NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
638 reports48,000 miles · Jul 23, 2009
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
2005 CHEVY EQUINOX LS. CAN TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. I'M AFRAID THE KEY COULD FALL OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP. OR, IF IN AN ACCIDENT, THE KEY FALL OUT WHILE THE MOTOR IS RUNNING AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE MOTOR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN FIRE. …
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2005 CHEVY EQUINOX LS. CAN TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. I'M AFRAID THE KEY COULD FALL OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP. OR, IF IN AN ACCIDENT, THE KEY FALL OUT WHILE THE MOTOR IS RUNNING AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE MOTOR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN FIRE. HAD THE KEY REPLACED ONCE, ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO. IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, SO I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN TAMPERING OR REPLACEMENT WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. GM'S SOLUTION IS GO TO DEALER. DEALERS SOLUTION IS REPLACE KEY. OBVIOUSLY REPLACING KEY IS NOT A LONG TERM SOLUTION NOR ONE THAT FIXES THE PROBLEM. IT IS, HOWEVER, AND EXPENSIVE ONE THAT COULD BE IS FATAL IF NOT FIXED IN TIME. IT ALSO APPEARS TO BE EXTRAORDINARY. I HAVE DRIVEN FOR 42 YEARS AND OWNED MANY, MANY CARS. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A KEY BECAUSE I CAN PULL IT OUT OF THE IGNITION. NOW, IT APPEARS I'LL HAVE TO DO IT EVERY YEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278142
88,500 miles · Jul 20, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE BRAKE GOES TO THE FLOOR. WHEN YOU STEP ON IT AGAIN THE BRAKES ARE FINE. THERE IS NO NOISE OR GRINDING COMING FROM THEM, AND NO BRAKE LIGHT LIT.THIS HAS HAPPENED 3X IN LAST 2 WEEKS. MADE AN APPT TODAY WITH MECHANIC FOR THURSDAY. JUST NOW THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT LIT UP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10277536
Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
I AM ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY EQUINOX. IT SOMETIMES DOESN'T WANT TO START & I WILL HAVE TO GIVE IT GAS TO START IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 DIFFERENT CHEVY DEALERS THAT SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT AFTER CHECKING IT OUT ON THE MACHINE ($99 EACH TIME). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10277087
98,250 miles · Jul 14, 2009
Power Train
I HAVE HAD MY 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX, BEEN THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER, SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED IT, IF I RAN THROUGH EVEN THE SMALLEST MUDPUDDLE I WOULD HEAR NOISES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. NOW 4 YEARS LATER THE NOISES ARE NONE STOP. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE WHEEL BEARING ON BOTH SIDES WERE BAD, JUST TO FIND…
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I HAVE HAD MY 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX, BEEN THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER, SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED IT, IF I RAN THROUGH EVEN THE SMALLEST MUDPUDDLE I WOULD HEAR NOISES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. NOW 4 YEARS LATER THE NOISES ARE NONE STOP. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE WHEEL BEARING ON BOTH SIDES WERE BAD, JUST TO FIND OUT AFTER SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR BILLS, THE CARRIER BEARING THAT IS ON THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT IS MISSING. IT HAS FALLEN OUT COMPLETELY AND ALL THAT REMAINS IS THE RUBBER FLANGES. I HAVE CONTACTED EVERY DEALER I CAN THINK OF AND RECEIVED A PART # 25775162 FOR THE BEARING AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND GM IS SAYING THEY WILL NOT RELEASE IT TO NON VIP UNTIL NOVEMBER, DECEMBER TIME FRAME. HAD I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE VIBRATION OF THE DRIVESHAFT I COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY HURT MYSELF OR OTHERS. NOW I AM PAYING FOR A VEHICLE, NO ONE HAS THE PART THAT I NEED TO FIX IT, AND I AM OUT OF ANSWERS. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN WHICH EVERY DEALER I HAVE SPOKEN TO SAYS IT IS WITH THE EQUINOX, WHY IS NOTHING BEING DONE? INSTEAD EVERYONE WITH THAT MODEL YEAR SATURN AND EQUINOX WITH THE SAME CARRIER BEARING ON THE REAR DRIVESHAFT IS EITHER WRECKED THE VEHICLE, HURT THEMSELVES OR OTHERS, OR ALLOWING THERE VEHICLE TO SIT AT A GARAGE, SHOP OR HOUSE WITH NO HOPE OF GETTING IT FIXED. I HAVE EVEN CALLED GM CORPORATE, AND ALL THEY GIVE ME IS WE WILL LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10276819
Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2009
Exterior Lighting
CONTINUAL 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
NHTSA ODI #10275245
34,000 miles · Jun 24, 2009
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT BEARINGS FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD ARRIVE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
NHTSA ODI #10274859
55,600 miles · Jun 15, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicTires
PLEASE NOTE, JUST SPENT $847.00 ON THIS VEHICLE, BRAKES, SERPENTINE BELT ,ROTORS,THERMOSTAT. THIS VEHCILE HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE IT WAS EXPORTED FROM CANADA AS THAT WHERE IT WAS BUILT!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10273877
50,480 miles · May 28, 2009
Electrical SystemStructure
THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT OPERATE UP OR DOWN. SOMETIMES THE WIDOW WOULD GO UP OR DOWN ON ITS OWN, WITHOUT OPERATING THE SWITCH. THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE DOOR WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE WIRES WERE BROKEN AND EXPOSED AT THE HINGE JOINT. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS SHORTING OUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10270167
20,000 miles · May 18, 2009
Electrical System
OIL LIGHT STAYS ON AND GOES AWAY AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. EVERYTIME I CHANGE MY OIL I RESET IT LIKE THE DEALER TELLS ME TO BUT IT STILL DOES THIS. THE DEALER CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT DOES THIS. IT IS ANNOYING TO SAY THE LEAST. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10269081
100,000 miles · May 18, 2009
Equipment
AT APROX 100K MILES THE CD PLAYER JAMMED AND WON'T PLAY CDS NOR EJECT OR ACCEPT THEM. SINCE I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS THE CD PLAYER SAYS IT HAS AN ERROR ALL THE TIME AND ATTEMPTS TO CLEAR THE ERROR AND RUNS AND RUNS. IT STILL REMAINS JAMMED AND STILL GIVES ME AN ERROR ACROSS THE SCREEN EVERY 10 MINUTES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10269052
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