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
784 reports, newest first.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 3, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLEMENTS CHEVROLET (1000 12TH ST SW, ROCHESTER, MN 55902, (507) 289-0491) AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-4957761457. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 20, 2018
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH DURING A RAIN STORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE HOME, WE DISCOVERED THE WIPER LINKAGE HAD FAILED. THE BALL JOINTSIN THE LINKAGE WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND WORN. SEEMS.TO.BE THE EXACT FAILURE THAT WAS RECALLED ON THE 2013 EQUINOX MODELS (16V582000). WHEN ORDERING REPAIR PARTS I NOTED THE WIPER LINKAGE IS COMMON TO ALL EQUINOX MODELS FROM 2010-2017. VEHICLE HAS ROUGHLY 80,000 MILES AT TIME.OF FAILURE.
Air bags, Dec 20, 2018
DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT HAVING MAJOR IMPACT. DRIVER BRUSHED A CURB WHILE DRIVING THE AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE IS NO SIGN OF IMPACT OR DAMAGE ON THE VEHICLE THAT SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THIS HAPPENING.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 15, 2018
SABILITRAK, POWERTRAIN, THROTTLE CAME ON AGAIN PAID $457.90 1/25/2016. AC & HEATING UNIT NOT WORKING CLICKING SOUND REPLACED 8/26/2015, KEY IS STUCK IN IGNITION, NO LIGHTS, CAR NOT MOBILE (NOW).
Power train, Other or unspecified, Dec 14, 2018
I HAVE A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX MILEAGE 078815 ,YESTERDAY WHILE OUT RUNNING ERRANDS AND HAD STOPPED AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN TOWN .I HAD NO WARNING AT LAST STOP .I GOT BACK IN SUV AND IT STARTED UP OK AND GOT READY TO BACK OUT OF PARKED SPOT SHIFTED TO REVERSE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE BACKWARD OR FORWARD BUT GEAR SHIFT MOVED TO ALL LOCATION BUT SUV WOULD NOT . HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Dec 11, 2018
CAR JUST SHUTS OFF WHEN ON FREE WAY DOING 70 OR AT STOP LIGHT THEN MESSAGE CENTER SAYS STABILITY TRACK CONTROL THEN IT MAY SIT FOR 5 MIN AND THEN RESTART OR MAY REQUIRE A JUMP START PUT IN NEW BATTERY AND HAD ALTERNATOR TESTED VERY UNSAFE AUTOMOBILE
Visibility/wiper, Dec 8, 2018
9/24/2018 POURING RAIN MY WIPERS STOPPED ON I75 IN TENNESSEE. SCARIEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE TIME. WAS ABLE TO GET TO A DEALER IN CLEVELAND TN. $432 TRANSMISSION WIPER FAILED. I AM NOW SEEING OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE.
Engine, Dec 6, 2018
TAKATA RECALL MY SUV KEEP TURNING OFF EVERY TIME I MAKE A STOP ON A RED LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN OR EVEN WHEN I AM IN TRAFFIC. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE I SEND IT TO EVERY SHOP TO TRY TO FIX SOME DON'T KNOW THE PROBLEM OR OTHERS DON'T WANT TO EVEN TRY TO FIX IT I EVEN SEND IT TO CHENEY DEALERS AND THEY THINK IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE THEY CHANGE THAT PART BUT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM I BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS SUV THAT I JUST DON'T WANT TO BOTHER ANYMORE. PLEASE TRY TO HELP ME OUT. THE BAD THINK TOO IS THAT I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR AND I ASKED THE FINANCIAL WORKER TO HELP ME AND THEY DON'T CARE. WE KEEP SEARCHING ONLINE WHAT TO DO AND I'M READING THAT THESE CARS ARE RECALLS SO PLEASE TRY TO HELP ME OUT. THANK YOU
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Dec 4, 2018
THIS SUV HAS HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION, MOTOR AND NOW IT HAS BEEN JUST CUTS OUT AND NO POWER AND ON THE MESSAGE CENTER SAYS STABILITY TRACK LIGHT WE HAVE PUT A NEW BATTERY AND BROUGHT IT TO TWO DIFFERENT GM CERTIFIED CAR GARAGES AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO CAR IS UNSAFE WHEN IT JUST DECIDES TO RANDOMLY STALL OUT AND HAS NO POWER UNTIL AFTER IT SITS FOR ABOUT 5 MIN IT MAY RESTART OR MAY NEED A JUMP START VERY SCARY SITUATION IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY OR IN TOWN OR EVEN IN LINE A DRIVE THRU LINE IN PARK YOU NEVER KNOW THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6-8 TIMES AND THERE IS NO WARNING OF WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN NOR ANY KIND OF PATTERN VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Visibility/wiper, Dec 3, 2018
MY VEH STALLED ON ME MID DRIVE SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED, IT DID NOT LET ME ACCELERATE AND I ALMOST GOT HIT. SIMULTANEOUSLY THE STABILITRACK MESSAGE CAME ON AND WATCH FOR ICE, DID THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE COLD? ALSO FEW DAYS LATER IT WAS STORMING AND MY WIPERS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW AND I WAS ON THE FWY IN THE FAST LANE. I HAD TO GET SOAKED FROM ROLLING M WINDOW DOWN TO PULL OVER. ROADSIDE CAME TO STOP TRAFFIC TO LET ME ON THE RIGHT SIDE SHOULDER BECAUSE I WAS LUCKY I HAD ROOM TO PULL OVER OR EVEN SEE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I COULDNT SEE ANYTHING!
Visibility/wiper, Dec 2, 2018
I HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS OF WIPER FAILURE ON MY USED 2010 CHEVY EQUINOX. I JUST PURCHASED MY USED EQUINOX THE END OF AUGUST 2018. IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 IN MARYLAND, AND THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING A RAIN INCIDENT. FORTUNATELY I MADE IT HOME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY SAID THEY REPAIRED THE BUSHINGS ON THE LINKAGE. THE 2ND INCIDENT HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER OF 2018 DURING A SNOW INCIDENT. MY WIFE WAS USING THE EQUINOX TO DRIVE TO THE BANK. IT WAS SNOWING AND SHE WAS USING THE WIPERS. AGAIN THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING! SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME AND PARK IT SAFELY IN THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN SHE BROUGHT IT HOME, I WAS ABLE TO HEAR THE WIPER MOTOR WORKING, BUT THE ARMS WERE NOT MOVING. WE HAVE NOT USED THE VEHICLE SINCE THIS LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED. WE HAVE HAD TWO WIPER LINKAGE FAILURE INCIDENTS IN APPROX. 3 MONTHS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD HAVE DONE IF WE WERE ON A LONG FAMILY TRIP. IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN YOUR WIPERS STOP WORKING AND YOU CANNOT SEE THE ROAD YOU ARE DRIVING ON, OR TRAFFIC AROUND YOU.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 1, 2018
I WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE IN THE RAIN AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER STOPPED WORKING. MY SON REPLACED THE BUSHINGS, THEN ON MY WAY INTO WORK IN THE RAIN BOTH STOPPED WORKING I TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY TELL ME IT IS THE WIPER TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE. THERE IS A RECALL IN THE US FOR 2013 BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE FOR 2010-2013 LIKE CANADA HAS. THIS DANGEROUS
Visibility/wiper, Nov 28, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHEN THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION UNIT WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 *BF 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Nov 26, 2018
ORIGINAL RECALL 09 V4 89000 WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE FIXED VISIBILITY ISSUE. CAR WAS TAKEN IN AT THE TIME OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS BEFORE WHERE DEFROSTER IS NO LONGER WORKING BECAUSE OF CONTROLS NOT FUNCTIONING. RADIO IS ALSO OUT ALONG WITH POSSIBLE OTHER UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL ISSUES. WE'VE TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES HOPING IT WAS JUST A GLITCH, HOWEVER IT APPEARS THE PROBLEMS OF THE FIRST RECALL ARE BACK AGAIN. DRIVING THE VEHICLE POSE A THREAT HAS WE LIVE IN WEATHER WE'RE HAVING TO HAVE CONTROL OVER THE DEFROSTING IS NEEDED. DEFROSTER AND PANEL DO NOT WORK BECAUSE OF LACK OF ELECTRICAL CONTROL. MY WORRY IS THAT THIS IS SYSTEMIC, THE THE ISSUE IS REOCCURRING, EVERY SO YEARS OR SO, THAT OTHER ISSUES WILL CONTINUALLY MAKE THIS AN ISSUE IN THE FUTURE.
Engine, Nov 23, 2018, crash
AS DRIVING NOV 19, 2018. THE CAR STALLED, ENGINE PROBLEM, MY HUSBAND HAD TO PUSH ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFICS ! ALMOST GOT RUN DOWN . FOR NO REASON THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING! WE WERE PUTTING ONE QUART OF OIL PER WEEK?? IN BETWEEN REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THE CAR WAS TOWED, OUR MECHANIC TOLD US ENGIN SEIZED, NEEDED A NEW ENGINE?? WE STILL OWE 3700 ON THE CAR AND IT DOESN'T RUN?? I'M SO MAD THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL?? GM OWES US A NEW CAR!!
Engine, Nov 19, 2018
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, I SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE STARTED CLATTERING. I LIMPED TO THE NEAREST EXIT, AND THAT IS WHERE THE CAR DIED. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOWN, AND THEN WE PUT IT ON A TRAILER AND TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC. HE SAID THAT IT HAD BLOWN A ROD IN THE ENGINE, AND THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $6000+. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS AT ALL. I HAD BEEN MONITORING THE OIL LEVEL BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS GETTING CLOSER TO A NEEDED OIL CHANGE. EVEN AFTER THIS HAPPENED, WE STARTED IT TO DRIVE IT ON AND OFF THE TRAILER, AND THERE WAS STILL NO OIL LIGHT!!! ALL RECALLS HAD BEEN DONE. AS WE HAD A 100,000 WARRANTY, IT WAS GONE THROUGH VERY CLOSELY BEFORE THAT EXPIRED.
Seat belts, Nov 17, 2018
EVEN WHEN MY SEATBELTS ARE CONNECTED THE WARNING CHIMES CONTINUE TO GO OFF. DURING MOTION, ON A CITY STREET AND EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY IT PERIODICALLY MAKES THE SOUND AS IF THE SEATBELT IS NOT CONNECTED.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 14, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED TO 15 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS MORE PREVALENT DURING THE COLDER MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 8, 2018
DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED TO OPERATE.
Engine, Nov 5, 2018
EACH YEAR, WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES ARE COLD, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINE LOSES POWER EITHER WHILE DRIVING OR IDLE, AND THE VEHICLE RUNS VERY ROUGH.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 29, 2018
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN RAIN STORM ON TOLL ROAD AT HIGH SPEED. HAD TO KEEP DRIVING WITH VERY LIMITED VISION. DID NOT WANT TO STOP ON TOLL ROAD. THE ARM FROM WITH WIPER TRANSMISSION CAME OFF THE MOTOR WHEEL THAT SPINS.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 27, 2018
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING A DOWNPOUR ON A 6 LANE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. WIPER WAS OFF THE SIDE OF THE DRIVERS WINDOW, WAS ABLE TO PUSH THEM BACK INTO PLACE, AND YOU CAN HEAR THE WIPER MOTOR RUNNING, THE SPRAY STILL WORKED AND THE BACK WIPER BUT THE FRONT WIPERS WILL NOT MOVE. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION, EVEN MORE AO THAT MY 6 YEAR OKD WAS IN THE XAR WITH ME. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Visibility/wiper, Oct 16, 2018
I COULD NOT TURN ON MY DEFROST ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING I HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR IT TO KICK BACK ON SO IT COULD DEFROST ENOUGH FOR ME TO SEE WHERE I WAS GOING TO GET HOME I HAVE THE VIDEOS
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 12, 2018
I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USE IT WAS WONDERING WHY THE OWNER GOT RID OF IT NOW I KNOW. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE HILL ASSIST ON THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS ON THE FORM THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOT KNOWN WHAT IT WAS. THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING IS WHEN THE HILL ASSIAT ENGAGE'S IT WILL NOT DISENGAGE LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO. I ACTUALLY HAD TO HAVE A MECHANIC RESET THE WHOLE COMPUTER TO GET IT TO DISENGAGE THE OTHER DAY AND REMOVE THE BATTERY TERMINAL TODAY TO GET A DISENGAGED. I EVEN CALLED THE DEALER TODAY AT THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT CONVENIENT. SEVERAL MECHANICS KNOW BUT THE DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. I'VE ALREADY DIAGNOSED IT, I JUST WANT TOKNOW WHAT THE FIX IS. ACCORDING TO EVERY MECHANIC OF SPOKE TO ITS IN THE COMPUTER PROGRAMMING AND THERE IS NO FIX. I WILL HAVE ON THIS VEHICLE FOR WEEKS AND IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED TO ME 5 TIMES.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 10, 2018
THE ARM/LINKAGE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION BROKE CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO STOP WORKING. HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET.