IT FIXED…
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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX THAT I PURCHASED USED IN MARCH 2009 FROM JOHNNY LONDOFF CHEVROLET. I HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THEY WOULD SAY EVERYTHING IS WORKING PROPERLY. I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I'VE PURCHASED IT. THE AIR DIDN'T WORK & I PAID TO GET IT FIXED ONLY FOR IT TO GO OUT AGAIN. WHEN I START IT SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WANT TO START, I HEAR NOISES LIKE IT'S MISFIRING WHEN IT DOES START. I RECENTLY HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED & HAD A MULTIPOINT INSPECTION & WAS TOLD AGAIN EVERYTHING IS WORKING PROPERLY ONLY TO BE DRIVING HOME & WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE BRAKES DON'T WORK. I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT & MY CHILD WAS IN THE CAR AS WELL. I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THIS & THEY SAID THE HUB BEARING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED & THE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT'S NOT GONNA BE CHEAP TO FIX AS I'M NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I WANT THIS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING SINCE I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR ABOUT 1 YEAR & 8 MOS. THE MILEAGE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR WAS 53010 & SINCE I HAVE HAD IT I'M ONLY AT 62567 MILES. I NEED ANSWERS JUST LIKE OTHERS EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. *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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