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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

Electrical System complaints

159 reports
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33,950 miles · Jan 11, 2008
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or Other

LEMON/AUTO FAILURES,TOO MANY ITEMS TO LST 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX LT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214488

66,201 miles · Dec 13, 2007
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE DRIVEN, PARKED, 5 HOURS LATER KEY FOB WOULD NOT WORK ON APPROACH TO VEHICLE NOTED SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ATTEMPTED TO JUMP BATTERY WHEN NOTED SMOKE AND STOPPED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER THEY CLAIMED THE VEHICLE WAS JUMPED BACKWARDS AND I KNOW THIS NOT TO BE A FACT. DEALER STATED EVERYTHING FRIED…

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VEHICLE DRIVEN, PARKED, 5 HOURS LATER KEY FOB WOULD NOT WORK ON APPROACH TO VEHICLE NOTED SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ATTEMPTED TO JUMP BATTERY WHEN NOTED SMOKE AND STOPPED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER THEY CLAIMED THE VEHICLE WAS JUMPED BACKWARDS AND I KNOW THIS NOT TO BE A FACT. DEALER STATED EVERYTHING FRIED UNDER HOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211779

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2007
Electrical System

2005 CHEVY EQUINOX W/45,000 MILES - HAD THE SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC, AND SMOKE RISING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND MOVING. RADIO PRE-PROGRAM BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL LOST FUNCTION, AND THE IGNITION KEEPS TURNING OVER DESPITE THE KEY BEING RETURNED TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208065

31,800 miles · Oct 22, 2007
Electrical System

OCT 8, WAS IN CLASS FOR 30 MINUTES CAME OUT CAR WAS DEAD, EVERYTHING WORKED BUT STARTED JUST CLICKED. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE.. TOOK TOO LONG; CALLED CAMPUS SECURITY GOT A JUMP START, CAR DROVE FINE DIED AGAIN UNTIL OCT 13. JUMP STARTED AGAIN, OCT 18 DIED AGAIN, CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAD IT TOWED TO HERB ADCOX CHEVY. THE…

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OCT 8, WAS IN CLASS FOR 30 MINUTES CAME OUT CAR WAS DEAD, EVERYTHING WORKED BUT STARTED JUST CLICKED. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE.. TOOK TOO LONG; CALLED CAMPUS SECURITY GOT A JUMP START, CAR DROVE FINE DIED AGAIN UNTIL OCT 13. JUMP STARTED AGAIN, OCT 18 DIED AGAIN, CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAD IT TOWED TO HERB ADCOX CHEVY. THEY STILL HAVE IT AND SAY IT IS RUNNING FINE...NO DIAGNOSTIC PROBLEMS SHOWING ON COMPUTER. FILED AN ISSUE WITH 800CHEVUSA.... THEY SAY EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY(CAR STILL IN ORIGINAL WARRANTY NOW) THAT THIS ISSUE MAY NOT BE COVERED. THE CAR IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. CHEVY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS SO I AM STUCK WONDERING WHEN IT WILL DIE AGAIN. I ALSO REPORTED NOXIOUS FUMES (SMELLS LIKE RANCID BUTTER)MOST LIKELY FROM ANTIFREEZE PROBLEM LIKE OTHER 2005 EQUINOX'S AND A BRAKE SHIMMY PROBLEM AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS(ENTIRE CAR SEEMS UNSTABLE). THIS IS THE LAST CHEVY I WILL EVER BUY. I HATE TO EVEN TRADE IT IN AND GIVE THE ISSUES TO SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS WRONG. I BELIEVE CHEVY IS AWARE OF THESE ISSUES AND DOING NOTHING TO RECALL OR REPAIR THEM. I WAS TOLD IF THERE IS NO DIAGNOSTIC THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10206526

38,000 miles · Sep 9, 2007
Electrical System

AT TIMES OF START UP OF IGNITION, THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM CATCHING. IT USED TO ONLY HAPPEN MAYBE EVERY 15TH START UP BUT HAS INCREASINGLY HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY. IT IS STILL INTERMITTENT BUT SEEMS TO BE ABOUT EVERY 3RD OR 4TH STARTUP. INCIDENT DATE IS ESTIMATED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10202319

31,792 miles · May 24, 2007
Electrical System

WHERE DO I BEGIN I BOUGHT A CHEVY EQUINOX 2005 BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS!! THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT CONTINUOSLY COMES ON AND WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE DEARLERSHIP THEY NEVER SEEM TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY FIX THE CORRECT PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED A HEADGASKET, THERMOSTAT, INTERNAL GASKET, FRONT ROTER…

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WHERE DO I BEGIN I BOUGHT A CHEVY EQUINOX 2005 BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS!! THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT CONTINUOSLY COMES ON AND WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE DEARLERSHIP THEY NEVER SEEM TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY FIX THE CORRECT PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED A HEADGASKET, THERMOSTAT, INTERNAL GASKET, FRONT ROTERS AND BRAKES, DEALERSHIP STATES THAT I NEED NEW FRONT ROTERS AND BRAKES AGAIN IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN 1 YEAR SINCE THE FIRST SET. I'VE HAD NEW SHOCK PLUGS AND A COIL PUT IN, ETC. THIS ALL STARTED LAST NOV. WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STILL IS HAVING PROBLEMS. I AM SO FRUSTRATED WITH THIS CAR. I THOUGHT THAT WITH BUYING A BRAND NEW CAR I WOULDN'T HAVE ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. I'M AFRAID TO TRAVEL WITH IT BECAUSE IT IS SO UNRELIABLE!!!

NHTSA ODI #10191638

29,000 miles · Apr 10, 2007
Electrical SystemFire

I ALWAYS PARKED CAR IN A GARAGE, BUT THIS DAY NO SPOTS WERE OPEN SO I PARKED ON THE STREET AND WENT TO WORK. ABOUT A 1/2 HOUR LATER I LOOKED THE WINDOW AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. I RAN OUT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND SAW FIRE ON THE BACK BUMPER AREA ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. SOMEONE CALLED THE FIRE …

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I ALWAYS PARKED CAR IN A GARAGE, BUT THIS DAY NO SPOTS WERE OPEN SO I PARKED ON THE STREET AND WENT TO WORK. ABOUT A 1/2 HOUR LATER I LOOKED THE WINDOW AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. I RAN OUT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND SAW FIRE ON THE BACK BUMPER AREA ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. SOMEONE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WHILE I GRABBED A FEW THINGS OUT OF THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT T CAME AND EVENTUALLY PUT OUT THE FIRE. I HAVE NEVER KNOWN A CAR TO SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTION BEFORE, AND IT WAS A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED BETWEEN THE FIRE, SMOKE AND WATER, AND DECLARED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE IN THE TAIL LIGHT SECTION AND TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. I DID NOT HAVE ANY PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, AND IT WAS EQUIPPED AS ORIGINALLY LEASED FROM THE DEALER. IT WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY. THANKFULLY ,NO ONE WAS HURT/KILLED THIS TIME. I BELIEVE THIS CAR WAS DEFECTIVE AND POSED A VERY REAL DANGER TO MY FAMILY AS WELL AS MY COWORKERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS EXTREMELY UNCOOPERATIVE IN DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM - WITH NOT EVEN A 'SORRY YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH ONE OF OUR PRODUCTS' LINE AS I WANTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE DEDUCTIBLE THAT I WILL HAVE TO GIVE THE INSURANCE COMPANY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10187464

21,000 miles · Apr 4, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 20,000 AND IT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS A WEEK LATER. PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP,GRINDING AND CLICKING AT SLOW TURNS. THEY REPLACED ROTORS ,CLUTCH AND SUSPENSION AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. THEN CAME THE AIR CONDITION NOT BLOWING COLD AIR AND THE IGNITION STICKING ON START UP. THE FINAL STRAW WAS THE …

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BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 20,000 AND IT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS A WEEK LATER. PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP,GRINDING AND CLICKING AT SLOW TURNS. THEY REPLACED ROTORS ,CLUTCH AND SUSPENSION AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. THEN CAME THE AIR CONDITION NOT BLOWING COLD AIR AND THE IGNITION STICKING ON START UP. THE FINAL STRAW WAS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND DROPPING INTO LOWER GEARS,THE CAR WILL BE IN THE SHOP IN THE MORNING. LAST CHEVY I WILL EVER BUY BACK TO NISSAN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10187063

35,000 miles · Apr 2, 2007
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN, IT JUST FAILED COMPLETELY. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE WIRES INSIDE THE DOOR ARE COMPLETELY BROKEN. THE SYSTEM NEEDED TO FIX IT IS BACK ORDERED SO I HAVE TO WAIT TO HAVE IT REPLACED. FOUR DAYS LATER MY BRAKES BECAME THE NEW PROBLEM. ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL, I WAS APPROACHING A ST…

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MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN, IT JUST FAILED COMPLETELY. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE WIRES INSIDE THE DOOR ARE COMPLETELY BROKEN. THE SYSTEM NEEDED TO FIX IT IS BACK ORDERED SO I HAVE TO WAIT TO HAVE IT REPLACED. FOUR DAYS LATER MY BRAKES BECAME THE NEW PROBLEM. ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL, I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND BEGAN APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. IT MADE A VIBRATING NOISE AND THRUST ITSELF FORWARD. IT WASN'T A GRINDING SOUND BUT CLICKS AND VIBRATION. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T ANYONE IN FRONT OF ME OR COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I THOUGHT IT SOMETHING I DID AND CONTINUED DRIVING CAREFULLY. AT THE NEXT STOP I WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. I PASSED THE TURN COMPLETELY BEFORE THE CAR SLOWED ENOUGH TO TURN. THIS SCARED ME SO I PULLED OVER AND CALLED FOR HELP. AFTER TAKING A TEST DRIVE WITH A CAR REPAIR PERSON WHO INFORMED ME IT WASN'T MY BRAKE PADS OR ROTORS. HE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE MY ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM FAILING AND I SHOULD CALL THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN. GM ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED IT. THAT WAS SATURDAY AND TODAY IS MONDAY, THE DEALERSHIP WORKER TOLD ME SHE DROVE IT AND SHE HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR 12 YEARS AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES BUT THEY WILL PUT IT ON THE ELECTRIC DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE TO DOUBLE CHECK IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE WITH MY CHILDREN. THE FACT THAT THE CAR MAY NOT STOP OR THE BRAKES MAY FAIL AT ANY TIME IS SCARY. I SHOULD HEAR FROM THEM BY THIS EVENING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10186748

8,795 miles · Mar 13, 2007
Electrical System

ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE AFTER BEING DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MILES. CLICKING SOUND HAPPENS EACH TIME (APPROX 15) AND ENGINE STRUGGLES TO ENGAGE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184958

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.

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