Problems with 2005 Chevrolet Equinox ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet equinox. while driving approximately 55 mph, the engine overheated and the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and later to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that the vehicle needed a radiator flush. the vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. the dealer was not notified. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 171,000.

I went to get my inspection sticker and received an safety/emissions recall sheet of paper indicating that i might have a problem with this defect number: 2529, engine family:5gmxv02.2025, emission problem: some engine control modules or power train control modules have potentially damaged integrated circuits. this may cause the egr system to malfunction or cause the fuel pump to turn off or the turbo system to malfunction. this is exactly what a mechanic has told me about the egr system. if you could please let me know what i can do about this issue as soon as possible and if it is covered or if i can get it repaired at no cost to me. i have only owned this vehicle for 1 year since march 1, 2014. i'm the second owner. *tr

Vehicle has an engine miss, coolant is disappearing and was taken to repair shop. diagnosed as needing head gaskets. repairs to cost approximately $1700.00. this has happened to many other owners of 2005 chevy equinox's. *tr

This complaint is about my equinox, my air conditioner compressor, is bad also i have heard a noise sent the day i purchased the truck and the dealership can not tell me what it is. i purchased my chevy equinox 2005 (new) from the dealership. the truck has less than 55,000 miles, the mechanic told me i could not drive it ......because it would lock up- the engine.........it's costing me over a $1000.00 to have it repaired........(called the dealership to let them know of this problem....refused to listen........ i believe that this is an ongoing problem in these vehicles and costing consumers lots of money they should not have to put out.....please check into this and correct the problem.......make the consumers happy check out this website for more complaints on the 2005 chevy equinox www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/2005/chevrolet/equinox/cooling+system. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet equinox. the contact stated that the engine failed to start while the vehicle was parked in the driveway. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the manufacturer was not notified. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 61,400 and the current mileage was 61,743.

All problems arose when the brake from the driver's side would shake when braking. we had the shoes and the pads changed and the problem seemed to be solved for about a year. then the problem began again but this time the brakes would squeak when braking and then they began to tighten and the brake would lock itself and began to smoke because of the friction the pad and the brake disc were creating since the brake would remain locked. this was only on the drivers side. when this occurred the friction made the whole wheel rim get hot and began producing a burning smell from the brake pad. the caliber, shoes, pad and disc had to be replaced for both front brakes. the brakes continue to squeak when breaking. now, the motor heats up to the red zone, the check engine light comes on even if their is anti-freeze in the engine. when accelerating the motor cools down, but if the speed is less than 35mph the motor heats up more. based on other comments from drivers with the same make, model and year they noticed that the problem has come up to be the head gaskets. this problem has created many problems with the engine and is becoming a safety hazard when their is still a possibility that the breaks will lock up again and possibly spark fire if the problem is not fixed. we have not used our vehicle because of these issues we fear that not fixing the costly problem may damage other parts of the vehicle. we know we are not alone and that other drivers have the same problem with the chevy equinox 2005. *tr

Temperature gauge never used to go over 50% mark, and was always well under and never moved. about three months ago, the vehicle temperature gauge started to climb after highway driving, then idling. recently, the temperature light came on. i experienced a coolant odor and the vehicle had a rough idle on cold start. dealer said that it was bad head gaskets. dealer machined heads, replaced gaskets, replaced plugs and flushed/filled coolant system, all for $2450. reading some of the websites, it seems like this is a very high amount compared to what some other people are paying at their dealerships. reading information provided on mycarstats.com and many other forums/news groups, there are hundreds if not thousands of people who have the same head gasket issue with the '05 equinox. it seems to be a known issue with the red dexcool coolant that eats away at the hoses and head gaskets, causing gasket failure, as well as heater core failure. there needs to be some recourse to recuperate money for this problem. head gaskets don't typically fail in most cars. *tr

During normal driving operations the vehicle engine began to overheat with only 60,000 miles. auto repair shop states it is a combination of broken head gasket and cracked egr valve. chevy upgraded the egr valve and the new part does not fit on the existing egr component. now have to pay $280 for a new egr assembly as well. total cost of repair from overheating is $1900. *tr

I received my vehicle back on 8.2.11 it had been in the repair shop since 5.14.11. the repair man replaced and reprogrammed the transmission modulator. he noted that it did "act up" for him, however it had not acted up since his last attempt at fixing it. it was raining when i picked up my car. in the first 10 miles i noticed the steering pulled to the left a couple of times. after i hit dry road this did not occur. after about 30-60 miles of driving the vehicle since getting it back, the speedometer started failing and the vehicle while going 55mph starts to feel like it is going to cease to operate and stutters. it is also noted that it feels like it is not going to automatically shift to the appropriate gear. the vehicle is going to chevrolet dealership on friday 8.5.11. *kb

Took my equinox in for an oil change. then comes the bad news. lower intake valve gaskets leaking. what!! only 50000 miles on vehicle this should not be happening. $725.00 later it is fixed. i have ready many complaints about gm knowing these were defective gaskets and something should be done about this.

I have a 2005 chevy equinox lt- after several years of driving it with no problems the head cracked. gm is taking no action to try and remedy this situation. *kb

I have a 2005 equinox and had to put the car in the shop 3 times now in 3 weeks! the thermostat went out, then the radiator had to be replaced, and now they say the head gasket needs to be replaced. bubbling sound can be heard when you take off from a stop. i'm also having problems with the brakes making acting strangely.. the front shakes when brakes are applied. *tr

Defective head gasket. engine; blown head gasket; engine must be replaced.

01/21/2011 the equinox would not turn over and was hauled to the dealer. prior to this incident, there appeared to be a slow loss of coolant, requiring a gallon of coolant to be added over the previous three month period. there were no leaks on the garage floor, nor any interior cabin leaks apparent, but there had been a "syrupy" smell in the passenger cabin. the dealer put in a new battery and also discovered that the heater core was leaking. the new battery and heater core replacement totaled $1090.11. apparently, when the battery died, the diagnostics codes relating to this incident were lost. 03/16/2011 the check engine light was on. this has happened frequently in the past but had always been related to a loose gas cap and was easily remedied by tightening the cap. when that solution did not work, the equinox was taken into the local gm dealership. it was then diagnosed as needing a head gasket replacement, where it is now being repaired. the repair total is expected to be about $1400. in less than two months, this vehicle (with only 68k miles on it) has required at least $2400 dollars in heater core and engine head gasket repair costs. it seems to me that the heater core leaks were likely to have had the subsequent effect of compromising the integrity of the head gasket. i have found many documented references to similar problems occurring in this engine make, the 3.4l gm v6. there also seems to be a related link to problems with the type of coolant used in this engine (dex cool). at this point, i am not aware that gm has acknowledged that there is problem. i am filing this complaint so that it can be added to the mounting evidence of product defects in this engine type.

Exhaust gas recirculation tube rusted and came apart. *tr

This vehicle in to a gm shop multiple times for heating issues. the first time the thermostat was replaced. a year later in the fall, the vehicle was again not blowing hot air. took it back to gm and they flushed the system. about 2 months later, it was brought back in because the heat was not blowing again. for the 2nd time they replaced the thermostat. following year, wouldn't blow hot air again, they flushed the system 3 times and finally got the heat working again. fast forward to fall 2010. same problem, not blowing heat only this time the vehicle was out of warranty. gm diagnosed a cracked head gasket and a leaky water pump and wouldn't cover any of the so called problems. the first 3-4 times that the car was in to be worked on it had the same "symptoms" 1. when the heat was working and i slowed to stop - it would start blowing cool air, but as soon as i accelerated, the warm air returned. 2. if i turned the fan knob past the 2nd tick, it would start blowing cold air. in 2010, started with the above symptoms and only to have the heat go out completely. gm won't have anything to do with it.this go around diagnosed a cracked head gasket and a leaky water pump and wouldn't help pay to fix because it was a "new" diagnosis outside of warranty. funny how each time it was in previously, the exact same symptoms are document in their system and no cracked head gasket or leaky water pump was the cause. they're skirting by on an underlying issue and aren't warranting their product! we've since taken it to two separate mechanics and they've both told us the issue isn't caused by a cracked head gasket or leaky water pump. we've again replaced the thermostat only to have the heat go out on our 3 hour car ride home from the holiday with a baby in the car-nice gm you are a joke. i've always owned a gm product but after being swept under the rug, i will never buy one again!

2005 chevrolet equinox---with a blown head gasket @ 63,000 miles. i have done a lot of research on this vehicle and it appears that this is a pretty common problem with this vehicle! it is a shame that gm/chevrolet will not step up to the plate to help out all of us poor unsuspecting owners who bought this shoddy made car. if anything, it looks as if the nhtsa would intervene on our behalf. *tr

89,000 miles needed to replace head gasket. failure at cylinder #1. looking at other complaints it appears that cylinder 1 head gasket failure is common. *tr

2005 chevy equinox head gaskets went after 76,000 miles. *tr

Check engine light came on after over heating occurred. replaced the thermostat, water pump and then found out their was a blown head gasket. now i need to place a new motor in a 2005 equinox with only 113000 miles! *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet equinox. the contact stated that the heating system was inoperable and that the engine would overheat. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who flushed the heater core, performed a pressure test, replaced the cylinders, intake manifold gasket set, oil filter, head gasket, exhaust manifold, distributor o-rings, head volt set, and the antifreeze. the contact did not inform the manufacturer. the current and failure mileages were 55,075. updated 02/23/11*lj updated 05/20/11

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet equinox. while driving 5 mph gasoline fumes were inside of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer replaced the cracked egr valve and the pcv valve seven days ago for $600 and the failure recurred. the manufacturer was contacted and a claim was filed. the failure mileage was 84,000. updated 01/14/11*lj updtated 2/17/11 *cn updated 04/29/11

Had a loud noise coming from exhaust and have exhaust fumes coming thru the vents, and found that it was the erg valve (broke in two). went to dealership to get replacement part and was told by the parts guy that this is a big problem with the equinox and that they now have changed the entire part so you can no longer just replace the $20 tube, you have to get the $300 part, plus labor and then have the shop 'reset' the computer to match the new part..........another $200 service. this apparently is a huge problem due to a design flaw. this is a dangerous situation and should be recalled!!! nice scam chevy! *tr

Blown head gasket on a 2005 chevy equinox with 60,000 miles. internet research revealed this as a common problem with several chevy vehicles with 3.4l engines. some with mileage below 30,000 miles. gm is ignoring issue and up to $3000 repair bills. this is a widespread issue. *tr

I have a 2005 chevy equinox that i purchased used in march 2009 from johnny londoff chevrolet. i have been taking it to the dealer for regular maintenance and they would say everything is working properly. i've been experiencing alot of problems with this car since i've purchased it. the air didn't work & i paid to get it fixed only for it to go out again. when i start it sometimes it doesn't want to start, i hear noises like it's misfiring when it does start. i recently had the vehicle serviced & had a multipoint inspection & was told again everything is working properly only to be driving home & when i tried to stop the brakes don't work. i could have had an accident & my child was in the car as well. i had it towed back to them to find out what caused this & they said the hub bearing needs to be replaced & the harness needs to be replaced. it's not gonna be cheap to fix as i'm not under warranty. i want this to be investigated as to why this happened without any warning since i've only had the car about 1 year & 8 mos. the mileage when i bought the car was 53010 & since i have had it i'm only at 62567 miles. i need answers just like others experiencing some of the same problems. *tr

Check engine light came on at 59,900 miles. took it in to firestone they ran a diagnostic on it and said that the spark plugs / witing were bad. had them replaced for at a cost of $400. a week later check engine light came back on and car overheated. took it in to firestone again. this time they said the head gaskets were blown and the #1 cylinder was leaking. repair estimate $1500 to replace the gaskets, plus an additional $1000 if the head is cracked. have done much research and found this to be a common problem among gm vehicles that require the dex-cool coolant. found a class action lawsuit in ca and mo but that only covered up to 2003 models. obviously gm knows this to be an issue, so i have to wonder why are they allowed to continue selling defective products? *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet equinox. while the contact was driving approximately 55 mph, she heard loud whining grinding noises outside the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on the occasions for the same failure and the wheel bearings were replaced each time. the failure continued. recently, the dealer replaced the drive shaft bearing and the driver side front upper strut mount along with the lower strut insulator, sway bar link and coil spring were replaced. the contact also stated that there was a malfunction within the air bag and engine warning light indicators. the failure mileage as 44,635. updated 01/19/11 *bf the consumer also stated the vehicle failed emission due to a faulty gas cap. updated 02/22/11

This complaint is in regards to the car itself, air conditioner compressor and window switches. i purchased a 2005 chevy equinox from chris nickel dealership (used). for $10,000 on june 12, 2010 ;not even 2 weeks after purchasing this vehicle the passenger side window would not roll up......it had the motor in the window go out......had to have it replaced..... at 8 weeks of owning it....the brakes were squealing........took it back to the dealership......they said it is normal for these cars and brakes to do that........they said they turned the rotors and gravitated them and said it would fix the problem......on my way home....the car air conditioner was blowing out hot air......i once again called the dealership......they said it was most likely caused by low freon........however 2 weeks later it started making a funny noise........took it to a mechanic to have it checked out.......told it i was to continue to drive it......it would lock up the engine.........it cost 918.00 to have it repaired.......(called the dealership to let them know of this problem....refused to listen and make customers happy........ in my purchase......they had a certified mechanic inspectors signed and dated form showing that all items had been checked and they were in tip top shape........now i am wondering do they just go through and place a check mark in all the boxes because some of the boxes were checked and they are not included in my car.......... i believe that this is an ongoing problem in these vehicles and costing consumers lots of money they should not have to put out.....please check into this and correct the problem.......make the consumers happy check out this website for more complaints on the 2005 chevy equinox www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/2005/chevrolet/equinox/cooling+system. *tr

2005 chevy equinox. incident started in summer still having problems. in shop today as we speak! 1/3/2011. *tr

In april of 09 the truck was leaking oil, had head gasket replaced. in june 2010 the engine overheated head gaskets was repaired a second time. when received truck back from dealer truck died on freeway and now it needs new fuse block and main computer. just paid 2500 in repairs and dealer wants 1500 and cannot tell me if that will fix the current electrical problem. truck is now worth 3,000. this was a 24,000 truck. this should not be happening. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet equinox. the wires under the seat were getting hot and melting, but the seat was not getting hot. the vehicle had not been taken to the dealer for an inspection. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle had not been repaired. the contact does not know the cause of the failure. the failure mileage was 68,750. updated 01/04/11*lj according to the invoice, the seat were after market and there was no wiring chart. also, the serpentine belt was worn. updated 01/07/11

My 2005 chevrolet equinox stalled and would not restart in traffic for approximately the 5th time in the past three years. the first four times were finally diagnosed by gm as a faulty computer that was getting wet due to a bad seal from the sunroof. because of these problems, i leased another car for my wife while i was deployed to iraq so i would not have to worry about her safety. the car has been running fine for the past year that i have been home. i have routinely changed my oil and inspected fluids and air pressures etc. on vehicles. the latest occurrence happened on my way home from work. it stalled was due to what the dealer is calling internal damage. speaking to a claims agent for gm i was initially told to have dealer call for an authorization. they refused to honor my extended gm warranty and are demanding $1700 just to tear it down to see what the fault or problem is. i have contacted gm ext warranty and they have finally agreed to send a inspector. now they are demanding proof of oil changes. i contacted my oil change service center and they just sold to a new owner and cannot access old database past 1 apr 2010...this vehicle has broke down (stalled with no power) on multiple occasions in very dangerous areas with limited room to pull over due to mountainous terrain and numerous big rigs traveling the route. no accidents or injuries have occurred yet, but this vehicle is an accident waiting to happen. after this latest incident, i have researched online and have found numerous examples of other people having similar incidents with this particular vehicle/motor. i am genuinely concerned for my family's safety, and furthermore, deeply disturbed that i have been paying for a gm extended warranty that they do not wish to choose to honor. what kind of pressure or recourse can your office apply to gm before they accept responsibility for a product that is defective and a safety hazard. i actually like this car, but it has turned into nothing but a lemon. *tr

I am submitting this to inform you of the horrible quality and safety of my 2005 chevrolet equinox lt, w/ 3.4l engine. i have just had my engine's headgaskets blow-out at 43,000 miles on a car that has been maintained exactly to manufacturer's specification. the car's braking system is also dangerously under powered. i have worn through two sets of rotors and pads already in 43,000 miles. i do not drive aggressively either. the brakes wear out too quickly and when the rotors warp the braking distances skyrocket and the car vibrates uncontrollably while applying them. this car is a total lemon as i am sure i am not the only person reporting this. just read some reviews on the 2005 equinox and you will see - the 3.4l engine put in this car is a design embarrassment for gm. we need some nhtsa assistance, as chevrolet does not stand behind this product. *tr

I had to have my 2005 equinox's head gaskets repaired. i bought it certified used and gm is not covering the cost. it has 80,000 miles and i have found several siteson the internet reporting this as an issue with the 3.4 liter engine. my cousin and her husband had a pontiac montana mini van that had the same issue and gm did nothing about it. i found one site listing court cases in ca and mo because of the dexcool destroying gaskets. *tr

My 2005 chevy equinox started overheating this winter. immediately took it to my mechanic who diagnosed a broken water pump. a few months passed with no issue then it started overheating again. i took it to the mechanic who informed me that the head gasket needed replacement. i've gone on multiple sites that report the same issue with their chevy equinox. although, no one was hurt in my situation, the repeated occurrence of this happening with other equinox owners is puzzling and should be investigated at the least. in my situation i was on the highway when the car slowed down from 60 mph to under 40 mph. luckily there weren't a lot of drivers on the road and i was able to pull all the way over across traffic. . this vehicle is not safe and chevy has even logged this faulty head gasket issue in their service bulletins. *tr

Defective head and rear seal gasket,and tensioner... *tr

2005 chevrolet equinox passenger window will not come down and drivers window sometimes will not come down. have to pull up or down with hand.. the ignition does not lock and the vehicle will run without the key in it. *tr

I have a low mile 2005 chevy equinox with a blown head gasket. i've done my reasearch not to find this is a common problem with the 05-09 models. chevy knows about this and something needs to be done, that is a exreamly costly repair and by the time it happens most of us are out of out warenty.

2005 chevrolet equinox lt awd - new engine needed at 93,000 miles. this car had all suggested service and oil changes. updated ivoq. 07/13/10.*jb

Vehicle began idling rough after sitting all night and then backing out of garage. once in drive, the check engine light would flash for about 15 seconds. eventually, after several trips to the dealer who told me it was the spark plugs and wires, the check engine light remained on again. now it needs a new rear head gasket and the #1 cylinder is leaking. *tr

I own a 2005 chevy equinox. i have had numerous problems with this car-before and after warranty. most recently, i had to pay over 1600.00 to have my head gaskets replaced/repaired. i am still waiting to see if different gaskets are cracked and will need repair. i have heard from numerous repairs shops and online sources, that the head gasket problems with the chevy equinox were known before being put out for sale. my car overheated on the highway and locked up. i could have been seriously injured. i was thankfully able to get off the road. these issues could have been avoided if chevy would have fixed this problem prior to selling. there is no reason why a four year old car should require this much work. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet equinox. the contact stated every time he started the vehicle, the check engine lamp illuminated and the engine would stall. the contact mentioned that in order to turn the vehicle back on he had to depress the gas pedal several times. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnosed the failure. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 60,000. the current mileage was 87,500.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet equinox. while idling the vehicle would hesitate as it would stall. while driving between 50-60 mph the temperature and engine warning lights illuminated on the instrument control panel, and then the vehicle lost power. she had the vehicle towed to a local gas station. a mechanic stated that the thermostat failed, because it was located near the exhaust system. no repairs were made. the failure and current mileages were 60,000.

I am filing this complaint because my 2005 chevy equinox purchased in february 2005 which has always been serviced by crane chevrolet in clifton nj has now have a blown had gasket and intake problem - i called the dealer for a one time goodwill adjustment and asked for the deductible- and was told that i had to have this car towed to them - but they cannot make promises to fix or repair or even pay part of the costs- i have done research via goggle and this appears to be a well known problem - pls help me- point me in the right direction- the repair is 1650.00 - i initially leased this car then decided to purchase it- i could not afford the extended warranty. *tr

2005 equinox, 70,000 miles, started over heating, took the car to my mechanic and he stated it was a blow head gasket, cost min of $2000.00. i called gm and notified them of the problem, they asked me to take the car to a gm dealer and they would diagnose and see if gm could help. the car sat at the gm dealer for 3weeks and then gm stated they don't help with any repair costs. the dealer would not release my broken car to me until i paid $100.00 for the diagnosis, which i already knew, and gm corp. would not pay for the diagnosis when they are the ones that sent me there! gm knew about the defect in the head gaskets on the 2005 equinox, they knew the head gasket would only last for 3-5years. they are not standing behind their product or helping in anyway their loyal customers. i have a broken car i cannot pay to fix and i still owe a year and a half left on my note. i am paying $507.00 per month on my note for a broken car! *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet equinox. whenever the contact drove the vehicle he noticed that the engine would begin to run hot and the coolant level would continually decrease. the vehicle was taken to his local mechanic where the contact was informed that the head gasket needed to be replaced. the current and failure mileages were 75000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet equinox. the contact stated that smoke was coming from under the hood of the vehicle, the vehicle would stall at anytime and the check engine light would illuminate on the instrument panel. the dealer was unable to diagnose the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 20,000 and the current mileage was 37,000. sm.

I am also having the same problems with my equinox. it sometimes doesn't want to start & i will have to give it gas to start it. i have taken it to 2 different chevy dealers that said nothing was wrong with it after checking it out on the machine ($99 each time). *tr

Please note, just spent $847.00 on this vehicle, brakes, serpentine belt ,rotors,thermostat. this vehcile has been a lemon since it was exported from canada as that where it was built!!! *tr

I have a 2005 equinox. it started losing power, overheated then check engine light came on. brought it to my mechanic within one mile of incident he told me i had a blown head gasket or cracked block. code p1258-engine overheating. lost coolant, though there was no leak underneath. *tr