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: visibility/wiper
69 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Jul 28, 2017
OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME BETWEEN MEMPHIS, TN AND NASHVILLE, TN, DURING A THUNDERSTORM. HER WIPERS AT FULL BLAST, WENT TO THE LEFT AND STOPPED! ALL SHE COULD DO IS PULL OVER AND WAIT UNTIL, THE STORM PASSED. AS PARENTS, LAST THING YOU WANT TO HEAR IS YOUR 25 YEAR DAUGHTER IS SITTING ON THE SIDE OF I40 AT NIGHT UNABLE TO TRAVEL AND WE LIVE 8 HOURS AWAY! THE NEXT MORNING SHE CHECKED THE WIPERS, NOPE, NA-DA. SAID SHE CAN HEAR THE MOTOR HUMMING, BUT NOTHING IS WORKING. EVERYONE NEAR HER WANTS 350.00 + TO REPLACE IT.... THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR A GRADUATE STUDENT! SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURRING PROBLEM GM, YOU NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING!
Visibility/wiper, Jul 1, 2017
THE WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING UNDER A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR AND COULDN'T SEE A THING. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT ONLY IN CANADA. HTTPS://GM.OEMDTC.COM/6968/25300-03-SAFETY-RECALL-FRONT-WIPER-TRANSMISSION-CORROSION-FAILURE-CANADA-ONLY-2010-2017-CHEVROLET-EQUINOX-GMC-TERRAIN
Visibility/wiper, May 30, 2017
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH WIPERS ON. WIPERS SUDDENLY WHIPPED TO THE LEFT AND STOPPED. WIPER MOTOR RUNS BUT WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE. ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 20, 2017
TONIGHT, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DURING A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED COMPLETELY DURING OPERATION AS I WAS PASSING BY A SEMI. I COULD NOT SEE AND HAD TO PULL OVER ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. THIS ISSUE HAD OCCURRED IN THE PAST, BUT THEY STARTED WORKING AGAIN ONCE THE WEATHER CLEARED UP. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2013 EQUINOX. WHY NOT THE 2011 MODEL?
Visibility/wiper, Mar 29, 2017
TRANSMISSION DIED ON MY WIPER BLADES CAUSING BAD VISIBILITY AND WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT DUE TO IT SNOWING OUT. I THEN HAD TO BRING IT TO A DEALER SHIP DEPAULA CHEVORLET WITH NO WIPERS AND PAY $350 TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2013 WHY NOT MINE A 2011 AWD CHEVY EQUINOX LT? THIS HAPPENED I WANT TO SAY AT THE END OF FEBRUARY BEGINNING OF MARCH DURING A BLIZZARD IN UPSTATE NY WHILE DRIVING TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 23, 2017
I WAS DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM AND THE WIPERS QUIT. THE REPAIR WAS $499. I LIVE IN FEAR THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN ON A BUSIER HIGHWAY. I'N NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 26, 2016
DRIVING WHILE IT WAS RAINING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE GOING ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WENT WAY PAST WHERE THEY NORMALLY STOP AND COULDN'T SEE THE ROAD TRIED TURNING THEM OFF AND ON NOTHING HAPPENED HAD TO HANG MY HEAD OUT THE WINDOW TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER TO SAFETY BECAUSE IT WAS AT NIGHT TIME AND COULDN'T SEE IF ANYTHING WAS COMING OR IF I WAS GOING TO RUN OFF IN A DITCH AND HAD MY LITTLE GIRL IN THE BACK SEAT TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE BUT ONCE I GOT OUT LOOKED AT THEM WAS ABLE TO MOVE THEM BY HAND BACK INTO POSITION BUT STILL WOULDN'T WORK YOU COULD HEAR THE MOTOR MOVING INSIDE BUT WIPERS WOULDN'T AT ALL IM THANK FUL WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WASN'T ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAS ONLY GOING LIKE 40 MPH WITH IT RAINING BUT WIPES NEVER GAVE A SIGN PREVIOUSLY ANYTHING WAS WRONG THEY HAVE ALWAYS WORKED FINE THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS VEHICLE TO DO THIS IM A CHEVY PERSON AND HAVE STOOD MY IT BUT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WITH IT POURING DOWN RAIN. *TR
Visibility, Visibility/wiper, Oct 3, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER, BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNPREDICTABLE AND OCCURRED AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. UPDATED 12/13/16*LJ *TR
Visibility/wiper, Sep 1, 2016
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS SHUT OFF WHILE THEY WERE ON. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE OF THIS BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING WHEN IT HAPPENED.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 25, 2016
WHILE DRIVING 50+ MPH ON A BUSY LOCAL HIGHWAY, THE WIPER TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING AND THE WIPER BLADES STOPPED IN AN UPWARD POSITION COMPLETELY BLOCKING VISIBILITY! THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY A MECHANIC AND THIS PART WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 3, 2016
WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILURE - I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE EXPRESSWAY DURING HEAVY SNOW AND THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. WIPERS STOPPED IN THE UPWARD POSITION BLOCKING MY VIEW ALONG WITH THE SNOW. WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE MY WAY TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE WIPERS CHECKED TODAY AND WAS ADVISED THE WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILED.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 16, 2016
DRIVING ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE 6:45AM TO WORK. 2-16-16 HEAVY RAIN 50 MI PER HOUR IN THE PASSING LANE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BROKE. FLOPPED OVER I COULD NOT SEE A THING IN FRONT OF ME I PUT THE WINDOW DOWN AND GRABBED THE WIPER TIP MANUALLY WORKED IT PUT ON MY FLASHERS HAD TO PULL GET OVER ON THE PASSENGER LANE THEN ONTO A PULL OVER MILE MARKER 307. I COULD NOT BELIEVE I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. HAD THE WIPERS WENT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION I WOULD NOT BE WRITING YOU AT THIS TIME. THIS WAS SO DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS THERE ARE MANY MODELS THAT WILL START SEEING THIS HAPPEN IF IT IS A USAGE DEFECT? IT IS AT OUR CHEVY DEALERS SERVICE AT THIS MOMENT BEING REPAIRED I AM NOT SURE YET WHAT BROKE TO CAUSE THIS.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 26, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE IN FRONT OF HER AND HAD TO ROLL THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOWN TO SEE THE ROAD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL POPPED OUT OF SOCKET ON THE WINDSHIELD MECHANISM. THE MECHANIC POPPED THE BALL BACK INTO THE SOCKET. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED AS DESIGNED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT USE THE WIPERS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. ...UPDATED 02/19/16 *BF UPDATED 03/03/16.*JB
Visibility/wiper, Jan 18, 2016
FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTER DOES NOT DEFROST OR DEFOG FRONT WINDSHIELD.WINDSHIELD FOGS IF THERE IS ANY MOISTURE
Visibility/wiper, Jan 10, 2016
AFTER ONLY 5 YEARS OF USE, I BELIEVE THAT THE BLENDER DOOR HAS STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION AND THE FRONT AND DRIVER-PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS HAVE FOGGED UP TO THE POINT THAT DRIVER CANNOT CONTINUE DRIVING. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS MOVING WHILE ON A CITY STREET.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 29, 2015
3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE FROM A USED CAR LOT, THE WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING WHILE IN USE. THE MOTOR WAS WORKING PROPERLY, HOWEVER MY MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE WIPER TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. HE STATED THAT IN HIS OPINION, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP HAD SEVERAL OF THIS PART IN STOCK. THIS REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 90-DAY WARRANTY PROVIDED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THIS REPAIR, WHICH TOTALED $367.35 (RECEIPT AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST) AND AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE CONDUCTED ON THESE WIPER TRANSMISSIONS AS THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND THAT OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME ISSUE ON THE 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX.
Visibility/wiper, May 6, 2015
HEATER WAS NOT CHANGING MODES, THERE WAS NO ACTUATOR MOVEMENT, THEREFORE NO DEFROSTER DURING WINTER. THIS LEFT ME WITH POOR VISIBILITY. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 6, 2015
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN A VERY BAD RAIN STORM ON ROUTE 9 IN NEWINGTON CT GOING SOUTHBOUND (PLEASE CHECK THE WEATHER FOR THAT DAY AROUND 5:10PM). THIS IS A HIGHWAY WHERE CARS WERE TRAVELING PROBABLY BETWEEN 50 ? 60 MILES PER HOUR DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING. I WAS DRIVING BLIND DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BARELY FIND THE BREAKDOWN LANE WHILE FALLING OFF THE ROAD PERIODICALLY AS I COULD NOT SEE WHERE THE ROADSIDE WAS. I SLOWLY WORKED MY WAY ON TO THE EXIT 29 RAMP SO I COULD SIT UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR. OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR MONTHS, THE HEATING MECHANISM THAT CONTROLLED THE DIRECTION OF THE HEATER, AND THROTTLE BODY WERE REPLACED. THE FIRST INCIDENT WITH THE HEATING WAS DISCOVERED DURING A COLD WINTER MORNING AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE DEFROSTER WAS NOT PROVIDING ANY HEAT TO CLEAR THE WINDOW. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AS WELL.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 26, 2014
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE,WINDSHIELD STARTED TO FOG SWITCHED HEAT CONTROL TO DEFOG WINDSHIELD AND IT DID NOT SWITCH, AS VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED I WAS NEARLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.THE DEFROST SYSTEM STILL DOES NOT WORK. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM ON 2010 MODELS. CONTACTED DEALER AND ESTIMATE WAS AT LEAST $400.00 TO REPLACE A $21.00 PART VEHICLE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. THIS IS ANOTHER GM SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR