2005 Chevrolet Equinox problems
NHTSA has received 950 complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox, and 18% of them involve electrical system. After that come engine (14%) and brakes (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 950 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 18% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 91 and 18
- Injuries and deaths
- 73 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 64,000 miles 754 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 132 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 122 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 90 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 120 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 105 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 62 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 52 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 27 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 21 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 13 |
| 200k+ miles | 10 |
What the data shows
Among the 754 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 64,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 65,000 miles (135 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 91 complaints mention a crash; 18 complaints mention a fire; 73 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 22 model years of the Chevrolet Equinox with enough data (520 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While traveling to work on highway 100 east bound in md. My 2005 chevy equinox started having vibrations in the steering wheel. I was traveling in the number 2 lane on a 3 lane highway when the vehicle then pulled me to the left. I counter steered to the right and the vehicle pulled me into a hard left straight into a guard rail. I could not control the vehicle after it pulled me to the left which resulted in my crash into the guard rail and another car hitting me afterwards.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet equinox. While driving 45 MPH, the contact crashed into another vehicle. All the air bags failed to deploy. The contact noticed smoke coming from the radiator. The vehicle was towed to xtreme color inc. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a neck and back injury that required medical attention. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 146,500.
Accident of chevy equinox in the hov lane of southbound 405 freeway hitting the hov k-rail and turning onto its side. Equinox was totaled none of the air bags deployed front or side upon impact. Reported to GM, no action taken by GM.
The contact owns a 2005 chevrolet equinox. The contact stated while driving approximately 20-30 MPH, the transmission failed to shift as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle was unable to exceed 20 MPH. Additionally, there was an electrical surge that went through the steering wheel causing an injury to the contact. Medical attention was needed. The contact stated that after turning the ignition switch to the off position, the vehicle was still running.
In the past the transmission has quit when driving on the freeway, now the steering locks up when driving.