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.
Fuel system, Diesel, Mar 7, 2011
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ON 2011 CHEVY EQUINOX 4 CYLINDER LEAKS AND CONTAMINATES ENGINE OIL WITH FUEL. *TR
Electrical system, Feb 24, 2011
2011 CHEVY EQUINOX BATTERY FULLY DISCHARGED. CAR HAS 1300 MILES ON IT. CAR WAS IN GARAGE FOR TWO DAYS BEFORE STARTING. DEALERSHIP RECHARGED BATTERY AND DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER, SALES PERSON DOES NOT RETURN CALLS. GM ONLINE CUSTOMER SERVICE ONLY SENT AUTO REPLY WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM AND ON THE REPLY NAMED ME AS "FRANK", NOT MY NAME AT ALL. IT TOOK THREE TRIES TO JUMP START THE CAR. *TR
Steering, Feb 23, 2011
ON 2/21/11, I WAS OPERATING MY 2010 CHEVY "EQUINOX" ON I-95. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR AND HALF START I BEGAN TO HAVE STEERING PROBLEMS. TRAVELING AT A SUSTAINED SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70MPH I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STICKING, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PASS A SLOWER VEHICLE. THE LONGER I TRAVELED, THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE NOTICEABLE. THIS SITUATION CONTINUED FOR AT LEAST FOUR HOURS, UNTIL I LEFT THE INTERSTATE AND ENTERED A SECONDARY HIGHWAY, WHERE THE SPEED WAS SLOWER AND MORE TRAFFIC, WHICH REQUIRED MORE MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS SITUATION KIND OF CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD 26,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN OPERATED IN THIS TYPE OF DRIVING NUMEROUS TIMES. IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO "STICK" AT SLOWER SPEEDS OR IN TRAFFIC. BUT I FEEL IT COULD CATCH AN INDIVIDUAL OFF GUARD, WHO MAY NOT BE AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP (2/22/11) THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM NOR DID THE COMPUTER INDICATE SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET/GMC VIA PHONE AND E-MAIL. THEIR RESPONSE EACH TIME LEFT ME WITH THE IMPRESSION THEY APPRECIATED THE INFORMATION. I'VE INDICATED TO THEM THEY HAVE A SLEEPER WITH THIS ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE OR IF THEY HAD A PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS A PROBLEM "A SLEEPER". AND ACCORDING TO THE WEB I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS A PROBLEM, WHICH COULD LED TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
Electrical system, Feb 22, 2011
I PURCHASED A 2011 CHEV. EQUINOX ON 1/14/2011 AND THE BATTERY KEEPS GOING DEAD ON ME WHILE IT SITS IN MY GARAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW. IT HAS 623 MILES ON IT. I DON'T DRIVE IT EVERY DAY BUT IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN I OPEN THE BACK HATCH AND CLOSE IT. I MAKE SURE IT IS SHUT TIGHT AND ALSO THAT NO LIGHTS ARE LEFT ON. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM AND HE SAID TO TAKE IT TO A CHEV. DEALER AND HAVE THEM CHECK THE BATTERY AND ALSO RUN A PERASTATIC DRAW TEST ON IT. THE ONE DEALER I CALLED DID NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN DOING THIS AS HE STATED HE HAD NO OPENINGS EXCEPT THE FOLLOWING WEEK. WHEN I PLANNED ON TAKING IT IN THE BATTERY WAS AGAIN DEAD AND I AM NOW CHARGING IT UP AGAIN. I REALLY WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO IT. I HAVE A 2006 SILVERADO AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT. I ALSO HAD A 2004 BUICK LESABRE THAT GAVE ME THE SAME PROBLEM AS MY EQUINOX. IF THEY WERE NOT DRIVEN EVERY DAY OR SO THE BATTERIES WENT DEAD. NO DEALER COULD FIND THE PROBLEM WITH MY BUICK SO I GOT RID OF IT. ALSO THE EQUINOX SEEMS TO HESITATE BEFORE IT SHIFTS INTO ANOTHER GEAR. *TR
Other or unspecified, Feb 21, 2011
NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE OR MILEAGE VEHICLE MESSED UP FIRST TIME. WE BOUGHT IT ON JANUARY 19, 2011, MESSED UP WITHIN FIRST FEW DAYS OF HAVING IT. IT'S HAPPENED TWICE, WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED, BUT IN DRIVE (EX. RED LIGHT), THEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL IT WILL EITHER NOT GO AT ALL, OR BARELY GO AND THEN NOT GO ANY FURTHER. HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SHUT OFF, THEN TURN CAR BACK ON TO MAKE IT WORK RIGHT. TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES, THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, OR ANY LIGHTS AT ALL. CONTACTED GM ALSO, THEY ARE NOT MUCH HELP EITHER, SAY WE HAVE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BEFORE TAKING ANY FURTHER STEPS. DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR, I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN. THEY HAVE BEEN WITH ME BOTH TIMES IT HAS MESSED UP. THE FIRST TIME WE WERE STRANDED BETWEEN TWO LANES OF ON COMING TRAFFIC.
Air bags, Seats, Feb 1, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR TURNED OFF WHILE A PILLOW WAS POSITIONED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800. UPDATED 3/14/11*CN THE DEALER SUSPECTED THE SEAT WAS HEAT SENSITIVE. UPDATED 04/25/11
Structure, Dec 9, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO CONTROL FUNCTIONS WERE NOT ACCESSIBLE WHILE DRIVING OR BEING RESTRAINED BY THE SEAT BELT. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO AGREED TO PROVIDE AN AFTERMARKET CONTROL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 700.