Used 2005 Chevrolet Equinox Consumer Reviews

Biggest Mistake I EVER made!!!!

This car has been the biggest mistake I have ever made - have replaced brakes and rotors 4 times, control arms twice, fabric stains very easily and will NOT come clean, temp gauge has been replaced twice, have had to have tire bolts replaced every time I get tires rotated because the threads have been stripped, headlights and seals are bad ALL the time, and now my drive shaft is toast due to bad U joints. Car only has 85,000 miles on it. I should have known to not buy a Chevy when they were going under, but have learned to never buy one again. Shoddy parts, shoddy workmanship - and they wonder why they are going under??

Problems

2005 Chevy equinox.. nothing but problems... car acts like it wants to start sometimes but it wont.. after a while it does...

Money Pit

I bought this car used in 2017. It only had 79k miles on it. 1 owner. I was hoping it would last for a while. I replaced the radiator and head gaskets through the dealership in regards to the "running hot" issue. I replaced the coolant reservoir myself. The sun roof sucks and rain water was pouring in my car. No one could fix it. I finally took super glue to it and fixed it myself. Most recently it stranded me on the highway which I suspect is a transmission issue. And it starts shakily 90% of the time. I'm afraid to drive it. And it currently has 146k miles on. It's been nothing but problems since the day I bought it and the emission light was on. It's always something with this car. When it does run, it runs well I guess. Looking for something else at this point though.

E-nox

I purchased this vehicle as a work vehicle and have been surprise by the performance and mileage. Miles from town and in the dead of Kansas winter, I have busted through 2' snowdrifts. Then in the spring with the snow melting, I have slip-slided a full mile on a minimum maintenance road at 3 to 5 MPH. I don't recommend this as several times I thought I was going to end my adventure in the ditch. I only wish Chevy had spent more money on the paint used on the dashboard and where did they get the material they used on the seat covers? Spill water on them and they stain! All in all; for a used vehicle with 36k on it and $16k I'm really satisfied. It now has (8 months later) 57k on it.

It's an Okay Car

This is the first car I've ever owned. I needed an AWD vehicle that could do well over long distance and could haul my stuff to and from college. I drive it about 300 miles every weekend. I've only had one major problem - There was clunking in the rear end right after I bought it, and that seemed to clear up after I took it back to the dealership. But now there's some awful grinding noise in the front when I make turns (wide turns, I might add). I love the car's design and color. But anything would be great compared to my '89 Grand Prix. What a load of junk. I'm just worried about how long the Equinox will last. Hopefully more than 5 years!

Worst car buying decsion ever

Had an excellent experience the frist few months then all the problems began causing a lemon law to be filed. Brakes repaired 4 times, radio replaced, speakers replaced, leak around gas tank, ignation replaced and power outlets not connected (replaced). Dealing with GM has been and is one of the most difficult and fustrating experiences I have ever had. Needles to say I will never buy another GM and will encourage anyone else to do the same.

Dissastisfied buyer

I love how my Equinox drives, but this car has been in the shop more than it has been on the road. I've had the brakes worked on 3 times, master cylinder replaced, the whole gearshift assembly replaced, the radio replaced, and the rotors turned twice. It also has a backfiring problem that has been in effect since 9000 miles, but no service person can duplicate the problem when they have it in the shop. I don't think I will ever purchase another Chevorlet. I just wonder if any other Equinox owners have had the problems that I've had.

It's fine for adults

So far no major problems with the car. It has good gas mileage and what really made me buy it is its exterior appearance. It reminds me of a Lexus SUV but without the price tag.

Worst SUV ever

My wife bought this car about 2.5 years ago. The first test drive was not too bad and the engine felt pretty good but after driving this vehicle several times and on long distances I came to the conclusion that this is one of the worst one we have ever owned. The only positive thing I personally can say about this car is the interior space in the back. The turning radius is the one of a 18 wheeler, the brakes are bad, the steering is flimpsy, the visibility - especially when you back up - is terrible, the paint on the door panels and on the instrument cluster is chipping, on the outside the windowsgaskets and the Chevy emblem are getting loose, mileage is quite bad etc.

I hated this vehicle!

After 2 horrible winters I wanted a vehicle with better clearance. I was driving a VW Golf (which I loved!) The Equinox had 35,000 miles on it when we bought it. The interior was soiled and we couldn't get it clean. We immediately had to replace the shocks and struts. The first time we used the air conditioning it stopped working after 20 minutes and needs a new compressor @ $500. You can't hear the radio because of the outside noise and every time I turned right it made a horrible noise! Plus it has some bad blind spots. After 6 months we traded it in. My confidence in this car was zero.

Great New SUV from Chevrolet

Bought this to replace another manufacturer's product. Great styling, and many great interior amenities. Sure footed in the snow and has all the great safety features, ABS, side curtain airbags, and OnStar.

Frist all wheel drive and I love it!

My wife and took delievery on it about 26 Jan 2005. We love the drive of it, the 5 speed automatic. The mileage is excellent for a new car (20mpg in city) haven't been on the road with it as yet. We like the side airbags, the XM radio, and the folding rear seats. And the V6 is like the one I had in the pickup that I traded in on it. Easy to drive, power steering is very good. The ride is super excellent! It does take a little getting used to how to use some of the controls but other than SUPER!

HATE THIS CAR

This thing is the worst car I have EVER owned. In the shop - ignition sticks from time to time, and the dealer told me to just deal with it - it will start. NEVER again will I buy a GM product - quality and service have been seriously lacking. Had to replace front struts with less than 40000 miles. American companies wonder why we buy foreign - this car is a prime example of why. Even my interior is junk - peeling radio dials and an interior that stains if you drop water on it. I would never recommend to anyone to buy this piece of junk!

Mini Gas Guzzler

My Equinox has been back to the dealership 5 times in its short 3 months of ownership. The mileage is terrible, as low as 13.5 miles per gallon and an average of 15-16 miles per gallon. If this is the best Chevy can do, then I'll be driving over to the competition soon. Also GM was a bit cheap on the assembly line, in an LT model they couldn't even put lights in the vanity mirrors. The list goes on and on.

Fully Loaded

Bought brand new. Fully loaded, paid extra for paint color. Loved it in the beginning. Then the problems began. CD player replaced 3 times...CD's get jammed in player, some dont play at all. Window controls and cup holders must have been placed by a blind guy. Sounds like a helicoptor is on top of me when the windows are open. Leather is horrible quality. Interior paint is chipping off. Uneven tire wear. Had issues with cooling system within first 2 years. Now, I get to play "Equinox Roulette" everytime I get in...will it start today? Found out a cylinder is misfiring and the coolant looks like mud. From reading other posts, seems like a blown head gasket...awesome.

A Great Little SUV

The Equinox is the true Sport Utility Vehicle. Sport - With the AWD, it can handle almost any road condition. The five-speed transmission and well proven 3.4-liter engine provide the power needed to merge into traffic while obtaining 25 mpg on the highway. Utility - The adjustable back seat appears to provide more back seat room than a Suburban allowing four adults to ride in comfort. It tows 3500 pounds. Negatives The fold flat seat could fold a little flatter. The upgraded radio is a great option if you enjoy jamming.

No other vehicle will do it for me

Had the vehicle 5 months now. It is very comfortable. Love the heated seats and sunroof. The vehicle handles better than any other vehicle I've had in the winter. I see people slipping and sliding all over the road in newer vehicles and my Nox is sturdy and safe. I highly recommend this vehicle to anyone who has a family and who lives in wintry conditions. I don't find the vehicle to be a gas oink and it doesn't cost that much to fill the tank. The vehicle handles well on the highway and even better in snowy conditions. Most people who see it comment on what a smart SUV it is and where did I get it. Thanks Chevy for the best vehicle we've ever owned!

Watch for Blind Spots

So far my Equinox has been a great purchase. However, if you drive in the city the head rest on the back seats create a horrible blind spot. I had to get the dealer to remove them so I could see. Also, I don't find that the air conditioner cools that well. I thought something was wrong with it, but the dealer checked it and said it was fine. I've had better cooling cars. It's a comfortable SUV to ride in. It has the look of an SUV, but it drives like a car.

Chevy not American!

Well.. This being my first chevy and last. I never seen such a poor quality AWD; when compared to Subaru and the pricing for the vehicle. It's body does not do justice in Rain, and actually works better in the snow. We have tried 4 different kinds of tires and made no signs of improvements. The material in the vehicle is very cheap, we cannot clean it out nor get it professional cleaned. We actually had to spend another grand and updated it with leather which has been great since. THIRD, two things.. ITS NOT AN AMERICAN ENGINE! SHOCKED! and it doesn't even have a REAL BATTERY. You cannot jump this, or jump another vehicle with this SUV. It has its good days but NOW I see why GM is falling!

What happened to the gas mileage?

I love driving this car. It has a great ride to it There is plenty of room inside and I get compliments on the car all the time. I feel the inside could have been more spruced up, but the only problems I find are the way too low cup holder and armrest and the cheap looking pull out cup holders in front and back. I like having the window controls on my right and I find the entire stereo system teriffic. I love XM satelite radio. My only real disappointment is the gas mileage which was one of the main reasons I decided to try an SUV rated at 19/25mpg. I am getting anywhere from 12.5 to 15 in city driving and a not too bad 19-21 on the highway.

warning to all equinox owners

wife and i put 800 mi. on vehicle. after returning from trip, i was slowing down for left hand turn. a-arm (axle) literally snapped, luckily at 15- 20 mph. left front wheel base was hanging off. 100 miles earlier, we would of been killed at 70 mph on interstate 90. very serios problem!!! question is, isolated incident???

Chevy Equinox

Without question the most comfortable car I've ever driven. Lots of cargo space, storage space, leg room. Smooth ride, look forward to seeing how it handles in snow.

Decent

An all around good car. I get horrible gas mileage and I try to drive as conservatively as possible with this car but I still only average 250 to 260 miles to a tank of gas and I have 8,200 miles on it already. There is a wierd clunking feel and noise when I apply my brakes at low speeds. Great sound system though; it is a major step up from my first car. The size is good although it looks like and sometimes feels like you need car seats in the back instead of guitars and equipment like me (it looks like a minivan).

Enjoy the car - but not the gas mileage!

I really like the car alot. The exterior design is beautiful - looks like a much more expensive car. Comfort is very good also. The leg room in the back is by far the best. My only problem is the gas consumption. Overall, I would recommend this car.

Perfect Dream SUV

Simply love the design and build as well as the overall quality of this Chevy. Great performance car, I have no major complaints.

Nightmare

This vehicle is by far the worst vehicle I have owned. I have had it in for serivce numerous times, and a solution is never presented. Vehicle is loud at all speeds, acceleration and power is terrible. Ride quality is very rough, and with every bump the vehicle jumps. Have had check engine light, oil light, and engine service light come on about 3-5 times a week. And as far as gas mileage, I average about 15-16mpg. This is by far the worst vehicle I have owned, I regret buying it every day. Please try to avoid this vehicle in any way.

Be careful with this car!

I bought this car after test driving and reading online the glowing reports of this vehicle. Never in over my 36 years of driving have I been so disappointed in a car. I have had it to the shop for: Key stuck in the ignition, seat heaters not working, starter not functioning ( at least 6 times) Brakes making noises ( at least 12 times) re-progamming the CD player, transmission....need I go on. I write this as my car is now in the shop for the 3rd time in 3 weeks! Stay away from this car..very disappointed

LOVE IT BABY

THE BEST VALUE IN ITS CLASS BY FAR

How I feel

I love this car, it's very comfortable to drive. I think that it eats a little too much gas, but since I bought it, I don't seem to mind driving. It has plenty of leg room in the back, and the exterior is gorgeous.. I think that all of the cars should have a six-disc CDchanger. I would definitely recommend this car to someone to buy.

Gas mileage and off road capability

Strangely enough I don't hear at all about off road capability in consumer reviews, especially when it comes to the Chevrolet Equinox. Why? Because the Equinox has no off road capability whatsoever. I felt safer in the snow in my Honda Accord. This vehicle is heavy and the all wheel drive system is not efficient. I used to drive a Subaru, and this thing his not even close. I drive all wheel drive vehicles because I'm among the few who actually need it, and with the Equinox I wasted my money on a system that has no advantages over a FWD system. Gas mileage is also very disapointing. My friend has a Cherokee and burn less gas than me.

Sorry I ever got it

Car was fine for a couple of months and then the tires went bad had them replaced. Then the rotors went bad had to have them replaced. The company said the cram was manufactured wrong that is why I have to keep replacing the tires. Koons said they must be crazy that there is nothing wrong with the cam but the tires are on a slant. so you tell me

Don't like it at all

This car is too noisy, uncomfortable, interior is very cheap. Not to mention the fact that I had it in 2 times the first month I purchased it, now I just had a u-joint and part of the rear differential.

Equinox Rocks!

The car is very comfortable, quiet and a major eye-catcher! It seems to be the best value for an SUV of its size. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a mid-size SUV.

Great buy

We bought an all white AT fully loaded. As soon as we saw it and drove it we knew it was perfect for us. The legroom in the back is great. Good pick-up, comfort, it's quiet. Stereo with XM (which I was skeptical about) is better than we could have imagined. We get tons of compliments from friends and strangers at gas stations. It's not unusual to pull into the grocery store and have other folks come check it out.

More than expected

We have found our AWD Chevrolet Equinox LS to be a much more enjoyable vehicle than we originally expected it would be. The ride is very comfortable and carlike, the engine is quiet and very powerful, the seats are comfortable and very versitile and even the radio with it's many buttons is much easier to operate than other radios with those confusing multi-function buttons. The AWD system couldn't be simpler to operate, you do absolutely nothing, and provides a secure feeling in all kinds of weather. Even the wipers, both front and rear, are the quietest I have ever heard. Do yourself a favor, don't overlook this vehicle.

not happy

I bought a 2005 new. The 2nd month I had it, a part in the transmission broke. Then the lift gate lock and the CD did not work properly fixed under warranty. Just out of warranty (14 months old) side mirror switch,$40, the ABS sensor went bad, $200, Then the upper strut plates and a strut went bad, $300. Since then, the ABS sensor went bad again, both struts and upper plates replaced again $472. The wiring harness in the driver door (Which controlls the speaker, locks, alarm, and dinger) was replaced $200. The rear hub replaced $255. The paint on the interior doors and on the radio buttons is chipping off. The fabric is not easy to clean. The CD changer just broke. I did not get my $'s worth

Not Pleased

I have had problem after problem with this vehicle. I noticed on the Edmund's message board other owners have had similar problems. The dealer appears to be clueless when some of these issues are mentioned even though they appear to be consistan issues with others across the board. At the first opportunity, I plan to trade her in for possibly a whole new make. This has not been a pleasant experience with a new car purchase.

To the curb it went!

After a few years, we decided to trade our Equinator in on a 4 door rubicon. Electrical issues were a major concern with this chevy. The Equinox has potential to be a great vehicle for some, but GM has to quit putting cheap parts in their vehicles. This was our biggest issue. trade in value is a reflection of how cheap this vehicle is.

Hunk of Junk

I have had this vehicle for 2.5 yrs now, and I've had to have brand new rotors and break pads; along with brand new tires, visor, and stereo. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone. There is also a problem where the starter cranks after the key is released, and Chevrolet, in their service bulletin (#03-06-03-001D) states this is "normal." There are a ton of blind spots with this vehicle also. You couldn't pay me enough money to ever get a Chevrolet again.

Do more than a 5 minute test drive!

We have always been Chevy fans, but learned the hard way that a 5 minute test drive doesn't always give a clear picture of a vehicles space, comfort, or ride. The seats are so hard they are terrible for any drive longer than 1 hour. There is no place to put anything, even your purse, except for at your feet, which is a small enough space as it is. The ride in the back seats is like a truck-bumpy. The gas mileage is terrible! Our bigger, roomier mini van gets better mileage than the Nox. This averages 19--and the gas tank is far too small for this mileage, you have to fill up every 230 miles or so. It is overall so bad, we are going to take it in the shorts and trade it in!

STAY AWAY

The car is junk. I bought it new and have had many problems. The key lock broke on drivers door. GM decided to only put one key entry on the car, how cheap is that? I can only unlock it with the remote (its great when the battery dies). Front bearings went at about 20k. Door handle came off in my hand, so open the doors very carfully on this heap. The interior finish on the dash has pealed off, it looks like it is 30 yrs old. There is actually a blind spot out the front windshield when looking across to the right caused by the window fram and the exterior mirror.

Please help me!

I bought my car in april 2012. its an '05 chevy equinox. ive had it for 5 months now and it has been in the shop 5 times. The first time was the day after i got it for an alignment. The second time was because my brakes would fail, not stop and vibrate/jerk. I would have to push really hard on the brake to actually stop. the abs light would come on and my traction control would turn off. the car would be out of control and not stop. I took it to one of DT's shops and they supposeably fixed it. not even a week later, the brakes wouldnt work and the abs light/traction control light came on. i took it back to the shop and this time the people at the shop were jerks. said nothing was wrong and to basically drive until i crash it or dont drive at all. left the shop drove approximately 2 miles the abs light/traction control light came on. took it right back. they said oh there is a problem. they replaced the abs sensor. got it back a week later and they said it was fixed. once again right when it got out it drove fine but not even a week later the brakes would not work. i got fed up with DT that i went a month without doing anything. the car was getting so bad that i took it to a different shop. they replaced the abs sensor again. got it back still the same problem. took it back they changed the driver side hub assembly. got it out was okay then week later back in the shop. this time it was the brake module sensor or something like that. got it back about three weeks ago and still having the same problem but its worse now. i cant tell you how many times ive almost been in a accident its ridiculous. what can i do? can anyone help me figure out how to get rid of this car?

Get what you pay for

Bought the Equinox new in March 2004. We have had several mechanical & electrial issues since. Our Equinox gets about 16.5 MPG overall. We liked the design and the utility the Equinox offered. The interior materials are cheap. If we had to do it again, we would have purchased a Liberty or Vue, and lived with the smaller vehicle. We plan on trading the Equinox in due to reliabilty issues.

Selling like hot cakes!

Went to buy an Avalanche last week and ended up buying two new Chevrolets. While at the dealer my wife spotted the Equinox. Three days later we went back and bought a black FWD LT. Had test driven the Nissan Murano, Lexus and BMW MDX, none had comparable leg room to the Equinox. LT units are preselling in our market and are very difficult to find. EXTREMELY good value for the money, nothing even comes close.

2005 Equinox LT AWD

I had a 2004 Chevy Impala LS and I loved it. The only thing is I had three back surgeries and am now disabled and needed something easier to get in and out of. The Equinox was the vehicle for me. Excellent ride and comfort. Love the heated seat option, like a heating pad for my back. The Equinox is a excellent SUV.

Mom's favorite vehicle

1st and last Chevy I'll ever own

This car has been a great dissapointment since we bought it. It had a window leak it took the dealer 4 times to fix, gas mileage is 25% lower than sticker (only to find out there was a brake cylinder stuck when we replace the brakes at 60k, dealer never discovered it or attempted to fix poor gas mileage), the alarm dings for no apparent reason and wont shut off, even with car running or key out (again dealers in Tx and TN could/would not fix), satellite radio goes to static in and around cities, even with clear view of sky. Just to name a few of the problems we've had with no resolution from the dealers or Chevy. What a piece of junk. Should have bought the Escape.

Good so far

Was reluctant to buy a first year model, but have had it four years and 34,000 miles with no problems at all - just regular service. Have the top-of-the-line model with AWD. Live in northwest PA, and it does really well in snow. Have the laser blue metallic with gray leather. Mileage got better over the years - is now about 24 mpg highway. Really lousy turning radius. Front end is noisy - everything sounds loose. Paint is thin and leather is not high quality. Price was good for a good looking AWD crossover. Great sunroof. So far, can't beat it for reliability.

Held up well in accident

I was recently in an accident where the other vehicle ran a stop light and I couldn't do anything except T-bone him. It was a perpendicular hit between the two vehicles and my car held up amazing. It will be totaled but there was no intrusion into the passenger compt. the airbags went off as they should the seatbelt performed it's job. I was able to walk away with minor injuries you'd expect from a hit of that caliber. If I'd been driving anything smaller I would not have been as lucky. Also, I was getting 23-24mpg non highway as my daily driver.

Over 30,000 miles, Nox still runs Great!

I have a loaded 2005 FWD LT, with leather, we bought in January 05. Currently has 33,000 miles. We bought this as a family cruiser and as a universal work horse. Has 3500lb towing capablity. Not many SUV's in this class and price can claim that! Still have the original brakes & tires, which stops smooth. Had no problems, very reliable, handles nice, good performance, nice shifting trans, & great brakes. I also have two boys 7 & 13yrs, that ride in it all the time with my wife. Leather cleans up nice. She loves the Equinox. We had no problems, get advertised fuel economy, looks great, runs great, & still drives nice!