2011 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 782 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 30 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 41 people were injured and 2 people died.
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
Seat belts, front, buckle assemblyDec 15, 2010
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC SRX, CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES. THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ANCHOR MAY FRACTURE AND SEPARATE NEAR THE SEAT ATTACHMENT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
THE SAFETY BELT SYSTEM MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT(S) AS DESIGNED AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.
DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PASSENGER AND/OR THE DRIVER SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AS NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 18, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Campaign 10V623000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
419 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Seat belts, Engine, Dec 18, 2020
1) SEATBELT LIGHT COMES ON DESPITE HAVING SEATBELTS SECURED. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU START THE CAR AND STAYS ON THROUGHOUT ALL ASPECTS OF DRIVING UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. 2) SERVICE STABILITRAC LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FLICKERS ON AND OFF WHILE THE RADIO FLICKERS OFF AND ON, AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WERE POSSESSED. 3) THE PREVIOUS ENGINE CONSUMED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. IT RESULTED IN THE PREVIOUS ENGINE BEING REPLACED A FEW MONTHS AGO. NEW ENGINE IS BURNING OIL JUST AS FAST AS THE OLD ONE. WITHING ONE MONTH THE DIPSTICK WAS REGISTERING AS BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE WITH 2 MONTHS AND APPROXIMATELY 3K MILES LEFT BEFORE NEXT SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE, PER JIFFY LUBE'S STICKER.
Engine, Dec 14, 2020
THE 2.4L ENGINE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING BEFORE THE DATE LISTED, THE CAR STALLED ON TWICE ON INTERSTATE 69 SHE HAD TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS WAS DUE TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION IN CAR. SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN THAT CAR AT ALL. ATTACH WIL BE THE BILL OF THE ENGINE REPAIR DUE TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION
Engine, Dec 6, 2020
TIMING BELT BROKE. A LOT OF OIL CONSUMING THE CAUSE OF THAT
Power train, Exterior lighting, Engine, Dec 3, 2020
CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGH WAY NO SIGNS OF WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD MY WIFE WAS STRANDED WITH MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TOWED TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP CAR ONLY HAD 84000 MILES ON IT WAS TOLD MY ENGINE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED FROM TIMING CHAIN SUPPOSEDLY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 6000 DOLLARS LATER TOTAL REPLACEMENT 😡 THANK GOD MY FAMILY WAS NOT HURT IN THIS EVENT CALLED GM CORP TO COMPLAIN AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL NOT HAPPY FROM WHAT I READ THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF CUSTOMERS I JUST HOPE NO ONE GETS HURT!!!!!!!!! ALSO THEY SAID NO RECALL AND IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY
Engine, Dec 3, 2020
MY ENGINE BLEW DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION FROM BAD O RINGS ON THE PISTONS.
Engine, Nov 13, 2020
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (BY SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT 15810), HOWEVER THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT I HAD A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD... WHICH WAS NOT COVERED BY THE SPECIAL COVERAGE. IT IS CRAZY THAT AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILS! IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE EXTRA PRESSURE DUE TO THE CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. GM REFUSED TO REINBURSE THIS SERVICE.
Engine, Oct 20, 2020
ENGINE TYPE CONSUMES EXCESS OIL. THIS HAS CAUSED MY OIL TO RUN OUT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND MY VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING, SPECIFICALLY WHEN DECELERATING THE RPMS WILL DROP TO CAUSE ENGINE TO FAIL. DRIVING WITH NO OIL WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO BLOW UP ONE DAY OR ANOTHER.
Engine, Oct 19, 2020
MY ENGINE FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO PISTON RING WEAR!
Engine, Oct 17, 2020
IT BURNING SO MUCH ENGINE OIL AND RUNNING OUT FROM OIL FOR UNDER 900 MILES AND CAR IS UNDER 120000
Engine, Sep 28, 2020
MY ENGINE WAS MAKING NOISE SO I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP. THEY SAID A BOLT BROKE BY THE TIMING CHAIN. THEN THEY SAID IT MESSED UP THE BLOCK AND THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. I WOULD START UP MY CAR AND I HEAD A RATTLING NOISE LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE. I WOULD HEAR THE VIBRATION NOISE
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 8, 2020
CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISSUE, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, CAR SHAKES, BALKING WHILE ON IDLE OR STOP ON RED LIGHT, HEAVY CHAIN ROLLING NOISE. SPENT MORE THAN $3K SO FAR BUT STILL COMES WITH DIFFERENT PROBLEMS EVERY NOW AND THEN. ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND BUNCH OF DIFFERENT CODES SHOW UP WHILE CHECKING. CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. WIPER BLADES DON'T CLEAR PROPERLY. PROBLEM LIST CAN GO ON AND ON. CAR SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF AND IT HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES. ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED BY ITSELF AND COULDN'T GO MORE THAN 20 MILES/HOUR ON A HIGHWAY WITH FAMILY INSIDE THE CAR.
Engine, Jul 18, 2020
MY VEHICLE IS DYING WHEN STOPPING AND RUNNING ROUGH WHEN COLD STARTED. IT JERKS AND TURNS OFF AT A STOP, BUT TURNS ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER. IT USED TO OCCASIONALLY HAPPEN, NOW IT'S EVERY TIME I STOP.
Engine, Jul 12, 2020
I HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY PUT QUARTS OF OIL IN TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T RUN DRY. IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT ISSUE WITH MECHANICS I'VE TAKEN IT TO AT THE DEALERSHIP SAYING THEY'VE SEEN EVERY EQUINOX THEY WORKED ON HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES BURNING THROUGH OIL.
Engine, Jul 7, 2020
MY EQUINOX SUFFERS FROM THE OIL CONSUMPTION DEFECT WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO CONSUME OIL AT AN USUALLY HIGH RATE. ALTHOUGH SEVERAL FEATURES OF THE VEHICLES' ENGINES CONTRIBUTE TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION DEFECT, THE PRIMARY CAUSE IS FAULTY PISTON RINGS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND THEIR WAS EVEN A LAWSUIT THAT WAS RECENTLY SETTLED. I HOWEVER DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE FREE REPAIR BECAUSE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LATER MAY 16, 2019. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE GM IS AWARE OF THE FAULTY ENGINEERING THAT WENT INTO THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS VEHICLE.
Suspension, Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 13, 2020
IT KEEPS CUTTING OFF AND THE OIL KEEPS GOING EMPTY SOME SAY RECALL 11195A MITE BE THE PROBLEM BUT I DON'T KNOW JUS GOT THE CAR AND WHEN I START IT UP THE PEDDLE GETS STUCK AND STARTS RITE BACK UP IN MOTION AND SOON AS YOU BACK UP AND SOON AS YOU TURN OUT IT CUTS OFF ON THE HIGH WAY AND ON CITY STREET AND TURNING. *TR
Suspension, Engine, May 2, 2020
OIL CONSUMPTION HIGH, METAL PARTICLES IN OIL, CV AXEL JOINT BAD
Engine, Apr 7, 2020
THIS CAR IS INTERNALLY BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. I HAVE NO EXTERNAL OIL LEAKS. I AM ADDED AT MINIMUM 5 QUARTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, OTHER PARTS ARE BEGINNING TO FOUL BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUES, THE OIL LIGHT DOES NOT EVEN COME ON TO LET ME KNOW IF IT LOW ON OIL. I AM A WINDOWED WOMAN AND THIS IS NOT RIGHT. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I DO WHAT I AM SUPPOSE TO DO AND TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR, HOWEVER THIS IS OUT OF MY CONTROL AND APPARENTLY IS A HUGE ISSUES. WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS, I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED IT TO BEGIN WITH. CHEVY NEEDS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT! *TR
Engine, Mar 30, 2020
OIL CONSUMPTION
Power train, Engine, Mar 20, 2020
BURNS OIL EXCESSIVELY, 1 QUART PER 10 DAYS. NO LEAKS . COSTLY REPAIRS, AND MAINTENANCE
Engine, Mar 9, 2020
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF IN MIDDLE OF ROAD WITHOUT WARNING. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO PUSH IT OFF THE STREET AS TO NOT GET HIT.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 1, 2020
IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE AND IT WILL JUST CUT OFF FOR NO REASON. I KEEP UP ALL MY MAINTENANCE IT HAS LOW MILEAGE. IT WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT CUT OFF AND I ALMOST HIT AN 18 WHEELER.
Engine, Jan 31, 2020
I HAD THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST DONE AT THOMAS CHEVROLET IN MEDIA, PENNSYLVANIA DUE TO OIL BEING LOW. FOLLOWED UP EVERY 1,000 MILES AND THE OIL WAS ALWAYS 1/2 QT OR MORE LOW. ON DECEMBER 3, 2018, I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO ISSUES WITH THE OIL. THE MILEAGE WAS 71,392. I BROUGHT IT BACK FOR AN OIL CHANGED ON MARCH 14, 2019 WITH THE MILEAGE BEING 73,996, WHICH IS ONLY 2,604 MILES LATER. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT MY ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND DESTROYED MY ENGINE! HOW DOES AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE GO FROM YOU HAVE AND ISSUE WITH YOUR CAR BURNING OIL TO NO THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH OIL CONSUMPTION???? I COULD HAVE BROKEN DOWN ON A HIGHWAY WITH THIS ISSUE! THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BUT REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $8,000.00 BUT NO GUARANTEES! I COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY $8,000 SO I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE WHERE IT HAS BEEN SITTING EVER SINCE. HOW CAN GMGET AWAY WITH THIS? EVEN THE GENERALMANAGER TOLD ME THAT GM KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WON'T FIX IT!
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jan 21, 2020
I STARTED HAVING ISSUES AFTER A COUPLE MONTHS OF BUYING MY VEHICLE. MY RPM WOULD SPUTTER AND I WOULD ALWAYS CHECK MY OIL AND IT WOULD BE A QUART LOW. THIS WENT ON FOR MONTHS AND I CONTINUED TO DRAIN MONEY INTO MY VEHICLE WITH BUYING OIL. I REPLACED SEALS THINKING IT WAS A OIL LEAK AND IT WASN'T IT. MY ENGINE FINALLY WAS JUST SHOT SO NOW I'M OUT OF A CAR AND OWE MONEY ON IT STILL AND DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. I AM VERY UPSET WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE BC I DID RESEARCH ON IT AND A LOT OF COMPLIANTS ON THIS CAR BURNING OIL. CRAZY THAT NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE. I GUESS CHEVY IS CRAP NOW AND JUST WANT TO LOOSE CUSTOMERS. I WON'T BE BUYING A CHEVY AGAIN AND WILL NOT RECOMMEND
Engine, Jan 4, 2020
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON HWY 35 OUTSIDE OF DRESSER, WI AND THE CAR DASH LIGHTS SUDDENLY LIT UP AND THE CAR MADE A LOUD RATTLE AND SMELLED LIKE BURNING OIL. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I WAS 2 MILES FROM HOME SO I CAME STRAIGHT HOME. WE CHECKED THE OIL AND ADDED 3 QUARTS OF OIL BEFORE TAKING IT APROXIMATELY 2 MILES TO OUR MECHANIC. THEY CHECKED THE ENGINE AND CONFIRMED THE RATTLE WAS DEEP IN THE MOTOR AND THE MOTOR HAD BLOWN. AFTER INSPECTION, THEY FOUND THAT A SMALL PORT IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CLOGGED. THIS CAUSED A PRESSURE BUILD UP AND THE REAR SEAL TO BLOW. WE WERE ALSO THEN TOLD THEY HAD BEEN SEEING A LOT OF THIS PROBLEM IN CHEVY EQUINOX MODELS. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR FOR A TOTAL COST OF $5750.51.
Engine, Dec 30, 2019
TWICE IN ONE YEAR THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES BROKE CAUSING MOTOR DAMAGE AND THE CAR TO STALL WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT BOTH TIMES.