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
685 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 10, 2020
ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO I WENT TO START MY EQUINOX WITH THE KEY AND WHEN I PUT IT IN THE IGNITION MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A CITY STREET. THEN THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER I HAD GONE OVER A LITTLE BUMP AND MY DASH STARTED SHOWING UP WITH WARNING LIGHTS SAYING 'SERVICE STABILIZ' AND 'ALL-WHEEL DRIVE OFF'.
Power train, Engine, Jan 6, 2020
BURNING OIL. I GOT AN OIL CHANGE AND WITHIN LESS THAN A MONTH I HAD NO OIL IN MY CAR. NOT USE AND DRIVEN A LOT EITHER.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 22, 2019
ON DEC. 14,2019 WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY PARKWAY IN NEW JERSEY IN THE POURING RAIN, MY WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, MADE ME VIOLENTLY SWERVE OFF OF THE ROAD AND INJURE MY RIGHT KNEE. I AM SUFFERING A KNEE CONTUSION AND POSSIBLE LIGAMENT DAMAGE DUE TO THE SUDDEN IMPACT. I REPORTED THIS COMPLAINT ON DEC. 16, 2019 AND AFTER REVIEWING IT ONLINE, IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE LISTED THAT THERE WASN'T AN INJURY REPORTED; WHICH IS FALSE INFORMATION. I MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I INJURED MY KNEE FROM THE DIRECT MALFUNCTION OF THE WIPERS. I HAVE SINCE VISITED THE ER AND MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 20, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURINGTHE DAY IN HEAVY RAIN. WITHOUT WARNING, BOTH WIPERS STOPPED IN THE UP POSITION. I TRIED TURNING THE WIPERS OFF AND BACK ON AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I TURNED THE WIPERS OFF AND FINISHED THE DRIVE HOME ' FORTUNATELY ONLY A MILE AWAY. COULD BARELY SEE OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BUT DROVE SLOWLY WITH EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON.WHEN I GOT HOME, I LOCATED THE FUSE TO CHECK. IT WAS OK. I THEN TURNED ON THE WIPERS AND COULD HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING BUT THE WIPERS WERE NOT MOVING. I CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER TO GET IT FIXED ' THE NEXT DAY WHEN IT WAS NOT RAINING. FORTUNATELY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME BUT IF IT HAD BEEN RAINING OR SNOWING, IT WOULD HAVE BEN IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT SAFELY TO THE GARAGE TO GET FIXED. IN MY 50+ YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS AS A FAILURE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS IF DRIVING AWAY FROM HOME..
Visibility/wiper, Dec 17, 2019
ON A SNOWY DAY, MY WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD. FORTUNATELY I WAS LESS THEN A MILE FROM THE HOUSE AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR WITH A USED UNIT BUT LESS THAN A MONTH LATER DURING ANOTHER SNOWY/ICY DAY, THE WIPERS BROKE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING LEAVING ME TEMPORARILY STRANDED.. MY MECHANIC JURY RIGGED A BOLT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BUYING YET ANOTHER WIPER MOTOR. I'VE NEVER BOTHER REPORTING THIS THOUGH I HEAR NOW THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND CONSIDER THIS TO BE A A COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE RISK BEING A KNOWN CONDITION.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 16, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE INJURED HER KNEE WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ABRUPTLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS SOUGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-570-384-6752. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 184,319.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 11, 2019
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE BUSY HIGHWAY 1 NEAR PRINCETON, NJ, IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE, CAUSING VISIBILITY TO BE NEARLY NON-EXISTENT AND ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER. THE WIPERS HAVE NOT WORKED AT ALL SINCE, CAUSING ME TO BE UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. I HAD TO RECEIVE A TOW TO THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 5, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, THE WIPERS FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING; HOWEVER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Engine, Dec 3, 2019
CAR STALLS AND CUTS OFF, LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING, EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION EVEN AFTER REPLACING OIL, HARD TO START SOMETIMES.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 2, 2019
WIPERS STOPPED WORKING UNEXPECTEDLY IN A LIGHT RAIN. I CAN HEAR THE MOTOR WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ON BUT THE WIPER BLADES DON'T MOVE. I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CERTAIN MODEL YEARS AND/OR VINS IN CANADA FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY MODEL YEAR OR VIN #. THE CANADA RECALL MENTIONS CORROSION OF THE WIPER ASSEMBLY FROM ROAD SALT AND IMPROPER DRAINAGE.
Other or unspecified, Nov 18, 2019
WE PURCHASED A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX 08/24/2017. IT HAS AN EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE, THE CHEVY GARAGE SAID IT WAS 1/4 OF A QUART FROM BEING COVERED. THE RINGS ARE BAD, REAR MAIN HAS OIL RESIDUE. THE CHEVY GARAGE MONITORED IT EVERY 1000 MILES AND ADDED OIL WHILE DOING SO. WE DID THIS FOR 4000 MILES. THEN WAS TOLD NO COVERAGE. BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT'S A PREEXISTING PROBLEM. WE STILL OWE A LOT OF MONEY FOR A VEHICLE THAT MAY BLOW A REAR MAIN GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. ENGINE BLOWS, LOSS OF OIL ALL OVER, AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
Engine, Nov 15, 2019
MY 2012 CHEVY EQUINOX LT2 WITH A 2.4L 4 CYL, HAS HAD THE SAME CONDITION DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED CHEVY DEALERSHIP, CLEMENTS CHEVROLET IN ROCHESTER, MN. BULLETIN #14882, DESCRIBES THE EXCESSIVE HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THIS VEHICLE, WITH THE PISTONS AND RINGS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, DUE TO RECALL # 16118. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN TO DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED VEHICLE OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG AT THOSE INTERVALS. NOW THE PCV ORIFICE WAS PLUGGED BY MOISTURE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, CAUSING THE MAIN SEAL TO BLOW OUT. THEY ARE TELLING ME IT'S NOT COVERED BY THEIR RECALL, DESPITE GM HAVING THIS ISSUE ON MODELS FROM 2010-2018 YEAR MODELS OF THE CHEVY EQUINOX 2.4L MOTOR. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW, AS OUTLINED BY THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT CURRENTLY BEING DECIDED IN THE COURTS OF FLORIDA, OVER THIS EXACT CASE.
Visibility/wiper, Nov 12, 2019
DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN. SWITCHED WINDSHIELD WIPERS FROM INTERMITTENT TO HIGH. WIPERS CLEARED WINDSHIELD ONCE, THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED ALL THE WAY UP, LEAVING ME COMPLETELY BLIND IN THE DARK IN A HEAVY STORM ON A BUSY FREEWAY. WIPERS WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION. EVENTUALLY PULLED OVER, CHECKED FUSES/RELAYS, ETC. COULD HEAR THE WIPER MOTOR WORKING. PULLED OFF COWL AND FOUND WIPER MOTOR HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THE LINKAGE. WAS ABLE TO TEMPORARILY FIX THIS BY RUNNING A BOLT THROUGH THIS CONNECTION POINT.
Engine, Nov 6, 2019
I HAVE HAD MY ENGINE REBUILT FROM DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM DUE TO OIL DISAPPEARING AND FOUND IT COMING OUT OF MY EXHAUST! SENSE THE REPAIR I HAD TO GO BACK TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND ALSO DO A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. NOW I HAVE OIL COMING OUT OF MY EXHAUST STILL AND AND WHEN I CHANGE MY OIL IT SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE! BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE EVER SENSE I HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR AND I GOT MY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS REPLACED AND IT STILL HAS SAME ISSUES. OBVIOUSLY SENSE I BEEN READING UP ON THESE CARS THERE SHOULD BE SOME RECALL WITH THE ENGINE 2.4 LITER WOULD MAKE LOTS OF OWNERS HAPPY!!!
Visibility/wiper, Oct 31, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED OPERATING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. MIKE CASTRUCCI CHEVROLET (1099 LILA AVE, MILFORD, OH) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Oct 22, 2019
THE CAR STARTED GLITCHING AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE GOING ON AND OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS WERE FLASHING AS WELL. FOLLOWING ALL OF THIS THE MOTOR SHUT DOWN AND I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART IT WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAS SINCE BEEN PARKED AND IF I GO TO START IT AGAIN IT BEGINS WITH THE WIPERS ACTING OWN THEIR OWN AND IF IT DOES START THE MOTOR RUNS VERY ROUGH AND STALLS WITH NO WARNING. ALSO WHILE ALL THIS IS HAPPENING THE THROTTLE PEDAL HAS NO RESPONSE TO THE MOTOR.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 22, 2019
DRIVING AT 40 MPH WITH WIPERS ON HIGH IN TRAFFIC..THE WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED MID WAY ACROSS WIND SHIELD. ..ALMOST WRECKED. PULLED OVER TO SIDE AND WAITED FOR STORM TO PASS..
Visibility/wiper, Oct 22, 2019
WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY IN A STORM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING FOR MY WIFE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, MY 9 YEAR OLD SON AND 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE IN THE CAR. THE 2013 EQUINOX HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME THING BUT IT SEEMS LIKE CHEVY IS WAITING FOR A CASUALTY BEFORE DOING THE RIGHT THING. THERE ARE MULTIPLE CASES OF THIS HAPPENING. HTTP://M.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/EQUINOX/2012/WINDOWS_WINDSHIELD/WIPER_STOPPED_WORKING.SHTML PLEASE DO SOMETHING.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 14, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS THE LIGHTS DIM AND THE RADIO WILL SHUT OFF AND ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASH WILL BIM AND BLINK. WHEN I HAVE THE CRUZ CONTROL ON THE CAR WILL START PICKING UP SPEED, AND ONE POINT I FELT I WAS GOING A LITTLE TO FAST AND WHEN I LOOKED DOWN I WAS DOING 83 MPH AND I HAD THE CRUZE CONTROL SET TO 60 MPH. ANGEL THE DRIVER SEAT WILL MOVE DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE I AM DRIVING. I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS RIGHT. I CALLED THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS MORE LIKELY A FUSE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT. MY TRACKSTION CONTROL GOES OFF BY IT SELF ALSO.
Other or unspecified, Oct 12, 2019
MY WIPERS STARTED DOING INTERMITTENT OPERATING AND IT WAS RAINING AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAY. I WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT.
Other or unspecified, Oct 12, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY WIPERS FELL APART AND THE WIPER TRANSMISSION STOP WORK AND I HAD NO WIPERS AT ALL. I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED OF 60 MILES AN HOUR DURING A WINTER STORM. I HAD NO VISIBILITY AT ALL. I WAS ALMOST KILLED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER WHO WAS TRAILING ME FROM BEHIND.
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 8, 2019
KEY LOCKED IN KEYSWITCH.. CAN'T PUT THE VEHICLE IN ANY GEAR.. STUCK IN PARK..
Electrical system, Engine, Visibility/wiper, Oct 5, 2019
THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT SIDE GOES ON AND OFF, THE STEREO TURNES OFF WHILE LISTENING TO IT AND THE SIGNAL LIGHTS DON'T WORK WHEN THE RADIO TURNS OFF ON ITS OWN ALSO THE REAR VIEW CAMERA TURNS OFF AT THE SAME TIME THE RADIO DOES. THE FRONT AND REAR WIPERS DON'T ALWAYS WORK. THE ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON AND OFF AND THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR COMES ON AND OFF. ALSO ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 27, 2019
AT LEAST EVERY 3 MONTHS TIRED PRESSURE IS OFF THEN A SENSOR THEN THE CAR STARTS TURNING OFF ON ME AND I HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER.
Electrical system, Sep 26, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FAILED TO EJECT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE IN GEAR TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,794.