IllustrationCONTINUAL HEADLIGHT BURNING OUT. WITHIN 30 DAYS OF HAVING NEW BULB INSTALLED. DEALER REPLACED BULB EACH TIME AT A COST OF APPROX $150 EVENTUALLY DEALER REVEALS IT IS A CONNECTOR CAUSING SHORTAGE AND WILL REPLACE AT A COST OF APPROX $275. *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
910–25K
7725–50K
10450–75K
9775–100K
104100–150K
34150K+
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
15 reportsTURN SIGNAL LIGHT SWITCH WENT OUT AND CAUSES THE BRIGHT LIGHTS TO STAY ON. *TR
CONDENSATION IN HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY, BAD SEAL AROUND HEADLAMP. CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NO LONGER REQUIRED TO FIX. A CAR THAT IS 3 YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT HAVE A SEAL GO BAD LEADING TO A BUILDUP OF WATER INSIDE THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. I FELT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND GM SHOULD FIX IT, THEY FEEL OTHERW…
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CONDENSATION IN HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY, BAD SEAL AROUND HEADLAMP. CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NO LONGER REQUIRED TO FIX. A CAR THAT IS 3 YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT HAVE A SEAL GO BAD LEADING TO A BUILDUP OF WATER INSIDE THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. I FELT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND GM SHOULD FIX IT, THEY FEEL OTHERWISE SITTING NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, I DISAGREE, HENCE THE COMPLAINT. *TR
THE BACK FLOORBOARD OF MY CAR HAS BEEN NOTICABLY WET FOR A FEW MONTHS. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I BEGAN RESEARCHING ONLINE TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. THE SEALS AROUND THE DOORS WERE FINE. I DID FIND 3" OF WATER LAYING IN MY SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT. THERE IS NO DRAIN HOLE FOR THE WATER TO BE REMOVED. THE WATER IS C…
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THE BACK FLOORBOARD OF MY CAR HAS BEEN NOTICABLY WET FOR A FEW MONTHS. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I BEGAN RESEARCHING ONLINE TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. THE SEALS AROUND THE DOORS WERE FINE. I DID FIND 3" OF WATER LAYING IN MY SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT. THERE IS NO DRAIN HOLE FOR THE WATER TO BE REMOVED. THE WATER IS COMING IN FROM THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE EQUINOX FROM SIMPLY LAUGHED AT THE PROBLEM AND SAID IT WOULD COST OVER $200 TO REPLACE JUST THE TAIL LIGHT. THE SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS HORRIBLE. IT IS OBVIOUSLY RUSTING THE BODY AND CAUSING MOLD AND MILDEW INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *TR
SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHTS ON TWO LANE HIGHWAYS WE ARE CONTINUALLY FLASHED WITH BRIGHTS, INDICATING OUR BRIGHTS ARE TURNED ON BUT THEY WERE NOT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE LIGHTS ADJUSTED AND WERE TOLD THEY ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE.*AK
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.