2005 Chevrolet Equinox Electrical System
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS ERRONEOUSLY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE ENGINE WAS ACTIVE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND NOTIFIED THE LOCAL DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000....UPDATED 12/09/15 *BF UPDATED 8/21/2017*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SHE ERRONEOUSLY STRUCK THE KEY RING AND THE IGNITION KEY RELEASED ONTO THE CONSOLE CUP HOLDER. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE KEY BEING POSITIONED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PLACED THE KEY BACK INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE ENGINE WOULD OPERATE AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITHOUT THE KEY BEING PERMANENTLY PLACED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
PROBLEMS WITH POWER WINDOWS AND DOOR SPEAKERS. HAD READ ABOUT ISSUES WITH THE WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE FRAME. I TOOK THE RUBBER BOOT OFF TO FIND 4 BROKEN WIRES. I WOULD IMAGINE THE OTHER DOORS ARE SIMILAR. HAVEN'T CKD THEM AS OF YET. I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU LIKE. *TR
I CAN START MY CAR AND THEN PULL THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. THIS ISSUE STARTED IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR (2013) AND MY EQUINOX ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHEN IGNITION IS NOT OFF . CAN AND DOES FALL OUT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE NO MATTER WHAT GEAR THE SELECTOR SHIFT IS IN ( INCLUDING PARK). *TR
AFTER STOPPING AT A GAS STATION, GOT IN MY CAR AND AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED THE DOORS BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE. NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. NO SOUND OTHER THAN A WHIRRING UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. IT WAS GETTING VERY HOT IN THE CAR SO I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR, AND COULD NOT. I TRIED THE MANUAL "OPEN" BUTTON MANY TIMES AND IT WOULD NOT WORK. OF COURSE, THE WINDOWS ARE ELECTRIC SO THEY WOULD NOT GO DOWN (THERE IS NO LEVER TO ROLL THEM DOWN). AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, IT GOT SO HOT IN THE CAR I TELEPHONED 911. AS THE OFFICER DROVE UP, ONE OF THE TIMES I TRIED TO TURN OVER THE IGNITION PRODUCED A VERY SHORT SUCCESS IN TURNING ON THE ELECTRIC JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR THE RADIO TO COME ON AND THE DOORS TO UNLOCK. WE STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT EXPECT IT IS RELATED TO AN ELECTRICAL PART(S). I HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH CHEVROLET FOR ALMOST AN HOUR NOW. "[XXX]" STILL HAS ME ON HOLD (OVER 20 MINUTES NOW) FOR A SUPERVISOR (WHICH I REQUESTED - TWICE) BECAUSE HE INFORMED ME THEY KNOW OF NO WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY WHEN THE ELECTRIC IS INVOLVED. IN FACT, HE SAID THEIR "SENIOR" REPAIRMAN SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD A THING LIKE THAT HAPPENING TO ANYONE BEFORE. "[XXX]" KEPT TELLING ME TO ASK THE DEALERSHIP OR THE NAPA SERVICE CENTER WHERE MY CAR IS NOW OF A WAY TO ESCAPE THE CAR. I KEPT TELLING HIM I HAD ALREADY TALKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEIR REPAIRMAN TOLD ME IT COULD HAPPEN THE WAY IT DID TO ME, IT IS DANGEROUS, AND HE KNEW OF NO WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH IT BEING ALREADY LOCKED WHEN THE ELECTRIC NO LONGER WORKS. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY, IF IT IS THE ELECTRIC, THE CAR DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. I WANT CHEVROLET TO MAKE SURE THERE IS AN ESCAPE OUT OF THE CAR WHEN THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED TO DO SO. ADDITIONALLY, SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT THE VEHICLE POWERING OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION - ONCE THERE, THE KEY COMES OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING. *TR
THE IGNITION ON MY VEHICLE LITERALLY EATS MY KEY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY KEY SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE EVENTUALLY KEY WON'T START VEHICLE. ALSO AFTER WEAR OF NEW KEY, THE KEY COMES OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. *TR
THE KEY BECOMES LOOSE IN THE IGNITION AND CAME OUT WHILE CAR WAS ON OR IN MOTION. SPENT OVER $400 TO REPAIR IT AND NOW GM HAS MADE A MAJOR RECALL IN THE AREA BUT NOT ON THE 2005 EQUINOX. I HAD IT REPAIRED IN OR AROUND NOVEMBER 2013. *JS
KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN IGNITION. IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.
KEY SOMETIMES WON'T TURN, KEY CAN BE PULLED OUT OF IGNITION WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IGNITION WILL CHEW UP OR EAT THE KEY. *TR
2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THERE WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER TUMBLERS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS, WITH THE IGNITION CYLINDER BINDING UP DUE TO DEBRIS INSIDE THE CYLINDER HOUSING. THE LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. *JB
THE IGNITION GETS HUNG UP AND WONT ALLOW TO START OR MOVE IGNITION SWITCH TO TURN OFF UNLESS YOU GIGGLE IT AROUND. THIS PROBLEM IS SOMETIMES HELPED BY GOING TO THE DEALER AND GETTING A NEW KEY. THIS WEARS OUT IN A FEW MONTHS AND THE PROBLEM RETURNS. *TR
THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. THE KEY MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AT ANY TIME, EVEN IF THE CAR IS RUNNING. THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY LOCK AT ANY TIME SO THAT THE CAR MAY NOT BE STARTED. THE IGNITION SWITCH DAMAGES THE CAR KEY CAUSING THE CYLINDER TO BE FILLED WITH METAL SHAVINGS. THIS IS AN ONGOING, WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. GM'S ANSWER IS TO CLEAN AND LUBRICATE THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS DOES NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *TR
IGNITION SWITCH HAS PROBLEMS - THE KEY WILL NOT GO IN AT ALL, OR PARTIALLY GOES IN AND GETS STUCK, GOES IN FULLY AND GETS STUCK, OR COMES OUT WHILE THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. CURRENTLY THE KEY WILL NOT GO IN RENDERING THE CAR TOTALLY INOPERABLE. THE CAR IS HARD TO START AT TIMES - IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES TO GET IT TO TURN OVER, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE. THE HEADLIGHTS MAY OR MAY NOT GO TO HIGH BEAM AND THE DASH LIGHTS MAY OR MAY NOT TURN ON AT ALL. THERE IS CONSTANT FLUCTUATION. DUE TO THE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ WITH REGARD TO THE SAME PROBLEMS I BELIEVE THAT THIS FACT ALONE SHOULD MANDATE AN INSTANT RECALL. I AM DISABLED AND THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO MY DOCTORS FOR FREQUENT TREATMENTS THE COST TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE IS NOT WITHIN MY REACH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO TURN PREVENTING THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. T HE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,659.
WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND KEYS ARE OUT OF THE IGNITION THE CAR STILL THINKS THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION OR THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK. *TR THE CAR IS IN PARK AND KEY IS OUT OF IGNITION, YOU CAN STILL MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT THE WHEEL LOCKING AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. SOMETIME THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK AND THAT IS WHEN THE DOOR LOCK WORKS AGAIN. MOST OF THE TIME THE STEERING WHILE DOES NOT LOCK WHEN IN PARK OR IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. THIS IS A SCARY ISSUES WITH ALL CURRENT RECALLS OF KEY LOCKS AND POSSIBLY NOT THE CAR DOES NOT KNOW THE VEHICLE IS OFF AND LOCKS ARE NOT WORKING. THANK YOU! *TR
FIRST WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 25 MPH I HIT MY KEY RING AND THE KEYS FELL OUT. THE CAR CONTINUE TO RUN I JUST PUT THE KEYS BACK IN TO THE IGNITION WHEN I CAME TO A STOP. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT YOU CAN START THE CAR AND THEN REMOVE THE KEY AND ALL CONTINUE TO RUN AND WORK. ALSO FOUND THAT WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR THE OTHER DAY, ONCE I TURNED THE KEY TO START IT WOULD KEPT RUNNING THE STARTER. LET ME EXPLAIN A LITTLE BETTER, WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE CAR AND THEN LET GO THE CAR STARTER CONTINUE TO RUN UNTIL I MOVED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSTION. *TR
I CONTACTED CHEVROLET EARLY ON ABOUT THIS PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL, THEY CLAIMED IT IS NOT COVERED. YET, ONLINE I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT NUMEROUS CONSUMERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. RECENTLY, IT SEEMED THAT GM WAS RECALLING VEHICLES WITH A SIMILAR IGNITION PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THEM AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED SIMPLY BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SHUT OFF. THIS WAS ALL DONE OVER THE PHONE WHICH IS AN AMAZING DIAGNOSTIC TOOL THEY HAVE. I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT. WHEN ASKED WHAT THE COST WOULD BE, I WAS ADVISED THAT WOULD BE NORMAL SERVICE FEES WHICH IS A WASTE OF MONEY SINCE IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO REPAIR IT AT MY MECHANIC WITHOUT ANY DEALER DIAGNOSTIC FEES. ITS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT YET NO ONE WILL ADMIT IT. *TR
1ST TIME, GOING DOWN STEEP HILL, COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE, THOUGHT BRAKES DIED, HAD TO USE THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP, JUST MISSED A TRUCK BY A FOOT, WOULD OF HIT ME ON DRIVER SIDE. THAT WAS IN 2012 HAD SUV TOWED TO ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, NON GM DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION SENSOR, REPLACED IT, RE-TOWED TO GM DEALER IN MOON TOWNSHIP. THEY CHECKED IT OUT IT WAS OK SINCE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. 2ND TIME WAS IN 2013, STOPPED COMING DOWN A HILL AGAIN, NO POWER AGAIN, CALLED AAA THEY TOWED TO GM DEALER IN MOON TOWNSHIP PA. AGAIN IGNITION SENSOR REPLACED AND ALSO SOME OTHER WIRES BURNED WHICH WERE ALL REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS AROUND 33,000 ON IT ONLY. *TR
CAN NOT TURN THE IGNITION KEY. I HAVE HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE 2005 EQUINOX. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ME AND MY PROBLEM BY THE DEALER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE KEY WOULD DETACH FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER MADE A NEW IGNITION KEY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX MONTHS LATER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
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The 2005 Chevrolet Equinox has 79 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.