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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

111 reports
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74,126 miles · Aug 3, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

I RECEIVED MY VEHICLE BACK ON 8.2.11 IT HAD BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP SINCE 5.14.11. THE REPAIR MAN REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION MODULATOR. HE NOTED THAT IT DID "ACT UP" FOR HIM, HOWEVER IT HAD NOT ACTED UP SINCE HIS LAST ATTEMPT AT FIXING IT. IT WAS RAINING WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR. IN THE FIRST 10 MILES I NOTICED TH…

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I RECEIVED MY VEHICLE BACK ON 8.2.11 IT HAD BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP SINCE 5.14.11. THE REPAIR MAN REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION MODULATOR. HE NOTED THAT IT DID "ACT UP" FOR HIM, HOWEVER IT HAD NOT ACTED UP SINCE HIS LAST ATTEMPT AT FIXING IT. IT WAS RAINING WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR. IN THE FIRST 10 MILES I NOTICED THE STEERING PULLED TO THE LEFT A COUPLE OF TIMES. AFTER I HIT DRY ROAD THIS DID NOT OCCUR. AFTER ABOUT 30-60 MILES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE GETTING IT BACK, THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED FAILING AND THE VEHICLE WHILE GOING 55MPH STARTS TO FEEL LIKE IT IS GOING TO CEASE TO OPERATE AND STUTTERS. IT IS ALSO NOTED THAT IT FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT TO THE APPROPRIATE GEAR. THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY 8.5.11. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10416938

60,000 miles · Jul 29, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED EVERY TIME HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON HE HAD TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED EVERY TIME HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON HE HAD TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,500.

NHTSA ODI #10416296

20,000 miles · Jul 26, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANYTIME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANYTIME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000. SM.

NHTSA ODI #10415249

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX LT- AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF DRIVING IT WITH NO PROBLEMS THE HEAD CRACKED. GM IS TAKING NO ACTION TO TRY AND REMEDY THIS SITUATION. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413509

50,660 miles · May 21, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TOOK MY EQUINOX IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THEN COMES THE BAD NEWS. LOWER INTAKE VALVE GASKETS LEAKING. WHAT!! ONLY 50000 MILES ON VEHICLE THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. $725.00 LATER IT IS FIXED. I HAVE READY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT GM KNOWING THESE WERE DEFECTIVE GASKETS AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10403272

74,000 miles · Apr 26, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Electric

I HAVE A 2005 EQUINOX AND HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES NOW IN 3 WEEKS! THE THERMOSTAT WENT OUT, THEN THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND NOW THEY SAY THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BUBBLING SOUND CAN BE HEARD WHEN YOU TAKE OFF FROM A STOP. I'M ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES MAKING ACTING STRANGELY.. THE…

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I HAVE A 2005 EQUINOX AND HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES NOW IN 3 WEEKS! THE THERMOSTAT WENT OUT, THEN THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND NOW THEY SAY THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BUBBLING SOUND CAN BE HEARD WHEN YOU TAKE OFF FROM A STOP. I'M ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES MAKING ACTING STRANGELY.. THE FRONT SHAKES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10397450

60,000 miles · Mar 30, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

HAD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM EXHAUST AND HAVE EXHAUST FUMES COMING THRU THE VENTS, AND FOUND THAT IT WAS THE ERG VALVE (BROKE IN TWO). WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO GET REPLACEMENT PART AND WAS TOLD BY THE PARTS GUY THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE EQUINOX AND THAT THEY NOW HAVE CHANGED THE ENTIRE PART SO YOU CAN NO LONGER JUST REP…

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HAD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM EXHAUST AND HAVE EXHAUST FUMES COMING THRU THE VENTS, AND FOUND THAT IT WAS THE ERG VALVE (BROKE IN TWO). WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO GET REPLACEMENT PART AND WAS TOLD BY THE PARTS GUY THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE EQUINOX AND THAT THEY NOW HAVE CHANGED THE ENTIRE PART SO YOU CAN NO LONGER JUST REPLACE THE $20 TUBE, YOU HAVE TO GET THE $300 PART, PLUS LABOR AND THEN HAVE THE SHOP 'RESET' THE COMPUTER TO MATCH THE NEW PART..........ANOTHER $200 SERVICE. THIS APPARENTLY IS A HUGE PROBLEM DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SHOULD BE RECALLED!!! NICE SCAM CHEVY! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10393696

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

01/21/2011 THE EQUINOX WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND WAS HAULED TO THE DEALER. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THERE APPEARED TO BE A SLOW LOSS OF COOLANT, REQUIRING A GALLON OF COOLANT TO BE ADDED OVER THE PREVIOUS THREE MONTH PERIOD. THERE WERE NO LEAKS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, NOR ANY INTERIOR CABIN LEAKS APPARENT, BUT THERE HAD BEEN A "SYRUP…

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01/21/2011 THE EQUINOX WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND WAS HAULED TO THE DEALER. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THERE APPEARED TO BE A SLOW LOSS OF COOLANT, REQUIRING A GALLON OF COOLANT TO BE ADDED OVER THE PREVIOUS THREE MONTH PERIOD. THERE WERE NO LEAKS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, NOR ANY INTERIOR CABIN LEAKS APPARENT, BUT THERE HAD BEEN A "SYRUPY" SMELL IN THE PASSENGER CABIN. THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW BATTERY AND ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING. THE NEW BATTERY AND HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT TOTALED $1090.11. APPARENTLY, WHEN THE BATTERY DIED, THE DIAGNOSTICS CODES RELATING TO THIS INCIDENT WERE LOST. 03/16/2011 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY IN THE PAST BUT HAD ALWAYS BEEN RELATED TO A LOOSE GAS CAP AND WAS EASILY REMEDIED BY TIGHTENING THE CAP. WHEN THAT SOLUTION DID NOT WORK, THE EQUINOX WAS TAKEN INTO THE LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP. IT WAS THEN DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT, WHERE IT IS NOW BEING REPAIRED. THE REPAIR TOTAL IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT $1400. IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS, THIS VEHICLE (WITH ONLY 68K MILES ON IT) HAS REQUIRED AT LEAST $2400 DOLLARS IN HEATER CORE AND ENGINE HEAD GASKET REPAIR COSTS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE HEATER CORE LEAKS WERE LIKELY TO HAVE HAD THE SUBSEQUENT EFFECT OF COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF THE HEAD GASKET. I HAVE FOUND MANY DOCUMENTED REFERENCES TO SIMILAR PROBLEMS OCCURRING IN THIS ENGINE MAKE, THE 3.4L GM V6. THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE A RELATED LINK TO PROBLEMS WITH THE TYPE OF COOLANT USED IN THIS ENGINE (DEX COOL). AT THIS POINT, I AM NOT AWARE THAT GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS PROBLEM. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT SO THAT IT CAN BE ADDED TO THE MOUNTING EVIDENCE OF PRODUCT DEFECTS IN THIS ENGINE TYPE.

NHTSA ODI #10391389

61,487 miles · Feb 12, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. ENGINE; BLOWN HEAD GASKET; ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10382428

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT COME DOWN AND DRIVERS WINDOW SOMETIMES WILL NOT COME DOWN. HAVE TO PULL UP OR DOWN WITH HAND.. THE IGNITION DOES NOT LOCK AND THE VEHICLE WILL RUN WITHOUT THE KEY IN IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10379365

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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