HAVE TO WIGGLE KEY WHEN TAKING IT OUT OF IGNITION OR IT WILL GET STUCK. STARTING DOING THIS SHORTLY AFTER BUYING IT IN 2005. *TR
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.
Electrical System complaints
159 reportsI BOUGHT A NEW 2005 EQUINOX BACK IN MARCH OF '05. OVER THIS YEAR-2008- I HAVE PROBLEMS JUST GETTING MY KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO WIGGLE IT BACK AND FORTH FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL IT CATCHES AND TURNS OVER. I CAN'T GET IN AND JUST START MY CAR. I CAN TURN MY KEY MAYBE AN INCH AND I HAVE TO TURN IT BACK AND KEEP WIGG…
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I BOUGHT A NEW 2005 EQUINOX BACK IN MARCH OF '05. OVER THIS YEAR-2008- I HAVE PROBLEMS JUST GETTING MY KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO WIGGLE IT BACK AND FORTH FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL IT CATCHES AND TURNS OVER. I CAN'T GET IN AND JUST START MY CAR. I CAN TURN MY KEY MAYBE AN INCH AND I HAVE TO TURN IT BACK AND KEEP WIGGLING IT UNTIL IT "GIVES" FOR ME TO TURN ALL THE WAY. OF COURSE, MY WARRANTY WAS UP AT 36,000 MILES WHICH I HAVE SURPASSED A FEW THOUSAND MILES AGO. I AM TRYING TO GET SOME $$ TOGETHER (THINGS ARE VERY TIGHT AS EVERYONE KNOWS!) TO GET IT LOOKED OUT. I DON'T KNOW IF THE LOCK IS MISALIGNED OR WHAT? I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS TO BE FIXED BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON INTERNET FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR. I AM NOT TAKING IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PAY HUNDREDS OR POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I WILL TAKE IT TO A LOCAL REPUTABLE MECHANIC WHO IS VERY TRUSTWORTHY AND REASONABLE. *TR
A FEW MONTHS AGO MY HUSBANDS MOTHER DROVE HIS 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX TO THE STORE AND THE BATTERY DIED. THEY JUMPED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FINE UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO. WE HAD TO JUMP START MY HUSBANDS CAR A FEW DAYS AGO AND THAT IS WHEN HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE CD PLAYER STAYING ON AFTER THE CAR WAS OFF. WHEN YOU LISTEN…
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A FEW MONTHS AGO MY HUSBANDS MOTHER DROVE HIS 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX TO THE STORE AND THE BATTERY DIED. THEY JUMPED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FINE UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO. WE HAD TO JUMP START MY HUSBANDS CAR A FEW DAYS AGO AND THAT IS WHEN HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE CD PLAYER STAYING ON AFTER THE CAR WAS OFF. WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THE CD PLAYER IT SOUNDS LIKE PLAYER IS TRYING TO EJECT A CD BUT IT WONT AND EVENTUALLY IT SAYS ON THE SCREEN "CD CHANGER ERROR." IT EVEN DOES THIS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF SO IT ENDS UP KILLING THE BATTERY. MY HUSBAND HAS TO UNPLUG THE FUSE FOR THE CD PLAYER OR IT DRAINS HIS BATTERY. AND STILL HAVING IT UNPLUGGED THE VEHICLE HAS A HARD TIME STARTING BECAUSE IT IS LIKE IT CAN NO LONGER HOLD A CHARGE. WHEN WE MENTIONED THIS TO MY HUSBAND'S MOTHER SHE SAID WHEN IT DIED THE TIME SHE DROVE IT HAD SAID THE SAME THING. I HAVE SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. ONE PERSON SAID THAT THEY EVEN REPLACED THE CD PLAYER MULTIPLE TIMES AND EVERY FEW MONTHS IT DOES THE SAME THING. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP HERE AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY, BUT I REALLY FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY CD PLAYERS AND BATTERIES EVERY FEW MONTHS. THE EQUINOX CAME OUT IN '05 AND IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THIS IS AN ERROR THAT THEY DID NOT FIX BEFORE PRODUCTION. *TR
THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND IT CHOOSES WHEN TO GO UP AND DOWN AND ALSO I WOULD HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR IN ORDER TO WORK THE WINDOW. ALSO THE STALLS ON NUMEROUS OCCASION TO START. THE BRAKES ARE BRAND NEW AND A PROBLEMS STILL OCCURS WHEN TRYING TO STOP IT SHAKES EVEN WHEN GOING A LOW SPEED. *TR
2005 EQUINOX WITH NORMAL DRIVING, MOSTLY HIGHWAY. BEGAN TO HEAR THE TYPICAL SOUNDS OF A FAILING BEARING PRIOR TO 60,000 MILES. VIBRATION IN STEERING, HUM PRESENT WHEN DRIVING, UNEVEN WEAR ON FRONT TIRES. REPLACED RFHUB UNDER WARRANTY AT APPROX. 69,000 MILES. WITHIN 10,000 MILES THAT RFHUB BEGAN TO FAIL, BY THE TIME I COULD G…
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2005 EQUINOX WITH NORMAL DRIVING, MOSTLY HIGHWAY. BEGAN TO HEAR THE TYPICAL SOUNDS OF A FAILING BEARING PRIOR TO 60,000 MILES. VIBRATION IN STEERING, HUM PRESENT WHEN DRIVING, UNEVEN WEAR ON FRONT TIRES. REPLACED RFHUB UNDER WARRANTY AT APPROX. 69,000 MILES. WITHIN 10,000 MILES THAT RFHUB BEGAN TO FAIL, BY THE TIME I COULD GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I HAD SURPASSED MY WARRANTY AND THE 12 MONTHS/12,000 WARRANTY ON THE INSTALLED PART VIA THE DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THAT IT WASN'T OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR THE PART TO FAIL SO QUICKLY, WHICH IS NEWS TO ME! HOW CAN A BEARING FAIL THAT QUICKLY AND NOT BE DEFECTIVE. WAS FORCED TO PAY OVER 500.00 TO REPLACE IT. HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT A RATTLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPY ROADS AND RECEIVED THE "WE COULDN'T REPLICATE IT" RESPONSE SINCE INITIAL COMPLAINT PRIOR TO 60,000 MILES. HAVE HEARD THAT THE TIERODS ARE TO BLAME, HAVE MENTIONED IT, BUT STILL DEAL WITH THIS RATTLE THAT GOES UNACCOUNTED. ALSO HAVE BAD ELECTRICAL THAT "CAN'T BE REPLICATED" AT THE DEALERSHIP. RADIO AND PANEL IN DASH FLASH AT RANDOM TIMES AS IF A WIRE WERE LOOSE OR SHORTING, LOUD BOOMING THUDS COME FROM THE SPEAKERS AT THE SAME TIME. SPEAKER BLEW IN DOOR, BUT AFTER WARRANTY. REGARDLESS OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THESE THINGS WHEN TAKEN IN TO GET LOOKED AT. FUEL GAGE STICKS, BUT EITHER HAVE TO PAY 120.00 TO POSSIBLY CORRECT IT WITH A FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER, OR PAY 700.00 TO REPLACE FUEL FILTER. SUCH GREAT OPTIONS. MY FAMILY HAS WORKED FOR GENERAL MOTORS FOR YEARS, IT'S A SHAME. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX THAT HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FIRST I HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS, AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS, BATTERY BEING DRAINED WITHOUT CAUSE, WINDOW CONTROL AND SO FORTH. EACH TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND EACH TIME A REPAIR WAS MADE. ONLY AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS OUT DID I DISCOVER…
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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX THAT HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FIRST I HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS, AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS, BATTERY BEING DRAINED WITHOUT CAUSE, WINDOW CONTROL AND SO FORTH. EACH TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND EACH TIME A REPAIR WAS MADE. ONLY AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS OUT DID I DISCOVER BY ACCIDENT THAT THE PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. THE MAIN DASH WIRING HARNESS LOCATED IN THE LEFT FLOOR PANEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS SIGNS OF MELTING, AND SHORTS WITH THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT. THE SHORTAGE CAUSES THE AIR CONDITIONER TO STOP BLOWING AND WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO COMPLETELY DIE OUT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR EVALUATED BY TWO MECHANICS WHO BOTH STATED, WITHOUT KNOWING SOMEONE ELSE HAD LOOKED AT IT, THAT THE CAR IS A FIRE HAZARD AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. I ALSO SPOKE WITH A LOCAL BODY SHOP THAT HAS REPAIRED AT LEAST ONE EQUINOX THAT BURNED DUE TO THIS SAME WIRING HARNESS. THE REPAIRS ARE CURRENTLY BEING MADE AT A COST OF $4,000.00. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MORE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM THAN HAS BEEN REPORTED AND HOPE THAT OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WILL SPEAK OUT AS GENERAL MOTORS IS UNWILLING TO INVESTIGATE THIS. I ENCOURAGE NEW CAR BUYERS TO BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY, AS I HAVE BEEN SORELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR PRODUCT AND SERVICE. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE LATER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH DIFFERENTIAL AFTER BEING TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE REAR TO CAUSE A NOISE. UPDATED 12/04/08. *JB
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
ISSUE STARTED AROUND IN EARLY 2007 THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. NOW IN 2008 THIS HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR IT SOUNDS LIKE IT TRIES TO START THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT LETS ME KNOW I DID NOT CRANK THE CAR. OCCURS MORE SO AFTER I HAVE HAD TO RUN ERRANDS AND START…
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ISSUE STARTED AROUND IN EARLY 2007 THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. NOW IN 2008 THIS HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR IT SOUNDS LIKE IT TRIES TO START THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT LETS ME KNOW I DID NOT CRANK THE CAR. OCCURS MORE SO AFTER I HAVE HAD TO RUN ERRANDS AND START THE CAR A NUMBER AMOUNT OF TIMES IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE GM DEALER AND HAVE HAD IT CHECKED A NUMBER OF TIME. THEY HAVE CLEANED THE INJECTORS, REFLASHED THE COMPUTER, AND UPDATED THE COMPUTER TO THE LATEST LEVELS. THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS THE SAME NO CODES GENERATED NO PROBLEM FOUND. *TR
IT STARTED AROUND THE SUMMER OF 2007 THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE CAR WOULDN'T START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. AS IT GOT CLOSER TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND NOW INTO THE BEGINNING OF 2008 THIS HAPPENS A LOT MORE. WHEN I GO TO CRANK THE CAR IT SOUNDS LIKE IT TRIES TO START THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT LETS ME KNOW I DID NOT CRANK THE CAR. T…
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IT STARTED AROUND THE SUMMER OF 2007 THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE CAR WOULDN'T START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. AS IT GOT CLOSER TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND NOW INTO THE BEGINNING OF 2008 THIS HAPPENS A LOT MORE. WHEN I GO TO CRANK THE CAR IT SOUNDS LIKE IT TRIES TO START THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT LETS ME KNOW I DID NOT CRANK THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS MORE SO AFTER I HAVE HAD TO RUN ERRANDS AND CRANK THE CAR A FREQUENT AMOUNT OF TIMES IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. *TR
2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY. DEALER BLAMED THE FAILURE ON ICE IN THE WHEEL WELL. THEN THE TROUBLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ISSUE HAS NOT YET BEEN FIXED PROPERLY. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START. THE DEA…
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2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY. DEALER BLAMED THE FAILURE ON ICE IN THE WHEEL WELL. THEN THE TROUBLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ISSUE HAS NOT YET BEEN FIXED PROPERLY. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START. THE DEALER CLEANED THE CONNECTOR, HOWEVER THE COMPUTER DID NOT PICK UP ANY DIAGNOSTIC HISTORY, EVEN THOUGH THE TROUBLE LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON QUITE CONSISTENTLY. ON FEB 25, 2006 THE CONSUMER ONCE AGAIN LOST STEERING, BUT REGAINED IT AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. AT THAT TIME THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE TROUBLE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND ONCE AGAIN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT BY PUSHING ON THE FUSE BOX, THE VEHICLE WOULD START AND STEER. ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE CONSUMER BECAME STRANDED, THE DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, BUT THE HORN WORKED. THE CONSUMER LET THE VEHICLE SIT OVERNIGHT AND WHEN SHE CAME BACK, THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK, SHE OPENED THE DOOR MANUALLY AND POUNDED ON THE FUSE BOX, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED UP. THE SECOND TIME THE CONSUMER BECAME STUCK, POUNDING ON THE FUSE BOX DID NOT WORK AND THE VEHICLE DIDN'T START, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY WAS FINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. AS SOON AS THE CONSUMER LEFT THE DEALER THE TROUBLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING CONTINUES TO GO OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE RESUME BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK PROPERLY. *JB
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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