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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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

15 reports
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107,333 miles · Nov 8, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

ACCELERATION IS WEAK, POSSIBLE FUMES AND EMISSIONS

NHTSA ODI #11044726

148,713 miles · Apr 17, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED REDUCED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AND HALF A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED REDUCED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AND HALF AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,713.

NHTSA ODI #10978910

133,000 miles · Apr 13, 2017
Air BagsFuel/propulsion SystemSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE'S THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE'S THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO SECURE THE PASSENGERS DURING HARD BRAKING AND THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE SENSORS ILLUMINATED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

NHTSA ODI #10972229

93,000 miles · Nov 2, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE AUTO IN FRONT OF ME CHANGED LANES AND I ACCELERATED TO GO PAST THE AUTO. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD AND WOULD NOT RELEASE EVEN AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO TRY AND GET IT TO RESPOND. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL AT FULL ACCELERATION. I WAS ABLE TO …

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I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE AUTO IN FRONT OF ME CHANGED LANES AND I ACCELERATED TO GO PAST THE AUTO. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD AND WOULD NOT RELEASE EVEN AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO TRY AND GET IT TO RESPOND. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL AT FULL ACCELERATION. I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE LANES AND GLIDED TO A STOP IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. WHERE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE ACCELERATOR TO DISENGAGE. I WAS VERY LUCKY THE TRAFFIC PATTERN ALLOWED ME TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE ACCELERATOR IS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #10923823

110,000 miles · Jul 7, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM). TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10732414

130,503 miles · Feb 2, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

I TRIED STARTING CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND WOULD NOT START. PUMPED THE GAS PEDAL WHILE TRYING TO START AND FINALLY STARTED. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. HAD THE FUEL FILTER CHANGED AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE READ SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680718

88,000 miles · Jan 8, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION CYLINDER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE DEALER AND THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION CYLINDER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI #10671163

106,000 miles · Oct 13, 2014
Air BagsFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed ControlCrash

VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AT THE FRONT DOOR. VEHICLE WENT RIGHT AFTER IMPACT AT FULL THROTTLE INTO A 12 FT DITCH. TURNED 90 DEGREES OUT OF THE DITCH,CAME OUT OF THE DITCH, ACROSS A 4 LANE ROAD. FRONT LEFT WHEEL CAUGHT ON A CURB, VEHICLE STILL A FULL THROTTLE WITH DRIVER TRYING TO BRAKE. VEERED TO THE LEFT, JUMPED …

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VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AT THE FRONT DOOR. VEHICLE WENT RIGHT AFTER IMPACT AT FULL THROTTLE INTO A 12 FT DITCH. TURNED 90 DEGREES OUT OF THE DITCH,CAME OUT OF THE DITCH, ACROSS A 4 LANE ROAD. FRONT LEFT WHEEL CAUGHT ON A CURB, VEHICLE STILL A FULL THROTTLE WITH DRIVER TRYING TO BRAKE. VEERED TO THE LEFT, JUMPED A 2 FT DITCH, WENT TO THE RIGHT, HIT A 3 FT ROCK, KNOCKED THE ROCK INTO THE DITCH AND CAR ENDED UP ON TOP OF THE ROCK. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THIS THIS. VEHICLE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 953 FT AT FULL THROTTLE BEFORE HITTING THE ROCK. GM HAD REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH ONCE UNDER POLICY VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR WHEN PARKED SOMETIMES. EVEN AFTER REPLACING IGNITION SWITCH WE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION. NATIONWIDE INSURANCE HAS POSSESSION OF THE CAR AND IS PAYING AN OUTSIDE VENDOR TO DOWN LOAD THE DATA FROM THIS ACCIDENT. GM WAS CALLED AN WE GOT ONE PHONE CALL BACK ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT A WEEK AGO. DO HAVE PICTURES AND VIDEO FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE. ALSO HAVE A DIAGRAM OF THE DISTANCES THE CAR TRAVELED WHILE CHANGING DIRECTIONS AFTER BEING HIT. BEST TIME TO CALL IS BETWEEN 10AM AND 1PM AS I DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS AND CAN NOT TALK. OR AFTER 6PM TO 9PM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644312

80,000 miles · Aug 28, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemSeat BeltsCrashInjury

MY 2005 EQUINOX, I HAVE ONLY 80K MILES ON IT,- KEY WILL NOT START IGNITION NORMAL. GETS STUCK AND HAVE TO SHAKE KEY FORWARD FOR ABOUT 20+ MINUTES BEFORE IT FINALLY TURNS ON. AND WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND RUNNING AT ANY SPEED, THE KEY WILL JUST COME OUT OF IGNITION. MAP LIGHTS LEAK WATER WHEN IT RAINS. CAR SMELLS LIKE MOLD. FUEL GAU…

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MY 2005 EQUINOX, I HAVE ONLY 80K MILES ON IT,- KEY WILL NOT START IGNITION NORMAL. GETS STUCK AND HAVE TO SHAKE KEY FORWARD FOR ABOUT 20+ MINUTES BEFORE IT FINALLY TURNS ON. AND WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND RUNNING AT ANY SPEED, THE KEY WILL JUST COME OUT OF IGNITION. MAP LIGHTS LEAK WATER WHEN IT RAINS. CAR SMELLS LIKE MOLD. FUEL GAUGE ALWAYS SAYS EMPTY AND I GET LESS THAN 16 MPG. GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT APR 2014, SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK WHEN I WAS REAR-ENDED, MY FACE ALMOST HIT THE RADIO (INITIAL REASON FOR MY CALL TO GM-CHEVY LINE POSTED ON THEIR WEBSITE TODAY, LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER AS TO WHY MY IGNITION WON'T WORK PROPERLY AND FOUND OUT ABOUT FAULTY IGNITIONS ON MY CAR) GM STATED, AFTER GIVING THEM MY VIN THAT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL!!! WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON??!! AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF "BLAMING GM FOR MY CAR PROBLEMS", I ASKED FOR A SUPERVISOR AND WAS HUNG UP ON. NO JOKE. SHE ALSO STATED NHTSB WAS AT FAULT. I'M SURE THEY RECORD ALL THE CALLS. I ENDED UP JUST CALLING THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SCHEDULED MY CAR FOR DIAGNOSTICS FOR TUE, 9/2/14. BUT THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WELL.....I'LL PULL MY KEY OUT TO SHOW THEM HOW EASILY THE KEY JUST COMES OUT AT ANY POSITION, AND THEN WHEN THE TECH TRIES TO START MY CAR AND CAN'T, AND IS STUCK IN THEIR GARAGE, WILL MY CAR BE ADDED THEN GM?? ?!!! I HAVE SO MANY ISSUES I COULD GO ON AND I SEE THAT SO MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THIS IS WHAT IS DONE TO US? NOW I'M ANGRY AND AFRAID. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629257

25,000 miles · Jul 23, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT START UNLESS YOU PUSH IN THE GAS PEDAL. HAVE SEEN ON LINE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND YET NO RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615733

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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