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: power train
114 reports, newest first. Show all
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
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Structure, Tires, Equipment, Oct 26, 2006
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
Power train, Electrical system, Jun 16, 2006
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.
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Visibility, Vehicle speed control, Mar 29, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. FIRST, THE ENGINE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY NOT CRANK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SECOND, WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE BRAKES TO ACTIVATE CORRECTLY. THIRD, THE TRANSMISSION REVVED HIGH AND INTERMITTENTLY DID NOT CHANGE GEARS CORRECTLY WHILE DRIVING. FOURTH, THE ABS LAMP ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE ABS LAMP WAS RESET. LASTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN AND WOULD NOT RISE BACK UP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDOW REGULATOR AND THE WINDOW WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPEATEDLY TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND ADDRESSED THE PROBLEMS THAT COULD BE DUPLICATED AND MADE APPROPRIATE REPAIRS. HARD START/HESITATION AND ALMOST STALLING. ALSO, DETERMINED SPEED SENSOR WAS CAUSING REDUCED POWER. *AK
Suspension, Power train, Jan 9, 2006
DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON MAY 14, 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, AND TO CHECK ON A NOISE THEY COULD HEAR COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ON SEPTEMBER 19 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS NOISE. A TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND HEARD THE NOISE , AND DETERMINED IT WAS THE FRONT STRUTS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME NOISE PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK ON A THIRD OCCASION O ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH DRUM MODULE, THE FILTERS, AND THE POWER TRAIN DRIVE LINE WAS LUBRICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Power train, Dec 5, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING, IT DID NOT STALL. IT RESTARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE PARK/NEUTRAL SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAD THE PROBLEM TWO MORE TIMES. ALSO, THERE WAS VIBRATION WHEN REVERSING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM ,AND NO FURTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED 01/04/06. *JB
Power train, Structure, Other or unspecified, Sep 6, 2005
2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY FAILS TO HOLD VEHICLE IN PLACE WHEN STOPPED OR PARKED.*MR THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE AND MUST BE STOPPED FROM ROLLING FORWARD BY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE OR STEEPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CONSUMER SMELLED BURNING RUBBER IN OR AROUND THE FRONT CONSOLE, THERE WAS EXTREME HEAT FROM THE ENGINE, ON THE FRONT HOOD AND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, HEAT ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DASHBOARD AND THE REAR TAIL GATE AREA. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE HEAT HE WAS FEELING WAS FROM NATURAL SOURCES. THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW AND DOOR SUPPORTS INTERFERED WITH THE CONSUMERS VISION. THE DOORS CONSTANTLY CREAK AND MAKE LOUD NOISES WHEN OPENED. THE BACK HEAD RESTS IMPAIR THE REAR WINDOW VISIBILITY. *JB
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 13, 2005
PURCHASED 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX ON MAY 26 2005 HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALER 5 TIMES IN THE PAST 47 DAYS 1ST THE SUNROOF STOPPED WORKING, THEN THE TRANSAXLE OVERHEATING LIGHT CAME ON GOT THOSE "REPAIRED" DIDN'T GET OFF THE DEALERS LOT AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THEY CHANGED SENSOR BROUGHT IT BACK THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD THEY FOUND A CHAFFED WIRE IN THE MAIN HARNESS YESTERDAY I HAD IT TOWED IN AFTER ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON FELT LIKE WHEELS DIDN'T WANT TO TURN AND ON HILLS HAD NO POWER TO CLIMB I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF PA WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Visibility, Structure, May 25, 2005
CONTACT STATES: BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2004. THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS CHANGED. THE ANTI-FREEZE WAS BROWN AND THE SMELL WAS SEVERE AND NAUSEOUS. THE CAR HAS BEEN THE SHOP 9 TIMES WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT REASONS. THE ANTIFREEZE LINE WASN'T BLED RIGHT AND THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING IN THE GROUND. THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE DOME LIGHT AND SUNROOF, THE SUSPENSION AND ENGINE WOULD TICK, THE HORN DID NOT WORK, THERE WERE FRONT END PROBLEM, THE SHIFTER WOULD STICK, THERE IGNITION PROBLEM, NOISE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, GAS MILEAGE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A TOXIC SMELL FROM THE ANTI-FREEZE, THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED, THE BRAKES MADE NOISES, THE CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE DOME LIGHT HAD FILLED WITH WATER, THE LOWER DASH WAS DRIPPING WATER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN BRAKING,THERE WAS POOR GAS MILEAGE DURING CITY DRIVING, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISES WHEN MAKING TURNS ON THE FRONT STRUTS, THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND, THE SHIFTER WOULD STICK, THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS BINDING, THERE WAS POPPING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FROM COLD, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. *SC *JB
Power train, May 15, 2005
ON LONG HIGHWAY TRIPS WITH STEEP INCLINES, OBDS LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN STOPPING, AND TRYING TO REGAIN SPEED, CAR LOST POWER TO MOVE FORWARD. WHEN ENGINE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT EXTINQUISED, OBDS LIGHT REMAINED.WHEN CAR COOLED OFF, NO LIGHT REMAINED. FIRST TIME DID NOT BRING TO DEALER. SECOND TIME LEFT CAR RUNNING. DEALER SAID FIXED PROBLEM. PROBLEM REGISTERED ON COMPUTER AS P0741. DEALER DID NOT MENTION OF PREVIOUS COMPUTER REGISTRATION OF FIRST TIME INCIDENT. WITHIN 6 DAYS, STRANDED ON NEXT LONG DISTANCE TRIP WITH STEEP INCLINE,AND WAS TOWED TO NEXT DEALER. PROBLEM REGISTERS ON COMPUTER WITH CODE P 0741, COVERED BY BULLETIN 020730-013D. RECEIVED THREE DIFFERENT EXPLAINATIONS OF PROBLEM. VALVE BODY WAS REPLACED. WITHIN ONE WEEK SAME PROBLEM, WHEN DRIVING SLOW SPEED ON COUNTRY ROADS WITH STEEP INCLINES, HOWEVER DID NOT SHOW ON COMPUTER AGAIN. TURNED CAR OFF LET IT COOL DOWN AND WORKED FINE.
Power train, May 11, 2005, crash
WAS WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN VEHICLE LURCHED(JUMPED FORWARD) HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME, CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, HAD BEEN STOPPED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES WHEN CAR WENT FORWARD. NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT COULD BE A PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE
Power train, Apr 28, 2005
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN TOWING MY POP-UP CAMPER TRAILER, THE 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANMISION WILL NOT SHIFT FROM THIRD GEAR TO FOURTH GEAR AUTOMATICALLY. UPON REACHING CRUISING SPEED, 60 OR 65 MPH, THE ENGINE REMAINS AT A HIGH RPM UNTIL I RELEASE THE ACCELLERATOR PEDAL. THEN IT SHIFTS INTO FOURTH GEAR. I DO NOT TOW THE TRAILER IN FIFTH GEAR (OVERDRIVE). WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, A MECHANIC THAT HAS WORKED FOR THIS SAME CHEVROLET DEALER FOR MANY YEARS, DROVE THE CAR, TOWING THE TRAILER. WHEN IT DID NOT SHIFT, HE TOLD ME STRAIGHT OUT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. WHEN I LEFT THE CAR AT THE DEALER (DICK WICKSTROM CHEVROLET IN ROSELLE, ILLINOIS), THEY CLAIM TO HAVE CONTACTED THE FACTORY ENGINEERS AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. I VERY MUCH DISAGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. I HAVE TOWED TRAILERS BEHIND QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I AM TIRED OF HAVING DEALERS TELL ME THAT PROBLEMS I EXPERIENCE ARE "NORMAL AND THAT THEY ALL DO THAT".
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Mar 21, 2005
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES, AND I AM WAITING ON A CALL FROM THE DEALER NEXT WEEK FOR UPDATED INFORMATION. THE PROBLEMS ARE: 1) FOUL ODOR, HOSES FOR ANTI-FREEZE SYSTEM REPLACED PER BULLETIN; 2) REAR SQUEAKING, LUBED SAME; 3) TRANSMISSION. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT BRAKES, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED, AND THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO ADJUST ITSELF ACCORDING TO DRIVING CONDITIONS/ EACH DRIVER'S HABITS, AND 4) POPPING NOISE HEARD WHEN STARTING OR WHEN STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. NOISE SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM GAS TANK AREA. ASKED FOR FUEL LINE/EXHAUST SYSTEM TO BE CHECKED. AS OF THIS TIME REPAIR CENTER CANNOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE NO IDEAS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND A TOTAL OF 6 DAYS. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS IN LIMBO AS THEY ARE 'LOOKING INTO IT' AND WILL CALL ME BACK.*AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Air bags, Dec 21, 2004, crash
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE CRASHED INTO FOUR OTHER VEHICLES. UPON IMPACT,EST DUAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY TO IT'S FULL CAPACITY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. *AK........THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS ONLY AFTER THE EQUINOX MADE CONTACT WITH OTHER VEHICLES. THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED TO THE STREET AFTER IMPACT, THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STRUCK FROM BEHIND. THE RIGHT WHEEL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE CAME OFF. ALSO, THE SHERIFF ON THE SCENE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE PEDAL AFTER THERE WAS ACCESS TO THE VEHICLE.*AK