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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.

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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
93,000 miles · Nov 2, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE AUTO IN FRONT OF ME CHANGED LANES AND I ACCELERATED TO GO PAST THE AUTO. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD AND WOULD NOT RELEASE EVEN AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO TRY AND GET IT TO RESPOND. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL AT FULL ACCELERATION. I WAS ABLE TO …

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I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE AUTO IN FRONT OF ME CHANGED LANES AND I ACCELERATED TO GO PAST THE AUTO. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD AND WOULD NOT RELEASE EVEN AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO TRY AND GET IT TO RESPOND. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL AT FULL ACCELERATION. I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE LANES AND GLIDED TO A STOP IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. WHERE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE ACCELERATOR TO DISENGAGE. I WAS VERY LUCKY THE TRAFFIC PATTERN ALLOWED ME TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE ACCELERATOR IS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #10923823

64,397 miles · Oct 26, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

ABS PULSATES BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT HARD TO STOP WHEN I NEED TO. WHEN I DO PUSH DOWN ON THE BRAKES IT PUSHES BACK PREVENTING ME FROM STOPPING QUICKLY OR AT ALL. AFTER A WHILE DRIVING LIKE THIS THE ABS TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL I TURN IT OFF AND THEN IT HAPPEN ALL OVER AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER …

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ABS PULSATES BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT HARD TO STOP WHEN I NEED TO. WHEN I DO PUSH DOWN ON THE BRAKES IT PUSHES BACK PREVENTING ME FROM STOPPING QUICKLY OR AT ALL. AFTER A WHILE DRIVING LIKE THIS THE ABS TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL I TURN IT OFF AND THEN IT HAPPEN ALL OVER AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIX BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS REOCCURRING. IN 2012 THE CAR JUST STOP ON THE ROAD THAT WASN'T BRAKE RELATED CAUSING US TO GET HIT FROM BEHIND AND THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CAR NOW IS HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE ONE THING IS FAILING AFTER ANOTHER. FOR EXAMPLE SIDE MIRRORS DON'T WORK, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STOP WORKING, AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10919023

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2016
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

WHEN I 1ST BOUGHT THE CAR HAD TO CHANGE THE SUSPENSION, HEAD GASKET, ANTIFREEZE IS DISAPPEARING CAN'T SEE WHERE IT'S GOING KEY COMES OUT THE IGNITION VIN#[XXX] PURCHASED ON 8/19/15. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10916037

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2016
Unknown Or Other

COOLING-AIR CONDITION, WINDOWS-DRIVERS FRONT WONT ROLE UP R DOWN, IGNITION- KEY WANTS TO LOCK IN IGNITION R WOCAR, SOMETIMES, KEY WILL CRANK,BUT CAR WONT CRAKE!NT TURN TO CRAKE

NHTSA ODI #10913608

120,000 miles · Sep 8, 2016
Engine

CAR OVERHEATS AND COOLANT LEAKS OUT OF NO WHERE. HEAD GASKET BLOWS HAVE BEEN REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY WHEN ENGINE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AND CAR SHAKES LIKE CRAZY DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10904746

128,000 miles · Aug 25, 2016
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE KEY EJECTED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ANY KEY COULD START THE VEHICLE, NOT JUST THE MANUFACTURER'S KEY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE KEY EJECTED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ANY KEY COULD START THE VEHICLE, NOT JUST THE MANUFACTURER'S KEY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE CHANGED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SUGGESTED A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #10898631

180,000 miles · Aug 18, 2016
Visibility/wiper

THE HEAT AND AC BOTH STOPPED WORKING. SINCE THERE IS NO HEAT TO DEFROST IN THE WINDOW, THE WINDOW FREEZES OVER WHILE DRIVING IN THE WINTER.

NHTSA ODI #10896810

215,000 miles · Aug 7, 2016
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury

DRIVING DOWN STREET WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT HEARD LOUD POP AND THEN WASN'T ABLE TO TURN AND CRASHED INTO TREE LEFT FENDER HOOD HEADLIGHT ALL PUSHED DAMAGE TO TIRE AND ON TOP OF THAT AIRBAG DIDN'T IMPLORE AND HIT HEAD ON THE POST

NHTSA ODI #10893857

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2016
Electrical SystemStructureVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS LEAKING. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS MOISTURE, MOLD, AND WATER ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. IN ADDITION, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO FUNCTION…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS LEAKING. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS MOISTURE, MOLD, AND WATER ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. IN ADDITION, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10885445

129,000 miles · Jul 6, 2016
Engine

I JUST READ THRU SOME OF THESE COMPLAINTS ANS IT SEEM THAT CHEVY IS HAVING THE SANE THING HAPPEN WHEN ITS COMING TO THIS 05 EQUINOX. I JUST GOT CAR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND ITS GOING THRU THE SAME THING. IM BEING TOLD ITS MY GASKETS BUT ITS SHOWING NO SIGNS THAT ITS BLOWN. IM SO FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THE 90 DAYS IS XPIRED AND I CANT …

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I JUST READ THRU SOME OF THESE COMPLAINTS ANS IT SEEM THAT CHEVY IS HAVING THE SANE THING HAPPEN WHEN ITS COMING TO THIS 05 EQUINOX. I JUST GOT CAR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND ITS GOING THRU THE SAME THING. IM BEING TOLD ITS MY GASKETS BUT ITS SHOWING NO SIGNS THAT ITS BLOWN. IM SO FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THE 90 DAYS IS XPIRED AND I CANT RUN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM. AND NOW TO FIND THAT CHEVREOLET IS NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING THAT FACT THAT THIS IS GOING ON WITH A VEHICLE CREATED BY THEM. THIS IS SO UNFAIR TO CONSUMERS WHO SPEND THE MONEY TO GET THE CAR BUT CANT EVEN GET THE PROPER RESPONSE FROM THE COMPANY FOR THIS ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW JUST HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE FOR CHEVEY TO RESPOND TO THIS, I KNOW I COUNTED AT LEAST A HUNDRED...I KNOW WE TAKE CHANGES WHEN BY A USED CAR BUT AT LEAST DO A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE IT TO MANY PEOPLE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE UNKNOWING WHAT PROBLEMS THEY WILL HAVE AHEAD OF THEM...

NHTSA ODI #10882958

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