Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Chevrolet Equinox owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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". …
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.
I always parked car in a garage, but this day no spots were open so I parked on the street and went to work. About a 1/2 hour later I looked the window and noticed smoke coming from the back of the car. I ran out to see what the problem was, and saw fire on the back bumper area on the driver's side. Someone called the fire department. While I grabbed a few things out of the inside of the car. The fire department t came and eventually put out the fire. I have never known a car to spontaneously combustion before, and it was a very traumatic experience. The car was destroyed between the fire, smoke and water, and declared totaled by the insurance company. The origin of the fire appeared to be in the tail light section and to be electrical in nature. I did not have any prior problems with the car, and it was equipped as originally leased from the dealer. …
My 2005 Equinox, I have only 80K miles on it,- key will not start ignition normal. Gets stuck and have to shake key forward for about 20+ minutes before it finally turns on. And when the car is on and running at any speed, the key will just come out of ignition. Map lights leak water when it rains. Car smells like mold. Fuel gauge always says empty and I get less than 16 mpg. Got in a car accident apr 2014, seat belt did not lock when I was rear-ended, my face almost hit the radio (initial reason for my call to GM-Chevy line posted on their website today, looking for an answer as to why my ignition won't work properly and found out about faulty ignitions on my car) GM stated, after giving them my VIN that my car is not included in the recall!!! What's really going on??!! After being accused of "blaming GM for my car problems", I asked for a supervisor and was hung up on. No joke. …
On 2/17/15, I, along with 3 of my children, were driving along the roadway at approx. 7 am. 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. …
A loud pop occurred during operation of the vehicle at approximately 40 MPH and then a noticeable change in the suspension was felt. In testing the vehicles ability to travel to a repair center the brake peddle would drop to the floor as if it lost compression. This occurred after carefully observing the troublesome behavior of the turning capabilities and suspension of the tires. It seemed to make an awful grinding noise when making right turns but not left turns. Previously before these problems arose, the apparent issue of the electrical system and its functioning parts(power doors, windows etc.) were malfunctioning, including the radio. At the initial purchase of the car the only seemingly harmless thing to mind was the sticking of the ignition switch at times. …
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. The battery terminals were disconnected and the vehicle shut-off. The vehicle was taken to rick hendrick Chevrolet norfolk (6252 e. Virginia beach blvd, norfolk, va 23502, [phone]) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced, and the electrical system needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. …
Driving down the highway at about 55-60mph when the car dies. Started running again a few seconds later but then died again. Pulled over could not get it started, but started to smell something burning. Popped the hood to find the main fuse box bellowing smoke, thankfully it was raining so I let the rain cool it down. I figured this was better than it eventually catching the entire vehicle on fire as my wife and 3 kids were in the car. After the smoke stopped, the car repeatedly tried to start itself without the key being present in the ignition. It eventually stopped doing this but the dash lights would randomly flicker in unison. All electrical components were still operational (radio, lights, signals, wipers, etc...) but again no key was present in the ignition.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. While parked, the vehicle was not able to start and various warning lights illuminated. In addition, there was water leaking from an unknown location on the passenger side. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine control module, brakes, windshield, and electronic power steering needed to be replaced. The contact also received an unknown notice from the manufacturer to have the ignition switch replaced for free. The contact mentioned that the engine control module, brakes, and windshield were replaced, but there was still water leaks from the rain. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
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!
Electrical complaints in other Equinox years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA has 159 complaints about the electrical system of the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox, 25% of the model year's 638 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (24 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Chevrolet Equinox electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Chevrolet Equinox electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 6 fires and 5 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.