IllustrationDT: CALLER SAID IN WET WEATHER THE BRAKES MADE A RATTLING NOISE AND THEN FAILED. IN DRY WEATHER WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND HITTING THE BRAKE THE FRONT END SHOOK. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CALLER WILL HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER TODAY. *AK
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 reportsPURCHASED 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX ON MAY 26 2005 HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALER 5 TIMES IN THE PAST 47 DAYS 1ST THE SUNROOF STOPPED WORKING, THEN THE TRANSAXLE OVERHEATING LIGHT CAME ON GOT THOSE "REPAIRED" DIDN'T GET OFF THE DEALERS LOT AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THEY CHANGED SENSOR BROUGHT IT BACK THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD …
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PURCHASED 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX ON MAY 26 2005 HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALER 5 TIMES IN THE PAST 47 DAYS 1ST THE SUNROOF STOPPED WORKING, THEN THE TRANSAXLE OVERHEATING LIGHT CAME ON GOT THOSE "REPAIRED" DIDN'T GET OFF THE DEALERS LOT AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THEY CHANGED SENSOR BROUGHT IT BACK THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD THEY FOUND A CHAFFED WIRE IN THE MAIN HARNESS YESTERDAY I HAD IT TOWED IN AFTER ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON FELT LIKE WHEELS DIDN'T WANT TO TURN AND ON HILLS HAD NO POWER TO CLIMB I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF PA WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY
THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND HIT A POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RACING AND WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH GMC. THEY HAVE DENIED ANY LIABILITY. *AK *BF *NM *SC *JB
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX THE MUFFLER SYSTEM IS VERY LOUD AND NEEDS REPLACED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. EVEN THE GARAGE MANAGER AGREES THAT IT IS TO LOUD.
DT:CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE IN THE STEERING SHAFT. THIS CAUSED A BANGING NOISE WHEN VEHICLE WAS JARRED, AND LOOSE STEERING. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THERE WERE EIGHT PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM THAT WERE ON WAITING LIST TO HAVE PROBLEM REPAIRED AT THIS DEALERSHIP. *AK
DT: UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION, WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. IN ORDER TO STOP THE ACCELERATOR VEHICLE HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN. OWNER WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH, AND WAS TRYING TO GET TO 65 MPH IN ORDER PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT 75 MPH OWNER HAD TO STOP VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN UNDESIRED SPE…
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DT: UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION, WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. IN ORDER TO STOP THE ACCELERATOR VEHICLE HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN. OWNER WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH, AND WAS TRYING TO GET TO 65 MPH IN ORDER PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT 75 MPH OWNER HAD TO STOP VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN UNDESIRED SPEED IN THE LEFT LANE. THE OWNER STILL HAD CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS POINT. OWNER CALLED CHEVEROLET TO HAVE VEHICLE CHECKED. *AK
THE LIFTGATE SUPPORT ROD DETACHED WHILE IN THE UP POSITION ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO FALL FREELY ON MY HEAD AND NECK. IF I WAS IN ANOTHER POSITION OR IF I DIDN'T REACT QUICKLY I MIGHT HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. IT SEEMS THE LIFTGATE SUPPORTS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH OR ATTACHED PROPERLY. THE OTHER SUPPORT ROD DIDN'T H…
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THE LIFTGATE SUPPORT ROD DETACHED WHILE IN THE UP POSITION ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO FALL FREELY ON MY HEAD AND NECK. IF I WAS IN ANOTHER POSITION OR IF I DIDN'T REACT QUICKLY I MIGHT HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. IT SEEMS THE LIFTGATE SUPPORTS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH OR ATTACHED PROPERLY. THE OTHER SUPPORT ROD DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH TO HOLD THE DOOR UP.
WHEN THE CONSUMER PUT THE CAR INTO PARK, THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED. FELT THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD WITHIN BAD NEIGHBORHOODS. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SWITCH THE FEATURE TO OFF.*AK *SB *NM
THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE DROVE ABOUT 15 MILES, AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FRONT HEAD REST BEING TILTED SO FAR FORWARD THAT THE SEAT HAD TO BE LEANED FAR BACK JUST TO BE COMFORTABLE. CAUSED PAIN IN THE NECK AND SHOULDERS. WORRIED THAT THE DEFECT COULD CAUSE NECK INJURY. CONTACT WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A HEAD REST FOR A SATURN VE…
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THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE DROVE ABOUT 15 MILES, AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FRONT HEAD REST BEING TILTED SO FAR FORWARD THAT THE SEAT HAD TO BE LEANED FAR BACK JUST TO BE COMFORTABLE. CAUSED PAIN IN THE NECK AND SHOULDERS. WORRIED THAT THE DEFECT COULD CAUSE NECK INJURY. CONTACT WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A HEAD REST FOR A SATURN VEHICLE AND INSTALLED IT INTO HIS 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. *AK *SB *NM
DT: WATER WAS LEAKING INTO CAB OF VEHICLE AND INTO TRUNK. WATER LEAK IWAS IN FRONT DOME LIGHT, AND IT LEAKED TWICE. THE MIDDLE DOME LIGHT LEAKED ONCE, AND THE TRUNK HAS HAD A BIG BUCKET OF WATER REMOVED FROM IT. DEALER TRIED TO FIX LEAK, BUT IT STILL LEAKS. CALLER WAS TOLD NOT TO PARK UNDER TREES. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WOULD…
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DT: WATER WAS LEAKING INTO CAB OF VEHICLE AND INTO TRUNK. WATER LEAK IWAS IN FRONT DOME LIGHT, AND IT LEAKED TWICE. THE MIDDLE DOME LIGHT LEAKED ONCE, AND THE TRUNK HAS HAD A BIG BUCKET OF WATER REMOVED FROM IT. DEALER TRIED TO FIX LEAK, BUT IT STILL LEAKS. CALLER WAS TOLD NOT TO PARK UNDER TREES. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WOULD CALL DEALER, AND TOLD CALLER TO KEEP SUN ,ROOF CLOSED AND THAT THERE WAS DEBRIS IN SUN ROOF. CALLER STATED SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT WATER IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AND THAT MORE DAMAGE CAN BE CAUSED.*AK
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.