2012 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 685 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 16 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
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
Tires, pressure monitoring and regulating systemsOct 19, 2011
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 18, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 6, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM" (TPMS). THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ILLUMINATE THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WHEN THE PRESSURE IN A TIRE IS 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE. ON THESE VEHICLES, THE LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL THE TIRE PRESSURE IS MORE THAN 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE.
UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH. THE RESULTING CRASH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN ALSO RESULT IN PREMATURE OR IRREGULAR WEAR, POOR HANDLING, AND POOR FUEL ECONOMY.
GM DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 9, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Campaign 11V511000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
361 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Sep 15, 2014
I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR HAS ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS DONE THE SAME THING THAT THEY ARE RECALLING ALL OTHER GM CARS FOR. FIRST TIME IT TOTALLY SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. ON SUBSEQUENT INCIDENCES IT WAS AS I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BEFORE BACKING UP. THIS ALSO HAPPENED ONCE WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. *TR
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Sep 12, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000..UPDATED 09/ 30/14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO BREAK FREE AND CONTINUED MOVING ABOUT TWO INCHES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN HE FINALLY STOPPED, HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. UPDATED 10/08/14
Engine, Aug 29, 2014
I'M NOT SURE A TIME FRAME BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ONCE A MONTH UP TO A FEW TIMES A MONTH. WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED MY CAR TURNS OFF, IT STARTED BACK UP BUT I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 20, 2014
SES, AIR BAG STABILITRAK AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. AUTO REDUCED POWER DOWN TO IDLE. WHEN TURNED OFF AND RE-STARTED, POWER RETURNED TO NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES SINCE PURCHASED NEW. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE FUEL SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE, REQUIRING THE GAS TANK TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE SENSOR. ALSO, AIRBAG SYSTEM INOPERABLE TWICE SINCE NEW, WITH SENSORS BEING REPLACED TWICE. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 27,000 MILES, STILL HAS BUMPER TO BUMPER AND POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND IS BEING PROCESSED THROUGH AN ATTORNEY FIRM APPLYING THE LEMON LAW. GM HAS MADE TWO LOW OFFERS. NEGOTIATIONS ARE STILL PENDING. OWNER HAS LOST ALL INTEREST AND TRUST IN VEHICLE. *TR
Engine, Jun 9, 2014
AS A WAS DRIVING INTO PARKING LOT, MY ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE BACK INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. I ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED SINCE IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jun 8, 2014
DRIVING SLOWLY THE ENGINE AND ENTIRE ELECTRIC SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN AND THE CAR JUST TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEN YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK AND START THE CAR BACK UP AND THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR
Electrical system, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Engine, May 9, 2014
I FILED A DIFFERENT REPORT EARLIER FOR THE SAME VEHICLE. NOW THE VEHICLE IS STARTING ON ITS OWN, IF THE KEY IS LEFT IN THE IGNITION WHEN YOU TURN IT OFF, ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO 1 MINUTE LATER THE CAR WILL START WITH NO ONE BEHIND THE WHEEL. IT WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO START UNTIL YOU PULL THE KEY OUT. IT IS JUST THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, NO KEY CHAIN HANGING FROM IT. LAST WEEK APR 29,2014 THE CAR STARTED AND RAN FOR 10 SECOND WITH THE IGNITION OFF. HOW LONG BEFORE THE VEHICLE JUMPS INTO GEAR AND RUNS SOMEONE OVER WITH NO ONE BEHIND THE WHEEL? I FOUND OUT THAT THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT INVESTIGATE ANY REPORT UNLESS YOU PAY $50.00 PLUS, WHATEVER ELSE THEY WANT FOR IT. *TR
Engine, Apr 22, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 21, 2014
THE 2012 CHEVY EQUINOX STALL CONSTANTLY BELOW 30 MPH. IT STALLS AT LEAST 2 TO 3 TIMES TRYING TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE TO MOVE IT 10 FEET. THE IDLE STARTS OFF SMOOTH BUT WITHIN 10 SECONDS THE EQUINOX STARTS IDLING ROUGH AND JERKING, THEN IT STALLS. WHEN STOPPED AT STOP LIGHT THE EQUINOX JERKS BACK AND FORTH, WHEN I GIVE IT GAS TO GO, THE EQUINOX JERKS FORWARD AND USUALLY DIES ON ME. IT BURNS A LARGE AMOUNT OF GAS AND OIL, I HAVE TO REFILL THE OIL UP AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL MYSELF AND FOUND THE OIL IS SATURATED WITH METAL FILINGS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE BECAUSE OF A DEAD CELL. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE DUE TO A BLOW-OUT AT 24,000 MILES AND DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE IT, SAYING I HIT SOMETHING AND IT COULD NOT HAVE BLOWN OUT. THE ENTIRE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN OUT AND THE LIGHTS FLICKER IN THE CUP HOLDERS. THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS WHEN OUT FOR AT LEAST 5 DAYS AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN WITH NO REPAIR OF THE SYSTEM. THIS IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE CONSIDERING, I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO STALL DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. A RECALL IS MANDATORY FOR FULL REPLACEMENT!!!! *TR
Engine, Apr 30, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 9, 2012
WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT SOMETIMES THE ENGINE TRIES TO CUT OUT, AND THE CAR JERKS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO STAY CRANKED. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS A GM TERRAIN AND HERS DOES THE SAME THING. WHEN TURNING THERE IS A KNOCKING IN THE STEERING. THE SPEAKERS HAVE A RATTLING SOUND LIKE THEY ARE BUSTED, BUT IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL OF THE TIME. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER, BUT OF COURSE THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, THE CAR NOW HAS 23,000 AND IT STILL HASN'T BEEN FIXED. (THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2011 WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR). *TR