2005 Chevrolet Equinox

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Electrical system is the leading concern among 638 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 638

Of the 2005 reports, 56 involved a crash and 13 involved a fire. 40 people were injured.

Primary concernElectrical system159 reports · 25% of complaints
Owner complaints638Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship1 safety recallNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system159
  2. Power train114
  3. Engine and engine cooling111
  4. Service brakes106
  5. Suspension57
  6. Engine55
  7. Hydraulic52
  8. Steering50

Recalls and investigations

  1. Power train, automatic transmissionJun 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.

    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.

    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.

    Campaign 04V302000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: electrical system

159 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Jul 23, 2009

    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

  2. Electrical system, Structure, May 28, 2009

    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

  3. Electrical system, May 18, 2009

    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

  4. Electrical system, Structure, May 13, 2009

    SEVERE WATER LEAK IN 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AWD LT. WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN RAIN CONDITIONS, WATER ACCUMULATES IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL AND OVERFLOWS ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE, EVEN UP TO THE FRONT . IT ALSO SHORTS OUT THE SPEAKER SYSTEM WHICH CRACKLES AND BLARES OUT A LOUD NOISE EVEN WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED OFF. THE CARPETING BECOMES SOAKED WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THEN THE VEHICLE HAS A FOUL ODOR. A PHONE CALL TO THE DEALER RESULTED IN AN ANSWER THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. I FEAR THIS WATER IS DAMAGING THE ELECTRICAL PARTS IN THE SPEAKER SYSTEM AND MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. *TR

  5. Electrical system, May 3, 2009

    I HAVE A 2005 EQUINOX THE FIRST MODEL YEAR FOR THIS VEHICLE. I ORDERED THE CAR NEW FROM THE FACTORY. AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START. AT OTHER TIMES THE CAR WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF. ON MAY 3, 2009 THE VEHICLE JUST "DIED" IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. I HAVE JUST OVER 40000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE ELECTRICAL GOES IN AND OUT SINCE THE ENGINE WILL NOT START. THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS, AS IT KEEPS RESETTING ITSELF AFTER THE DOOR IS OPEN AND CLOSED. I DO HEAR SOUNDS OF SOME TYPE SIMILAR TO A COMPUTER TRYING TO RESET OR KICK IN. I TRIED TO JUMPSTART THE VEHICLE BUT THAT DID NOTHING. THE ENGINE WILL JUST NOT TURN OVER. TOWING IT TO THE DEALER TOMORROW. OF COURSE THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD SINCE IT WAS SO RANDOM, WITHOUT ANY REAL WARNING TODAY, AS I HAD DRIVEN IT ONLY 10-15-MINUTES BEFORE AND HAD JUST RETURNED HOME AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO MOVE CAR SO THAT I COULD CUT THE LAWN AND IT WAS INOPERABLE. *TR

  6. Electrical system, Mar 4, 2009

    HAVE TO WIGGLE KEY WHEN TAKING IT OUT OF IGNITION OR IT WILL GET STUCK. STARTING DOING THIS SHORTLY AFTER BUYING IT IN 2005. *TR

  7. Electrical system, Nov 19, 2008

    I BOUGHT A NEW 2005 EQUINOX BACK IN MARCH OF '05. OVER THIS YEAR-2008- I HAVE PROBLEMS JUST GETTING MY KEY TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO WIGGLE IT BACK AND FORTH FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL IT CATCHES AND TURNS OVER. I CAN'T GET IN AND JUST START MY CAR. I CAN TURN MY KEY MAYBE AN INCH AND I HAVE TO TURN IT BACK AND KEEP WIGGLING IT UNTIL IT "GIVES" FOR ME TO TURN ALL THE WAY. OF COURSE, MY WARRANTY WAS UP AT 36,000 MILES WHICH I HAVE SURPASSED A FEW THOUSAND MILES AGO. I AM TRYING TO GET SOME $$ TOGETHER (THINGS ARE VERY TIGHT AS EVERYONE KNOWS!) TO GET IT LOOKED OUT. I DON'T KNOW IF THE LOCK IS MISALIGNED OR WHAT? I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS TO BE FIXED BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON INTERNET FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR. I AM NOT TAKING IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PAY HUNDREDS OR POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I WILL TAKE IT TO A LOCAL REPUTABLE MECHANIC WHO IS VERY TRUSTWORTHY AND REASONABLE. *TR

  8. Electrical system, Oct 27, 2008

    A FEW MONTHS AGO MY HUSBANDS MOTHER DROVE HIS 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX TO THE STORE AND THE BATTERY DIED. THEY JUMPED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FINE UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO. WE HAD TO JUMP START MY HUSBANDS CAR A FEW DAYS AGO AND THAT IS WHEN HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE CD PLAYER STAYING ON AFTER THE CAR WAS OFF. WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THE CD PLAYER IT SOUNDS LIKE PLAYER IS TRYING TO EJECT A CD BUT IT WONT AND EVENTUALLY IT SAYS ON THE SCREEN "CD CHANGER ERROR." IT EVEN DOES THIS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF SO IT ENDS UP KILLING THE BATTERY. MY HUSBAND HAS TO UNPLUG THE FUSE FOR THE CD PLAYER OR IT DRAINS HIS BATTERY. AND STILL HAVING IT UNPLUGGED THE VEHICLE HAS A HARD TIME STARTING BECAUSE IT IS LIKE IT CAN NO LONGER HOLD A CHARGE. WHEN WE MENTIONED THIS TO MY HUSBAND'S MOTHER SHE SAID WHEN IT DIED THE TIME SHE DROVE IT HAD SAID THE SAME THING. I HAVE SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. ONE PERSON SAID THAT THEY EVEN REPLACED THE CD PLAYER MULTIPLE TIMES AND EVERY FEW MONTHS IT DOES THE SAME THING. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP HERE AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY, BUT I REALLY FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY CD PLAYERS AND BATTERIES EVERY FEW MONTHS. THE EQUINOX CAME OUT IN '05 AND IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THIS IS AN ERROR THAT THEY DID NOT FIX BEFORE PRODUCTION. *TR

  9. Electrical system, Equipment, Other or unspecified, Oct 14, 2008

    THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND IT CHOOSES WHEN TO GO UP AND DOWN AND ALSO I WOULD HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR IN ORDER TO WORK THE WINDOW. ALSO THE STALLS ON NUMEROUS OCCASION TO START. THE BRAKES ARE BRAND NEW AND A PROBLEMS STILL OCCURS WHEN TRYING TO STOP IT SHAKES EVEN WHEN GOING A LOW SPEED. *TR

  10. Fuel system, Other, Power train, Electrical system, Equipment, Aug 19, 2008

    2005 EQUINOX WITH NORMAL DRIVING, MOSTLY HIGHWAY. BEGAN TO HEAR THE TYPICAL SOUNDS OF A FAILING BEARING PRIOR TO 60,000 MILES. VIBRATION IN STEERING, HUM PRESENT WHEN DRIVING, UNEVEN WEAR ON FRONT TIRES. REPLACED RFHUB UNDER WARRANTY AT APPROX. 69,000 MILES. WITHIN 10,000 MILES THAT RFHUB BEGAN TO FAIL, BY THE TIME I COULD GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I HAD SURPASSED MY WARRANTY AND THE 12 MONTHS/12,000 WARRANTY ON THE INSTALLED PART VIA THE DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THAT IT WASN'T OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR THE PART TO FAIL SO QUICKLY, WHICH IS NEWS TO ME! HOW CAN A BEARING FAIL THAT QUICKLY AND NOT BE DEFECTIVE. WAS FORCED TO PAY OVER 500.00 TO REPLACE IT. HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT A RATTLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPY ROADS AND RECEIVED THE "WE COULDN'T REPLICATE IT" RESPONSE SINCE INITIAL COMPLAINT PRIOR TO 60,000 MILES. HAVE HEARD THAT THE TIERODS ARE TO BLAME, HAVE MENTIONED IT, BUT STILL DEAL WITH THIS RATTLE THAT GOES UNACCOUNTED. ALSO HAVE BAD ELECTRICAL THAT "CAN'T BE REPLICATED" AT THE DEALERSHIP. RADIO AND PANEL IN DASH FLASH AT RANDOM TIMES AS IF A WIRE WERE LOOSE OR SHORTING, LOUD BOOMING THUDS COME FROM THE SPEAKERS AT THE SAME TIME. SPEAKER BLEW IN DOOR, BUT AFTER WARRANTY. REGARDLESS OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THESE THINGS WHEN TAKEN IN TO GET LOOKED AT. FUEL GAGE STICKS, BUT EITHER HAVE TO PAY 120.00 TO POSSIBLY CORRECT IT WITH A FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER, OR PAY 700.00 TO REPLACE FUEL FILTER. SUCH GREAT OPTIONS. MY FAMILY HAS WORKED FOR GENERAL MOTORS FOR YEARS, IT'S A SHAME. *TR

  11. Power train, Electrical system, Aug 14, 2008

    I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX THAT HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FIRST I HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS, AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEMS, BATTERY BEING DRAINED WITHOUT CAUSE, WINDOW CONTROL AND SO FORTH. EACH TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND EACH TIME A REPAIR WAS MADE. ONLY AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS OUT DID I DISCOVER BY ACCIDENT THAT THE PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. THE MAIN DASH WIRING HARNESS LOCATED IN THE LEFT FLOOR PANEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS SIGNS OF MELTING, AND SHORTS WITH THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT. THE SHORTAGE CAUSES THE AIR CONDITIONER TO STOP BLOWING AND WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO COMPLETELY DIE OUT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR EVALUATED BY TWO MECHANICS WHO BOTH STATED, WITHOUT KNOWING SOMEONE ELSE HAD LOOKED AT IT, THAT THE CAR IS A FIRE HAZARD AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. I ALSO SPOKE WITH A LOCAL BODY SHOP THAT HAS REPAIRED AT LEAST ONE EQUINOX THAT BURNED DUE TO THIS SAME WIRING HARNESS. THE REPAIRS ARE CURRENTLY BEING MADE AT A COST OF $4,000.00. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MORE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM THAN HAS BEEN REPORTED AND HOPE THAT OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WILL SPEAK OUT AS GENERAL MOTORS IS UNWILLING TO INVESTIGATE THIS. I ENCOURAGE NEW CAR BUYERS TO BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY, AS I HAVE BEEN SORELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR PRODUCT AND SERVICE. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE LATER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH DIFFERENTIAL AFTER BEING TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE REAR TO CAUSE A NOISE. UPDATED 12/04/08. *JB

  12. Steering, Power train, Air bags, Seat belts, Equipment, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 16, 2008, crash

    PROBLEMS WITH CAR BEGAN IMMEDIATELY (TRANSMISSION, AIR CONDITIONER, ODOMETER, WINDOW MOTOR, CAR SHIFTING ABRUPTLY, AND SKIDDING ON ANY WET SERVICE.) FINALLY WENT INTO 20 FT SKID, WHEELS LOCKED, NO RESPONSE TO STEERING. CAR HIT POLE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK. CAR TOTALED. *TR

  13. Electrical system, Mar 13, 2008

    ISSUE STARTED AROUND IN EARLY 2007 THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. NOW IN 2008 THIS HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR IT SOUNDS LIKE IT TRIES TO START THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT LETS ME KNOW I DID NOT CRANK THE CAR. OCCURS MORE SO AFTER I HAVE HAD TO RUN ERRANDS AND START THE CAR A NUMBER AMOUNT OF TIMES IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE GM DEALER AND HAVE HAD IT CHECKED A NUMBER OF TIME. THEY HAVE CLEANED THE INJECTORS, REFLASHED THE COMPUTER, AND UPDATED THE COMPUTER TO THE LATEST LEVELS. THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS THE SAME NO CODES GENERATED NO PROBLEM FOUND. *TR

  14. Electrical system, Feb 11, 2008

    IT STARTED AROUND THE SUMMER OF 2007 THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE CAR WOULDN'T START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. AS IT GOT CLOSER TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND NOW INTO THE BEGINNING OF 2008 THIS HAPPENS A LOT MORE. WHEN I GO TO CRANK THE CAR IT SOUNDS LIKE IT TRIES TO START THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT LETS ME KNOW I DID NOT CRANK THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS MORE SO AFTER I HAVE HAD TO RUN ERRANDS AND CRANK THE CAR A FREQUENT AMOUNT OF TIMES IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. *TR

  15. Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Jan 11, 2008

    2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY. DEALER BLAMED THE FAILURE ON ICE IN THE WHEEL WELL. THEN THE TROUBLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ISSUE HAS NOT YET BEEN FIXED PROPERLY. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START. THE DEALER CLEANED THE CONNECTOR, HOWEVER THE COMPUTER DID NOT PICK UP ANY DIAGNOSTIC HISTORY, EVEN THOUGH THE TROUBLE LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON QUITE CONSISTENTLY. ON FEB 25, 2006 THE CONSUMER ONCE AGAIN LOST STEERING, BUT REGAINED IT AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. AT THAT TIME THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE TROUBLE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND ONCE AGAIN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT BY PUSHING ON THE FUSE BOX, THE VEHICLE WOULD START AND STEER. ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE CONSUMER BECAME STRANDED, THE DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, BUT THE HORN WORKED. THE CONSUMER LET THE VEHICLE SIT OVERNIGHT AND WHEN SHE CAME BACK, THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK, SHE OPENED THE DOOR MANUALLY AND POUNDED ON THE FUSE BOX, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED UP. THE SECOND TIME THE CONSUMER BECAME STUCK, POUNDING ON THE FUSE BOX DID NOT WORK AND THE VEHICLE DIDN'T START, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY WAS FINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. AS SOON AS THE CONSUMER LEFT THE DEALER THE TROUBLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING CONTINUES TO GO OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE RESUME BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK PROPERLY. *JB

  16. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 11, 2008

    LEMON/AUTO FAILURES,TOO MANY ITEMS TO LST 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX LT. *TR

  17. Electrical system, Dec 13, 2007, fire

    VEHICLE DRIVEN, PARKED, 5 HOURS LATER KEY FOB WOULD NOT WORK ON APPROACH TO VEHICLE NOTED SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ATTEMPTED TO JUMP BATTERY WHEN NOTED SMOKE AND STOPPED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER THEY CLAIMED THE VEHICLE WAS JUMPED BACKWARDS AND I KNOW THIS NOT TO BE A FACT. DEALER STATED EVERYTHING FRIED UNDER HOOD. *TR

  18. Electrical system, Nov 6, 2007

    2005 CHEVY EQUINOX W/45,000 MILES - HAD THE SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC, AND SMOKE RISING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND MOVING. RADIO PRE-PROGRAM BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL LOST FUNCTION, AND THE IGNITION KEEPS TURNING OVER DESPITE THE KEY BEING RETURNED TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. *TR

  19. Electrical system, Oct 22, 2007

    OCT 8, WAS IN CLASS FOR 30 MINUTES CAME OUT CAR WAS DEAD, EVERYTHING WORKED BUT STARTED JUST CLICKED. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE.. TOOK TOO LONG; CALLED CAMPUS SECURITY GOT A JUMP START, CAR DROVE FINE DIED AGAIN UNTIL OCT 13. JUMP STARTED AGAIN, OCT 18 DIED AGAIN, CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAD IT TOWED TO HERB ADCOX CHEVY. THEY STILL HAVE IT AND SAY IT IS RUNNING FINE...NO DIAGNOSTIC PROBLEMS SHOWING ON COMPUTER. FILED AN ISSUE WITH 800CHEVUSA.... THEY SAY EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY(CAR STILL IN ORIGINAL WARRANTY NOW) THAT THIS ISSUE MAY NOT BE COVERED. THE CAR IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. CHEVY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS SO I AM STUCK WONDERING WHEN IT WILL DIE AGAIN. I ALSO REPORTED NOXIOUS FUMES (SMELLS LIKE RANCID BUTTER)MOST LIKELY FROM ANTIFREEZE PROBLEM LIKE OTHER 2005 EQUINOX'S AND A BRAKE SHIMMY PROBLEM AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS(ENTIRE CAR SEEMS UNSTABLE). THIS IS THE LAST CHEVY I WILL EVER BUY. I HATE TO EVEN TRADE IT IN AND GIVE THE ISSUES TO SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS WRONG. I BELIEVE CHEVY IS AWARE OF THESE ISSUES AND DOING NOTHING TO RECALL OR REPAIR THEM. I WAS TOLD IF THERE IS NO DIAGNOSTIC THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *JB

  20. Electrical system, Sep 9, 2007

    AT TIMES OF START UP OF IGNITION, THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM CATCHING. IT USED TO ONLY HAPPEN MAYBE EVERY 15TH START UP BUT HAS INCREASINGLY HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY. IT IS STILL INTERMITTENT BUT SEEMS TO BE ABOUT EVERY 3RD OR 4TH STARTUP. INCIDENT DATE IS ESTIMATED.*JB

  21. Electrical system, May 24, 2007

    WHERE DO I BEGIN I BOUGHT A CHEVY EQUINOX 2005 BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS!! THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT CONTINUOSLY COMES ON AND WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE DEARLERSHIP THEY NEVER SEEM TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY FIX THE CORRECT PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED A HEADGASKET, THERMOSTAT, INTERNAL GASKET, FRONT ROTERS AND BRAKES, DEALERSHIP STATES THAT I NEED NEW FRONT ROTERS AND BRAKES AGAIN IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN 1 YEAR SINCE THE FIRST SET. I'VE HAD NEW SHOCK PLUGS AND A COIL PUT IN, ETC. THIS ALL STARTED LAST NOV. WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STILL IS HAVING PROBLEMS. I AM SO FRUSTRATED WITH THIS CAR. I THOUGHT THAT WITH BUYING A BRAND NEW CAR I WOULDN'T HAVE ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. I'M AFRAID TO TRAVEL WITH IT BECAUSE IT IS SO UNRELIABLE!!!

  22. Electrical system, Apr 10, 2007, fire

    I ALWAYS PARKED CAR IN A GARAGE, BUT THIS DAY NO SPOTS WERE OPEN SO I PARKED ON THE STREET AND WENT TO WORK. ABOUT A 1/2 HOUR LATER I LOOKED THE WINDOW AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. I RAN OUT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND SAW FIRE ON THE BACK BUMPER AREA ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. SOMEONE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WHILE I GRABBED A FEW THINGS OUT OF THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT T CAME AND EVENTUALLY PUT OUT THE FIRE. I HAVE NEVER KNOWN A CAR TO SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTION BEFORE, AND IT WAS A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED BETWEEN THE FIRE, SMOKE AND WATER, AND DECLARED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE IN THE TAIL LIGHT SECTION AND TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. I DID NOT HAVE ANY PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, AND IT WAS EQUIPPED AS ORIGINALLY LEASED FROM THE DEALER. IT WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY. THANKFULLY ,NO ONE WAS HURT/KILLED THIS TIME. I BELIEVE THIS CAR WAS DEFECTIVE AND POSED A VERY REAL DANGER TO MY FAMILY AS WELL AS MY COWORKERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS EXTREMELY UNCOOPERATIVE IN DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM - WITH NOT EVEN A 'SORRY YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH ONE OF OUR PRODUCTS' LINE AS I WANTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE DEDUCTIBLE THAT I WILL HAVE TO GIVE THE INSURANCE COMPANY.*AK

  23. Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Visibility, Equipment, Apr 4, 2007

    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

  24. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical system, Visibility, Apr 2, 2007

    MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN, IT JUST FAILED COMPLETELY. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE WIRES INSIDE THE DOOR ARE COMPLETELY BROKEN. THE SYSTEM NEEDED TO FIX IT IS BACK ORDERED SO I HAVE TO WAIT TO HAVE IT REPLACED. FOUR DAYS LATER MY BRAKES BECAME THE NEW PROBLEM. ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL, I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND BEGAN APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. IT MADE A VIBRATING NOISE AND THRUST ITSELF FORWARD. IT WASN'T A GRINDING SOUND BUT CLICKS AND VIBRATION. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T ANYONE IN FRONT OF ME OR COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I THOUGHT IT SOMETHING I DID AND CONTINUED DRIVING CAREFULLY. AT THE NEXT STOP I WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. I PASSED THE TURN COMPLETELY BEFORE THE CAR SLOWED ENOUGH TO TURN. THIS SCARED ME SO I PULLED OVER AND CALLED FOR HELP. AFTER TAKING A TEST DRIVE WITH A CAR REPAIR PERSON WHO INFORMED ME IT WASN'T MY BRAKE PADS OR ROTORS. HE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE MY ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM FAILING AND I SHOULD CALL THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN. GM ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED IT. THAT WAS SATURDAY AND TODAY IS MONDAY, THE DEALERSHIP WORKER TOLD ME SHE DROVE IT AND SHE HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR 12 YEARS AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES BUT THEY WILL PUT IT ON THE ELECTRIC DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE TO DOUBLE CHECK IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE WITH MY CHILDREN. THE FACT THAT THE CAR MAY NOT STOP OR THE BRAKES MAY FAIL AT ANY TIME IS SCARY. I SHOULD HEAR FROM THEM BY THIS EVENING. *JB

  25. Electrical system, Mar 13, 2007

    ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE AFTER BEING DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MILES. CLICKING SOUND HAPPENS EACH TIME (APPROX 15) AND ENGINE STRUGGLES TO ENGAGE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *JB