There are 50 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Equinoxin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Upon purchasing the vehicle from a buy here pay here they did not enclose any possible or current failures or problems with the vehicle. It started with the battery and within 2 months of purchase the check engine light came on. I had previously taken the vehicle to the dealership 3 times to assess the issue in which they repeatedly informed me nothing was wrong even though my check engine light was still on. A month later my CV axel went out and my alignment begin to come out of place. I took the vehicle to an auto shop in which they gave me an estimate of all the issues wrong with the car. I have since done repairs for what was necessary. I then began to look for a recall on the vehicle in which I found that there was a manufacturer recall that was I repaired regarding the Safety lock theft prevention. My ignition switch does not register properly when it is in “off mode”. The engine still runs and numerous attempts to stop it have failed. I contacted the dealership and they have not been willing to work with me in any way. I called the manufacturer number and was directed to a Chevrolet dealership near me in which they told me there are no recalls even though the NHTSA.gov website states there is as well as numerous others but that they have not been repaired. When I place my vehicle in the park position and remove the key from the ignition I am still able to move the gear shift into any selected gear, both with and without the normal brake and the emergency brake. I cannot afford to take it to a shop for repair but did take it to be inspected and was informed that this was an issue along with others and that it could be the reason my battery is not holding the power it needs and why I cannot remove my key sometimes as well as why the engine remains running after switching to the off position and removing my key.
unknown replaced complete ac system/starter/new battery/ key inserted no response at all ingigtion seems to be a problem turn on key let go it was starting now nothing
VEHICLE IS ABLE TO DRIVE WHILE KEY IS OUT OF IGNITION WHEN ENGINE IS ALREADY RUNNING. SEAT BELT DISCONNECTS RANDOMLY. VEHICLE CAN BE OPEN WITH A NICKEL COIN. ECU TRIGGERS WARNING LIGHTS RANDOMLY
KEY FALLS OUT OF THE IGNITION SINCE I GOT IT A YEAR AGO I HAVE REPLACED 02 SENSOR AC COMPRESSOR AND A WATER TANK. IT WAS ACTING LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING FUEL LIKE LOSING POWER AND THEN I KILLED IT WENT TO START IT THE NEXT DAY AND IT WON'T CRANK IT WILL TURN OVER AND ACT LIKE IT WANTS TO RUN BUT IT DIES
MY KEY TO MY CAR WON'T TURN. AND WHEN YOU DO GET IT STARTED BY HITTING IT THE KEY FALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS MY THIRD TIME REPLACING IT BUT SAW THERE'S BEEN RECALLS FOR THE LOCK IGNITION SWITCH FOR THIS MODEL. IT'S STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN A YEAR AFTER I LAST REPLACED THE LOCK IGNITION SWITCH.
MY UNDER HOOD FUSE BOX WENT UP IN FLAMES WHILE DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD IN MY HOME TOWN. I WAS DOING 45 MPH WHEN THEN TRUCK SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. I AT FIRST THOUGHT WAS THE FUEL PUMP WENT. WHEN I OPENED MY DRIVERS DOOR I COULD SMELL SOMETHING WAS BURNING. I PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE AS I EXITED KINDLY DOWN AND LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK DID NOT SEE AND SMOKE. I THEN WENT AND OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE UNDER HOOD FUSE BOX WAS ON FIRE AND WAS BEING FUELED BY THE BATTERY I RASH TO THE BACK AND GRABBED A PAIR OF PLIERS TO DISCUSS CONNECT THE BATTERY. I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE BECAUSE I HAD TO CALL 6 DIFFERENT JUNK YARDS SOME THE PARTS WERE ALREADY REMOVED AND OTHERS DID NOT HAVE ALL BUT HAD ONE OF THEM AND A COUPLE THE PARTS WERE MELTED AND BURNT.
MY KEY COMES OUT OF THE IGNITION NO MATTER WHAT GEAR IT IS IN. THE VEHICLE JUST SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING AS I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN ON A CITY STREET. I AM NOW UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE KEY IS ALSO TOUGH TO PULL OUT SOMETIMES.
DROVE VEHICLE TO A STORE, WHILE INSIDE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH FUSE BOX WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. FIRE MEN STATED VEHICLE WAS ATTEMPTING TO START ITSELF WITHOUT KEYS AND WITHOUT BEING ON. HEADLIGHTS N DASH REMAINED ON AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE VERY BADLY, WOULDN'T QUIT UNTIL BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND NEEDED TO BE EXTINGUISHED. ELECTRICAL FIRE PROGRESSED TO DASH AND MELTED WIPER SHIFTER OFF.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE OWNER WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THE OWNER HAD ALSO EXPERIENCED SEVERAL SAFETY RELATED FAILURES WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE INVOLVING THE BRAKING SYSTEM THE TRANSMISSION, THE POWER TRAIN AND THE HEATING SYSTEM. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER(UNKNOWN) AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
ABS PULSATES BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT HARD TO STOP WHEN I NEED TO. WHEN I DO PUSH DOWN ON THE BRAKES IT PUSHES BACK PREVENTING ME FROM STOPPING QUICKLY OR AT ALL. AFTER A WHILE DRIVING LIKE THIS THE ABS TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL I TURN IT OFF AND THEN IT HAPPEN ALL OVER AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIX BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS REOCCURRING. IN 2012 THE CAR JUST STOP ON THE ROAD THAT WASN'T BRAKE RELATED CAUSING US TO GET HIT FROM BEHIND AND THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CAR NOW IS HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE ONE THING IS FAILING AFTER ANOTHER. FOR EXAMPLE SIDE MIRRORS DON'T WORK, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STOP WORKING, AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED OR UNLOCKED WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND THAT A SECURITY WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AFTER THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.
WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN 2015 TO THE PADDOCK CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN KENMORE NY, MY BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THIS CAUSED THE CD CHANGER TO NO LONGER WORK. IT IS STILL NOT FUNCTIONING, CDS WONT EJECT AND ALL IT DOES IS MAKE A CLICKING SOUND.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE USING THE TURN SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILLAGE WAS 212,000.
VEHICLE WILL NOT START. PROBLEM WITH PCM? IGNITION SWITCH, LESS THAN 30,000 MILES, WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT RESTART. AFTER SITTING FOR MORE THAN 30 MINS OR LONGER START/ NO START NEVER KNOW!!! OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH INTERMITTENT DASH DISPLAY, DOOR CHIMES AND THEFT SYSTEM, CONTACTED G.M. AND NOT WILLING TO ADDRESS PROBLEM ....WAVE TOWING FEE, DEALER FAMILIAR WITH PROBLEM ,BUT NOT EXACTLY SURE AT THIS TIME WHAT PROBLEM IS OR HOW TO FIX....WANT TO THROW $ AT IT TILL A CURE IS FOUND. VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC AND ESPECIALLY WITH AUTO TRANS....HAVE CHILDREN IN CAR ALOT WHEN PROB HAPPENS...WHAT DO I DO!!! ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT ALSO! NOT A PROBLEM WIH BATTERY OR FUSES...ELECTRICAL PROBLEM!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS LEAKING. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS MOISTURE, MOLD, AND WATER ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. IN ADDITION, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
BAD IGNITION SWITCH
WHEN I AM DRIVING MY EQUINOX AND HAVE TO STOP FOR A LIGHT, IT WILL RUN HOT AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER UNTILL IT COOLS OFF AND THE TEMPERATURE NEEDLE GOES BACK DOWN. THEN WHEN I TURN IT OFF, THE FAN CONTINUES TO RUN FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES UNTIL IT COOLS OFF.
THE IGNITION KEY WILL LOCK OR ENGINE WILL CONTINUE RUNNING WITHOUT KEY IN PLACE.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026