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.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 29, 2016
FROM INCEPTION THIS VEHICLE HAS BURNED THROUGH OIL AND HAS CONSISTENT ISSUES WITH RUNNING SMOOTH. THE POOR FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM HAS CAUSED ABNORMAL WEAR ON ENGINE AND PARTS THEREFORE IT HAS CAUSED ME TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR BREAKDOWN OF PARTS IN A PREMATURE STAGE. NOW MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS BAD, ALL FUEL INJECTORS, COILS AND EVERYTHING AROUND THAT SYSTEM!!! I AM LOOKING AT OVER 3K IN REPAIRS AGAIN!!!
Power train, Feb 26, 2016
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN OUR 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX WITH ROUGHLY 78K MILE ON IT. WE ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN FALL OF 2009. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT NEAR A SCHOOL WHEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD. SHE CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND THEN TRIED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE AS THE ENGINE JUST REVVED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER STATED IT WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH WOULD COST $4,150. CALLED GM WHO STATED THE MOST THE MOST COST ASSISTANCE THEY COULD PROVIDE WAS $1546 WHICH IS BASED OFF A CALCULATOR THEY USE SINCE THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE SENIOR ADVISOR FOR GM THAT I SPOKE WITH STATED THE TRANSMISSION SHOULDN'T HAVE FAILED, BUT THAT THEY COULDN'T REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR FREE SINCE THERE WAS NO OPEN RECALL YET FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I RESEARCHED GOOGLE AND FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM VEHICLE OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL REGARDING THEIR TRANSMISSION FAILING ALSO. I THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE 2008 AND 2009 MODELS HAD THE EXACT SAME TRANSMISSION AS OUR 2010 MODEL. I READ THAT GM HAD ISSUED A RECALL AND EXTENDED A WARRANTY IN MARCH 2015 FOR THE 2008 AND 2009 MODELS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. NO RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS BEEN ISSUED YET FOR THE 2010 MODEL. VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT GM HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL YET FOR 2010 MODEL WHEN KNOWING THAT THE SAME TRANSMISSION IN THE 2010 MODEL IS HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS AS THE 2008 AND 2009 MODELS.
Power train, Feb 24, 2016
EXITED FREEWAY ON FLYOVER, ACCELERATING FROM 20-25MPH ON THE DOWNGRADE TO OTHER FREEWAY NOTICED THAT WHILE SPEED HAD INCREASED TO 45-50MPH, RPM'S WERE HIGH. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, SHIFTED TO P, IDLED NORMAL. MERGED BACK IN, AGAIN GOT HIGH RPMS, TURNED ON HAZARD FLASHERS, TOOK OFF-RAMP. SHIFTED TO MANUAL, GEAR INDICATOR SHOWED '2' AND WOULD NOT MANUALLY UPSHIFT TO '3'. PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF CAR, WAITED 30 SECS, RESTARTED. CAUTIOUSLY GOT BACK ON FRONTAGE ROAD, DROVE FOR 1 MILE IN 'D' AT 30MPH, SEEMED OK, GOT BACK ON HIGHWAY, GENTLY ACCELERATING UP TO 65MPH. DROVE THE NEXT 6 MILES ON HIGHWAY, EXITED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD. DROVE DOWN PRIMARY BOULEVARD AT 35MPH FOR 2 MILES. TURNED AT 5MPH TO START ACCELERATING UP STEEP HILL INTO NEIGHBORHOOD, IMMEDIATELY FELT SLIPPAGE AND HIGH-REVS. PULLED OVER, WAITED FOR CLEAR TRAFFIC, SWITCHED TO MANUAL SHIFT, ACCELERATED UP HILL IN 1ST, NO PROBLEM; SHIFTED TO 2ND AT 20MPH, NO PROBLEM; SHIFTED TO 3RD AT 30MPH, IMMEDIATELY HIGH REVS AND SLIPPAGE; SWITCHED BACK TO 2ND; ACCEL'D TO 35MPH IN 2ND THEN SHIFTED TO 4TH,ENGINE LUGGED DOWN BUT HELD AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND HOLD SPEED NO PROBLEM. SHIFTED BACK TO 3RD, STARTED SLIPPING AND HIGH REVS AGAIN. SWITCHED BACK TO 2ND AND DROVE LAST MILE TO HOUSE AT 25MPH. DROVE UPHILL PAST HOUSE, TURNED AROUND IN NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY, NOTICED A LOUD 'WHINING' NOISE, LIKE A TIGHT FAN BELT OR IDLER THAT IS ABOUT TO SEIZE. PARKED, WHINING NOISE CONTINUED. REVVED ENGINE A COUPLE OF TIMES, NOISE WENT UP/DOWN WITH RPM. TURNED OFF, WENT INSIDE TO RESEARCH. FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON OLDER VEHICLES W/ 6T70/6T75 TRANSMISSION. THE 35R WAVE PLATE IS KNOWN TO SHATTER. GM HAS ISSUED "#14404: SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT - TRANSMISSION CLUTCH WAVE PLATE - (MAR 3, 2015)" . ONLY COVERS OLDER 2007-09 VEHICLES, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SHOULD COVER ALL VEHICLES W/THESE TRANSMISSIONS EXHIBITING THIS BEHAVIOR.
Electrical system, Feb 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING, HIS KNEE ENCOUNTERED THE IGNITION KEY CAUSING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Engine, Feb 20, 2016
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ACCELERATING ON A FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP. AS I WAS MERGING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND STARTED A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE, STARTED SLOWING, BUT WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHEVY DEALER, WHERE A QUICK DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED, AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS ENGINE HAS HAD 2 WARRANTY REPAIRS RELATED TO OIL ISSUES (8/2011 AND 8/2014). IN BOTH CASES THE TIMING CHAINS, TENSIONER, GASKETS AND SEALS, ETC. WERE REPLACED. ALSO, IN 2014 THERE WAS A RECALL TO REPROGRAM THE OIL LIFE MONITOR. THERE WAS A RECALL LETTER IN SEPTEMBER, 2014 REGARDING EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL USE DUE TO PISTON RING WEAR CAUSED BY THE PREVIOUS ISSUES. THIS CONDITION WAS TO HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES. I BLAME THE ENGINE FAILURE AS AN EXTENSION OF THESE OIL RELATED ISSUES, WHILE CHEVY SAYS 'NO".
Engine, Feb 18, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 12, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 05/06/16*LJ UPDATED 05/16/16.*JB
Vehicle speed control, Feb 10, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,107.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 10, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING ACTUATOR ROD FRACTURED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD DEFROST FUNCTION AND VEHICLE AIR VENT FUNCTION TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
Engine, Feb 8, 2016, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 04/20/16*LJ *JS
Engine, Feb 4, 2016
ENGINE SPUTTERS AND IS VERY NOISY WHEN AT IDLE. ALSO, IT CONSUMES OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE.
Engine, Feb 3, 2016
AT 45,000 MILES THE VEHICLE SUFFERED FROM EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE ENGINE BECAME VERY LOUD. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH A NEW ONE. NOW AT 100,000 MILES IT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. OUR WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT SO THEY SAID WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED VERY WELL, I HAVE READ MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND GM THEMSELVES TOLD US THEY KNEW ABOUT IT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. THEY EXTENDED SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ON MANY OF THE EQUINOXES TO 10 YRS/100K MI, BUT NEGLECTED TO INCLUDE OUR VEHICLE. GM REFUSES TO CHECK OUR ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER SEPARATE FROM OUR VIN TO VERIFY THAT IT IS ONE OF THE DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. GM NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM EXTENDS FARTHER THAN THEY THOUGHT, WHICH IS EASILY SEEN BY SEARCHING ONLINE AND LOOKING AT CASES LIKE OURS. GM NEGLECTED TO PROPERLY FIX OUR ISSUE THE FIRST TIME AND THIS IS POTENTIALLY A MAJOR HAZARD FOR MANY PEOPLE, THEY NEED TO ACTUALLY EXTEND COVERAGE ON ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED. THE ENGINE BURNED 60% OF THE OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, IT CLATTERS AND SOON WILL STOP WORKING.
Other or unspecified, Jan 29, 2016
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN SEPT. 2014. IT WAS USED. WHEN I TOOK IT FOR IT'S FIRST OIL CHANGE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY OF OIL. I CHECKED IT AGAIN MYSELF AWHILE LATER AND IT WAS DRY AGAIN. I CONTINUED TO CHECK IT AND IT LOSES OIL FAST. IT'S NOT LEAKING AND IT'S DOESN'T SEEM TO BE BURNING IT UP. WHEN I GOOGLE OIL LOSS EQUINOX 2010 I FOULD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY ARE SAYING THE ONLY SOLUTION IS A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE FINALLY CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THEY MAY NOT COVER IT UNDER THE WARRANTY.
Other or unspecified, Jan 23, 2016
35R WAVE TORQUE CONVERTOR/TRANSMISSION - DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE NO SPEED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR AND HAD TO SHIFT MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND GLIDE IT TO THE SHOULDER LANE. GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE ISSUE FOR QUITE A WHILE WITH THE WAVE PLAT TORQUE CONVERTOR AND TRANSMISSION AND HAS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RECALL. MY CAR HAS VERY PRISTINE AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT. I AM ACTIVE DUTY AND I DO NOT WANT OTHER LIVES TO BE IN DANGER. THERE ARE MANY POSTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE DUPLICATING MY ISSUE EXACTLY THE SAME AND GM HAS NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION.
Power train, Jan 15, 2016
I WAS PARKED AT LOCAL EATERY, ENGINE OFF. CAME OUT, STARTED CAR, PUT IN REVERSE AND PROCEEDED OUT OF PARKING SPOT. REVERSE WORKED FINE. PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL AND NOT DRIVE. THE ENGINE REVVED BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. HAD IT TOWED TO CHEVROLET DEALER. I HAD NO INDICATION OF ANY TROUBLE, NO LEAKS, NO STRANGE NOISES, JUST THE QUIET REVVING OF THE ENGINE WHEN GIVEN THE GAS.
Power train, Jan 14, 2016
ON THE WAY TO WORK IN MY 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, ON A FRIDAY MORNING, PULLING OUT TO THE HIGHWAY MY CAR DID NOT WANT TO SHIFT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN IT WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. AFTER IT WAS TURNED OFF AND SAT FOR A WILE IT WENT INTO GEAR. I THEN WENT BY A LOCAL AUTO STORE AND THEY READ THE CODE AS P0717 AND P0700 THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INFO. GOT BACK TO WORK AND CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT SEE ME UNTIL LATE MONDAY OR TUESDAY. SO ALL WEEKEND I DROVE IT, LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON, THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. FORWARD MONDAY AFTERWORK, AT STOP SIGN AND STARTED TO PULL OUT AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. NO REVERSE EITHER, COASTED DOWN THE HILL TO SIDE STREET AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND AFTER SETTING A FEW MINUTES IT WENT INTO GEAR, BUT ONLY LASTED A SHORT WHILE AND WAS STRANDED AGAIN. HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW AND USED TRANCO TRANSMISSION. THEY CALLED AND SAID THE WAVE PLATE HAD BROKE WHICH HAD CAUSED MORE DAMAGE AND WOULD COST $3400. THE REPAIRMAN SAID THIS HAS HAPPENED IN A LOT OF THESE MOTORS, SO I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID THAT AT THIS TIME THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS. BUT IF THEY DO I CAN SUBMIT MY RECEIPT. I'M HOPING THAT IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN THAT THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD SITUATION, BECAUSE I HAD MY GRANDSON IN THE CAR AND WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN HIT TRYING TO PULL OUT AT THE STOP SIGN AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS. JUST GOOGLE WAVE PLATE IN A 2010 EQUINOX AND SEE HOW MANY COMPLAINTS YOU SEE. WHEN I PAY MY BILL, I WILL UPLOAD THE RECIEPT.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 11, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V489000 (VISIBILITY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Jan 8, 2016
ON DECEMBER 27, 2015, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY 465 IN INDIANAPOLIS; WE WERE ON THE LEFT LANE, APPROX. 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN WE HEARD A HUGE EXPLOSION. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL DE CAR AND DRIVE TO THE RIGHT WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. THE SMELL OF BURNING WAS PRETTY INTENSE, WE WERE NERVOUS AND SHOOK UP FOR WHAT HAD HAPPENED SO MY HUSBAND STEPS OUTSIDE TO VIEW THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE A SCRATCH NOTHING SHOWING THAT WE HIT SOMETHING, HE LOOKED AT THE ROAD AND EVERYTHING WAS CLEAR. WE CALL OUR INSURANCE FOR A TOWING TRUCK AND THEY TOLD US TO CALL 911 FOR A FASTER SERVICE. WHEN I CALL 911 THEY TOLD ME THE POLICE WAS NOT ABLE TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. AFTER 1 HOUR WAITING FOR TOWING TRUCK, MY HUSBAND DECIDES TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON, AND IT DID. NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE, TIERS, NOTHING. WE PULL THE SIDE AIRBAGS UP AND HOLD THEM WITH THE CAR WINDOWS AND DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. GM IS TELLING US THEY CAN'T FIND WHY DE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THEY TOLD ALLSTATE THAT WE MUST OFF HIT SOMETHING CLOSE TO THE FRONT DRIVER WHEEL, AND WE HAVE ALREADY RESEARCH ALL THE ISSUES, AND IT'S TELLING US THAT THE AIRBAGS CAN'T BE DEPLOYED FOR THAT REASON. WE WERE VERY LUCKY WITH SOME BRUISES IN OUR ARMS AND NECK, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS HAS TO DO WITH ANY RECALLS OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 7, 2016
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND RELEASING EMERGENCY BRAKE. I WOULD JUST HEAR THIS CLICKING NOISE NEAR THE KEY IGNITION WHEN I TRIED TO MOVE IT OUT OF PARK. I'VE HAD THE CAR IN AND OUT OF SERVICE ABOUT 6 TIMES FROM JULY - DEC 2015 BECAUSE OF THIS. FIRST FEW TIMES, THE MECHANICS COULD NOT GET THE PROBLEM TO DUPLICATE. ONE OF THOSE TIMES, THEY THOUGHT THE BATTERY CAUSED IT AND SAID IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ANYWAY BC IT WAS WEAK - I DID THAT. ANOTHER TIME, THEY SAID IT WAS BC SOME STUFF HAD SPILLED DOWN IN THERE WHERE THE SHIFTER CABLES WERE, SO THEY CLEANED AND REWIRED IT. STILL ANOTHER TIME THEY SAID A COMPUTER PART WAS SENDING WEAK SIGNALS, SO THEY REPLACED THAT. THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED ONCE, THEN AGAIN BC ONE OF THE PARTS WAS DEEMED DEFECTIVE. THIS LAST VISIT (DEC 2015), THEY SAID IT WAS BAD WIRING FROM THE ECM THAT CAUSED IT. SOME OF THESE SERVICE/DIAGNOSTIC FEES & THE COST OF TOWING HAVE BEEN WAIVED OR REIMBURSED, OTHERS HAVE NO. NONE OF THE ISSUES SPECIFICALLY "RELATED" TO THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, I HAVE BEEN OUT AT LEAST $500-700 OVER THESE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. HUGE INCONVENIENCES - BEING STUCK AT WORK AT THE END OF THE DAY OR AT HOME AS I'M READY TO LEAVE FOR WORK. I AM PLANNING TO TRADE THIS CAR IN WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO. IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR ALL OF THIS, I WOULD'VE LOVED THE CAR. I WAS SATISFIED WITH EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Dec 31, 2015
WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE, (ANYWHERE BETWEEN IDLING TO TRAVELLING 40 MPH) THE "SERVICE STABILITRAK" MESSAGE WILL APPEAR ON CONSOLE BETWEEN TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER. DRIVING THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER WILL CAUSE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GLITCH, AND ALL READINGS WILL GO TO ZERO (TACH, SPEED, TEMP) WHILE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. FURTHER OPERATION WILL CREATE SUDDEN JERKS IN THE TRANSMISSION UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION GOES TO THIRD GEAR AND REMAINS UNTIL ENGINE IS CUT OFF. AFTER CUTTING OFF ENGINE AND TRYING TO RESTART, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL GO DIRECTLY TO "SERVICE STABILITRAK" MESSAGE AND THE ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER. HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THREE TIMES ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS AFTER NOT STARTING BACK UP. HAVE ALREADY SPENT OVER $2K IS DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR/REPLACE ACTIONS. CONSIDERING THAT THIS WEBSITE HAS 8 SEPARATE SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THE "SERVICE STABILITRAK" AND 11 DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS CONCERNING "STABILITRAK", THIS IS AN ONGOING AND COMMON ISSUE. I HAVE A WORKMATE THAT HAD A GMC (SAME GENERATION, NOT SURE OF YEAR) THAT HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH "SERVICE STABILITRAK" TO THE POINT OF DUMPING THE VEHICLE TO GET SOMETHING MORE RELIABLE.
Power train, Dec 30, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE RPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Engine, Dec 23, 2015
MY EQUINOX ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY, I HEAR A NOISE IN THE ENGINE EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE, AND THE TRUCK WOULD SHAKE A BIT, PUT THE SUV IN THE MACHINE AND GOT A P0300 CODE FOR MISFIRE, THE COILS AND SPARKPLUGS WHERE LOOSE AND OUT OF PLACE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN SEVEN MONTHS.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 21, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SYSTEM OVERHEAT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE THERMOSTAT INDICATOR INDICATED THAT THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, TIMING CHAIN, FUEL LINES, AND UPDATED THE SOFTWARE; HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Air bags, Dec 10, 2015, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID HITTING A DEER AND STRUCK THE GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE EMERGENCY ONSTAR SYSTEM RESPONDED AND CALLED THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISON CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, NECK, BACK, AND HANDS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Power train, Nov 29, 2015
MY CAR'S TRANSMISSION FAILED JUST OVER 100000 MILES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG PRIOR TO FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION ALWAYS SHIFTED ROUGH INTERMITTENTLY, BUT FROM WHAT I READ, THIS WAS NOT UNCOMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, I NEVER PURSUED THE MATTER. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. 100000 MILES OUT OF A TRANSMISSION ON A CAR GENTLY DRIVEN UNUSUAL. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER I EXITED THE FREEWAY, SITTING AT A STOP SIGN. I WENT TO ACCELERATE AND BARELY GOT ANY POWER. SEVERAL NOISES LIKE SOMETHING SNAPPING OR BREAKING AND LIQUID SPRAYING OCCURED. WITH ALMOST NOW ACCELERATION I MADE IT TO A PARKING LOT WHERE I SHUT THE CAR OFF. REVERSE, TO MY SURPRISE, NO LONGER WORKED WHEN TRYING TO STRAIGHTEN UP THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT.