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, Fuel/propulsion system, May 31, 2015
IN FEBRUARY 2015 THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED/REPAIRED DUE TO REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING. ALTHOUGH NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, CHEVROLET PICKED UP THE REPAIR COST. SINCE THE REPAIR, THERE HAS BEEN HESITATION IN ACCELERATION. MORE RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN LOUD ENGINE NOISE (SOUNDS LILE A DIESEL ENGINE), ROUGH IDLING AT A STOP & HESITATION WHEN TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE. IT SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS GOING TO FALL OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 2X. I WILL BE SCHEDULING SERVICE.
Air bags, May 28, 2015, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED DESTROYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Engine, May 21, 2015
I AM A TAXI CAB DRIVER I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CUSTOMER SUDDENLY CAR STOPPED THEN I START AGAIN AND FEW MILES LATER I HAD ENGINE POWER REDUCED SIGH ON THAN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND STABILITY TRUCK LIGHT CAME ON CAR SLOWED TO TEN MPH I TRIED TO SPEED UP BUT GAS PEDAL WAS NOT RESPONDING IF THIS HAPPENS TO ME ON HIGHWAY WITH 60-66 MPH SPEED SOME ONE WOULD RUN OVER ME
Power train, May 20, 2015
TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR WHEN STOPPING AFTER A LONG DRIVE. SO FAR TWO INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR FAILLED TO MOVE AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT AND AT A STOP SIGN AFTER DRIVING MORE THAN 50 MILES. DEALER CAN FIND NO PROBLEM WITH CAR.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, May 8, 2015
WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 EQUINOX THE CAR SEEMS TO INTERMITTENTLY MISFIRE, CAUSING THE WHOLE CAR TO SHAKE. SOME DAYS THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN FINE, SOME DAYS IT RUNS BADLY. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, SOMETIMES THE CHECK STABILITRAC LIGHT COMES ON. SOMETIMES THE CAR RUNS FINE AND NO LIGHT COMES ON. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY. IN THE LAST WEEK THE CAR HAS STARTED TO RUN FOR 3-5 SECONDS AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION. IT ALSO HAS BEGUN TO RUN VERY ROUGH AND ALMOST STALL , BUT NOT EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. *TR
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
Vehicle speed control, May 6, 2015
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON ROUTE 66 IN EAST HAMPTON, CT WHEN THE CAR JUST STARTED HESITATING AND NOT DRIVING PROPERLY. I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OFF SO AS NOT TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND CALLED ON-STAR. I TURNED THE CAR ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY SEEMED DRIVE-ABLE. ON-STAR PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND SAID THERE WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG AND TO PROCEED TO THE CLOSEST CHEVROLET DEALER IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS DETERMINED BY JACKSON CHEVROLET THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SOMETHING LIKE THAT CAN BREAK IN ONLY 4 YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR AND IT WAS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. *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.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 3, 2015
WHEN I WAS OUT RUNNING ERRANDS ON 5/2/15 WITH MY (XXX) YEAR OLD, AS I WAS ARRIVING CLOSER TO MY DESTINATION MY CAR STARTED SHAKING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE STABILITRAK LIGHT CAME ONE AND I STARTED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR AND THE PEDAL WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR HESITATED FOR A MIN OR SO THEN IT STARTED TO REV UP AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF. THEN WHEN I GOT TO WHERE I WAS GOING I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL THE STABILITRAK SHOULD GO OFF AND IT USUALLY ACTIVATES DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP AND TRYING TO PULL OFF THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER BEING IN THE STORE FOR AT LEAST 30MINS OR MORE WHEN I COME BACK OUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON BUT THE STABILITRAK LIGHT IS OFF. I AM NO MORE THAN 20 MINS AWAY FROM MY HOME BUT ON THE WAY BACK HOME IT TOOK AT LEAST 45 MINS BECAUSE THREE TIMES WHILE IN TRAFFIC WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN THE CARD STARTED HAVING THE SOLDERED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AGAIN. I AM JUST RELIEVED THAT THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME IN EACH OCCURRENCE WHICH WOULD BE A TOTAL OF 4 WAS VERY PATIENT. I DID DO A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WITH ONSTAR AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE 3 CODES ON MY CAR NOW AND THE LOSS OF POWER CAN BE AN ISSUE FOR THESE CODE AND TO GET THE CAR TO THE DEALER WITHIN 7 DAYS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN LISTED ON THIS SITE MORE THAN ONCE. I AM NO LONGER UNDER THE WARRANTY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I AM NOT SURE WHY CHEVY/GM IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS ISSUE FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THIS SITE AND EDMUNDS.COM, CAR COMPLAINTS.COM AND YOU TUBE THIS A VERY REAL AND SERIOUS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SOON THAN LATER. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING DONE ABOUT THIS. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW. *TRPARTS 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).
Structure, Apr 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME WRAPPING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND BOTH REAR DOOR HANDLES PEELED OFF CREATING VERY SHARP EDGES. WHEN TOUCHING THE HANDLE, THE SHARP EDGES FROM THE CHROME WRAPPING CAUSED LACERATIONS TO THE HANDS OF THE PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Service brakes, Apr 11, 2015
COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. BRAKE LIGHT ALARM CAME ON FOLLOWED BY STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ALARM. FAILURE IN MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER ALLOWED BRAKE FLUID TO DRAIN FROM SYSTEM. CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED AT A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. I NEEDED TO HAVE BOTH THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER REPLACED. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Apr 7, 2015
I WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO A SMOOTH STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND AS THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, THE RPM GAUGE NEEDLE FELL BELOW 1 AND THEN KEPT LOWERING AND THE ENGINE SHOOK AND JOSTLED AND THE CAR ENGINE DIED. ALL INTERIOR ELECTRONICS WERE STILL WORKING. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK IN ORDER TO GET IT TO START UP AGAIN. IT DID THIS LATER WHILE REVERSING. AND NOW IT JUST SEEMS TO DO THIS ANYTIME I COME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT, STOP SIGN, ANYTIME REALLY. SOMETHING I FOUND PERPLEXING WAS THAT IF I PUT IT INTO PARK, IT IDLES SMOOTH. TAKE IT OUT OF PARK, IT IDLES ROUGH AGAIN AND WILL STALL. THE INFORMATION PANEL BETWEEN THE GAUGES SAYS TO SERVICE STABILI TRAK. LAST NIGHT, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND COOLANT EXPLODED FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO DO WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE IT FINANCED AND IF IT ISN'T REPAIRABLE, ILL BE STUCK WITH NO CAR AND NO RIDE TO WORK, BUT STILL HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE A CAR PAYMENT. I'VE BEEN READING ALL OVER ON DIFFERENT CAR FORUMS AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER CHEVY EQUINOX OWNERS. FIRST IT STARTS IDLING ROUGH, THEN IT STARTS STALLING OUT, SOME PEOPLE HAVE EVEN HAD IT STALL OUT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THEN ONE GUY EVEN HAD THE ENGINE CATCH ON FIRE. HE LUCKILY JUMPED OUT OF HIS VEHICLE JUST IN TIME TO AVOID HIS OWN DEATH. ALL OF THEM DESCRIBING THE SAME ISSUES MY EQUINOX IS HAVING. THE MILEAGE SEEMS TO BE IRRELEVANT AS FAR AS THIS GOES. SOME OF THEM HAD 30,000 MILES, SOME HAD LESS THAN 5,000 MILES. SOME HAD 100,000 MILES. SOME OF THEM TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED CAM SHAFT STUFF. THAT SOMETIMES FIXED THE ISSUE, SOMETIMES NOT. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. LIKE SOMETHING WAS WRONG IN PRODUCTION. PLEASE HELP!!! I HAVE CHILDREN. WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR
Power train, Engine, Mar 29, 2015
A THREE OCCASIONS I HAVE SAT A STOP LIGHT WITH THE CAR IDLING, WITH A ROUGH SOUNDING IDLE, THE CAR SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. ON THE THIRD OCCASION, IT ACTUALLY DID STALL WITH ME NEEDING TO RESTART (WHICH LUCKILY IT DID) AS TRAFFIC WAS BEARING DOWN FROM BEHIND ON AN EARLY MORNING COMMUTE. I TOOK THE CAR TO GET SERVICED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO DAYS, WITH THE MECHANIC TELLING ME THAT CAR WAS DANGEROUSLY LOW ON OIL. I WAS SHOCKED AND SURPRISED TO HEAR THIS, AS I AM DILIGENT ABOUT GETTING MY OIL CHANGED ON TIME. THE OIL WAS CHANGED ONLY 3 MONTHS PRIOR AND THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS 3 QUARTS LOW ON OIL!! AFTER HEARING THIS, I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE FOR PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR YEAR MODEL EQUINOXES. SCARY AS I FELT HELPLESS SITTING STALLED IN HEAVY MORNING TRAFFIC. LUCKY I WASN'T HIT! *TR
Structure, Mar 25, 2015
WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING, THE BACK HATCH WILL SUDDENLY UNHOOK. IT DOES NOT OPEN FULLY BUT UNLATCHES ENOUGH TO TELL THE CAR THAT IT IS OPEN. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHILE I AM DRIVING, CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER TO SHUT IT AGAIN. THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE HATCH IS NOW NON-FUNCTIONAL (CAN'T OPEN THE HATCH AT ALL) BUT THE HATCH IS STILL POPPING! I AM AFRAID THAT THE WHOLE WILL OPEN WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE A CRASH. *TR
Electrical system, Mar 21, 2015
THE CONSOLE DASHBOARD LIGHTS REMAIN ON AFTER THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION! THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES! *TR
Engine, Mar 16, 2015
DISCOVERED VEHICLE USING AROUND 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. IT WAS 200 MILES SHORT OF NEXT OIL CHANGE. ADDED THE OIL, DROVE APPROX. 500 MILES AND IT WAS 1/2 QT. SHORT. GM SAYS NORMAL TO USE 1 QUART IN BETWEEN. THIS IS CRAZY. WE HAVE BEGAN THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WITH PHOTOS DOCUMENTING. WHEN WE HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT A DEALER THE OIL WAS WAY OVERFILLED. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 4, 2015
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AT A CONVENIENT STORE, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE INFORMATION STATION FLASHED THE WARNING "STABILITRAC / POWER REDUCED". A STRANGE SOUND AND VIBRATION WAS COMING FROM THE CAR. I TURNED IT OFF BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE TRACTION CONTROL CREATED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT HAD STARTED TO SNOW. ONCE I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT DROVE OKAY FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN BOOM THAT STRANGE SOUND AND THE STRONG IDLING VIBRATION CAME BACK. I WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE THE SUV BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST THE FIRST TRANSMISSION GEAR. SO A COUPLE DAYS LATER I WAS GOING TO TRY AND MAKE IT TO THE STORE BECAUSE ANOTHER SNOW STORM WAS COMING OUR TOWN'S WAY. AGAIN, STARTED OUT OKAY AND THEN BOOM THAT STRANGE SOUND AND THE STRONG IDLING VIBRATION CAME BACK. SO, INSTEAD OF TURNING AROUND TO GO HOME, I TOOK IT TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP WERE I BOUGHT IT FROM. AFTER RUNNING TESTS OR WHATEVER THEY DID, I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I WASN'T BACK THERE; THEY TOLD ME IT'S THE THROTTLE BODY. THEY EVEN TOLD ME THEY JUST FINISHED PRICING ONE AND TOLD ME THE CRAZY HIGH AMOUNT TO FIX IT. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANYONE ELSE BUT I DON'T HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY TO PUT INTO FIXING THIS. SO YEAH, I WAS WITHOUT A VEHICLE BUT YET WITH A VEHICLE PAYMENT. ACCORDING TO THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART, IT HAS A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE IN THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, CHEVY REFUSES TO COVER THIS PART AS PART OF THEIR POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY OR AT LEAST DO A RECALL ON IT. THE "POWER REDUCED" CONDITION CAUSED BY THIS PART FAILURE IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU ARE TURNING IN A BUSY INTERSECTION OR ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, AND IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE, THERE WILL BE INJURIES OR FATALITIES BECAUSE OF IT. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Mar 2, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AS THE REDUCE SPEED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 2, 2015
UPON LEAVING THE HOME DRIVEWAY, AS THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE INFORMATION STATION FLASHED THE WARNING "STABILITRAC / POWER REDUCED". THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVE-ABLE, BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST THE FIRST TRANSMISSION GEAR. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK HOME, I RESTARTED IT, AND THE SAME WARNING WAS DISPLAYED IN THE INFORMATION STATION. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO IDLE VERY ROUGHLY AND EMIT THICK BLACK SMOKE. ALL INDICATIONS FROM INTERNET SOURCES POINT TO A BAD THROTTLE BODY, WHICH WAS LATER CONFIRMED BY THE CAR DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART, IT HAS A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE IN THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, CHEVY REFUSES TO COVER THIS PART AS PART OF THEIR POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY. THE "POWER REDUCED" CONDITION CAUSED BY THIS PART FAILURE IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU ARE TURNING IN A BUSY INTERSECTION OR ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, AND IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE, THERE WILL BE INJURIES OR FATALITIES BECAUSE OF IT. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 26, 2015
WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 70 ON THE PENNSYLVANIA WEST VIRGINIA BORDER WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ENGINE POWER. I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE AND THERE WERE LARGE TRUCKS BEHIND ME AND BESIDE ME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAM ON AND DISPLAY WAS FLASHING "ENGINE POWER LIMITED" AND "SERVICE STABILITRAK". THERE WAS NO POWER FROM THE ENGINE. I QUICKLY BEGAN TO REDUCE SPEED AND HAD TO PUT MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON AND COAST TO A SAFE STOP. I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY UNTIL I GOT HOME (30 MILES). THE NEXT DAY IT DID THE SAME THING AND I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS I AM NOT COMFORTABLE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD THROTTLE BODY
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 24, 2015
I WAS DRIVING IN THE SNOW AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE CAR DECELERATED TO APPROX 20 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, THE SUV STARTED SHAKING AND THE REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE POP UP WAS DISPLAYED. THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE THROTTLE SENSOR DUE TO A SHORT. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME AS GOING FROM 65 TO 20 WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. THIS LIMP HOME/FALLBACK MODE SEEMS SORT OF ILL CONCEIVED ESPECIALLY ON ROADS ABOVE 30 MPH. *JS
Air bags, Seat belts, Feb 24, 2015, crash
LARGE PICKUP TRUCK WITH SNOW PLOW RAN STOP SIGN AT INTERSECTION, SNOW PLOW BLADE HIT LEFT SIDE/LEFT FRONT OF CAR, AT SPEED OF ABOUT 45 MPH. IMPACT FORCED CAR OFF THE ROAD, INTO A PILE OF FROZEN ICE AND SNOW. DAMAGE WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT LEFT FRONT DOOR WAS ALMOST SLICED OFF THE CAR WITH SERIOUS BODY DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT AND LEFT FRONT CORNER. ALL DOORS WERE JAMMED SHUT. NEITHER FRONT NOR SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SEAT BELT ON DRIVER DID NOT TIGHTEN UP EITHER. DAMAGE ALSO TO SEAT FRAME AND DASHBOARD. *JS
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Feb 21, 2015
1.WHILE DRIVING IN NASHVILLE FOR WORK THE FIRST OCCURRENCE STARTED WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MOMENTS LATER CHECK TRACTION CONTROL WARNING POPPED UP AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER A REDUCED ENGINE POWER NOTIFICATION AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. WENT FROM 55 TO 30 MPH IN SECONDS. I HAVE NO CLUE HOW THIS DID NOT CAUSE A WRECK IN THE HEAVY TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM ([XXX] IN CLARKSVILLE, TN) AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A LOOSE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT THEY FIXED IT. 2.4,000 MILES LATER WHILE WORKING ALL THE SAME MESSAGES POPPED UP AND THE CAR COMPLETELY STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART ON A BUSY BYPASS. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND I PAID TO HAVE IT TOWED. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY AND A HOUSING DUE TO IT BEING DESTROYED. IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY AGAIN AND THEY SERVICED IT FOR FREE. 3.VEHICLE RAN GREAT FOR 3600 MILES AND AGAIN THE SAME MESSAGE SEQUENCE OCCURRED. THE CAR FORTUNATELY CONTINUED TO RUN AND I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I INSISTED IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THAT I WANTED TO TRADE IT IN IMMEDIATELY. 2 HOURS LATER THEY OFFERED ME $7,000 UNDER BLUE BOOK BECAUSE OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. THIS WAS VERY FUNNY OF COURSE SINCE IT IS CHEVROLET AND THE DEALERSHIPS FAULT FOR SELLING SUCH A LEMON. I TOLD THEM IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. TO FIX IT AGAIN FOR FREE AND I WOULD PICK IT UP. DEALERSHIP CALLED NEXT DAY. SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IT WAS OUT OF OIL AND THAT CAUSED SAFETIES TO KICK IN AND THAT CREATED THE PROBLEM. I ASK HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE YOU CHANGED MY OIL 3600 MILES AGO. 4.LAST WEEK (AGAIN 3800 MILES LATER) THE CAR PRODUCED ALL OF THE SAME MESSAGES AND STALLED ON THE SAME BUSY BYPASS. THIS TIME I HAD MY (XXX)YEAR OLD AND (XXX) YEAR OLD IN THE CAR. THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55 SO OF COURSE TRAFFIC REGULARLY RUNS 60 MPH. I WAS STRANDED WITH MY CHILDREN ON 20 DEGREE WEATHER WITH NO HEAT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TRPARTS 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).
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Feb 18, 2015
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 7 YEAR OLD SON AND 15 YEAR OLD NEPHEW ON A 35 MPH BUSY STREET WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL LOCK ON ME I COULDN'T MOVE THE LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR COMING AT THE MOMENT, AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURN IT BACK UP. AFTER THAT I IT STARTED UP AGAIN AND NOTHING SEEM TO BE WRONG UNTIL THE ENGINE LIGHT TURN ON AND I CONTINUED ON MY WAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ON THE DASH BOARD IT SAID STABILITY CHECK/LOST ENGINE POWER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF ON ME. I COULDN'T MOVE TO FROM LANES TO AVOID CAUSING AN ACCIDENT LUCKILY THE VEHICLES ON BACK OF ME NOTICE MY VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN AND THEY WHERE ABLE TO MISS HITTING MY VEHICLE. I REALLY DO WANT SOMETHING DONE TO FIX THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I COULD OF CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH THAT SUDDEN STOP AND ALL BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE POWERING OFF. I BELIEVE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE A.S.A.P. BEFORE ON OF ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE PUTTING THEIR COMPLAINS END UP DEAD OR CAUSING A DEADLY ACCIDENT. I SURE DON'T WANT MY FAMILY TO BE IN DANGER IN ANY TYPE OF WAY, ESPECIALLY NOT IN A VEHICLE THAT I KNOW IS MALFUNCTIONING AND FEELING HELPLESS BECAUSE NOTHING IS BEING DONE. I HOPE MY COMPLAIN HELPS EVEN MORE TO GET THIS ISSUE FIX A.S.A.P. *TR
Engine, Feb 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REDUCED POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. ....UPDATED 04/23/15 *BF UPDATED 9/22/2017*CN