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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 System, Gasoline complaints

17 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE TAKEN MY 2005 EQUINOX IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES DUE TO POOR FUEL ECONOMY (13 MPG CITY/15 MPG HWY). I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 05. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED CHEVROLET MOTORS CORP WITH MY COMPLAINT. EACH TIME THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT THE DEALER PUTS ON THE VEHICLE PER ADVICE FROM GM TECH'S. HOWEVER, MILEAGE ST…

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I HAVE TAKEN MY 2005 EQUINOX IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES DUE TO POOR FUEL ECONOMY (13 MPG CITY/15 MPG HWY). I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 05. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED CHEVROLET MOTORS CORP WITH MY COMPLAINT. EACH TIME THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT THE DEALER PUTS ON THE VEHICLE PER ADVICE FROM GM TECH'S. HOWEVER, MILEAGE STILL WAY OFF FROM THAT ADVERTISED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10146140

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

POOR MILEAGE. SUV HAS 4000 MILES AND HAS BEEN INTO DEALER FOR 2 TSB'S FROM MANUFACTURER TO CORRECT TRANSMISSION & ODOMETER BOTH TO HELP MILEAGE. SUV STILL GET ONLY 19 HIGHWAY/17 CITY WHICH IS WELL BELOW ADVERTISED RANGE OF 25 CITY/19 CITY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10139398

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

DECEPTIVE MILEAGE INFORMATION. VEHICLE ONLY GETS 13 TO 17 MILES PER GALLON. LESS THAN THAT CHEVY TAHOE THAT I TRADED IN TO SAVE GAS. THIS IS DECEPTIVE SALES TACTICS DURING A TIME WHEN MOST PEOPLE ARE SHOPPING FOR VEHICLES WITH ACCEPTABLE GAS MILEAGE. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ILLEGAL, AT THE LEAST IT IS FALSE ADVERTISING. …

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DECEPTIVE MILEAGE INFORMATION. VEHICLE ONLY GETS 13 TO 17 MILES PER GALLON. LESS THAN THAT CHEVY TAHOE THAT I TRADED IN TO SAVE GAS. THIS IS DECEPTIVE SALES TACTICS DURING A TIME WHEN MOST PEOPLE ARE SHOPPING FOR VEHICLES WITH ACCEPTABLE GAS MILEAGE. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ILLEGAL, AT THE LEAST IT IS FALSE ADVERTISING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136531

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2005
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES, AND I AM WAITING ON A CALL FROM THE DEALER NEXT WEEK FOR UPDATED INFORMATION. THE PROBLEMS ARE: 1) FOUL ODOR, HOSES FOR ANTI-FREEZE SYSTEM REPLACED PER BULLETIN; 2) REAR SQUEAKING, LUBED SAME; 3) TRANSMISSION. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT BRAKES, BUT WAS TO…

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COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES, AND I AM WAITING ON A CALL FROM THE DEALER NEXT WEEK FOR UPDATED INFORMATION. THE PROBLEMS ARE: 1) FOUL ODOR, HOSES FOR ANTI-FREEZE SYSTEM REPLACED PER BULLETIN; 2) REAR SQUEAKING, LUBED SAME; 3) TRANSMISSION. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT BRAKES, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED, AND THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO ADJUST ITSELF ACCORDING TO DRIVING CONDITIONS/ EACH DRIVER'S HABITS, AND 4) POPPING NOISE HEARD WHEN STARTING OR WHEN STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. NOISE SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM GAS TANK AREA. ASKED FOR FUEL LINE/EXHAUST SYSTEM TO BE CHECKED. AS OF THIS TIME REPAIR CENTER CANNOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE NO IDEAS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND A TOTAL OF 6 DAYS. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS IN LIMBO AS THEY ARE 'LOOKING INTO IT' AND WILL CALL ME BACK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10115438

1,000 miles · Feb 11, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE IS NOT MEETING MILEAGE CLAIMANT BY MANUFACTURER 19 MPG TO 25 MPG. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT WOULD IMPROVE AFTER 1500 MILES. VEHICLE AT 5000 MILES AND A FEW LONG ROAD TRIPS IS ON AN AVERAGE OF 13 MPG CITY AND 16 MPG HIGHWAY. DEALER HAS NO RESPONSE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10110339

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

TERRIBLE GAS MILEAGE. STICKER SAID 18CITY/25HWY. WE ARE GETTING 14 CITY AND 20/21 HWY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109907

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

FOUL ODOR IN CABIN COMING FROM HEATER, ALSO SMELL IS NOTICABLE OUTSIDE THE CAR. CHECKED THE COOLANT AND IT IS DARK BROWN AND HAS A STRONG FOUL ODOR. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT GET ANYWHERE NEAR THE MILEAGE PER GALLON THAT GM STATES IT SHOULD GET OF 19 AND 25. LUCKY IF IT GET 13MPG CITY AND 15 HIGHWAY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10108421

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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