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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
Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY 2005 EQUINOX SHIMMIES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT ABOUT 40-50 MPH ROTORS WERE RESURFACED 1 TIME AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED WHEN VEHICLE HAD 30,000 MILES TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS DUST BUILD UP THEY TOOK APART AND CLEANED VEHICLE NOW HAS 40000 MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAIN…

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MY 2005 EQUINOX SHIMMIES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT ABOUT 40-50 MPH ROTORS WERE RESURFACED 1 TIME AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED WHEN VEHICLE HAD 30,000 MILES TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS DUST BUILD UP THEY TOOK APART AND CLEANED VEHICLE NOW HAS 40000 MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS I THINK DEALERSHIP SHOULD FIX AT NO COST TO OWNER OF VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10174624

64,000 miles · Nov 13, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE, THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ROTORS IN MARCH 2005. THEN IN APRIL 2006, THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED, AND THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AGAIN SIX MONTHS LATER.

NHTSA ODI #10173351

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

WE PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX IN SEPTEMBER OF 2005. THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, THIS WAS ONE OF THE ONLY VEHICLES THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE 2 REAR FACING CHILD SEATS WITH SAFE OPERATION. THE EQUINOX NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 16, 000 MILES ON IT. ON 11 NOVEMBER 2006, MY WIFE AND OUR 14 MONTH OLD TWIN DAUGHTERS WERE ON THEIR WAY TO VI…

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WE PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX IN SEPTEMBER OF 2005. THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, THIS WAS ONE OF THE ONLY VEHICLES THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE 2 REAR FACING CHILD SEATS WITH SAFE OPERATION. THE EQUINOX NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 16, 000 MILES ON IT. ON 11 NOVEMBER 2006, MY WIFE AND OUR 14 MONTH OLD TWIN DAUGHTERS WERE ON THEIR WAY TO VISIT HER FRIEND. I RECEIVE A PHONE CALL FROM MY WIFE. SHE IS FRANTICALLY SCREAMING TO ME THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE EQUINOX. SHE EXPLAINS THAT WHEN SHE APPLIES THE BRAKES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45 -50 MPH, SHE IS EXPERIENCING A VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END AND THE STEERING WHEEL, AND FEELS THAT SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I ADVISE HER TO DECREASE HER SPEED AND CONTINUE TO HER FRIENDS HOUSE AND THAT I WILL RETURN HOME AND TAKE OUR SUBARU TO MEET HER. WE SWITCH VEHICLES. ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY, I ACCELERATE TO APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH AND NOTICE TRAFFIC BACKING UP DUE TO POLICE ACTIVITY DOWN THE ROAD. I APPLY THE BRAKES SLIGHTLY AND THE EQUINOX BEGINS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT THAT IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE FRONT WHEELS ARE PULLING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, AND I AM HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME KEEPING THE VEHICLE BETWEEN THE MARKED LANES. THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALSO SHAKING AND I HAVE TO GRIP IT TIGHTLY TO HOLD ON. I DON'T RECALL HAVING EXPERIENCED A STEERING WHEEL SHAKE THIS VIOLENTLY. AFTER DECREASING TO ABOUT 50 MPH, THE SHAKING SUBSIDED TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONTROLLABLE WITHIN THE LANES. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL MORE TIMES DURING THE RIDE HOME, SO I SUSTAINED A SPEED THAT WAS SAFE FOR MYSELF AND THE OTHER MOTORISTS. A TRIP THAT WOULD TAKE A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR TOOK ABOUT 2 HOURS TO COMPLETE WITH MINIMAL TRAFFIC. BEING THAT THIS OCCURRED OVER A WEEKEND, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CHEVY TO THE DEALERSHIP OR A REPAIR STATION TO HAVE IT CHECKED. AFTER HAVING THE CHEVY CHECKED I WILL NOTIFY YOUR ADMINISTRATION OF THE OUTCOME. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10173221

15,859 miles · Oct 26, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

CD PLAYER BROKE, WATER SOAKING FLOOR BOARDS TWICE CAUSING MOLD & MILDEW. COMPLETE LOSS OF RADIATOR FLUID, LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING TWICE. UNUSUAL WEAR OF TIRES. RUBBING IN STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING, KNOCKING SOUND WHEN TURNING SLOWLY TO THE RIGHT, A/C NOT COOLING EFFICIENTLY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171868

18,000 miles · Oct 24, 2006
Tires

REPLACED TIRES ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX WITH ONLY 11,000 MILES. PRIOR TO THIS, I HAD TO GET AN ALIGNMENT HOWEVER, THE TIRES STILL WENT BAD. AFTER I PURCHASED MY NEW SET OF TIRES, I WENT BACK TO HAVE THEM ROTATED AFTER THERE RECOMMENDED MILES OF 5,000 AND THE TIRES ARE WEARING AGAIN. I HAD LESS THAN 18,000 MILES ON IT THIS…

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REPLACED TIRES ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX WITH ONLY 11,000 MILES. PRIOR TO THIS, I HAD TO GET AN ALIGNMENT HOWEVER, THE TIRES STILL WENT BAD. AFTER I PURCHASED MY NEW SET OF TIRES, I WENT BACK TO HAVE THEM ROTATED AFTER THERE RECOMMENDED MILES OF 5,000 AND THE TIRES ARE WEARING AGAIN. I HAD LESS THAN 18,000 MILES ON IT THIS TIME AROUND. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING TIRES EVERY 5,000 MILES. THE GARAGE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THE TIRES ON SEVERAL MORE EQUINOX THAT SAME DAY WITH JUST ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MILES AS MINE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171737

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

7,768 miles · Jun 16, 2006
Electrical SystemPower Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE HAVE BEEN TWO INCIDENTS WITH THE VEHICLE. FIRST, WHILE IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS PULLED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SECOND, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE FAILED. TH…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE HAVE BEEN TWO INCIDENTS WITH THE VEHICLE. FIRST, WHILE IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS PULLED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SECOND, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE FAILED. THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND HEARD. THE LIGHTS, POWER WINDOWS AND RADIO WERE STILL OPERABLE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE SECOND INCIDENT, THEY DETERMINED THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ODI #10160037

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

TOOK IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND LUBE TECH AT DEALER SUGGESTED TAKE IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO DISCOLORATION OF ANTIFREEZE, TOLD BY SERVICE ADVISOR THIS WAS OKAY AND NOT TO WORRY. SECOND OIL CHANGE SAME ISSUES, FINALLY HAVE APPOINTMENT TO HOPEFULLY CORRECT,POOR GAS MILEAGE, ERRATIC SHIFTING, GAS CAP THAT WILL NOT STAY ON,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT…

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TOOK IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND LUBE TECH AT DEALER SUGGESTED TAKE IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO DISCOLORATION OF ANTIFREEZE, TOLD BY SERVICE ADVISOR THIS WAS OKAY AND NOT TO WORRY. SECOND OIL CHANGE SAME ISSUES, FINALLY HAVE APPOINTMENT TO HOPEFULLY CORRECT,POOR GAS MILEAGE, ERRATIC SHIFTING, GAS CAP THAT WILL NOT STAY ON,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, AND ONLY 8300 HUNDRED MILES ON VEHICLE. WILL HAVE HARD TIME BUYING ANOTHER CHEVORLET AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158557

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

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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