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.
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 22, 2021
CAR KEEPS DYING WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, STOP SIGNS, STOP LIGHTS ECT. IDLES VERY ROUGHY, AND IS VERY LOUD. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON.
Engine, Apr 19, 2021
NOT LONG AFTER MY LAST OIL CHANGE, MY 2011 CHEVY EQUINOX STARTED A TICKING SOUND UPON ACCELERATION WHICH WORSENED TO A LOUD KNOCKING. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR GARAGE AND TOLD THE MECHANIC WHAT WAS HAPPENING. AFTER HEARING THE ENGINE KNOCKING, HE SHUT THE CAR OFF AND PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE OIL. IT WAS BONE DRY. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE CHEVY EQUINOX WAS NOTORIOUS FOR ITS OIL CONSUMPTION CAUSING THE ENGINES TO BLOW, AND THAT HE WAS AFRAID MY ENGINE WAS RUINED & WOULD NEED REPLACED. HE PUT FOUR QUARTS OF OIL IN THE ENGINE & THE KNOCKING STOPPED. LUCKILY, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AND I WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE IT. BUT THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS A TIME BOMB, AND THAT BECAUSE OF ITS OIL CONSUMPTION THE ENGINE COULD BLOW AT ANY TIME. WHEN I GOT HOME I RESEARCHED ONLINE REGARDING THE EQUINOX AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR EQUINOX AND HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENGINES. I ALSO READ ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE EQUINOX FOR ITS OIL CONSUMPTION, AND THAT MOST PEOPLE WERE HAVING GREAT DIFFICULTY GETTING GM TO DO REPAIRS, DENYING CLAIMS AND GIVING THEM "THE RUN-AROUND". NOW I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET A DIFFERENT VEHICLE BECAUSE I USED ALL MY MONEY TO BUY THIS EQUINOX. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE AN ENGINE EITHER. I AM AT A GREAT LOSS BEING STUCK WITH THIS "TIME BOMB" THAT GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BUT WON'T FIX. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO & IT HAS 116,000 MILES. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OR ANY PAPERS FROM GM.
Power train, Engine, Apr 14, 2021, crash
I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING ISSUE WITH MY 2011 CHEVY EQUINOX. VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING, IDLE'S ROUGH, AND SOUNDS LIKE A ROUGH. MY VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING.
Steering, Air bags, Service brakes, Apr 13, 2021
MY ABS AND STABILITRACK LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WAS TOLD IT'S A BAD SENSOR AND REPLACE WHEN POSSIBLE. ON THE WAY TO TAKE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, (NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENTED) I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN I DEPRESSED MY BRAKES. IMMEDIATELY THE ABS AND STABILITRACK LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS MORE THAN 1/2' AND MADE A GEAR LOCKING SOUND. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP USING MANUAL DOWNSHIFT AND PUMPING THE BRAKES. WHEN PRESENTING TO MECHANIC, I WAS ADVISED TO ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE. READ THAT AGAIN. I WAS ADVISED TO ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE A BRAKE FAILURE.
Steering, Suspension, Electrical system, Apr 13, 2021
FIRST TIME: MARCH 21 - NJ TURNPIKE. CAR "STABILITRAK ICON" AND SERVICE STABILITRAK" MSG & "TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR" LIGHT, THEN "BRAKE ICON" AND "ABS ICON" WITH "SERVICE POWER STEERING" MSG, THEN "SERVICE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM" MSG - ALL WHILE THE ICONS ARE ON - CAR LOST ALL POWER. CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NJ TURNPIKE AT ALMOST EXIT 18E/W. HAD VEHICLE TOWED, TOOK FIRST TO FIRESTONE A DAY LATER, THE FOUND A CODE THEY SAID NEEDED THE CHEVY COMPUTERS (P069E, U0073, D1231) - TOOK TO CHEVY A WEEK LATER (BELLAVIA CHEVY, RUTHERFORD, NJ), DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NO CODES - COULD BE THE BATTERY. WE CLEANED THE PORTS, CHANGED THE BATTERY. HAD NEW TIRES INSTALLED AT FIRESTONE ON 4/9. 4/9 PICKED UP THE CAR, THIS TIME DRIVING FROM NORTHERN NJ TO BROOKLYN AND THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN, ONLY THIS TIME, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VERRIZANO BRIDGE IN STATEN ISLAND. ALL THE SAME LIGHTS / SYMPTOMS AS ABOVE, LOST ALL POWER. MANAGED TO GET OFF AT THE 92ND STREET EXIT AND INTO A PARKING SPACE - TOWED TO PARENTS HOUSE IN BROOKLYN, MADE APPT W/ CHEVY DEALER FOR MONDAY 4/12 (BAY RIDGE CHEVROLET OF BROOKLYN). VEHICLE IS NOW WITH THEM, AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC - THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND FOR THE FIRST DEALER TO NOT BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE / GET A CODE AND THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN. I'M NOW OVER 500.00 IN DIAGNOSTICS FEES THAT DID NOT FIX ANYTHING. BOTH TIMES WERE HIGHWAY DRIVING, WEATHER CONDITIONS WE GOOD BOTH DAYS.
Air bags, Apr 7, 2021
I HAVE A 'SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT ' GOING OFF ON MY 2011 CHEVY EQUINOX. LIGHT GOES OFF WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING IT
Other or unspecified, Apr 7, 2021
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS THE SPEED SENSOR. IT WAS REPAIRED FOR $463.91. I THEN TRAVELED 31/2 HOURS AWAY FOR A MONTH. THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT AGAIN APPEARED BUT I WAS TRAVELING AND I CALLED TWICE TO THE DEALER SERVICE PERSON AND THERE WAS NO RETURN CALL..WHEN I RETURNED 4 WEEKS LATER I BROUGHT THE CAR IN THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD FOR $585.00 I COULD HAVE THE LEFT REAR WHEEL REPAIRED.FRANKLY I FELT LIKE I WAS BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, I'M 80 YEARS OLD. I REFUSED THEIR OFFER. IN THE PAST I RECEIVED NOTICES OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THE EQUINOX BUT THE DEALER SERVICE PEOPLE DO NOT INFORM, MAYBE BECAUSE THEY ARE ON A COMMISSION PLUS SALARY INCOME.
Engine, Apr 5, 2021
EXCESSIVE OIL USE. BURNS 1 QUART OF OIL PER WEEK. REQUIRES 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 300 MILES. THIS IS GETTING INSANELY EXPENSIVE AND ANNOYING. NO LOW OIL LIGHT COMES ON BUT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES. I NEVER LET THE ENGINE START TO KNOCK BEFORE ADDING OIL, BUT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE THEY GET SUED DRASTICALLY.
Vehicle speed control, Wheels, Service brakes, Apr 3, 2021
MY REPAIR STABILTRAK LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DASH . THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT , IS ON . MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT IS ON . ALL OF SUDDEN WHEN I PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC MY CAR LOSES POWER ON ACCELERATION AND MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGED . I HAVE TO PULL OVER SO I'M NOT REAR ENDED . THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND ON HIGHWAY . THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STABILTRAK/ TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. I ONLY HAVE 89,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE . I SEE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON CHEVY EQUINOX . I'M WORRIED ABOUT BEING KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE MY VEHICLE LOSES POWER WITHOUT WARNING . THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED !
Engine, Mar 25, 2021
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, OIL ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT ALERT WHEN OIL IS LOW. JUST CHECKED OIL DIPSTICK IS BARE AND I HAVE 3000 MILES TO GO BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE. LOW OIL ALERT DOES NOT ALERT TO THE ISSUE THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE OCTOBER 2020. IT WAS ONLY BY CHANCE THAT THIS WAS FOUND, NO WARNING SIGNS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOW ON OIL. LAST OIL CHANGE TOOM TO DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE AND IT WAS STATED THE OIL LEVEL DIDN'T REGISTER ON DIPSTICK.
Engine, Mar 24, 2021
THIS 2011 CHEVY EQUINOX IS PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT (ELLEN BERMAN, ET AL. V. GENERAL MOTORS LLC - CASE NO. 2:18-CV-14371). GM KNEW ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE LACK OF OIL GAUGES, RESULTING IN PISTON WEAR AND FAILURE, CAUSING ENGINES TO SEIZE, YET CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE THEM AS IS FOR YEARS AFTERWARD. HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REBUILT, COSTING ALMOST $4,000. RECEIVED DENIAL OF ANY REIMBURSEMENT FROM ANALYTICS CONSULTING LLC, WHO IS THE SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATOR. VEHICLE IS NOT WORTH SELLING TO ANYONE, NOR WOULD I, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, PUT THIS RUST BUCKET OUT THERE FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE OIL ISSUE. (CONTINUES TO LEAK). GOT UPSIDE-DOWN ON LOAN...HAD TO USE TAX REFUND TO PAY IT OFF. WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR AND LABOR COSTS. IT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR GENERAL MOTORS TO DO. WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GM PRODUCT! I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY YOUNG DAUGHTER, TO WHOM THIS HAPPENED.
Engine, Mar 24, 2021
CAR WAS USING EXCESS AMOUNTS OF OIL YET THE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. I HAD ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. IT HAD BEGUN MAKE A CLANKING/RATTLING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, IT WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY OF OIL AND NO OIL LEAK. IT WAS STATED THAT MY CAR HAD AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE PER SERVICE BULLETIN 15285C.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 14, 2021
I HAVE HAD CONSTANT HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION, HAVE HAD TO REPLACE VVT SOLENOIDS TWICE, TIMING AND BALANCE SHAFT CHAINS HAD TO BE REPLACED, ENGINE MISFIRING. CAN BARELY GO 2 MONTHS WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. ALWAYS SOMETHING WRONG. I'VE LOOKED THIS UP AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THIS ENGINE.
Engine, Feb 14, 2021
OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE WITH THIS ECOTEC 2.4L ENGINE. CONSUMING AT LEAST A QUART OF OIL A WEEK DUE TO FAULTY PISTON RINGS.
Engine, Feb 13, 2021
I HAD GOTTEN AN OIL CHANGE ON SEPTEMBER 4TH 2020. A FEW DAYS LATER I DROVE TO GEORGIA TO PICK UP MY BOYFRIEND THE DAY WE GOT BACK WE STOOD HOME THE ENTIRE DAY THE FOLLOWING DAY I WENT TO GO TURN ON MY CAR AND GO SOMEWHERE THE CAR TURNED ON AND THEN IT IS IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK OFF MY CAR HAS NOT TURNED ON SINCE THEN AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.
Engine, Feb 12, 2021
ICE FORMED IN THE PCV BREATHER TUBE, BLOCKING THE PCV SYSTEM, CAUSING PRESSURE BUILDUP AND OIL TO EXPLODE OUT OF THE OIL DIPSTICK TUBE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THIS ISSUE IS SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED IN GM'S TSB 14882, COVERING THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THE VIN WAS NOT COVERED, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A 2011 EQUINOX WITH A 2.4L ENGINE AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH PCV SYSTEMS FREEZING UP AND CAUSING A WIDE RANGE OF PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY TOW AND REPAIR COSTS.
Engine, Feb 9, 2021
OIL WEAR OUT IN TWO WEEKS N ENGINE BLEW UP.IN THE CITY STREET.
Steering, Power train, Engine, Feb 5, 2021
2.4 LITER ECOTECH ENGINE USED IN 2011 CHEVY EQUINOX IS IN CURRENT RECALL BY GM. GM IS USING VIN NUMBER TO PREVENT RECALL REPAIR TO VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2018 DURING RECALL. LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR WITH SUBSTANTIAL COST UP FRONT. DEALER IS AWARE OF ISSUE WITH VEHICLE FROM CONVERSATION WITH LEAD TECHNICIAN WHO HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DETER ANY REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE TO UP FRONT COSTS ONLY. VIN WILL NOT SHOW RECALL DUE TO GENERAL MOTORS COST OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE.
Engine, Jan 27, 2021
CAR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING SAYING REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND SERVICE SYABILI TRACK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON
Steering, Jan 22, 2021
I HAVE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST 6 POWER STEERING FAILURES WHILE DRIVING IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS (JULY 2020 THRU JAN 2021) THAT ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. FAILURES HAVE HAPPENED FROM 15 MPH TO 60 MPH. ELECTRIC ASSIST SHUTS OFF AND WARNING INDICATOR FOR POWER STEERING SERVICE COMES ON. DO NOT NEED TO BE TURNING IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY OR IN ANY PARTICULAR DIRECTION TO TRIGGER IT. HAPPENED ON HOT DAY IN JULY AND COLD DAY IN JANUARY AND TIMES IN BETWEEN. STEERING, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS, BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT. POWER STEERING CAN USUALLY BE RESTORED BY STOPPING VEHICLE AND TURNING SUV OFF FOR TENS OF SECONDS, SOMETIMES AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. POWER STEERING FUSE SEEMS TO BE FINE. IT SEEMS LIKE GM HAS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE NOT SOUGHT REPAIR YET BECAUSE I CAN'T PRODUCE THE PROBLEM ON DEMAND.
Engine, Jan 18, 2021
NOTICING EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPION WITH OUT WARNING FROM THE CAR'S COMPUTER. THE CAR DOES START TO HAVE OPERATING ISSUES AND WILL CHUG AND TURN IT SELF OFF IF THE OIL DOES RUN LOW BEFORE I CAN CATCH IT. THE ONLY SYSTEM NOTIFICATION FOR THIS IS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NO OIL NOTIFICATIONS APPEAR.
Engine, Jan 18, 2021
VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO PISTON RING WEAR. THIS LEAD TO A BEVY OF OTHER ISSUES, ICLUDING TIMING CHAIN DAMAGE, MANIFOLD DAMAGE, SELENOID DAMAGE, PISTON DAMAGE. DOCUMENTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR UPLOAD DUE TO ORIGINALS BEING WITH CLASS ACTION ATTORNEYS
Engine, Jan 6, 2021
MANY 2011 EQUINOXS HAVE HAD THEIR TIMING CHAIN RECALLS. MINE IS AT 9000 MILES AND NEEDS A NEW TIMING CHAIN
Engine, Dec 31, 2020
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO ENGINE, FUEL PUMP FAILURE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION .
Engine, Dec 28, 2020
THE ENGINE OIL HAS BEEN BURNING EXCESSIVELY HAVING TO PUT OIL IN IT A WEEK AFTER OIL CHANGE THE ENGINE NOW HAS DIED