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.
Of the 2005 reports, 56 involved a crash and 13 involved a fire. 40 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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: engine
165 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 9, 2005
I OWN A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX WITH 8500 MILES, THE ANTIFREEZE IS DARK BROWN IN COLOR AND THERE IS A FILM OF BROWN STUFF ON THE RECOVERY BOTTLE. IT ALSO SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN MEAT.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 28, 2004
2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX - BAD ODOR COMING FROM HVAC AND COOLANT SYSTEM, FIRST NOTICED WITH APPROXIMATELY 1200 MILES ON THE SUV, HAD IN AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING, AFTER FURTHER COMPLAINING THEY CONTACTED GM AND TOLD ME THEY HAD TO ORDER SOME NEW "STUFF" AND ONCE IN THEY WOULD REPLACE AND FLUSH THE COOLANT. I'VE CALLED TWICE NOW OVER THE PAST MONTH, DEALERSHIP STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED "STUFF". ISSUE NOT RESOLVED.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 27, 2004
COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS, FOUL SMELL, FLUID IS A DARK COLOR WHEN IT SHOULD BE LIGHT PINK. PROBLEM WAS FIRST POINTED OUT AT 2ND OIL CHANGE APPOINTMENT. THEY ADVISED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS MALEFUNCTIONING AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS FIXED. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN 3 OTHER EQUINOX'S ALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS NOT A MALEFUNCTION, THEY DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. APPOINTMENT IS SCHEDULED IN A COUPLE DAYS. UPON READING MORE ABOUT THIS COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM I AM EVEN MORE CONCERNED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS YET TO BE A RECALL AND ALL OF THE VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 24, 2004
PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX NEW FROM DEALER. VEHICLE SPENT TWO DAYS AT DEALER, ONLY FOR DEALER TO TELL ME THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR PROBLEM. MY EQUINOX HAS COOLANT CONTAMINATION WHICH EMITS A BAD ODOR. CHEVY STILL HAS TO TSB OUT ON THIS PROBLEM YET, AND OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS WAS NOTICED @ 1500 MILES. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS 2700. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM DRIVING UNTIL CHEVY COMES OUT WITH TSB. IF YOU LOOK AT THE COOLANT RESEVOIR, THE COOLANT IS DARK IN COLOR AND SLUDGE IS FORMING IN THE CONTAINER (RESIDUE). *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 22, 2004
THIS IS A CORRECTION TO THE COMPLAINT I SUBMITTED YESTERDAY. THE COMPLAINT NUMBER IS 10100295. ON THAT COMPLAINT PLEASE DELETE THE PART OF THE COMPLAINT THAT SAYS THE ABNORMAL ODOR FROM THE ENGINE COOLANT IS ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. I FOUND THAT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR CAP WAS LOOSE, ALLOWING THE STRONG ODOR OF THE COOLANT TO ESCAPE AND BE DRAWN INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WHEN I TIGHTENED THE CAP THE ODOR STOPPED ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I AM STILL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABNORMAL ODOR AND COLOR OF THE COOLANT. THIS COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTING COMPONENTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEM AND ENGINE. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 21, 2004
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. AFTER ONLY 500 MILES THE ENGINE COOLANT HAS TURNED BROWN AND HAS A VERY BAD ODOR (STINKS). WHEN THE HEATER IS TURNED ON, THE ODOR COMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND IS ALMOST INTOLERABLE.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 21, 2004
MY 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX HAS REOCCRUING PROBLEMS WITH 1) THE ENGINE COOLANT TURNING FROM THE NORMAL DEX COOL PINK COLOR TO A DARK BROWN / BLACK COLOR. 2) HORRIBLE SMELL ENTERING THE PASSENGER CABIN WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING THE HEAT IS ON.THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON NOVEMBER 18TH AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, GM'S TECHNICAL LINE IS INSTRUCTING ALL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS TO TAKE NO REPAIR ACTIONS AS THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN THEY PERFORMED A COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSH WHICH TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE OF HUNDRED MILES, ONLY TO RETURN. *AK THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING ALL ACROSS NORTH AMERICA SO IT CANNOT BE BLAMED ON WEATHER OR TYPE OF FUEL USED. I HAVE MANY CONCERNS WITH THE LONG TERM RELIABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE.
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 21, 2004
SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE, THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG ODOR IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I NOTICED THE COOLANT HAS CHANGED FROM PINK TO BLACK WITH SLUDGE FLOATING IN IT. I AM ALSO GETTING FAR LESS AVERAGE GAS MILEAGE THAN WAS LISTED. I AM AVERAGING LESS THAN 17 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. NOT CLOSE TO THE 25 THAT IS ADVERTISED. WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THAT THE SMELL AND OTHER COOLANT ISSUES IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE (05 CHEVROLET EQUINOX). WITH THE HEAT ON AND WINDOWS UP, THE CAR IS ALMOST UNDRIVABLE DUE TO THE SMELL. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 19, 2004
VEHICLE HAS A FOUL ODOR INSIDE WHEN ENGINE IS HOT OR HEATER IS ON.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 13, 2004
WE PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX ON MARCH 30, 2004. IN JULY WE STARTED TO NOTICE A STRANGE ODOR IN THE CAR. MY HUSBAND WOULD GET HEADACHES AND EXPERIENCE DIZZINESS WHEN RIDING IN THE CAR. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK 5 TIMES FOR THE ODOR PROBLEM AND HAVE BOTH HAD MULTIPLE UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS REQUIRING MEDICAL TREATMENT. 2 OF THE 5 TIMES THEY FOUND STANDING WATER IN THE TIRE WELL AND WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ORIGIN THEY REPLACED REAR GATE SEALS (THE CARGO MAT CARPET IN THE BACK WAS NOT EVEN WET). ANOTHER TIME THEY REPLACED THE CARPET IN THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE THEY SAID IT GOT WET WHEN THERE WAS WATER IN THE TIRE WELL AND WAS CAUSING THE ODOR. THE NEXT TIME THEY FLUSHED THE RADIATOR COOLANT BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO DO SO. THE LAST TIME THEY CHANGED THE RADIATOR HOSES. THE DEALERSHIP (PORTER CHEVROLET IN NEWARK, DE) STATES THAT THEY CANNOT REPLACE OR REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE AS WE HAVE REQUESTED. THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER FOR GM SAID HE RODE IN THE CAR AND DID NOT SMELL ANYTHING SO THERE IS NO BASIS FOR HIM TO REPLACE OR REPURCHASE THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN ABOUT AN ODOR AND THEY SAID THEY CONTACTED GM AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMPLAINTS EITHER. THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTINGS ON EDMUNDS.COM FROM EQUINOX OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIPS AND GM FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. IS THIS PROBLEM KNOWN TO GM? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND IS IT HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THIS ODOR PROBLEM? *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 8, 2004
2005 EQUINOX - I HAD ABOUT 300 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT STARTED SMELLING OF A PROPANE ODOR/DEAD ANIMALS. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY FLUSHED THE COOLANT SYSTEM BUT THE ODOR RETURNED. THEN THE CAR OVERHEATED DUE TO THE COOLANT SYSTEM. THEY PUT A NEW THERMOSTAT AND FLUSHED ONCE AGAIN. STILL A BAD ODOR, THE CAR LEAKS WATER AND IT RUNS HOT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES AND THEY STILL CAN NOT FIX THE ODOR.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 7, 2004
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. SOON AFTER I RECEIVED THE NEW VEHICLE (WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED MILES) I BEGAN NOTICING A VERY DISTINCT AND HORRIBLE SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE SMELL IS NOTICEABLE FROM 10 FEET AWAY FROM THE CAR AND COMES IN THROUGH THE CABIN VENTS WHEN THE AIR IS ON AND THE CAR IS STANDING STILL AND RUNNING. IT DOES NOT ENTER THE CABIN WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. GM THINKS THE SMELL IS DUE TO THE DEXCOOL COOLANT REACTING WITH THE HOSES IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND HAS FLUSHED MY COOLANT SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY BUT THE SMELL KEEPS COMING BACK. I HAVE BEEN READING OF THIS PROBLEM FROM MANY, MANY OTHERS ACROSS THE US AND CANADA WHO OWN EQUINOX AND SO FAR GM HAS NOT ANNOUNCED A RECALL DESPITE PEOPLE BEING UNABLE TO SPEND MORE THAN 5 MINUTES IN THESE VEHICLES BEFORE GETTING HEADACHES OR JUST BEING UNABLE TO HANDLE THE SMELL. PLEASE URGE GM TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FAST! *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 5, 2004
IN THE 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX THE COOLANT MAY BE CONTAMINATED AND TURN A DARK BROWN OR BLACK AND SOMEHOW EMIT FUMES INTO THE CABIN THAT CAUSE THE OCCUPANTS TO FEEL LIGHT HEADED. THIS CONDITION CAN START ANYWHERE FROM 400 TO 1800 MILES ANDS WORSENS OVER TIME. IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER THE FUMES ARE TOXIC SO THE VEHICLE IS UNDRIVABLE AT THAT POINT.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Oct 4, 2004
TWICE, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS FIRMLY PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT COLLIDING WITH ANYTHING. EVIDENTLY, CHEVROLET IS AWARE OF THE POSSIBLILITY OF THIS HAPPENING, BECAUSE THE OWNER'S MANUAL DISCUSSES HOW TO RESET THE SYSTEMS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 13, 2004
MY EQUINOX WAS PURCHASED IN 4/16/04 AND THE CHECH ENGINE LIGHT HAS CAME ON 2 TIMES, THE 1ST TIME WAS THE FUEL EMISSION GASKET THAT WAS BAD AND THE OTHE TIME WAS THE WAY THAT I DID NOT PUT THE GAS CAP ON RIGHT. AND THE REAREND IN MAKING A REAL LOUD GROUNDING SOUND ANY TIME YOU TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. *AK