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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
98,857 miles · May 31, 2016
Air BagsEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT RANDOMLY FLASHED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,857.

NHTSA ODI #10871652

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2016
Power Train

MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE ACCELLERATING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-55 MPH, STARTED MAKING VIBRATION/CLANKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE I ESTATE AROUND7/5/2015 MILEAGE AROUND 245,000. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING . MECHANI…

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MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE ACCELLERATING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-55 MPH, STARTED MAKING VIBRATION/CLANKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE I ESTATE AROUND7/5/2015 MILEAGE AROUND 245,000. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING . MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CENTER SUPPORT BEARING NEEDED REPLACED. PART WAS PURCHASED AT AUTOZONE AS A KIT PACKAGE TWO WEEKS LATER BY VEHICLES OWNER WITHIN DAYS AFTER REPAIR THE DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND STILL IS OWNERS DAILY DRIVER APPROXIMATE MILEAGE TO DATE IS 262,000

NHTSA ODI #10870196

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2016
Steering

WHEN INSERTING KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE KEY HAS TURN BUT NOT COMPLETELY CRANKED BECAUCE IT WOULD JAM. THIS HAS HAPPENED VERY SELDOMLY SINCE 07/04/2015 APPROMIMATE MILAGE AT THE MOMENT OF INITIAL INCIDENT ESTIMATED AT AROUND 230,000 ORIGINAL MILES.HOWEVER THE WHOLE FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING COLUMN LOCK UP SOMETIMES AT THE TU…

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WHEN INSERTING KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE KEY HAS TURN BUT NOT COMPLETELY CRANKED BECAUCE IT WOULD JAM. THIS HAS HAPPENED VERY SELDOMLY SINCE 07/04/2015 APPROMIMATE MILAGE AT THE MOMENT OF INITIAL INCIDENT ESTIMATED AT AROUND 230,000 ORIGINAL MILES.HOWEVER THE WHOLE FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING COLUMN LOCK UP SOMETIMES AT THE TURN OF KEY. STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP AND U CANT TURN THE KEY ALMOST LIKEIT DONT FIT BECAUSE ITS THE WRONG KEY. KEYS CAN ALSO BE REMOVED DURING OPERATION. THE VEHICLE CAN DRIVE WITH NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND BE THEN PLACED IN PARK WITH STILL NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THE KEY ONCE PLACED OUT PARK, EASILY SLIDES IN AND OUT OF IGNITION.

NHTSA ODI #10870194

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2016
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT RANDOMLY CUTS ON DURING USE OF THE VEHICLE. IT CAN RANDOMLY TURN ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON DURING INITIAL POWERING UP OF VEHICLE BEFORE DRIVING VEHICLE AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #10870193

82,000 miles · May 13, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A VIBRATION MOTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A VIBRATION MOTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #10864824

94,000 miles · May 13, 2016
Service BrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A SIDE WALK DAMAGING THE TIRE, THE RADIATOR AND THE FRONT END AND OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAINED INJURIE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A SIDE WALK DAMAGING THE TIRE, THE RADIATOR AND THE FRONT END AND OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOT. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ODI #10864760

82,000 miles · May 9, 2016
Engine

I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX IN MAY 2015, I HAVE HAD MY NORMAL OR CHANGES, EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVE TO PUT 5 QUARTS OF OIL IS IN, THE LOW OIL INDICATOR NEVER CAME ON. SO NOW MY ENGINE HAS LOCKED UP AND I HAVE TO GET A NEW ENGINE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION WITH THE USED CHEVY V…

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I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX IN MAY 2015, I HAVE HAD MY NORMAL OR CHANGES, EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVE TO PUT 5 QUARTS OF OIL IS IN, THE LOW OIL INDICATOR NEVER CAME ON. SO NOW MY ENGINE HAS LOCKED UP AND I HAVE TO GET A NEW ENGINE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION WITH THE USED CHEVY VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #10864009

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2016
Steering

WHEN DRIVING AND HIT THE LEAST LITTLE BUMP YOU CAN HEAR SOMETHING TOWARD LOWER RIGHT AS IF IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE STEERING LIKE SOMETHING FROM THE STEER WHEEL UP UNDER NEATH THE HOOD WHERE THE STEERING IS HOOKED UP TO

NHTSA ODI #10852671

150,349 miles · Mar 16, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. ALSO, THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR COULD BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT THE KEY BEING PLACED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. ALSO, THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR COULD BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT THE KEY BEING PLACED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,349.

NHTSA ODI #10849996

84,000 miles · Feb 22, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE HEAD GASKET ON THE ENGINE FRACTURED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND WATER FLOODED ON THE ENGINE COMPARTMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE DETAILS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE HEAD GASKET ON THE ENGINE FRACTURED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND WATER FLOODED ON THE ENGINE COMPARTMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE DETAILS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 04/14/16*LJ CONSUMER STATED THERE HAS BEEN 29 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND MANUFACTURER SHOULD STAND BY THIS PROBLEM. UPDATED 05/31/18*JB

NHTSA ODI #10837586

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