IllustrationAT APROX 135K MILES, THE STRUTS WENT BAD. I ASSUMED THIS WAS SOMETHING NORMAL CONSIDERING THE MILEAGE HOWEVER THE MECHANIC SAID THIS WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL. COST TO REPAIR $600. *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
910–25K
7725–50K
10450–75K
9775–100K
104100–150K
34150K+
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 reportsAT APPROX 125K MILES THE THERMOSTAT FAILED. *TR
AT INTERMITTENT TIMES, FOR NO REASON, THE VEHICLE WON'T START. IT TURNS OVER LIKE IT WANTS TO BUT THEN DOESN'T. IT DOESN'T DO THIS ALL THE TIME AND THERE'S NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT CHOOSES TO DO THIS WHENEVER. I USUALLY HAVE TO GIVE IT GAS IN ORDER FOR THE ENGINE TO FIRE UP. *TR
AT APROX 140K MILES, THE SWAY BAR LINKS FAILED. LOUD CREAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING, AND GOING OVER BUMPS. UNABLE TO GREASE AND THEREFORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. COST TO REPAIR $200. *TR
AT APPROX 130K MILES THE DRIVESHAFT FAILED. COST TO REPAIR $800. *TR
AT APPROX 130K MILES THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED. $1,800 TO REPAIR. *TR
SEVERE WATER LEAK IN 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AWD LT. WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN RAIN CONDITIONS, WATER ACCUMULATES IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL AND OVERFLOWS ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE, EVEN UP TO THE FRONT . IT ALSO SHORTS OUT THE SPEAKER SYSTEM WHICH CRACKLES AND BLARES OUT A LOUD NOISE EVEN WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED OFF. THE…
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SEVERE WATER LEAK IN 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AWD LT. WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN RAIN CONDITIONS, WATER ACCUMULATES IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL AND OVERFLOWS ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE, EVEN UP TO THE FRONT . IT ALSO SHORTS OUT THE SPEAKER SYSTEM WHICH CRACKLES AND BLARES OUT A LOUD NOISE EVEN WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED OFF. THE CARPETING BECOMES SOAKED WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THEN THE VEHICLE HAS A FOUL ODOR. A PHONE CALL TO THE DEALER RESULTED IN AN ANSWER THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. I FEAR THIS WATER IS DAMAGING THE ELECTRICAL PARTS IN THE SPEAKER SYSTEM AND MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 EQUINOX THE FIRST MODEL YEAR FOR THIS VEHICLE. I ORDERED THE CAR NEW FROM THE FACTORY. AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START. AT OTHER TIMES THE CAR WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF. ON MAY 3, 2009 THE VEHICLE JUST "DIED" IT WOUL…
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I HAVE A 2005 EQUINOX THE FIRST MODEL YEAR FOR THIS VEHICLE. I ORDERED THE CAR NEW FROM THE FACTORY. AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START. AT OTHER TIMES THE CAR WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF. ON MAY 3, 2009 THE VEHICLE JUST "DIED" IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. I HAVE JUST OVER 40000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE ELECTRICAL GOES IN AND OUT SINCE THE ENGINE WILL NOT START. THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS, AS IT KEEPS RESETTING ITSELF AFTER THE DOOR IS OPEN AND CLOSED. I DO HEAR SOUNDS OF SOME TYPE SIMILAR TO A COMPUTER TRYING TO RESET OR KICK IN. I TRIED TO JUMPSTART THE VEHICLE BUT THAT DID NOTHING. THE ENGINE WILL JUST NOT TURN OVER. TOWING IT TO THE DEALER TOMORROW. OF COURSE THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD SINCE IT WAS SO RANDOM, WITHOUT ANY REAL WARNING TODAY, AS I HAD DRIVEN IT ONLY 10-15-MINUTES BEFORE AND HAD JUST RETURNED HOME AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO MOVE CAR SO THAT I COULD CUT THE LAWN AND IT WAS INOPERABLE. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 EQUINOX. IT STARTED LOSING POWER, OVERHEATED THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC WITHIN ONE MILE OF INCIDENT HE TOLD ME I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR CRACKED BLOCK. CODE P1258-ENGINE OVERHEATING. LOST COOLANT, THOUGH THERE WAS NO LEAK UNDERNEATH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY HER INSURANCE AGENCY AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS DESTROYED. THE ADJUSTER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK REGARDING THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
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.