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
782 reports, newest first.
Engine, Jul 29, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRED AN OIL CHANGE EVERY MONTH AND A HALF EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED IN JULY OF 2018. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Engine, Jul 26, 2019
OIL CONSUMPTION
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Visibility/wiper, Jul 26, 2019
FIRST EQUINOX OWNED - GM REPLACED ENGINE AT NO COST TO ME. THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER EQUINOX. OWN A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX FWD 2.4 LITER ENGINE. EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION; STALLING WHILE AT STOPLIGHTS, ETC.; ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY; MULTIPLE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES REPLACED; WIPER TRANSMISSION REPLACED; CLATTERING NOISE WITHIN ENGINE THAT CANNOT BE FIXED PER MECHANIC; STABLITRAK AND ABS LIGHTS ON; LIMP MODE SEVERAL TIMES. HAVE SPENT MANY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX. GOING TO GM FOR COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. 126,600 MILES AT PRESENT. PURCHASED 9/8/2016 WITH 80,437 MILES.
Engine, Jul 15, 2019
WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE. RESTARTED DROVE ANOTHER 2 MILES AND IT DIED AGAIN. GOT IT TO KEEP RUNNING ALTHOUGH IT TRIED TO DIE AND TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP. WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS, CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW CHEVY CAN CONTINUE TO ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. I ASSUME WHEN SOMEONE DIES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, THEY MAY DO SOMETHING THEN.
Engine, Jul 11, 2019
ENCOUNTERED AN ISSUE WHERE THE CAR WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF LIGHT OR WARNING. THIS HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME A WEEK BEFORE WE COULD GET IT TO THE SHOP, IN THAT WEEK IT HAPPENED 8 TIMES. ONE OF THESE TIMES WAS WHILE MOVING AND MY WIFE WERE NEARLY T-BONED ON A HIGHLY CONGESTED ROAD. MY WIFE BEGAN GETTING EXTREMELY ANXIOUS WHEN SHE HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR AND SCARED IT WOULD DIE ON THE INTERSTATE.THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS BEING CAUSED BY HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION, THIS WAS NEWS TO US BECAUSE THE CAR HAD NOT NOTIFIED US OF THAT AT ALL (NO OIL OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS) AND WE WERE AT ABOUT 3K SINCE LAST OIL CHANGE WITH FULL SYNTHETIC (70K TOTAL MILES). THE DEALERSHIP THEN WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE PISTON RINGS AND PISTONS NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $4,200. I GOOGLED '2011 CHEVY EQUINOX PISTON RINGS' AND ONE OF THE FIRST RESULTS WAS 'SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT 15285D' FOR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION CAUSED BY THE PISTONS AND RINGS. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP WHY HE NEVER MENTIONED THIS AND HE SAID IT DIDN'T APPLY TO OUR VIN BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHY. AFTER A BACK AND FORTH OF 'THAT MAKES NO SENSE, IT'S THE EXACT ISSUE' AND 'I DON'T KNOW IT'S ABOVE MY PAY GRADE' HE EVENTUALLY SAID 'BASED ON THE VIN YOUR CAR WASN'T BUILT WITH THE SAME PARTS' WHICH I REALIZED AFTER CALLING THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE DIRECTLY WAS A LIE. GM TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS COVERED UNTIL NOVEMBER, 2018 (THIS HAPPENED JULY 19) BECAUSE GM DID THE SERVICE ADJUSTMENT OUT TO 7 YRS/120K MILES. GM TOLD ME SHE IS UP-CHANNELING OUR CASE TO SEE IF GM WILL PAY FOR SOME OF IT, STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK.
Power train, Jul 10, 2019
THE TRANSMISSION JUST WENT OUT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, COULD NOT MOVE IT, COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. DRIVING AT REGULAR SPEED, JUST SOUNDED LIKE IT SHIFTED TO PARK, NO WARNING AT ALL. WAS FORCED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT $5000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 2, 2019
MY HUSBAND, NEWBORN BABY AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED AND THEN STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURED EVERY TIME MY HUSBAND USED THE BRAKES. LUCKILY WE MANAGED TO MAKE IT BACK HOME SAFELY. THE VEHICHLE CONSTANTLY NEEDS OIL AND THEN IT DIED FOR THE LAST TIME ABOUT A MONTH AGO AS WE PULLED INTO A FAMILY MEMBERS DRIVEWAY.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 1, 2019
MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN THE POURING RAIN. THEY WILL NOT WORK NOW. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE 60 MILES WITHOUT THEM, IN THE RAIN. IT IS NOT THE FUSE, I CHECKED.
Engine, Jun 21, 2019
MY VEHICLE RAN COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL. THERE WAS NO INDICATOR LIGHT TO WARN ME THERE WAS LOW OIL. THERE WAS NEVER INDICATION OIL WAS LEAKING AS IT DID NOT APPEAR ON MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MOTOR.
Engine, Jun 20, 2019
I'VE HAD THIS TRUCK FOR A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS AND WHEN I FIRST GOT IT THERE WAS NO TICKING NOISE THEN MADE A YEAR AGO I NOTICED THE TICKING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE MODEL. IT BEGAN TO STALL SO I TOOK IT BACK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE O2 SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE . LATER ON THAT DAY THE TICKING BEGAN TO GET LOUDER AND THEN AS I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND RAISED THE HOOD OIL WAS SPRAYING EVERY WHERE. HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BEEN SLAPPING UP AGAINST THE VALVE COVER AND HAD CRACKED THE COVER SO THAT'S WHY THE OIL WAS SPRAYING EVERY WHERE. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE IN MY TRUCK WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE START AND THAT CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT THIS . SO NOW I'M STUCK TRYING TO FIND A MOTOR FOR A TRUCK THAT I'M STILL PAYING NOTES ON AND CAN'T DRIVE. THE FACT THAT CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN, THE CAM SENSOR AND THE OIL CONSUMPTION AND IS NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLES IS CRAZY. I COME FROM A CHEVY LOVING FAMILY AND IVE ALWAYS OWNED ONE AND BUT NOW I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE CHEVY DOESN'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS ANYMORE AND YES I ALWAYS CHANGE MY OIL ON TIME AND ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ON TIME.
Engine, Jun 18, 2019
I HAVE HAD ALL RECALLS DONE ON THIS CAR. HAVE HAD BASICALLY EVERYTHING BUT THE ENGINE REPLACED. IT RUNS LIKE IT IS A SEMI. STALLS AT STOP LIGHTS. HAS DIED TWICE WHILE DRIVING IT - AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN EVEN IN NEUTRAL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT COULD STALL OUT WHEN GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. I KEEP THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE - I STILL OWE ON MY CAR LOAN ON THIS CAR. IN ALL THE 40 PLUS YEARS I HAVE DRIVEN CARS, I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS MUCH TROUBLE WITH A VEHICLE. I CAN UNDERSTAND HAVING TO DO SOMETHING EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE - LIKE TRANSMISSION, ETC. I HAVE SPENT OVER $3000 ON DIFFERENT "FIXES" THAT HAVN'T FIXED IT. I AM USUALLY A CHEVROLET PERSON, BUT I AM NOT GOING TO BUY A CHEVROLET AGAIN.
Air bags, Jun 13, 2019
TAMARA RECALL THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I START MY VEHICLE AND STAYS ON FROM TIME TO TIME. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AND SCARES ME THAT IT MIGHT DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. I FEEL AS IF MY LIFE IS IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THIS.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 11, 2019
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD @ 55 MPH IN THE POURING RAIN WITH THE WINDOW WIPERS WORKING, THE DRIVER'S WIPER MOVED PAST THE WINDSHIELD AND BECAME WEDGED AGAINST THE DRIVER'S WINDOW. WHILE DRIVING I OPENED THE DRIVER'S WINDOW AND PUSHED THE WIPER BACK ON TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE WIPERS WERE STATIONARY ON THE WINDSHIELD AND NO LONGER OPERATED. I DROVE 10 MILES IN THE POURING RAIN WITHOUT ANY WIPERS. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME, I COULD MOVE THE WIPERS BY HAND. I COULD HEAR A SCRAPING METAL SOUND.
Power train, Jun 10, 2019
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION: HAVE HAD TO COMPLETELY REFILL 4QTS OF OIL EVERY 17-20 DAYS, NO OIL STAINS IN PARKING AREAS OR OIL BURNING SMELL WHEN DRIVING.
Power train, Jun 7, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOUR TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. IN ADDITION, WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. HOWEVER, WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY, BUT ONLY WHEN DRIVEN STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CONKLIN CHEVROLET NEWTON (LOCATED AT 1500 SE 3RD ST, NEWTON, KS 67114, (316) 842-4137) AND THE FAILURE WAS DUPLICATED. THE DEALER ORDERED A SOLENOID PACK AND REPLACED THE OLD ONE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE EVEN WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO CONKLIN CARS BUICK GMC HUTCHINSON (LOCATED AT 1400 E 11TH AVE, HUTCHINSON, KS 37501, (620) 708-4102) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WAVE PLATE EXPLODED AND SENT METAL PIECES INSIDE THE METAL CASE, WHICH DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5288717276. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,754.
Other or unspecified, Jun 7, 2019
AT ABOUT 88,000 MILES, WHILE STARTING FROM A STOP, AND ALSO WHILE CLIMBING A HILL, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP INTO A NEUTRAL POSITION INSTEAD OF A HIGHER OR LOWER GEAR. I HAD TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND LET IT IDLE DOWN BEFORE IT WOULD GO INTO A GEAR.02
Engine, Jun 4, 2019
THE MOTOR HADE 80,000 MILE ON AND BLOW ALL THE OIL OUT JUST AS THE 2012 EQUINOX DID AND NOW I HAVE NO MOTOR.GONE DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 55MPH. ON HWY. 55 IN MONTROSE MN.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 4, 2019
USED QUART OF OIL EVERY 900 MILES
Visibility/wiper, May 23, 2019
MAY 22ND 2019 IT WAS READING A LOT, AS I WAS DRIVING, MY DRIVER SIDE WIPER WENT UP AND STARTED THERE, AS THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTINUED WORKING. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I HEARD THE SNAPPING OF THE BAR. THANK GOD FOR RAINX. I ENDED UP ADJUSTING THE WIPER BLADE TO MAKE A "EURO" WIPER, THEN JUST REPLACED THE WIPER TRANSMISSION ALL TOGETHER.
Engine, May 21, 2019
I BOUGHT MY 2011 EQUINOX WITH 45K MILES, 1.5 YEARS AGO AND HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS. HAD TO CHANGE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, MUFFLER AND NOW I AM HAVING POWER ISSUES. THE CAR WILL STALL WHEN IDLING AND LOSE POWER WHEN DRIVING. I HAD MY 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION I LOST ALL ACCELERATION. THANK GOD THERE WAS NOT A CAR COMING, BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT FOR IT IS NORMALLY A BUSY INTERSECTION. I STILL OWE A LOT OF MONEY ON THE VEHICLE AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS OFTEN AND I WAS TOLD TO CHANGE THE CAM SHAFT, WHICH I DID TO NO AVAIL.
Visibility/wiper, May 20, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE HOME SLOWLY IN THE INCLEMENT WEATHER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1000,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Engine, May 20, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CURRY AUTO CENTER (2906 E BUICK CADILLAC BLVD, BLOOMINGTON, IN 47401), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Engine, May 1, 2019
LEAK IN REAR MAIN OIL SEAL. EXPENSIVE REPAIR DUE TO LABOR. SAME PROBLEM SHOWN ONLINE WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. CASTS DOUBTS ON QUALITY OF AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS. GM SHOULD ISSUE RECALL.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 30, 2019
I HAVE HAD MY SUV WORKED ON 6 DIFFERENT TIMES DUE STALLING, LOOSING POWER, CUTTING OUT,AND NOT WANTING TO ACCELERATE . THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY UPDATED THE COMPUTER REPLACED AIR FILTER, ETC. WORKED FOR 2 WEEKS AND NOW IS STILL HAVING THIS PROBLEM.
Engine, Apr 29, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.