Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
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).
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. …
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. …
Tl* 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.
I was on an interstate highway. The auto in front of me changed lanes and I accelerated to go past the auto. The accelerator stuck to the floorboard and would not release even after repeated attempts to try and get it to respond. I was able to shift into neutral while the engine was still at full acceleration. I was able to change lanes and glided to a stop in the emergency lane. Where I was able to get the accelerator to disengage. I was very lucky the traffic pattern allowed me to take evasive action to avoid a collision. The accelerator is an electrical system.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start intermittently. The contact mentioned that the key released from the ignition cylinder while the vehicle was in motion. Also, the contact mentioned that a strong odor of fuel emitted from the ventilation system. The dealer and the manufacturer were made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 88,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle's speed reduced independently. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump failed and needed replacement. The contact stated that the fuel pump was replaced approximately a month and half ago. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 148,713.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. While the vehicle was parked, there was a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was fuel leaking from the rear of the vehicle. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V459000 (fuel system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 110,000.
I tried starting car several times and would not start. Pumped the gas pedal while trying to start and finally started. This has been an issue for several months now. Had the fuel filter changed and still have the same problem. I have read several forums where there is a recall on my vehicle concerning this matter.
From stopped position put car in reverse moved approximately 10 feet, stopped. Car immediately moved in reverse at a high speed and hit a telephone pole, car is a total loss. Total incident on videotape from security camera.
2005 Equinox with normal driving, mostly highway. Began to hear the typical sounds of a failing bearing prior to 60,000 miles. Vibration in steering, hum present when driving, uneven wear on front tires. Replaced rfhub under warranty at approx. 69,000 miles. Within 10,000 miles that rfhub began to fail, by the time I could get it to the dealership I had surpassed my warranty and the 12 months/12,000 warranty on the installed part via the dealership. Was told that it wasn't out of the ordinary for the part to fail so quickly, which is news to me! How can a bearing fail that quickly and not be defective. Was forced to pay over 500.00 to replace it. Have complained numerous times about a rattle when going over bumpy roads and received the "we couldn't replicate it" response since initial complaint prior to 60,000 miles. …
Fuel System complaints in other Equinox years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA has 36 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox, 6% of the model year's 638 complaints. The component named most often is delivery (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Chevrolet Equinox fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion 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 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to fuel & propulsion 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.