Problems · by component
2005 Chevrolet Equinox structure problems
34 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox cite structure, 5% of all 638 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
34
5% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The front Uni body to front engine/ transmission subframe mount area on left front and right front has rusted away the front 2 subframe mounting points are not connected to the uni body structure anymore due to corrosion damage causing a clunking noise while driving”
“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 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.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.”
“IN LATE JUNE I STARTED TO NOTICE A MUSTY SMELL EVERY TIME I ENTERED MY CAR. HOWEVER AFTER SEARCHING FOR THE SOURCE I COULD FIND NOTHING AS THE SMELL CONTINUED TO LINGURE AND BECOME WORSE. THEN WHEN CLEANING OUT THE VEHICLE FOR VACATION I DISCOVERED A BUILDUP OF WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT, THE PADDING BETWEEN THE BODY AND TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SATURATED WITH WATER. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS OCCURRED BUT QUICKLY TURNED TO THE INTERNET TO SEARCH FOR A RECALL, ONLY TO FIND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO ANSWER AS TO HOW TO STOP THE ISSUE. *TR”
“WATER SEEPED IN UNDER SUN ROOF, DOWN FRONT DRIVER SIDE ROOF PILLAR AND THEN INTO CAR BEHIND DASHBOARD THEN DRIPPED DOWN INTO COMPUTER CONTROL DEVICE (WHERE OBDII UNIT HOOKS UP) WHERE IT SHORTED OUT ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I WAS GOING DOWN A HILL INTO TOWN WHERE SPEED IS 45 MPH AND MY SISTER IN LAW WAS IN CAR AND WE WERE HEADING TO AIRPORT HOWEVER ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN. BRAKES AND STEERING BECAME REALLY MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. WE COASTED TO A STOP AND AFTER 15 MINS CAR STARTED UP BUT WITH SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHED POWER SO I DROVE INTO A SERVICE STATION WHERE CAR STAYED FOR NEXT 2-DAYS. I DISCOVERED WHAT SHUT CAR DOWN WHEN I STARTED SQUIRTING WATER ONTO ROOF AT A CAR WASH AND WATER STARTED DRIPPING DOWN ONTO CARPET FLOORING BUT FIRST IT SEEPED INTO COMPUTER CONTROL UNIT. I WAITED OUT DRYING OF UNIT AND THEN DROVE HOME AND APPLIED A LOT CAULK TO SUNROOF WHERE GLASS MEET METAL/RUBBER. CAR EXTERIOR ROOF NOW LOOKS TERRIBLE AS CAULK DRIED SORT OF A BROWN CRUD COLOR (CAR IS WHITE) BUT NO MORE (KNOCK ON WOOD) ENGINE STALLING WHEN IT RAINS OR I GO THROUGH A CAR WASH. MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS WHEN ON ROAD AND IN RAIN. *TR”
Showing 6 of 34 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.