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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

Suspension complaints

57 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

WE HAVE A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX, AS MY MECHANIC WOULD SAY, IS A PROBLEM CHILD. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT MOST HAVE WITH THE ODOR COMING FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM. OUR BIGGEST COMPLAINT IN WITH THE SUSPENSION, AND NOW THE ABS SYSTEM. IT TOOK SEVERAL VISITS TO FIGURE OUT WHY OUR VEHICLE WAS MAKING LOUD NOISES IN THE FRONT END. IT A…

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WE HAVE A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX, AS MY MECHANIC WOULD SAY, IS A PROBLEM CHILD. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT MOST HAVE WITH THE ODOR COMING FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM. OUR BIGGEST COMPLAINT IN WITH THE SUSPENSION, AND NOW THE ABS SYSTEM. IT TOOK SEVERAL VISITS TO FIGURE OUT WHY OUR VEHICLE WAS MAKING LOUD NOISES IN THE FRONT END. IT ALL STARTED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AROUND A SHARP CORNER. FROM THAT DAY ON, WHICH WAS ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, TILL PRESENT TIME THE CAR HAS BEEN LOAD. WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT MECHANIC. THE NOISE IN THE FRONT TURNED OUT TO BE THE STRUT PLATES. THIS COST US $300 PER SIDE. WE THOUGHT WE HAD SOLVED THE ISSUES EXCEPT FOR ABOUT A WEEK AGO A LOUDER NOISE STARED. IT FELT AND SOUNDED LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING TO BREAK IN TWO. WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO OUR MECHANIC. THIS TIME IT WAS THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AGAIN. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS CALLED. THERE IS A ROD THAT IS FROM THE TOP OF THE STRUT THAT GOES DOWN TO THE WHEEL. THESE BOTH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE SHOP NOW. THANK FULLY THESES RODS ONLY COST $30 A PIECE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 46000 ON IT. THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE ABS SYSTEM. NOT EVERY TIME BUT QUITE FREQUENTLY WE WOULD BACK THE CAR UP AND THEY ABS WOULD ENGAGE. ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS WAS THROUGH REPLACING THE SENSORS ON THE WHEELS. IN NOT KNOWING WHICH SENSOR IS BAD WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM WHICH WOULD AMOUT TO AT LEAST $1200. THE GOOD NEWS OR NOT SUCH GOOD NEWS, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT, THE ABS SYSTEM IS ENGAGING GOING FORWARD NOW, ON DRY PAVEMENT WHILE BRAKING. AT LEAST THE MECHANICS SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THE FALTY SENSOR NOW THAT IT IS HAPPENING ALL OF THE TIME. SHAME ON US FOR NOT DOING OUR RESEARCH BEFORE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10215093

22,481 miles · Sep 26, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Air

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 2005 AWD CHEVY EQUINOX, INCLUDING THE HEAD GASKETS BLOWING, LOSING ACCELERATION ON THE 270/HIGHWAY, ONGOING ACCELERATION PROBLEMS, AND OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH STILL CONTINUE. I HAVE BEGGED FOR CHEVY TO HELP GET THE CAR FULLY REPAIRED AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES JUST KEEP TELLING ME…

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I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 2005 AWD CHEVY EQUINOX, INCLUDING THE HEAD GASKETS BLOWING, LOSING ACCELERATION ON THE 270/HIGHWAY, ONGOING ACCELERATION PROBLEMS, AND OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH STILL CONTINUE. I HAVE BEGGED FOR CHEVY TO HELP GET THE CAR FULLY REPAIRED AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES JUST KEEP TELLING ME TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALER. I'VE TRIED TWO DEALERS AND RETURNED TO THE PURCHASING DEALER WHO WILL ONLY MAKE REPAIRS IF THEY CAN PULL A CODE - THEY REPORT I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY SPARK PLUG WIRES - FIRST THEY REATTACHED IT, AND THEN REPLACED ONE BUT CAR STILL DOESN'T DRIVE AS IT DID BEFORE HEAD GASKETS BLEW. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME - I'VE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP 8 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS AND THE DEALER AND CHEVY WILL NOT PROVIDE ME WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY - CAR WARRANTY ENDS IN 6 MONTHS OR HELP REPAIR PROPERLY. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AS THEY DON'T TAKE MY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY AS THE ONLY WAY THEY DIAGNOSE IS BY PULLING CODES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10204221

19,400 miles · May 3, 2007
SuspensionTires

VEHICLE HAD ALIGNMENT PERFORMED BY DEALER AT APPX 10K MILES. REAR ALIGNMENT WAS EITHER NOT ADDRESSED OR IS DEFECTIVE CAUSING SEVERE TIRE WEAR RESULTING IN TIRE REPLACEMENT AND SECOND ALIGNMENT AT 19K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189642

18,000 miles · Apr 5, 2007
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE VEHICLE PRODUCED A HUMMING NOISE WHEN STARTED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2005 IT PRODUCED THE SAME NOISE. HOWEVER, THE SALES PERSON ASSURED THE CONTACT THAT THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE WAS ONLY THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LONGER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE VEHICLE PRODUCED A HUMMING NOISE WHEN STARTED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2005 IT PRODUCED THE SAME NOISE. HOWEVER, THE SALES PERSON ASSURED THE CONTACT THAT THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE WAS ONLY THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LONGER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE LOUDER THE NOISE BECAME. THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT VEHICLES WERE SUBJECT TO MALFUNCTION OCCASIONALLY. ALSO, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS THAT WERE NEEDED. THE CONTACT THEN BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE ,AND THAT THE ENTIRE WHEEL AS LIABLE TO DETACH AND CAUSE A CRASH. THE TIRES WERE EXAMINED AND DETERMINED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10187101

21,000 miles · Apr 4, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 20,000 AND IT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS A WEEK LATER. PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP,GRINDING AND CLICKING AT SLOW TURNS. THEY REPLACED ROTORS ,CLUTCH AND SUSPENSION AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. THEN CAME THE AIR CONDITION NOT BLOWING COLD AIR AND THE IGNITION STICKING ON START UP. THE FINAL STRAW WAS THE …

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BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 20,000 AND IT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS A WEEK LATER. PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP,GRINDING AND CLICKING AT SLOW TURNS. THEY REPLACED ROTORS ,CLUTCH AND SUSPENSION AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. THEN CAME THE AIR CONDITION NOT BLOWING COLD AIR AND THE IGNITION STICKING ON START UP. THE FINAL STRAW WAS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND DROPPING INTO LOWER GEARS,THE CAR WILL BE IN THE SHOP IN THE MORNING. LAST CHEVY I WILL EVER BUY BACK TO NISSAN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10187063

36,400 miles · Dec 11, 2006
Suspension

2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. IN OCTOBER, 2006, I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS WHEN I LOST STEERING AND MY CAR FELT AS THOUGH A WHEEL WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. AFTER TOWING THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC (I WAS 400 MILES PAST THE 36,000 WARRANTY), I FOUND OUT THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10175854

20,000 miles · Aug 30, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT THIS 2005 EQUINOX IN MARCH OF 2005. IT HAD 9K MILES ON IT. A FEW TIMES AFTER THAT IT DID NOT SOUND LIKE IT WAS GOING TO START. WHEN IT DID THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHOOK, IT WAS LIKE STARTING A MANUAL IN GEAR. AT AROUND 12K MILES THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING WHEN THE WERE BRAKES APPLIED. TOOK IT IN TO BE SERVICED …

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MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT THIS 2005 EQUINOX IN MARCH OF 2005. IT HAD 9K MILES ON IT. A FEW TIMES AFTER THAT IT DID NOT SOUND LIKE IT WAS GOING TO START. WHEN IT DID THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHOOK, IT WAS LIKE STARTING A MANUAL IN GEAR. AT AROUND 12K MILES THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING WHEN THE WERE BRAKES APPLIED. TOOK IT IN TO BE SERVICED IN FEBRUARY 2006 AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK BRAKES. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT FEEL ANYTHING. CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM CHECK THE BRAKES AGAIN. WHEN WE DID THEY TOLD US THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ALREADY. STILL HAS HALF THE LIFE ON THE BRAKES. TODAY WE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS REPLACED. THIS WAS DUE TO A LOUD NOISE WE KEPT HEARING. HOPEFULLY THAT FIXED THAT PROBLEM. AS FAR AS THE BRAKES AND ROTORS, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US NOT TO WORRY ABOUT HAVING NEW ROTORS PUT ON UNTIL THE BRAKES WERE WORN. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN SOMEONE SLOWS DOWN IN FRONT OF YOU WHEN YOU'RE DOING 50 TO 65 MPH AND IT DON'T FEEL LIKE YOUR GOING TO STOP. WE WERE TOLD THIS WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I AM DONE WITH CHEVROLET. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167017

3,000 miles · Aug 29, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentSuspension

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, HOWEVER IT DID NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHILE DRIVING OVER 60 MPH AND WHEN THE BRAKES…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, HOWEVER IT DID NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHILE DRIVING OVER 60 MPH AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TIRES TWICE, ROTATED, AND BALANCED THE TIRES IN AN EFFORT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO REPLACED THE RIMS, WHEELS, AND HUBS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT FELL OFF THE BRACKET WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPDATED10/04/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166863

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2006
Suspension

I HAVE 13,000 MILES ON MY CAN, AND THE BRAKES ARE 40% GONE ON THE FRONT, AND 20% ON THE BACK. ALSO POOR STEERING AND HANDLING. FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THESE PROBLEMS AND AM TOLD THAT THEY ARE NORMAL, THAT ALL EQUINOXS MAKE THE NOISE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156918

15,962 miles · Mar 29, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. FIRST, THE ENGINE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT CRANK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SECOND, WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES T…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. FIRST, THE ENGINE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT CRANK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SECOND, WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE BRAKES TO ACTIVATE CORRECTLY. THIRD, THE TRANSMISSION REVVED HIGH AND INTERMITTENTLY DID NOT CHANGE GEARS CORRECTLY WHILE DRIVING. FOURTH, THE ABS LAMP ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE ABS LAMP WAS RESET. LASTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN AND WOULD NOT RISE BACK UP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDOW REGULATOR AND THE WINDOW WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPEATEDLY TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND ADDRESSED THE PROBLEMS THAT COULD BE DUPLICATED AND MADE APPROPRIATE REPAIRS. HARD START/HESITATION AND ALMOST STALLING. ALSO, DETERMINED SPEED SENSOR WAS CAUSING REDUCED POWER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10153969

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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