4.4
definitely annoying- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 25,158 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
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.
- Orchard Park, NY, USA
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).
- Lake Worth, FL, USA
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.
- Greenwood, AR, USA
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.
- Greenwood, AR, USA
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. 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.
- Dublin, CA, USA
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.
- Mount Gilead, OH, USA
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!
- Fargo, ND, USA
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.
- East Windsor, NJ, USA
- Burnsville, MN, USA