2005 Chevrolet Equinox Problems, Recalls & Reliability
950 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 96/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 65,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2005 Chevrolet Equinox sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2009, 2021.
Avoid
Where 2005 sits among all Equinox years
What owners report
“Wipers run continuously and don't shut off. Lights flash on and off. Smoke comes from dashboard when car starts and/or car won't start. Problem happens both while car is stopped or in motion.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Equinox
“I have a 2005 chevy equinox the muffler system is very loud and needs replaced. I have taken it to the dealer where i bought it and they say there is no way to fix the problem. Even the garage manager agrees that it is to loud.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Equinox
“The center carrier bearing has pulled away from the axel on my 2005 chevrolet equinox. The repair shop (tire center) told me that this is very common and have seen it on this model many times. A chevy mechanic told me it is a known issue. There is a ton of information on the internet about this…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Equinox
“The traction control light and the abs light come on when driving and when you go to stop or slow down, the brakes pulsate and make it to where you can't stop or slow down, even on dry roads.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Equinox
“Key comes out of the ignition while the car is running, can take the key in and out out of the ignition while the car is driving, does not turn the car off. Also sometimes the steering wheel does not lock and prevents you from being able to start the car.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Equinox
“100000k miles and the transmission locks up huge problems with wheel bearings and problems with abs system”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 Equinox
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 735 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 65,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 33,900 and 100,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
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…
Fix: 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.…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox reliable?
The 2005 Chevrolet Equinox drew 950 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 96/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).
What are the most common 2005 Chevrolet Equinox problems?
The top reported problems for the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox are electrical (183 complaints), engine (168), and transmission & drivetrain (117).
At what mileage do 2005 Chevrolet Equinox problems show up?
Owners most often report 2005 Chevrolet Equinox problems around 65,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 33,900 and 100,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.