I OWN A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX WITH 8500 MILES, THE ANTIFREEZE IS DARK BROWN IN COLOR AND THERE IS A FILM OF BROWN STUFF ON THE RECOVERY BOTTLE. IT ALSO SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN MEAT.
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE CRASHED INTO FOUR OTHER VEHICLES. UPON IMPACT,EST DUAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY TO IT'S FULL CAPACITY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK........THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS ONLY AFTER THE EQUINOX MADE CONTACT WITH OTHER VEHICLES. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED TO…
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WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE CRASHED INTO FOUR OTHER VEHICLES. UPON IMPACT,EST DUAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY TO IT'S FULL CAPACITY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK........THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS ONLY AFTER THE EQUINOX MADE CONTACT WITH OTHER VEHICLES. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED TO THE STREET AFTER IMPACT, THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STRUCK FROM BEHIND. THE RIGHT WHEEL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE CAME OFF. ALSO, THE SHERIFF ON THE SCENE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE PEDAL AFTER THERE WAS ACCESS TO THE VEHICLE.*AK
SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHTS ON TWO LANE HIGHWAYS WE ARE CONTINUALLY FLASHED WITH BRIGHTS, INDICATING OUR BRIGHTS ARE TURNED ON BUT THEY WERE NOT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE LIGHTS ADJUSTED AND WERE TOLD THEY ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE.*AK
ON EACH SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD THE SNOW WAS CLEANED OFF. HOWEVER, THE SNOW FROM THE ROOF FELL OFF ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND WAS TRAPPED IN THE WINDSHIELD PILLARS. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE WAS BLINDED. *AK
2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX - BAD ODOR COMING FROM HVAC AND COOLANT SYSTEM, FIRST NOTICED WITH APPROXIMATELY 1200 MILES ON THE SUV, HAD IN AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING, AFTER FURTHER COMPLAINING THEY CONTACTED GM AND TOLD ME THEY HAD TO ORDER SOME NEW "STUFF" AND ONCE IN THEY WOULD REPLACE AND FLUSH THE COOLANT. I'VE CALLED TW…
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2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX - BAD ODOR COMING FROM HVAC AND COOLANT SYSTEM, FIRST NOTICED WITH APPROXIMATELY 1200 MILES ON THE SUV, HAD IN AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING, AFTER FURTHER COMPLAINING THEY CONTACTED GM AND TOLD ME THEY HAD TO ORDER SOME NEW "STUFF" AND ONCE IN THEY WOULD REPLACE AND FLUSH THE COOLANT. I'VE CALLED TWICE NOW OVER THE PAST MONTH, DEALERSHIP STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED "STUFF". ISSUE NOT RESOLVED.*AK
COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS, FOUL SMELL, FLUID IS A DARK COLOR WHEN IT SHOULD BE LIGHT PINK. PROBLEM WAS FIRST POINTED OUT AT 2ND OIL CHANGE APPOINTMENT. THEY ADVISED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS MALEFUNCTIONING AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS FIXED. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN 3 OTHER EQUINOX'S ALL …
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COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS, FOUL SMELL, FLUID IS A DARK COLOR WHEN IT SHOULD BE LIGHT PINK. PROBLEM WAS FIRST POINTED OUT AT 2ND OIL CHANGE APPOINTMENT. THEY ADVISED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS MALEFUNCTIONING AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS FIXED. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN 3 OTHER EQUINOX'S ALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS NOT A MALEFUNCTION, THEY DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. APPOINTMENT IS SCHEDULED IN A COUPLE DAYS. UPON READING MORE ABOUT THIS COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM I AM EVEN MORE CONCERNED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS YET TO BE A RECALL AND ALL OF THE VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX NEW FROM DEALER. VEHICLE SPENT TWO DAYS AT DEALER, ONLY FOR DEALER TO TELL ME THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR PROBLEM. MY EQUINOX HAS COOLANT CONTAMINATION WHICH EMITS A BAD ODOR. CHEVY STILL HAS TO TSB OUT ON THIS PROBLEM YET, AND OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS WAS NOTICED @ 1500 MILES. CU…
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PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX NEW FROM DEALER. VEHICLE SPENT TWO DAYS AT DEALER, ONLY FOR DEALER TO TELL ME THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR PROBLEM. MY EQUINOX HAS COOLANT CONTAMINATION WHICH EMITS A BAD ODOR. CHEVY STILL HAS TO TSB OUT ON THIS PROBLEM YET, AND OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS WAS NOTICED @ 1500 MILES. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS 2700. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM DRIVING UNTIL CHEVY COMES OUT WITH TSB. IF YOU LOOK AT THE COOLANT RESEVOIR, THE COOLANT IS DARK IN COLOR AND SLUDGE IS FORMING IN THE CONTAINER (RESIDUE). *NM
THIS IS A CORRECTION TO THE COMPLAINT I SUBMITTED YESTERDAY. THE COMPLAINT NUMBER IS 10100295. ON THAT COMPLAINT PLEASE DELETE THE PART OF THE COMPLAINT THAT SAYS THE ABNORMAL ODOR FROM THE ENGINE COOLANT IS ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. I FOUND THAT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR CAP WAS LOOSE, ALLOWING THE STRON…
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THIS IS A CORRECTION TO THE COMPLAINT I SUBMITTED YESTERDAY. THE COMPLAINT NUMBER IS 10100295. ON THAT COMPLAINT PLEASE DELETE THE PART OF THE COMPLAINT THAT SAYS THE ABNORMAL ODOR FROM THE ENGINE COOLANT IS ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. I FOUND THAT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR CAP WAS LOOSE, ALLOWING THE STRONG ODOR OF THE COOLANT TO ESCAPE AND BE DRAWN INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WHEN I TIGHTENED THE CAP THE ODOR STOPPED ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I AM STILL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABNORMAL ODOR AND COLOR OF THE COOLANT. THIS COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTING COMPONENTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEM AND ENGINE. *JB
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. AFTER ONLY 500 MILES THE ENGINE COOLANT HAS TURNED BROWN AND HAS A VERY BAD ODOR (STINKS). WHEN THE HEATER IS TURNED ON, THE ODOR COMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND IS ALMOST INTOLERABLE.*AK
MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX HAS REOCCRUING PROBLEMS WITH 1) THE ENGINE COOLANT TURNING FROM THE NORMAL DEX COOL PINK COLOR TO A DARK BROWN / BLACK COLOR. 2) HORRIBLE SMELL ENTERING THE PASSENGER CABIN WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING THE HEAT IS ON.THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON NOVEMBER 18TH AND ACCORDING …
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MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX HAS REOCCRUING PROBLEMS WITH 1) THE ENGINE COOLANT TURNING FROM THE NORMAL DEX COOL PINK COLOR TO A DARK BROWN / BLACK COLOR. 2) HORRIBLE SMELL ENTERING THE PASSENGER CABIN WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING THE HEAT IS ON.THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON NOVEMBER 18TH AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, GM'S TECHNICAL LINE IS INSTRUCTING ALL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS TO TAKE NO REPAIR ACTIONS AS THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN THEY PERFORMED A COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSH WHICH TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE OF HUNDRED MILES, ONLY TO RETURN. *AK THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING ALL ACROSS NORTH AMERICA SO IT CANNOT BE BLAMED ON WEATHER OR TYPE OF FUEL USED. I HAVE MANY CONCERNS WITH THE LONG TERM RELIABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE.
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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