RoadVitals

2005 Chevrolet Equinox Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest May 17, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 638 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed May 17, 2017
Fire reported

WIPERS RUN CONTINUOUSLY AND DON'T SHUT OFF. LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF. SMOKE COMES FROM DASHBOARD WHEN CAR STARTS AND/OR CAR WON'T START. PROBLEM HAPPENS BOTH WHILE CAR IS STOPPED OR IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID
10986155
Incident
May 16, 2017
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 22, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE USING THE TURN SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILLAGE WAS 212,000.

NHTSA ID
10811665
Incident
Dec 1, 2015
Mileage
212,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingSteering
Filed Mar 16, 2015

THE FRONT LIGHTS ON THE CAR COMES ON AT NIGHT WHEN CAR IS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, NOT BEING USED BY PERSONS. THIS CAR MAY NOT START IN THE MORNING BECAUSE THE BATTERY MAYBE DEAD, DUE TO LIGHTS COMING ON BY IT SELF. WE HAD THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH REPLACED IN THE PAST WEEK, AND THAT'S WHEN THE LIGHTS STARTED TO ACT UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10694736
Incident
Mar 15, 2015
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 15, 2014

THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING, THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY WORK ON HIGHBEAM, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK EXCEPT FOR THE SMALL ONE IN THE MIDDLE. THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO START EVEN AFTER THE KEY IS REMOVED. THE CAR CURRENTLY RUNS HOT SO THE FAN RUNS CONSTANTLY AND RUNS THE BATTERY DOWN. I HAVE PARKED THE CAR AND WONT DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10588575
Incident
Jun 3, 2013
Mileage
125,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 17, 2014

WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I JIGGLED IT FOR A LONG TIME AND IT FINALLY TURNED BUT THE HEADLIGHTS WONT WORK NOW. I LOOKED ON LINE AND SAW A FEW OTHER HAVE THIS ISSUE. I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10572804
Incident
Nov 13, 2013
Mileage
94,502 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 10, 2013

CONDENSATION WATER IN HEADLIGHTS SOMETIMES VERY BAD,,,,, *TR

NHTSA ID
10511453
Incident
May 9, 2013
Mileage
69,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 24, 2013

CPSC: I12C0328A. 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER STATED THAT HEADLIGHT LENSES ON VARIOUS NEWER VEHICLES MADE FROM THE CLEAR PLASTIC FADES AND BECOMES CLOUDY AND IS NO LONGER SAFE. *LN

NHTSA ID
10510064
Incident
Dec 4, 2012
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 2, 2010

I STARTED THE ENGINE, PUT IT IN DRIVE, AND MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT INDICATOR BLINKED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DAYTIME RUNNNING LIGHTS ARE NOT ON.

NHTSA ID
10323430
Incident
Mar 5, 2008
Mileage
54,182 mi
Body & structureElectricalFuel system+2 more
Filed Feb 23, 2010

I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW WITH 4 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER. SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED IN 2007 ($1400). MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR COSTLY REPAIRS. MY KEY COMES OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE DRIVING, AND IT IS HARD TO START. I HAVE TO WIGGLE THE KEY EVERY OTHER TIME I TRY TO START MY CAR. I'VE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR STARTING. WHEN I GO TO CRANK IT UP IT SOUNDS LIKES IT TRIES TO START THEN DIES. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN. MY CAR IS NOT IN THE SHOP DUE TO WATER LEAKAGE. THERE A LARGE COLLECTION OF WATER WITH MY SPARE TIRE, AND THE FLOOR IN THE BACK SEAT IS SOAKED. I WAS TOLD FROM THE GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY SEE THIS OFTEN IN MY MODEL VEHICLE BUT NO RECALL FOR IT AT THIS TIME SO IT'S OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. ALSO I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR MY STEERING WHEEL. IT MAKES A LOUD SOUND EVERY TIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED AND THEY CANNOT SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS VERY OFTEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10313082
Incident
Jan 5, 2008
Mileage
50,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 12, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT HEADLIGHT BULBS CONSTANTLY FAILED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SEALANT WAS LOOSE, WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER AND BLOW OUT THE BULB. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR WAS $500. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID
10280215
Incident
Jun 7, 2009
Mileage
71,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 29, 2009

CONTINUAL HEADLIGHT BURNING OUT. WITHIN 30 DAYS OF HAVING NEW BULB INSTALLED. DEALER REPLACED BULB EACH TIME AT A COST OF APPROX $150 EVENTUALLY DEALER REVEALS IT IS A CONNECTOR CAUSING SHORTAGE AND WILL REPLACE AT A COST OF APPROX $275. *TR

NHTSA ID
10275245
Incident
Jun 29, 2009
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 6, 2009

TURN SIGNAL LIGHT SWITCH WENT OUT AND CAUSES THE BRIGHT LIGHTS TO STAY ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10264257
Incident
Apr 3, 2009
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 28, 2008

CONDENSATION IN HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY, BAD SEAL AROUND HEADLAMP. CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NO LONGER REQUIRED TO FIX. A CAR THAT IS 3 YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT HAVE A SEAL GO BAD LEADING TO A BUILDUP OF WATER INSIDE THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. I FELT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND GM SHOULD FIX IT, THEY FEEL OTHERWISE SITTING NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, I DISAGREE, HENCE THE COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10240067
Incident
Aug 10, 2008
Mileage
56,300 mi
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Dec 13, 2007

THE BACK FLOORBOARD OF MY CAR HAS BEEN NOTICABLY WET FOR A FEW MONTHS. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I BEGAN RESEARCHING ONLINE TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. THE SEALS AROUND THE DOORS WERE FINE. I DID FIND 3" OF WATER LAYING IN MY SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT. THERE IS NO DRAIN HOLE FOR THE WATER TO BE REMOVED. THE WATER IS COMING IN FROM THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE EQUINOX FROM SIMPLY LAUGHED AT THE PROBLEM AND SAID IT WOULD COST OVER $200 TO REPLACE JUST THE TAIL LIGHT. THE SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS HORRIBLE. IT IS OBVIOUSLY RUSTING THE BODY AND CAUSING MOLD AND MILDEW INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211803
Incident
Oct 20, 2007
Mileage
45,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 7, 2004

SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHTS ON TWO LANE HIGHWAYS WE ARE CONTINUALLY FLASHED WITH BRIGHTS, INDICATING OUR BRIGHTS ARE TURNED ON BUT THEY WERE NOT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE LIGHTS ADJUSTED AND WERE TOLD THEY ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10102335
Incident
Nov 6, 2004
Mileage
7,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .