2005 Chevrolet Equinox Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle remained in LIMP mode. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but they are all unable to identify the issue. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000. My 2005 Chevrolet Equinox has been going into limp mode after it's rained for the past 6 to 8 months, with flooding to the floor boards.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, SHE SAW FIRE EMERGING FROM BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO START EVEN WITH THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. THERE WERE NO CRASH OR INJURIES DUE TO THE FIRE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACT AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE STATUS OF THE POLICE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTIFIED LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I HAVE BEEN HAVING MAJOR OVERHEATING IN MY VVEHICAL. I HAVE ONLY BEEN USING IT FOR SHORT DISTANCES DUE TO THE ISSUE BUT NOW HAVE BEEN LETTING IT SIT STILL AFTER READING THAT THE 2005 EQUINOX HAD HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS BEFORE. AND AFTER A UNCLE JUST LOOKING IT OVER I BELIEVE THAT IS WHAT'S WRONG. THERE IS OIL UP IN MY ANTIFREEZE AND RUNNING HORRIBLE. I LIKE TO SEE IF THERE WAS EVER A RECALL ON THIS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT IF SO
HAVE HAD MAJOR ENGINE TROUBLE. HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT PURCHASE TWO YEARS AGO. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TWO DAYS AGO AND MY LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND MY ENGINE BEGAN FAILING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A MECHANIC. THE CODES RAN INDICATED A THERMOSTAT PROBLEM CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BURN OIL. THE PISTONS INSIDE THE ENGINE BROKE. HE INDICATED IT COULD HAVE BEEN FROM THE HEAD GASKET ISSUES. I HAVE READ CONSUMER COMPLAINTS THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES. IN ADDITION, I PERSONALLY KNOW TWO PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR MODELS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP WHO I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM TOLD ME TO CALL GENERAL MOTORS BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE OTHER CONSUMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ME. A MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IF I WERE TO CONTINUE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, MY ENGINE WILL LOCK UP WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD LIKE A DO THREE DAYS A WEEK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTING FLASHING AND ANOTHER LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND CALLED AAA TO TOW MY VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAVE KEPT IT SERVICED AND IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I HAD A MECHANIC HOOK MY VEHICLE UP TO A COMPUTER TO DIAGNOSE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND THE CODE THAT CAME BACK WAS THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED REPLACING. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE CHEVY ENGINE THAT I HAVE IN MY EQUINOX IS KNOWN TO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE HEAD GASKET WHERE IT GOES OUT WITH NO WARNING AND FOR NO REASON. CHEVY KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT FAILED TO RECALL THE VEHICLES WITH THESE ENGINES AND DID NOT MAKE CONSUMERS LIKE ME AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THIS PROBLEM SO I HAD THE OPTION TO EITHER PURCHASE A DIFFERENT VEHICLE OR TRADE MY VEHICLE FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT BUT I WAS NOT GIVEN THAT CHOICE BECAUSE CHEVY FAILED TO MAKE ME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH MY ENGINE AND ALL THE OTHER CONSUMERS THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM.
BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKET THESE 2005 EQUINOX HEAD GASKETS BEEN BLOWING BECAUSE OF THE 3.4L ENGINE CANT KEEP IT FROM OVER HEATING REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND IT WENT AGAIN CHEVY NEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ITS IN THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP BULLETIN THIS IS BAD FOR THE CONSUMER THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SELL A TRUCK WITH BAD HEAD GASKETS ITS JUST A LEMON. BEEN HAVING OVER HEATING PROBLEMS SINCE I HAD THIS CAR ITS JUST REDICULOUS. IT OVER HEATS WHILE IDLING. CHANGED 2 HEAD GASKETS WATER PUMP THERMOSTAT ALL HOSES ETC TEMPERATURE SENSOR FLUSHED THE VEHICLE 5 TIMES STILL NO HELP . THIS VEHICLE IS ALSO KNOWN FOR HAVING TRAPPED AIR IN THE LINES AS WELL. PLEASE STOP LETTING CHEVY SELL THESE EQUINOX THERE JUST A LEMON.
I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX IN MAY 2015, I HAVE HAD MY NORMAL OR CHANGES, EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVE TO PUT 5 QUARTS OF OIL IS IN, THE LOW OIL INDICATOR NEVER CAME ON. SO NOW MY ENGINE HAS LOCKED UP AND I HAVE TO GET A NEW ENGINE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION WITH THE USED CHEVY VEHICLES.
CAR OVERHEATS AND COOLANT LEAKS OUT OF NO WHERE. HEAD GASKET BLOWS HAVE BEEN REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY WHEN ENGINE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AND CAR SHAKES LIKE CRAZY DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
I JUST READ THRU SOME OF THESE COMPLAINTS ANS IT SEEM THAT CHEVY IS HAVING THE SANE THING HAPPEN WHEN ITS COMING TO THIS 05 EQUINOX. I JUST GOT CAR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND ITS GOING THRU THE SAME THING. IM BEING TOLD ITS MY GASKETS BUT ITS SHOWING NO SIGNS THAT ITS BLOWN. IM SO FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THE 90 DAYS IS XPIRED AND I CANT RUN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM. AND NOW TO FIND THAT CHEVREOLET IS NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING THAT FACT THAT THIS IS GOING ON WITH A VEHICLE CREATED BY THEM. THIS IS SO UNFAIR TO CONSUMERS WHO SPEND THE MONEY TO GET THE CAR BUT CANT EVEN GET THE PROPER RESPONSE FROM THE COMPANY FOR THIS ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW JUST HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE FOR CHEVEY TO RESPOND TO THIS, I KNOW I COUNTED AT LEAST A HUNDRED...I KNOW WE TAKE CHANGES WHEN BY A USED CAR BUT AT LEAST DO A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE IT TO MANY PEOPLE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE UNKNOWING WHAT PROBLEMS THEY WILL HAVE AHEAD OF THEM...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE HEAD GASKET ON THE ENGINE FRACTURED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND WATER FLOODED ON THE ENGINE COMPARTMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE DETAILS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 04/14/16*LJ CONSUMER STATED THERE HAS BEEN 29 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND MANUFACTURER SHOULD STAND BY THIS PROBLEM. UPDATED 05/31/18*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CNCEREND FOR THEIR SAFETY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SMOKE WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REQUIRED CLOSING THE ROAD DUE TO IT BEING UNSAFE FOR OTHER DRIVERS TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND CRACK CYLINDERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
I PURCHASED THE EQUINOX ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO AND IT HAD 1 PRIOR OWNER. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES.. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH START UP. AND RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CAR IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK LAST WEEK IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS JUST NOT RUNNING PROPERLY, I ENDED UP STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A VERY DANGEROUS INTERSECTION.. WHEN I FINALLY IT HOME IT STALLED AGAIN IN THE DRIVEWAY.. I'M REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING HOW THIS VEHICLE HAS SO MANY ISSUES AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS! I WORK HARD TO PAY THE BILLS I ALREADY HAVE AND REALLY CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP FIXING THING OR PAY FOR A NEW VEHICLE.. PLEASE TELL CHEVY TO PULL THEIR HEADS OUT OF THEIR BUTTS AND TRY HELPING SOME HARD WORKING FOLKS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO KILL THEM! *TR
THE FIRST TIME MY 05 EQUINOX OVERHEATED ON ME WAS WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO PARTY ON A HILL AND IT OVERHEATED ON ME THEN WE REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND THE WIRES IN MY VEHICLE THEN TOOK IT TO NISSAN AND THEY SAID THAT PITTS BROKE MY PURGE VALVE AND TRIED GLUING IT BACK SO THEY FIXED THAT AND TOLD ME MY VEHICLE WAS FIXED AND THAT IT WONT OVERHEAT ON ME AGAIN WELL ON MY WAY HOME, I WASNT EVEN 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM BEING HOME AND IT OVERHEATED ON ME AND ANTI FREEZE WAS ALL OVER THE GROUND NISSAN TOLD ME IT COULD BE MY HEAD GASKET BUT THEY WEREN'T FOR SURE BUT THEY SAID SINCE I LET SOMEONE ELSE FIX MY CAR THEY WEREN'T GOING TO PAY FOR MY VEHICLE TO GET FIXED BUT I CALLED THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT FIXED MY VEHICLE SAID THEY NEVER TOUCHED MY PURGE VALVE AND IF THEY DID THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED IT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THE A COMPUTER IN THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP HAD BEEN CHANGED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
CAR OVERHEATED GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE (ABOUT 65 MPH). BLEW A HEAD GASKET, FIXED THAT. THEN OVERHEATED A WEEK LATER WHILE IN TOWN DRIVING (ABOUT 45 MPH) BLEW A HEAD GASKET AGAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS THIS VEHICAL BOGGS WAY WAY DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 250 RPMS AND THEN JUMPS BACK UP. NOT SAFE FOR DRIVERS THAT ARE DRIVING BEHIND ME WHEN IT BOGGS DOWN. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND HAVE GOTTEN THE RUN AROUND NOW FOR 2 YEARS AND HAVE REPLACED A LOT OF PARTS TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM ALL BECAUSE GM SAID THEY CAN'T DO A RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS A MODEL MADE DURING THE GOVERNMENT BAIL OUT PROGRAM. WHY IS THIS. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF PEOPLE ASKING ABOUT THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS I'M HAVING AND LIKE ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS GM IS HAVING THEY ARE STRIVING TO COVER THIS ON UP AS WELL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
I'VE HAD MY USED 2005 CHEVY EQUINOX FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL YESTERDAY. I HAD DRIVEN 32 MILES TO VISIT A RELATIVE AND PARKED THE CAR FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING. THE FOLLOWING DAY, I WENT TO TAKE A RIDE WITH MY FAMILY, AND THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WENT ON AND THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO DRIVE NORMAL. I DID A DIAGNOSTIC SCAN AND P0700, P1125, P2125, AND P2138 CODES CAME UP! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATED PEDAL TO START THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FLOOD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
MY CHEVY HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AFTER ONLY 112K. FROM WHAT CHEVY MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME IT'S BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY EGR VALVE ON THE VEHICLES BECAUSE GM FAILED TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF SAID VEHICLES TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM THE START. WINDOW MOTORS HAVE GONE BAD AFTER ONLY 45K MILES, BLOWN GASKET, THE NON STARTING, NO AC UNLESS I'M TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, HAVING TO PULLOVER AND STOP TURN CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON TO GET THE HEAT TO KICK ON IN THE WINTER. I'VE CONTACTED GM BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT IT. THE CHEAPEST I COULD FIND FOR MY CAR WAS 3000 TO REPLACE THE GASKETS. I MIGHT AS WELL DROP A NEW ENGINE IN THE CAR FOR THAT BUT WHY PAY THE 3000 TO REPLACE ENGINE FOR IT TO CRAP OUT ONCE AGAIN! WANDER IF I COULD PUT AN 08 ENGINE IN IT?? NEVER WILL I BUY AN EQUINOX AGAIN NOT IN A MILLION YEARS. *TR
THIS VEHICLE TAKE 4QT OF OIL ,BUT THE BOOK SAID 4.5 QT THAT WILL OVER FILL DIP STICK SHOW OVER A QT FULL CHECK WITH PART DEPT AT CHEVROLET AND WAS TOLD THAT IT ONLY TAKE 4QT WITH FILTER INCLUDED OTHER SERVICE MANUAL ALSO SAY 4QT WITH FILTER 'BECAUSE OF THIS DIFFERENT IN MANUAL CAPACITY THIS HAS CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE OVER THE YEARS. *TR
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The 2005 Chevrolet Equinox has 112 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.