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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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75,000 miles · Jul 1, 2014
Electrical System

I HAVE HAD AN IGNITION PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY A YEAR OR MORE. WHEN I PUT KEY IN IGNITION, I HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING IT TO TURN TO START VEHICLE. AND THEN, WHEN I WANT TO TURN CAR OFF, IT IS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. I TOOK TO CHEVY DEALER IN KENOSHA, WI AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON…

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I HAVE HAD AN IGNITION PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY A YEAR OR MORE. WHEN I PUT KEY IN IGNITION, I HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING IT TO TURN TO START VEHICLE. AND THEN, WHEN I WANT TO TURN CAR OFF, IT IS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION. I TOOK TO CHEVY DEALER IN KENOSHA, WI AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON RECALL LIST AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. I JUST WONDER WITH ALL THESE RECALLS GOING ON WITH CHEVY FOR THE SAME ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY CHEVY, WHY THEY WON'T FIX IT AND COVER EXPENSES? PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10607263

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 9/18/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD SPUTTER TO A STOP NEED TO BE REST…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 9/18/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD SPUTTER TO A STOP NEED TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY. UPDATED 02/12/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10605238

100,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CURRENT MILE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ODI #10598555

20,000 miles · Jun 11, 2014
Electrical System

DRIVING ON FREEWAY DOING 70 MILES A HOUR. KEY FELL OUT OF IGNITION AND CAR KEPT GOING. PULLED OVER AND PUT KEY BACK IN AND FOUND I COULD REMOVE THE KEY AT ANYTIME THE CAR IS RUNNING AND I COULD PUT IT IN ANY GEAR WITH KEY PULLED OUT AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597695

70 miles · Jun 11, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE KEY WAS DETACHING FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V302000 (POWER TRAIN). WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE KEY WAS DETACHING FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V302000 (POWER TRAIN). WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70.

NHTSA ODI #10597676

89,000 miles · Jun 9, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 IGNITION SWITCHES WHICH RESULTED IN CAR BEING TOWED EACH TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597273

145,000 miles · Jun 5, 2014
Electrical System

WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND KEYS ARE OUT OF THE IGNITION THE CAR STILL THINKS THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION OR THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK. *TR THE CAR IS IN PARK AND KEY IS OUT OF IGNITION, YOU CAN STILL MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT THE WHEEL LOCKING AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK WHEN THIS IS HA…

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WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND KEYS ARE OUT OF THE IGNITION THE CAR STILL THINKS THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION OR THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK. *TR THE CAR IS IN PARK AND KEY IS OUT OF IGNITION, YOU CAN STILL MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT THE WHEEL LOCKING AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. SOMETIME THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK AND THAT IS WHEN THE DOOR LOCK WORKS AGAIN. MOST OF THE TIME THE STEERING WHILE DOES NOT LOCK WHEN IN PARK OR IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. THIS IS A SCARY ISSUES WITH ALL CURRENT RECALLS OF KEY LOCKS AND POSSIBLY NOT THE CAR DOES NOT KNOW THE VEHICLE IS OFF AND LOCKS ARE NOT WORKING. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596446

130,056 miles · May 23, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

I TODAY JUST BOUGHT A USED 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX LS FROM A DEALERSHIP IN ROCHESTER,NH - ( OWED CAR FOR ONLY 3 HR ) ONCE I PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I REALIZED THAT MY CAR MIGHT BE PART OF THE 2014 RECALL ON (KEYS) AND I HAD WATCHED THE CNN BROADCAST WHERE THEIR SHOWED DRIVER WHO THINK THEIR CAR MIGHT BE PART OF THE ISSUE HOW IT MI…

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I TODAY JUST BOUGHT A USED 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX LS FROM A DEALERSHIP IN ROCHESTER,NH - ( OWED CAR FOR ONLY 3 HR ) ONCE I PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY I REALIZED THAT MY CAR MIGHT BE PART OF THE 2014 RECALL ON (KEYS) AND I HAD WATCHED THE CNN BROADCAST WHERE THEIR SHOWED DRIVER WHO THINK THEIR CAR MIGHT BE PART OF THE ISSUE HOW IT MIGHT HAPPEN IN A CONTROLLED TEAT WELL I DID THE SAME THING WHILE THE CAR WAS IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE JUST OUTSIDE OF THE DEALERSHIP HEADING HOME AND I TRIED IT WITH 3 LIGHT TUG THE CAR STALLED I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AS I WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST ( ONLY 5 MPH) WHEN I GOT HOME IN MY OWN GARAGE I TRIED IT AGING WHILE IN A PARKED AND IT HAPPENED AGING I REPEATED THIS 3 MORE TIME TO ENSURE IT WAS NOT A ERROR ON MY PART - I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP LEFT A MESSAGE ABOUT THIS AS IF IT CAN GETREPIRED - UNDER MY WARRENTY I LIKE TO DO SO AS I HAVE ON MY KEYT CLIMBING CARBINE I USE FOR WORK AS A FOOD DELIVERY GUY I THEN CALLED GM RECALL HOTLINE AND WAS BOUNCE AROUND TO 3 DIFFERENT WOMEN WHO TOOK MY INFOR AND TOLD ME MY CAR NOT PART OF THE RECALL SO I CANT GET IT FIXED . . .AS OF RIGHT NOW BUT I CAN LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR NHTSA TO GET A RECALL ON MY CAR STARTED *** 3 LITTLE TUGS ON THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX LS (AUTO) AND THE CAR STALLED OUT - WHILE IN PARK - AND GOING 5 MPH IN A BREAKDOWN LANE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593784

60,000 miles · May 23, 2014
Electrical System

THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. THE KEY MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AT ANY TIME, EVEN IF THE CAR IS RUNNING. THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY LOCK AT ANY TIME SO THAT THE CAR MAY NOT BE STARTED. THE IGNITION SWITCH DAMAGES THE CAR KEY CAUSING THE CYLINDER TO BE FILLED WITH METAL SHAVINGS. THIS IS AN ONGOING, WE…

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THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. THE KEY MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AT ANY TIME, EVEN IF THE CAR IS RUNNING. THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY LOCK AT ANY TIME SO THAT THE CAR MAY NOT BE STARTED. THE IGNITION SWITCH DAMAGES THE CAR KEY CAUSING THE CYLINDER TO BE FILLED WITH METAL SHAVINGS. THIS IS AN ONGOING, WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. GM'S ANSWER IS TO CLEAN AND LUBRICATE THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS DOES NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593707

150,000 miles · May 23, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION INTERMITTENTLY. THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIME FRAME HAD …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION INTERMITTENTLY. THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIME FRAME HAD EXPIRED TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10593653

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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