11th Mar 2010, 15:14
I am the owner of a 2005 Equinox that I bought used in 2006. It was in excellent condition, and I instantly grew fonder and fonder of it. Just last month, I heard a clicking sound when I turn so took it to the shop - brakes/rotors/etc. - almost $800!! A couple days later, the check engine light comes on. Well, now it is the stabilizer bar and links as well as the thermostat going bad - another $600!! After reading comments on this site, it's time to start laying this baby to rest before it costs me more and more money!!
12th Mar 2010, 09:54
I purchased my '05 FWD Equinox in October 2004. I have not had any issues until recently, other than my wife saying it sounds like a lawn mower when running!
I've now got 82k miles and it needs struts and brakes. It has recently started to give me issues when starting, but it always starts. I had to replace the battery about a year ago, but that didn't fix the issue.
It started to overhead about 3 months ago, and I had the thermostat replaced and I thought it was fixed, but on my commute home this week when sitting in traffic, the car starts to run really hot again.
Overall, it's been a great car for me, and I figure it just needs some TLC at this point.
Any ideas what might be causing the overheating issue?
I was quoted $589.99 for front struts and an alignment job, which seems pretty good compared to what I'm hearing here.
Always open to ideas or suggestions- gress2234@aol.com
12th Mar 2010, 14:39
I don't get it. I drive a beat up old Chevy Astro. I paid dirt for it and don't baby it at all. It had 188K on it when I got it - has 229K on it now. I bought a front rotor for inspection last year - that's it. It drives like a dream and continues to get 25mpg combined city and highway driving. It can tow and haul so much at one time. It has a head gasket leak, but I will never fix it. I keep an eye on the coolant level and never drive without extra coolant on board.
It has survived well beyond its 3 year 36,000 mile warranty, and will probably limp itself to the bone yard at the very end. I don't know about these silly SUV's, but you can't kill a good ole Chevy!
21st Mar 2010, 21:23
2005 Chevy Equinox. Just under 100K miles. I am the only owner.
Rear bearings have always growled. When inquiring at the local Chevy dealer about the problem, when asking about purchasing a new Equinox, their reply was Chevy knows about the faulty bearings and lack of sound insulation in the 2005 model, which they have fixed in the 2006 model and later. No word yet on a recall for the 2005.
23rd Mar 2010, 00:16
Wow, I wish that I would have found this site sooner!!! I have a 2005 Chevy Equinox, purchased brand new! Never really gave us problems... until around 40,000 miles or so. Brakes, pads, over and over and over again. Rotors have been replaced 2x and have been resurfaced, um... a million times. Going on 2nd set of tires. I always keep up on maintenance, oil change, tire rotation, alignment, you name it, I keep up on it. I know how to take care of a car.
We have constantly had it in for the shaking when braking around 35mph and when driving at 70-75. Every time dealer says, rotors, rotors, rotors.
NOW...we are dealing replacing front right strut and mount? Resurfacing rotors again (brand new in Oct.09), replacing tires, AND, PLEASE HELP, we have this horrible creaking, loud noise coming from the front end of the car. This sound happens when we go over bumps and turn left or right... well anytime the car takes a movement of any short. Dealer thought noise was the strut/mount issue, they replaced and still cannot locate or solve noise. Our warranty is about to expire in 3000 miles. ANY HELP??? What could that noise be. It has been in the shop for almost 2 weeks and still can't find it!! HELP!!!
26th Mar 2010, 04:11
2005 AWD Equinox, 3.4l engine... Same problems (yes all of them) as described by everyone else here!!! Right now am dealing with the head gasket issue, which next to the rear carrier bearing issue has been the most severe... Oh and the key issue too; not being able to start the truck is sometimes aggravating!!! Never again will I purchase a GM...
5th Apr 2010, 09:38
I am such a "PROUD OWNER" LOL of a 05 Equinox...
At 36K I had a head gasket replaced and cracked head... the dealer had my car for a month...
At 60k I had struts replaced...
I have had brakes and rotors replaced, but my dad is a mechanic, so I always just pay for parts...
I have had a check engine light on for a year... every time I take it back, which is 4 times now, they just replace my gas cap and turn out the light...
Last week I failed emissions... I needed a new catalytic converter from the head gasket and blown head... I have had the problem for a year, and they are just now finding it out after I repeatably taken it back... I just made the 80k warranty for the converter, or it would have been $1300...
Now the water pump need to be replaced; that's $300... it was eating antifreeze like crazy, and we couldn't figure out where it was going... my dad thought the other head was leaking, but just enough for the engine to burn the antifreeze and not leak on the ground, because I never had any problems with puddles under the car...
I have the key problem as well, but will deal with that when I have to!!! I can't trade in the car, because what I owe is not what they will give me...
Any questions, contact me at macex2mommy@yahoo.com
5th Apr 2010, 12:57
The problem with GM these days is their cars are NOT even made in America anymore! Your Equinox was made in an assembly plant in Canada, so is the Traverse and Malibu and Cobalt. Your Cavalier/Sunfire is made in Mexico. How American are your cars??!! More and more GM vehicles are made outside of the U.S.A and deceivingly passed off as American made. The Honda Accord, is more American than any of these cars I mentioned, as it is made in the U.S.A.!
30th Apr 2010, 07:33
The Equinox is among a dozen or so cars that GM claims to be American cars when in reality, they are imported from Canada.
Check your manufactured in decals people. You will see that quite a few so called American cars are made in Canada, while a lot are made in Mexico. A Mexican car is far from American.
How American are your domestics now???
10th Mar 2010, 16:17
I just got this Equinox, and so far the only thing that I noticed was the check engine light, which I was told that I might have put in cheap gas, which the manual say 87, so I will wait to finish this gas and go from there. And as I'm reading all these comments, I don't know if I made the right decision?