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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.

About this comparison →

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
39,700 miles · Jul 31, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

OUR 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX BEGAN TO BLOW WARMER AIR THAN USUAL WHEN IN THE COLDEST AIR CONDITIONING SETTING. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS AN INTERNAL VALVE IN THE COMPRESSOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. $1,050.00 TO REPLACE. OUR VEHICLE IS 9 MONTHS AND 4,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. WE TOOK THE…

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OUR 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX BEGAN TO BLOW WARMER AIR THAN USUAL WHEN IN THE COLDEST AIR CONDITIONING SETTING. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS AN INTERNAL VALVE IN THE COMPRESSOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. $1,050.00 TO REPLACE. OUR VEHICLE IS 9 MONTHS AND 4,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HE SAID WITHOUT HAVING TO LOOK ANYTHING UP. IT'S A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 MODEL YEAR EQUINOX AND THE PART IS BACK ORDERED FOR 2 MONTHS BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236554

68,000 miles · Jul 31, 2008
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS IN THE ON POSITION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP SHE MENTIONED THE DEFECT TO THE MECHANIC, AND THEY INFORMED SHE SHOULD CHECK FOR RECALLS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS IN THE ON POSITION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP SHE MENTIONED THE DEFECT TO THE MECHANIC, AND THEY INFORMED SHE SHOULD CHECK FOR RECALLS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #04V302000) HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,776.

NHTSA ODI #10236552

50,000 miles · Jul 25, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKE PEDAL IN MY 2005 EQUINOX WENT TO THE FLOOR. I USED MY FOOT TO BRING IT BACK UP AND THEN HAD THE HYDRAULICS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. EXAMINATION BY MY CAR X REPAIR SERVICE SHOWED AND E CLIP IS USED TO HOLD THE MEDAL BAKE ROD TO THE PLUNGER HAD COME OUT CAUSING IT SOMETIMES TO BE DISCONNECTED FROM THE OTHER PART. THIS COULD H…

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THE BRAKE PEDAL IN MY 2005 EQUINOX WENT TO THE FLOOR. I USED MY FOOT TO BRING IT BACK UP AND THEN HAD THE HYDRAULICS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. EXAMINATION BY MY CAR X REPAIR SERVICE SHOWED AND E CLIP IS USED TO HOLD THE MEDAL BAKE ROD TO THE PLUNGER HAD COME OUT CAUSING IT SOMETIMES TO BE DISCONNECTED FROM THE OTHER PART. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY AS YOU NEVER KNEW WHEN YOU WOULD HAVE BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235756

32,000 miles · Jul 20, 2008
Air BagsCrash

A CRASH THAT DESTROYED THE DRIVERS FRONT FENDER AND FORCED THE CAR INTO A TREE WITH A FORCE TO DENT THE FENDER AND DESTROYING THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER THE ACCIDENT A SPRING THAT CONTROLS THE AIRBAG HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235077

31,000 miles · Jun 16, 2008
Air BagsElectrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)CrashInjury

PROBLEMS WITH CAR BEGAN IMMEDIATELY (TRANSMISSION, AIR CONDITIONER, ODOMETER, WINDOW MOTOR, CAR SHIFTING ABRUPTLY, AND SKIDDING ON ANY WET SERVICE.) FINALLY WENT INTO 20 FT SKID, WHEELS LOCKED, NO RESPONSE TO STEERING. CAR HIT POLE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK. CAR TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231230

15,113 miles · Jun 16, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TOOK DELIVERY O '05 EQUINOX IN JUNE OF '04. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR I BEGAN HAVING AN ODOR OF COOLANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HAD COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSHED AND TANK CLEANED OUT IN APRIL OF '05. THIS WAS APPARENTLY BEFORE A TSB WAS ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM. IN MARCH OF '06 I HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND …

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TOOK DELIVERY O '05 EQUINOX IN JUNE OF '04. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR I BEGAN HAVING AN ODOR OF COOLANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HAD COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSHED AND TANK CLEANED OUT IN APRIL OF '05. THIS WAS APPARENTLY BEFORE A TSB WAS ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM. IN MARCH OF '06 I HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIS TIME THEY HAD A TSB FOR IT AND CHANGED THE HOSES AND COOLANT UNDER WARRANTY. AGAIN IN JULY OF '06 DEALER REPLACED THE TANK AND COOLANT DUE TO COOLANT GELLING IN TANK. IN AUGUST OF '06 WITH 35,557 MILES ON THE CAR (JUST UNDER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY THERE WAS AGAIN THE SMELL ACCOMPANIED BY OVERHEATING. DEALER FOUND LEAKS IN THE FRONT AND REAR HEAD GASKET. JUST BARELY GOT THIS JOB IN UNDER WARRANTY! WITHIN WEEKS I WAS BACK AT THE DEALER FOR A HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS WITH THE PROBLEM OF THE HEAD GASKET. (WHY DIDN'T THEY CHECK THIS WHEN THEY WERE DOING THE HEAD GASKET IF THAT WAS THE CASE?) ANYWAY I WAS BACK TO THE DEALER BY DECEMBER DUE TO THE SOUND OF AIR IN THE SYSTEM AFTER THE HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT. THEY FOUND A LEAK BETWEEN THE TRANNY AND THE BACK OF THE BLOCK. THEY REPLACED THE METAL HEATER O-RING THAT WAS LEAKING. I NEVER ASKED FOR ANY OF THE OLD PARTS FROM THE DEALER. I RECENTLY HAD THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC (NOT THE DEALER) BECAUSE OF THE SMELL OF COOLANT IN THE CABIN AND THE SOUND OF WATER RUSHING/AIR IN THE SYSTEM. HE TOLD ME THERE IS A TSB FOR HTH PROBLEM AND I WOULD HAVE TO FLUSH THE SYSTEM AND CHANGE ALL THE HOSES. THAT WAS THE END OF MARCH AND I WAS SAVING $ FOR THE JOB. THIS WEEK MY CAR OVERHEATED ALL THE WAY TO THE RED AND WHEN I CHECKED THE RESERVOIR IT WAS EMPTY. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE OR FLUSH THE COOLANT SYSTEM EVERY FEW MONTHS OR YEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO LAST MUCH LONGER. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON A REMEDY FOR THE SITUATION I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH I HAVE NOT LISTED HERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231225

65,550 miles · Jun 14, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

BEGINNING IN 2007, THE CAR WOULD STALL A LITTLE WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. IT WOULD CATCH AND START, BUT THE NOISE WAS OF SOME CONCERN. EARLY THIS YEAR, THE CAR WOULD FAIL TO START AT ALL WHEN I WENT TO CRANK IT. I'VE HAD IT IN THE SERVICE SHOPS AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, AND THEY'VE BOTH TOLD ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG…

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BEGINNING IN 2007, THE CAR WOULD STALL A LITTLE WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. IT WOULD CATCH AND START, BUT THE NOISE WAS OF SOME CONCERN. EARLY THIS YEAR, THE CAR WOULD FAIL TO START AT ALL WHEN I WENT TO CRANK IT. I'VE HAD IT IN THE SERVICE SHOPS AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, AND THEY'VE BOTH TOLD ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I WAS STRANDED AGAIN TODAY, BUT THE CAR FINALLY STARTED AFTER I WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP, THE FOLKS WORKING ON IT RAN EVERY TEST THEY NEW OF AND TRIED TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM BUT COULDN'T. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231014

23,500 miles · May 24, 2008
Structure

THE HYDRAULIC PUMPS THAT HOLD THE BACK HATCH OPEN(UP) ON MY EQUINOX JUST QUIT WORKING WITH OUT ANY WARNING . THE HATCH IS SO HEAVY I CAN'T USE IT THERE IS NO SAFE WAY OF HOLDING UP THE HATCH TO PUT ANYTHING INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. I'M LOOKING INTO BUYING A NEW SET ,ONE FOR BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE .IF I FIND THEM I WILL KEE…

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THE HYDRAULIC PUMPS THAT HOLD THE BACK HATCH OPEN(UP) ON MY EQUINOX JUST QUIT WORKING WITH OUT ANY WARNING . THE HATCH IS SO HEAVY I CAN'T USE IT THERE IS NO SAFE WAY OF HOLDING UP THE HATCH TO PUT ANYTHING INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. I'M LOOKING INTO BUYING A NEW SET ,ONE FOR BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE .IF I FIND THEM I WILL KEEP THE OLD ONES.,UNTIL I HEAR OTHERWISE .. IF I ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE HATCH, ITS SLAMS DOWN VERY HARD BECAUSE THE HATCH ITSELF IS SO HEAVY . IF A CHILD HAPPEN TO BE NEAR THE HATCH WHEN IT GOES DOWN THEY COULD BE HURT VERY BADLY AS COULD AN ADULT. I NO LONG CAN OPEN THE HATCH AS ITS TOO HEAVY TO LIFT . THE INFO ON THE PUMPS IS STABILUS USA GASTONIA NC 28052 5480869 4992RQ0830N 007105 B20 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10228827

77,000 miles · May 15, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

77K MILES ON VEHICLE, LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD, HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, ALSO IGNITION CYLINDER FAILURE, DEXCOOL COOLANT SUPPOSEDLY IS DEGRADING THE NYLON MATERIAL IN COOLANT LINES, THE ENTIRE HEAD GASKET UNIT HAS TO BE REPLACED ($1500), I HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS FOR VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT MISSED A SCHEDULE P…

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77K MILES ON VEHICLE, LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD, HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, ALSO IGNITION CYLINDER FAILURE, DEXCOOL COOLANT SUPPOSEDLY IS DEGRADING THE NYLON MATERIAL IN COOLANT LINES, THE ENTIRE HEAD GASKET UNIT HAS TO BE REPLACED ($1500), I HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS FOR VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT MISSED A SCHEDULE PREVENTABLE MAINTENANCE/OIL CHANGE/ETC...FOR VEHICLE AND I BOUGHT VEHICLE BRAND NEW OFF OF LOT WITH 83 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227849

6,775 miles · May 11, 2008
Suspension

I TOOK TITLE TO MY 2005 EQUINOX ON DEC 27, 2004. ON MAY5, 2007, I REPORTED A NOISE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED THE PARTS AND 1.5 MONTHS LATTER REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL DRUM & CLUTCH PACK ASSEMBLY ON SEP 9, 2005, I REPORTED A GROANING NOISE IN THE FRONT END TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON SEP 16, 2005, THE DEAL…

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I TOOK TITLE TO MY 2005 EQUINOX ON DEC 27, 2004. ON MAY5, 2007, I REPORTED A NOISE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED THE PARTS AND 1.5 MONTHS LATTER REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL DRUM & CLUTCH PACK ASSEMBLY ON SEP 9, 2005, I REPORTED A GROANING NOISE IN THE FRONT END TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON SEP 16, 2005, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT STRUTS AND BOTH TORSION BAR SUPPORTS. ON DEC 16, 2006, I REPORTED A TAPPING NOISE FROM THE REAR RIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. ON NOV 13, 2006 REPORTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND LAGS ON UPHILLS. THE DEALERSHIP COULD FUND NO PROBLEM. ON MAY 1, 2007, REPORTED THAT THE DOOR CHIME COMES ON WHEN NO KEY IS IN IGNITION. DEALERSHIP REPLACED IGNITION CYLINDER. ON AUG 16, 2007 REPORTED THE SAME NOISE FROM FRONT END AND DEALERSHIP REPLACED UPPER STRUT MOUNTS. ON OCT 30, 2007 REPORTED THAT THE GROANING NOISE WAS BACK. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED STRUT MOUNTS AND REPOSITIONED STRUT BOOT. ON MAR 18, 2008, REPORTED THE NOISE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE LEAKING STRUT MOUNTS. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR WAS MAKING THE SAME GROANING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. TO THE DEALERSHIPS CREDIT, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY NICE ABOUT ALL OF THE REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227272

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