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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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Mileage unknown · May 4, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

I AM SUBMITTING THIS TO INFORM YOU OF THE HORRIBLE QUALITY AND SAFETY OF MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LT, W/ 3.4L ENGINE. I HAVE JUST HAD MY ENGINE'S HEADGASKETS BLOW-OUT AT 43,000 MILES ON A CAR THAT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED EXACTLY TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATION. THE CAR'S BRAKING SYSTEM IS ALSO DANGEROUSLY UNDER POWERED. I HA…

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I AM SUBMITTING THIS TO INFORM YOU OF THE HORRIBLE QUALITY AND SAFETY OF MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LT, W/ 3.4L ENGINE. I HAVE JUST HAD MY ENGINE'S HEADGASKETS BLOW-OUT AT 43,000 MILES ON A CAR THAT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED EXACTLY TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATION. THE CAR'S BRAKING SYSTEM IS ALSO DANGEROUSLY UNDER POWERED. I HAVE WORN THROUGH TWO SETS OF ROTORS AND PADS ALREADY IN 43,000 MILES. I DO NOT DRIVE AGGRESSIVELY EITHER. THE BRAKES WEAR OUT TOO QUICKLY AND WHEN THE ROTORS WARP THE BRAKING DISTANCES SKYROCKET AND THE CAR VIBRATES UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE APPLYING THEM. THIS CAR IS A TOTAL LEMON AS I AM SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON REPORTING THIS. JUST READ SOME REVIEWS ON THE 2005 EQUINOX AND YOU WILL SEE - THE 3.4L ENGINE PUT IN THIS CAR IS A DESIGN EMBARRASSMENT FOR GM. WE NEED SOME NHTSA ASSISTANCE, AS CHEVROLET DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THIS PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328859

100,456 miles · Apr 14, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX STARTED OVERHEATING THIS WINTER. IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED A BROKEN WATER PUMP. A FEW MONTHS PASSED WITH NO ISSUE THEN IT STARTED OVERHEATING AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I'VE GONE ON MULTIPLE SITES THAT REPORT THE SAME …

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MY 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX STARTED OVERHEATING THIS WINTER. IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED A BROKEN WATER PUMP. A FEW MONTHS PASSED WITH NO ISSUE THEN IT STARTED OVERHEATING AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I'VE GONE ON MULTIPLE SITES THAT REPORT THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR CHEVY EQUINOX. ALTHOUGH, NO ONE WAS HURT IN MY SITUATION, THE REPEATED OCCURRENCE OF THIS HAPPENING WITH OTHER EQUINOX OWNERS IS PUZZLING AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AT THE LEAST. IN MY SITUATION I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR SLOWED DOWN FROM 60 MPH TO UNDER 40 MPH. LUCKILY THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL ALL THE WAY OVER ACROSS TRAFFIC. . THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AND CHEVY HAS EVEN LOGGED THIS FAULTY HEAD GASKET ISSUE IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETINS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325689

93,000 miles · Apr 2, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LT AWD - NEW ENGINE NEEDED AT 93,000 MILES. THIS CAR HAD ALL SUGGESTED SERVICE AND OIL CHANGES. UPDATED IVOQ. 07/13/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10323458

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A LOW MILE 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I'VE DONE MY REASEARCH NOT TO FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 05-09 MODELS. CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, THAT IS A EXREAMLY COSTLY REPAIR AND BY THE TIME IT HAPPENS MOST OF US ARE OUT OF OUT WARENTY.

NHTSA ODI #10322865

75,000 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD BEGIN TO RUN HOT AND THE COOLANT LEVEL WOULD CONTINUALLY DECREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HIS LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD BEGIN TO RUN HOT AND THE COOLANT LEVEL WOULD CONTINUALLY DECREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HIS LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75000.

NHTSA ODI #10316248

84,000 miles · Jan 13, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR-BEFORE AND AFTER WARRANTY. MOST RECENTLY, I HAD TO PAY OVER 1600.00 TO HAVE MY HEAD GASKETS REPLACED/REPAIRED. I AM STILL WAITING TO SEE IF DIFFERENT GASKETS ARE CRACKED AND WILL NEED REPAIR. I HAVE HEARD FROM NUMEROUS REPAIRS SHOPS AND ONLINE SOURCES, THAT T…

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I OWN A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR-BEFORE AND AFTER WARRANTY. MOST RECENTLY, I HAD TO PAY OVER 1600.00 TO HAVE MY HEAD GASKETS REPLACED/REPAIRED. I AM STILL WAITING TO SEE IF DIFFERENT GASKETS ARE CRACKED AND WILL NEED REPAIR. I HAVE HEARD FROM NUMEROUS REPAIRS SHOPS AND ONLINE SOURCES, THAT THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS WITH THE CHEVY EQUINOX WERE KNOWN BEFORE BEING PUT OUT FOR SALE. MY CAR OVERHEATED ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOCKED UP. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. I WAS THANKFULLY ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. THESE ISSUES COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF CHEVY WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM PRIOR TO SELLING. THERE IS NO REASON WHY A FOUR YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD REQUIRE THIS MUCH WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299603

60,000 miles · Nov 27, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE IDLING THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AS IT WOULD STALL. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-60 MPH THE TEMPERATURE AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL GAS STATION. A MECHANIC STATED T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE IDLING THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AS IT WOULD STALL. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-60 MPH THE TEMPERATURE AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL GAS STATION. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT FAILED, BECAUSE IT WAS LOCATED NEAR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10293706

33,000 miles · Nov 23, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

2005 CHEVY EQUINOX, REPLACED HEAD GASKET 2 TIMES, BLOWN AGAIN. THE EXHAUST AND FUMES THAT COME OUT BECAUSE OF THIS ARE HORRIBLE. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED, GM IS VERY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293257

39,930 miles · Oct 12, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE MY 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY 2005 WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY CRANE CHEVROLET IN CLIFTON NJ HAS NOW HAVE A BLOWN HAD GASKET AND INTAKE PROBLEM - I CALLED THE DEALER FOR A ONE TIME GOODWILL ADJUSTMENT AND ASKED FOR THE DEDUCTIBLE- AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO HAVE THIS CAR TOW…

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I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE MY 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY 2005 WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY CRANE CHEVROLET IN CLIFTON NJ HAS NOW HAVE A BLOWN HAD GASKET AND INTAKE PROBLEM - I CALLED THE DEALER FOR A ONE TIME GOODWILL ADJUSTMENT AND ASKED FOR THE DEDUCTIBLE- AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO HAVE THIS CAR TOWED TO THEM - BUT THEY CANNOT MAKE PROMISES TO FIX OR REPAIR OR EVEN PAY PART OF THE COSTS- I HAVE DONE RESEARCH VIA GOGGLE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM - PLS HELP ME- POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION- THE REPAIR IS 1650.00 - I INITIALLY LEASED THIS CAR THEN DECIDED TO PURCHASE IT- I COULD NOT AFFORD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10287107

72,000 miles · Oct 8, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

2005 EQUINOX, 70,000 MILES, STARTED OVER HEATING, TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE STATED IT WAS A BLOW HEAD GASKET, COST MIN OF $2000.00. I CALLED GM AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE PROBLEM, THEY ASKED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO A GM DEALER AND THEY WOULD DIAGNOSE AND SEE IF GM COULD HELP. THE CAR SAT AT THE GM DEALER FOR 3WEEKS AND THEN…

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2005 EQUINOX, 70,000 MILES, STARTED OVER HEATING, TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE STATED IT WAS A BLOW HEAD GASKET, COST MIN OF $2000.00. I CALLED GM AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE PROBLEM, THEY ASKED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO A GM DEALER AND THEY WOULD DIAGNOSE AND SEE IF GM COULD HELP. THE CAR SAT AT THE GM DEALER FOR 3WEEKS AND THEN GM STATED THEY DON'T HELP WITH ANY REPAIR COSTS. THE DEALER WOULD NOT RELEASE MY BROKEN CAR TO ME UNTIL I PAID $100.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS, WHICH I ALREADY KNEW, AND GM CORP. WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS WHEN THEY ARE THE ONES THAT SENT ME THERE! GM KNEW ABOUT THE DEFECT IN THE HEAD GASKETS ON THE 2005 EQUINOX, THEY KNEW THE HEAD GASKET WOULD ONLY LAST FOR 3-5YEARS. THEY ARE NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT OR HELPING IN ANYWAY THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS. I HAVE A BROKEN CAR I CANNOT PAY TO FIX AND I STILL OWE A YEAR AND A HALF LEFT ON MY NOTE. I AM PAYING $507.00 PER MONTH ON MY NOTE FOR A BROKEN CAR! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10286762

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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