2010 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 784 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 15 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 23 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, ignitionJul 5, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Campaign 16V502000 on NHTSA.gov
Seats, front assembly, power adjustJul 23, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
Campaign 14V447000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, defroster/defogger/hvac systemDec 23, 2009
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS AND WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS". THE SOFTWARE IN THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL CAN CAUSE THE HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, DEFROST, AND RADIO CONTROLS, AS WELL AS THE PANEL ILLUMINATION TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
DRIVING WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING DEFROST SYSTEM CAN DECREASE YOUR VISIBILITY UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPUTER MODULE IN THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Campaign 09V489000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
57 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Feb 2, 2011
"SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT HAS COME ON, AND THE WARNING CHIME GOES OFF EVERY 20 SECONDS. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF THE NEW 2010 EQUINOX. OAKLAND, CA CHEVY DEALER INFORMED US THAT WITH THIS LIGHT ON, THERE IS NO AIRBAG PROTECTION. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A "FAULTY MODULE". ABOUT ONE MONTH LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. I TRY CALLING THE OAKLAND DEALERSHIP TO BRING THE CAR IN, AND NO ANSWER. AFTER 2 WEEKS OF CALLING, I STOP BY DEALERSHIP AND IT'S CLOSED. I TAKE THE CAR TO THE NOVATO DEALERSHIP (40 MILES AWAY), THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT CANNOT PROVIDE A LOANER CAR BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW IT WILL TAKE LONGER THAN 6 HOURS TO FIX. I HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING HOME. SO I DRIVE THE CAR HOME (WITH NO AIRBAGS). I HEAR THE OAKLAND DEALERSHIP IS OPENING UNDER NEW OWNER, SO I WILL TAKE CAR BACK TO THEM WHEN THEY OPEN. I DRIVE THIS CAR AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
Air bags, Jan 23, 2011
AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DRIVER'S INSTRUMENTATION ILLUMINATES WHEN TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW MID-20'S. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEGINNING IN LATE NOVEMBER OR EARLY DECEMBER 2010. THE DATE BELOW (JAN. 23, 2011) IS TODAY'S DATE, SINCE IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MORNING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, WHICH SAYS ONLY THAT THERE WAS A CODE BUT NO INDICATION AS TO WHAT IS WRONG. DEALER RESET CODE. ALSO CONTACTED ONSTAR WHEN IT OCCURRED AND RECEIVED A CODE BACK (B0023). DEALER VERIFIED THAT THEY PULLED THE SAME CODE. WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2009, BUT HAD NO PROBLEMS THE FIRST WINTER. WE ARE NOW IN THE SECOND WINTER, WHEN THE PROBLEM SHOWED UP. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE ARE DRIVING OR PARKED (IT ACTUALLY COMES ON WHEN WE START THE CAR IN VERY COLD WEATHER, SO THE CAR IS NOT MOVING AT THIS POINT). BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT DOES ILLUMINATE (ALMOST A GUARANTEE) WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 25 DEGREES. AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MILES OR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE LIGHT GOES OUT. I SUSPECT (AND THE DEALER CONCURS) THAT IT MAY BE WIRE HARNESS OR SENSOR CONTACTS THAT ARE SEPARATING IN EXTREME COLD (DUE TO METALLIC CONTRACTION). DEALER SAID THE FACT THAT THE LIGHT COMES ON SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM IF IT GOES OFF AFTER A WHILE. I CHALLENGED HIM ON IT AND ADDED, "YES, AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DURING THAT TIME," AT WHICH STATEMENT DEALER SERVICE MAN HEM-HAWED AROUND. I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE. *LN
Air bags, Aug 17, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT WAS CHARGING A CELLULAR PHONE WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR WHENEVER CHARGING A CELLULAR PHONE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT PLACING THE CELL PHONE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO PLACE ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,900.
Air bags, Jun 4, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX EQUIPPED WITH ONSTAR REMOTE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM CAPABILITY. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. ONSTAR WAS CONTACTED AND PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC. THEY ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE DEALER REPAIRED AND RE-ROUTED THE SIDE IMPACT WIRES UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CLEARED THE FAILURE CODES AND ADVISED THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY TO CORRECT IT. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,376 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,739.
Air bags, Mar 14, 2010
I BOUGHT A 2010 CHEVY EQUINOX IN NOV 2009. WHENEVER A PASSENGER RIDES WITH ME USING A LAPTOP THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES "OFF" AND THE DASHBOARD COMPUTER DISPLAY SAYS "SERVICE PASSENGER AIRBAG." IT'S CONSISTENT AND VERY MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE USING THE LAPTOP. WE DO A LOT OF LONG-DISTANT DRIVING AND LAPTOP USE IS A BUSINESS NECESSITY. THE CHEVY SAFETY FOLK SAID, "DON'T USE A LAPTOP" - A VERY UNSATISFACTORY RESPONSE. *TR
Air bags, Jan 29, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12300.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Jan 14, 2010
MY 2010 CHEVY EQUINOX LS STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. THE ELECTRICAL ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE RADIO WILL START FLASHING AND THE AIR BAG WARNING KEEPS COMING ON EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE STATED ALL OF THE ISSUES HAVE BEEN FIXED AND PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I HAVE OWNED IT. I AM SCARED FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY. *TR