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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

What owners actually said

638 reports
72,861 miles · Aug 27, 2010
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY JUMP FORWARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY JUMP FORWARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DAMAGED DURING THE FIRST REPAIR. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,861.

NHTSA ODI #10352328

65,000 miles · Aug 19, 2010
Air Bags

2005 CHEVY EQUINOX 65000 MILES, STARTED ONE DAY AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600 OR AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350531

85,000 miles · Aug 7, 2010
SteeringTraction Control SystemUnknown Or Other

2005 CHEVY EQUINOX. CURRENT MILES APPROX 85,000. WAS REAR ENDED IN MAY 2010. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED IN JUNE 2010. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS, FOUND NOTICEABLE GRINDING NOISES FROM BRAKES, LOW TO NULL BRAKING ABILITY. ABS AND TRACKING LIGHTS ARE ON. IN JUNE, DEALER FOUND ABS SENSOR AND STEERING COLUMN WERE BROKEN. D…

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2005 CHEVY EQUINOX. CURRENT MILES APPROX 85,000. WAS REAR ENDED IN MAY 2010. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED IN JUNE 2010. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS, FOUND NOTICEABLE GRINDING NOISES FROM BRAKES, LOW TO NULL BRAKING ABILITY. ABS AND TRACKING LIGHTS ARE ON. IN JUNE, DEALER FOUND ABS SENSOR AND STEERING COLUMN WERE BROKEN. DEALER SAID IT WAS A RESULT OF RECENT CAR ACCIDENT BUT SEVERAL INSURANCE ADJUSTERS HAVE SAID THE ACCIDENT WAS TOO MINOR TO CAUSE SUCH DAMAGE AND BELIEVE IT IS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. NO INSURANCE COMPANY WILL TOUCH THIS CLAIM. THEY BELIEVE IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN GMC PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10347885

77,000 miles · Jul 29, 2010
TiresCrashFireInjury

WHILE TRAVELING TO WORK ON HIGHWAY 100 EAST BOUND IN MD. MY 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX STARTED HAVING VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE NUMBER 2 LANE ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE THEN PULLED ME TO THE LEFT. I COUNTER STEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE PULLED ME INTO A HARD LEFT STRAIGHT INTO A GUARD RAIL…

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WHILE TRAVELING TO WORK ON HIGHWAY 100 EAST BOUND IN MD. MY 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX STARTED HAVING VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE NUMBER 2 LANE ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE THEN PULLED ME TO THE LEFT. I COUNTER STEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE PULLED ME INTO A HARD LEFT STRAIGHT INTO A GUARD RAIL. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE AFTER IT PULLED ME TO THE LEFT WHICH RESULTED IN MY CRASH INTO THE GUARD RAIL AND ANOTHER CAR HITTING ME AFTERWARDS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED AT THE TIRES LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. BOTH TIRES ON THE DRIVER SIDE WERE FLAT AND OFF OF THE RIMS. I COULD UNDERSTAND THE FRONT TIRE BEING IN THIS CONDITION BUT THE REAR TIRE WAS NOT NEAR ANY IMPACT. THAT PORTION OF THE CAR DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY DAMAGE WHICH MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. A COUPLE OF MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT I HAD SEARS INSTALL 4 BRAND NEW GOODYEAR WEATHERHANDLER FUELMAX TIRES. I FEEL AS IF THESE TIRES OR THE INSTALLATION ALMOST ENDED MY LIFE AND I WANTED TO REPORT IT SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346034

34,000 miles · Jul 22, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

ACCIDENT OF CHEVY EQUINOX IN THE HOV LANE OF SOUTHBOUND 405 FREEWAY HITTING THE HOV K-RAIL AND TURNING ONTO ITS SIDE. EQUINOX WAS TOTALED NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FRONT OR SIDE UPON IMPACT. REPORTED TO GM, NO ACTION TAKEN BY GM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344771

94,556 miles · Jul 20, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE BEGAN IDLING ROUGH AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT AND THEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE. ONCE IN DRIVE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS. EVENTUALLY, AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AGAIN. NOW IT NEEDS A NEW REAR HEAD GASKET AN…

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VEHICLE BEGAN IDLING ROUGH AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT AND THEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE. ONCE IN DRIVE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS. EVENTUALLY, AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AGAIN. NOW IT NEEDS A NEW REAR HEAD GASKET AND THE #1 CYLINDER IS LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344168

80,000 miles · Jun 16, 2010
Air Bags

2005 CHEVY EQUINOX, 80,000 MILES. AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON & CONTINUED TO STAY ON WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG FRONT SENSOR MODULE IS BAD & NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. 450.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. IF NOT REPLACED AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK IN A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336577

45,000 miles · Jun 8, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2005 CHEVY EQUINOX, PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER IN SUMMER 2005. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN VIBRATING EXCESSIVELY SINCE ABOUT 15K MILES. ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED (WHICH IS WAY TOO EARLY). IGNITION CYLINDER (WHERE THE KEY GOES IN AND TURNS...) HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE FIRST 5K MILES (TOOK A WEEK - DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPA…

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2005 CHEVY EQUINOX, PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER IN SUMMER 2005. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN VIBRATING EXCESSIVELY SINCE ABOUT 15K MILES. ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED (WHICH IS WAY TOO EARLY). IGNITION CYLINDER (WHERE THE KEY GOES IN AND TURNS...) HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE FIRST 5K MILES (TOOK A WEEK - DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR AND HAD TO GET PARTS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE). FRONT TIRES SHOW EXCESSIVE WEAR ON OUTER EDGE, EVEN AFTER MAINTENANCE. TWO TIRES REPLACED ~30K MILES DUE TO TREAD BEING WORN. EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT ON THE INTERSTATE (AT HIGHWAY SPEED) OF ANOTHER TIRE AT AROUND 40K MILES. THEN REPLACED TWO OTHER TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335392

71,000 miles · May 20, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART IN TRAFFIC FOR APPROXIMATELY THE 5TH TIME IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE FIRST FOUR TIMES WERE FINALLY DIAGNOSED BY GM AS A FAULTY COMPUTER THAT WAS GETTING WET DUE TO A BAD SEAL FROM THE SUNROOF. BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS, I LEASED ANOTHER CAR FOR MY WIFE WHILE I WAS DEPLOYE…

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MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART IN TRAFFIC FOR APPROXIMATELY THE 5TH TIME IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE FIRST FOUR TIMES WERE FINALLY DIAGNOSED BY GM AS A FAULTY COMPUTER THAT WAS GETTING WET DUE TO A BAD SEAL FROM THE SUNROOF. BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS, I LEASED ANOTHER CAR FOR MY WIFE WHILE I WAS DEPLOYED TO IRAQ SO I WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HER SAFETY. THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE FOR THE PAST YEAR THAT I HAVE BEEN HOME. I HAVE ROUTINELY CHANGED MY OIL AND INSPECTED FLUIDS AND AIR PRESSURES ETC. ON VEHICLES. THE LATEST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. IT STALLED WAS DUE TO WHAT THE DEALER IS CALLING INTERNAL DAMAGE. SPEAKING TO A CLAIMS AGENT FOR GM I WAS INITIALLY TOLD TO HAVE DEALER CALL FOR AN AUTHORIZATION. THEY REFUSED TO HONOR MY EXTENDED GM WARRANTY AND ARE DEMANDING $1700 JUST TO TEAR IT DOWN TO SEE WHAT THE FAULT OR PROBLEM IS. I HAVE CONTACTED GM EXT WARRANTY AND THEY HAVE FINALLY AGREED TO SEND A INSPECTOR. NOW THEY ARE DEMANDING PROOF OF OIL CHANGES. I CONTACTED MY OIL CHANGE SERVICE CENTER AND THEY JUST SOLD TO A NEW OWNER AND CANNOT ACCESS OLD DATABASE PAST 1 APR 2010...THIS VEHICLE HAS BROKE DOWN (STALLED WITH NO POWER) ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN VERY DANGEROUS AREAS WITH LIMITED ROOM TO PULL OVER DUE TO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND NUMEROUS BIG RIGS TRAVELING THE ROUTE. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED YET, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. AFTER THIS LATEST INCIDENT, I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE/MOTOR. I AM GENUINELY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY, AND FURTHERMORE, DEEPLY DISTURBED THAT I HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR A GM EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT THEY DO NOT WISH TO CHOOSE TO HONOR. WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE OR RECOURSE CAN YOUR OFFICE APPLY TO GM BEFORE THEY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR A PRODUCT THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND A SAFETY HAZARD. I ACTUALLY LIKE THIS CAR, BUT IT HAS TURNED INTO NOTHING BUT A LEMON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331387

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2010
Structure

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT LEAKS WATER INTO THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT WHENEVER IT RAINS OR VEHICLE GOES THROUGH CAR WASH. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL GALLONS AND IT SLOSHES AROUND AND SATURATES THE CARPET IN THE BACK FLOORBOARD. GM HAS A BULLETIN 2198426 WHEREAS IT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEALED PROPERLY AT THE …

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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THAT LEAKS WATER INTO THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT WHENEVER IT RAINS OR VEHICLE GOES THROUGH CAR WASH. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL GALLONS AND IT SLOSHES AROUND AND SATURATES THE CARPET IN THE BACK FLOORBOARD. GM HAS A BULLETIN 2198426 WHEREAS IT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEALED PROPERLY AT THE FACTORY AND WATER WILL COLLECT IN THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT BUT WILL NOT FIX UNLESS THE CUSTOMER(ME) PAYS. I CAN SMELL THE MOLD AND MILDEW IN MY VEHICLE AND FEEL THIS CAN ONLY BE BAD FOR MY HEALTH BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CONTINUOUS MOLD REGENERATION. I HAVE TALKED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND CALLED GM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO FIX. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND ALL YEARS BETWEEN 2005 AND 2007 ARE LISTED AND MANY MANY COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331335

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.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Equinox problems