10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
20 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
18 / 0
Average Mileage:
98,119 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #29

Jan 052020

Equinox

  • 165,000 miles
The contact owned a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph and turning on curve too fast, control of the vehicle was lost. The vehicle swerved left and right ultimately coming to a stop after crashing into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. During the impact the contact head was hit on the windshield and abrasion to the knee were sustained. Medical attention was not sought. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was destroyed. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

- Cuba, MO, USA

problem #28

Mar 272019

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. While driving 35 mph and driving straight preparing to make a right turn, the contact crashed into the front quarter panel of another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the head and ankle, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 65,000.

- Santa Rosa Beach, FL, USA

problem #27

Jul 202018

Equinox

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. While driving 24 mph on an exit ramp, the vehicle inadvertently drove off the side of the ramp and crashed. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt failed to restrain the contact. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact sustained minor injuries to the head and hips that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a field inspector was sent to inspect the vehicle. The contact was awaiting the inspection results. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Joseline, MO, USA

problem #26

Sep 062017

Equinox

  • 146,500 miles
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. In Kansas City, ks 66102; 913-281-0830. 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.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #25

Jan 012016

Equinox 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 195,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. After the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 04V302000 (power train), the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact stated that the recall repair was performed by youmans Chevrolet (220 riverside drive, macon, ga, phone: 478-746-8531). The approximate failure mileage was 195,000. The consumer stated the airbag area was beginning to make sounds. The consumer did not feel safe driving the vehicle.

- Macon, GA, USA

problem #24

Feb 012015

Equinox

  • 133,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. While operating the vehicle, the odor of fuel was present. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine's thermostat housing was faulty and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed by the manufacturer that the part needed to repair the vehicle had been discontinued. The contact also indicated that the seat belts failed to secure the passengers during hard braking and the air bag and check engine sensors illuminated while operating the vehicle. The cause of the failures was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #23

Dec 152016

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 155,000 miles
I was in an accident on 12/15/2016 where I hit someone from behind. I was driving straight down the highway and didn't notice the people in front of me stopping. When I hit the brakes, it was too late and my chest went flying against the steering wheel. When my Equinox hit them, my seat belt did not lock and my chest hit the steering wheel. I had to go to the hospital because of the force of the impact. The force was so hard that the air bag did not come out. I don't know if there is an air bag inside the vehicle. I could not catch my breath and I tested out my seat belt and realized it does not lock when breaking. It is actually lose the whole time I am driving. This is not safe for me or a passage that I have in the car. Tested out the passage side as well and it is the same thing.

- Artesia, MS, USA

problem #22

Aug 062016

Equinox

  • 215,000 miles
Driving down street while attempting to turn left heard loud pop and then wasn't able to turn and crashed into tree left fender hood headlight all pushed damage to tire and on top of that airbag didn't implore and hit head on the post

- Lansing, MI, USA

problem #21

Feb 152013

Equinox

  • 98,857 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated and the service engine warning light randomly flashed. The dealer was notified of the failure, but the diagnosis was unknown. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 98,857.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #20

Jul 082015

Equinox

  • miles
Airbag light randomly cuts on during use of the vehicle. It can randomly turn on automatically when ignition is turned on during initial powering up of vehicle before driving vehicle as well.

- Greenville, OH, USA

problem #19

Feb 172015

Equinox

  • 150,000 miles
On 2/17/15, I, along with 3 of my children, were driving along the roadway at approx. 7am. As I went around a minor bend in the road, the vehicle pulled hard to the left slamming the driver's side into the snowbank around the guardrail. It continued moving forward as I attempted to apply the brake and lightly move the wheel to get us back into our lane. The vehicle pulled to the right and as I tried to straighten it up, I was sent into a spin until the rear of the vehicle slammed into the snow on our side of the road, bringing us to a stop. No air bags deployed & as I tried to pull away, I realized the vehicle was not on. It had shut itself down. I had my brother look at it & test drive, he found nothing, so I assumed it was a 1 time event and proceeded to use the vehicle. On 2/22/15, my nephew and my daughter used the vehicle to go to town. He got less than 3 miles from home, heading down the mountain, when he realized there was little to no steering. He looked down & saw that once again, the vehicle had shut itself off. He too ended up crashing. Luckily he was able to get it to the opposite side of the rd, into the snowbank just before a semi went speeding by. Again, no airbags deployed. It concerns me with the massive recall that I found online, that this vehicle is not on the list, but many ppl seem to be having the same issue. Luckily no one was injured in our incidents. But these vehicles are not safe & should not be on the roads in this condition. We were very fortunate that both incidents were during a clear spot in traffic. Now the vehicle site in my drive because I do not trust that whatever they do will fix it & I cannot in good conscience pass this death trap on to anyone else. I contacted GM hoping for a bit of help & perhaps an investigation into the safety of the vehicles, but they refused.

- Morris, PA, USA

problem #18

Nov 122014

Equinox

  • 166,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while park, the shift lever independently shifted into drive causing the vehicle to crash into the driver's side of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 166,000.

- Reed City , MI, USA

problem #17

Oct 042014

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 106,000 miles
Vehicle was hit on the driver's side at the front door. Vehicle went right after impact at full throttle into a 12 ft ditch. Turned 90 degrees out of the ditch, came out of the ditch, across a 4 lane road. Front left wheel caught on a curb, vehicle still a full throttle with driver trying to brake. Veered to the left, jumped a 2 ft ditch, went to the right, hit a 3 ft rock, knocked the rock into the ditch and car ended up on top of the rock. Air bags did not deploy at this this. Vehicle traveled approximately 953 ft at full throttle before hitting the rock. GM had replaced the ignition switch once under policy vehicle would not come out of gear when parked sometimes. Even after replacing ignition switch we continued to have problems removing key from ignition. Nationwide insurance has possession of the car and is paying an outside vendor to down load the data from this accident. GM was called an we got one phone call back about this accident a week ago. Do have pictures and video from the accident scene. Also have a diagram of the distances the car traveled while changing directions after being hit. Best time to call is between 10am and 1pm as I drive a school bus and can not talk. Or after 6pm to 9pm.

- Ankeny, IA, USA

problem #16

Sep 112014

Equinox

  • 56,000 miles
I hit a pole and the airbags did not deploy, but I hit the pole a little off the center on the front end I don't know if that matters I'm very upset with this and I guess there's not much I can do my car was totaled.

- Dickson City, PA, USA

problem #15

Oct 312005

Equinox 6-cyl

  • 30 miles
Driving down street cut off by semi ran into flashing sign with nowhere else to go. Over half passenger front bumper was crushed radiator smashed, whole front passenger quarter smashed. Car was undriveable but air bags did not go off.

- Twining, MI, USA

problem #14

Oct 312004

Equinox

  • 70 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. While driving approximately 70 mph on the highway, the contact noticed the key was detaching from the ignition. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V302000 (power train). While driving 35 mph, the contact was involved in a crash and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact was injured and received medical attention. The vehicle was repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 70.

- Twining, MI, USA

problem #13

Nov 132013

Equinox

  • 175,000 miles
Was traveling on the interstate - had an accident and the airbag did not deploy - going approximately 65 - slammed brakes - got rear-ended and then rear-ended person in front of me - airbag never deployed.

- Greenville, FL, USA

problem #12

Jun 092010

Equinox

  • 32,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the power steering and brakes failed. The contact crashed into a median and rolled over. The air bags failed to deploy upon impact and the power windows failed to open. A police report was filed. The driver sustained injuries to the neck and shoulder. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 32,000.

- Warsaw, VA, USA

problem #11

Jan 142013

Equinox

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while parked, the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. Additionally, there was a loud bang heard from the front end of the vehicle followed by a clunking noise coming from the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The technician stated the rack and pinion and steering shaft would have to be replaced. The air bag failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

- Olean, NY, USA

problem #10

Dec 152012

Equinox

  • 145,000 miles
I was driving, hit ice, fish tailed, started to spin, went head first into the median, probably going 30-45 mph. After that we came to a stop, and were hit by a semi trailer traveling at approximately 45-60 mph. Neither impact set the air bags off and we believe that it should have.

- Ephrata, WA, USA

Read the next 9 complaints »