2017 Chevrolet Equinox
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 273 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 21 Equinox model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 18 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 14 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
273 reports, newest first.
Engine, Jan 21, 2025
When I was exiting the expressway, my car suddenly stopped without any warning. I managed to restart it, but after driving just a few feet, it stalled again. I was able to restart it once more, but this time I could hear a knocking noise coming from the engine. I initially thought it couldn't need oil since I had an oil change just the previous week. I drove to a nearby gas station to check the oil level, and although the oil gauge indicated 91%, I found there was no oil in the engine. I added two quarts to get a few blocks to my destination. However, I soon noticed oil leaking out. I decided to have my car towed to a Chevy dealership, where I was informed that I had a blown rear main seal caused by a faulty PCV system. I was told that this situation was dangerous, especially since it occurred on the expressway. The repair cost over $3,000. I contacted GM to see if they could assist me with cost but was told only after I got the issue fixed they wouldsee what they could do. I've also noticed that many other 2017 Chevy Equinox owners have reported similar problems online. Could you please look into this?
Engine, Jan 21, 2025
I am having this same issue with my 2017 Equinox as stated in the below information. It currently only has 58390 miles. I have already paid over 700 to try and fix and now they are telling me it is going to be another $5040.00.I feel like this should be covered by the class action lawsuit. The lawsuits against General Motors allege that the 2.4-liter EcoTech engines found in model year 2010-2017 Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain SUVs burn excessive amounts of oil. The safety risk posed by the apparent defect is substantial, the lawsuits claim, given that an engine operating without sufficient oil could wear down and fail prematurely, even during the course of normal operation, due to friction. According to the lawsuits, General Motors, for its part, actively concealed from consumers that its Equinox and Terrain vehicles suffered from an oil consumption defect. Worse, the suits say, GM allegedly failed to offer vehicle owners and lessees any help by way of repairs or recalls.
Engine, Jan 16, 2025
Oil leak caused by insufficient ventilation and excessive oil burning caused rear main seal and timing chain belts to fail. Oil warning systems were too late in warning about problem until engine stalled out and all oil was consumed, causing engine failure. No low oil warnings came up until minutes after the initial engine shutdown. Research has shown that this has been a known chevy problem since 2017, with a recall being issued earlier on but no known recall now. Dealer has confirmed issues and also that the engine design is flawed and leads to oil burning excessively
Engine, Jan 12, 2025
The PCV Valve froze last week causing pressure to build up and blew the rear seal. All the oil leaked out and caused a grinding noise and the vehicle shutoff on its own. This I have seen is an ongoing problem with the Chevy Equinox. I was quoted $3800 from the dealer to repair.
Power train, Jan 11, 2025
Majority of the oil leaked out of the vehicle, the low oil light never came on. Car was towed to the shop after I was told not to drive it, as the engine will most likely seize up. The shop found that the rear main crankshaft seal was blown out and leaking to access crank case pressure due to a PCV orifice plugged, not letting the engine vent.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was a loud sound coming from the exhaust and there were exhaust fumes entering the cabin of the vehicle while starting the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.
Engine, Jan 7, 2025
REAR MAIN SEAL GONE BAD DUE TO ENGINE DEFECT NOTED IN GM SERVICE BULLETIN PIP5093C WHICH IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE ENGINE.
Engine, Dec 31, 2024
Oil leak caused by insufficient ventilation and excessive oil burning caused rear main seal and timing chain belts to fail. Oil warning systems were too late in warning about problem until engine stalled out and all oil was consumed, causing engine failure. No low oil warnings came up until minutes after the initial engine shutdown. Research has shown that this has been a known chevy problem since 2017, with a recall being issued earlier on but no known recall now. Dealer has confirmed issues and also that the engine design is flawed and leads to oil burning excessively
Engine, Dec 26, 2024
VEHICLE STALLED WHEN DRIVEN OR STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. ABNORMAL NOISES COMING FROM ENGINE. WHEN ENGINE OIL WAS CHECKED, NO VISIBLE OIL WAS AVAILABLE IN THE DIPSTICK. INSERTED DIPSTICK A COUPLE OF TIMES TO ENSURE CORRECT MEASUREMENT. EXTREMELY LOW OIL LEFT IN VEHICLE. VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE BURNING OIL. DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES READ BY OBD2 TOOL WERE: P0011,P0191,P228D,P0089 AND P0014. WHEN INVESTIGATING ONLINE, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW BEING IGNORED BY THE OEM.
Air bags, Dec 2, 2024, crash
The contact owned a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while stopped in traffic, he was involved in a rear end crash. The contact stated that the vehicle was pushed forward by the impact into the rear end of another vehicle. The contact stated that the rear end of the vehicle was crushed in to the rear wheel wells, and the front end of the vehicle, the hood, front bumper, and grill were also crushed back into the front wheel wells. The contact stated that the front air bags had not deployed after being pushed into the rear of the other vehicle. The contact was not sure what happened to the other two vehicles. The contact stated that the Police were called and EMS was also on scene. The contact stated that a Police report was filed. The contact stated that he was not transported to the hospital, but later had been taken by a friend to seek medical attention. The contact stated that the jolt of the impact had caused a concussion. Additionally, there were some bruising from the seat belt to the left shoulder. The contact stated that after the crash the seat belt failed to retract and the issue might be due to a sensor failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later declared a total loss by the Insurance Company. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
Engine, Nov 8, 2024
Our 2017 Chevy Equinox, engine 2.4l, is using excessive oil. Doing research it sounds like this is a known well known problem. what is Chevrolet doing to fix this issue?
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 24, 2024, fire
Driving down a 4 lane busy highway. Going 65 when the car made a pop sound. We pulled over. Car caught on fire 5 mins after we were out
Engine, Sep 27, 2024
Had car over 5 years from 11/2019 to current and had no issues at all. No check engine lights, nothing, and kept up on all routine maintenance. Car started up just fine drove on interstate from about 10 miles came to my exit and vehicle turned off and tried to restart itself. Car never started again. After getting it towed home replaced the started and that wasn’t the issue towed it again to Firestone they could tell me what the problem was because they don’t do engine work. Finally took it to a Chevy dealership who stated the timing chain broke and we need a whole engine replacement for $9600. Now we are stuck without a vehicle because of know issues GM AND Chevy have been aware of.
Engine, Aug 15, 2024
Car is 7 years old and only 65,900 miles (purchased new and oil changed every 4000 mi) when timing chain noise started - approx April 2024. Chevy dealer in area and independent mechanic could not find the issue and diagnosed as exhaust sound though Chevy has known issues like this with 4 cylinder engines). Car was traded Aug 2024 (has since been sent to auction due to unknown engine damage) and discovered upon trade it had catastrophic engine failure. For months car was driven at times with small children when engine could have seized up and caused a crash. No engine lights or indication of an issue other than diesel engine sound when car was running.
Other or unspecified, Apr 24, 2024
1.What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? •The vehicle purchased from UTICA PREOWNED, a 2017 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LT with VIN [XXX] , experienced a complete failure of the engine system. It is available for inspection upon request. 2.How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? •The failure of the engine system in the vehicle posed a significant safety risk as it rendered the vehicle inoperable. This could have resulted in potential accidents or breakdowns, endangering both my safety and the safety of others on the road. 3.Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? •The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. However, the vehicle’s condition has been confirmed as non-operational by the auction from which it was sourced. 4.Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? •The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. However, it has been inspected by the auction where it was purchased, confirming its non-operational condition. 5.Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? •There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms indicating the failure prior to the purchase. The vehicle was represented as being in good working condition by [XXX] during the negotiation process. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 15, 2024
I bought my 2017 Chevy equinox around October or November of 2018. Since owning this car I have had nothing but problems with the oil. The oil had been burning at such an excessive rate that GM finally stated they would need to replace the engine! I have continued to change the oil before it need to be changed due to it burning so quickly. After the engine was replaced I informed GM of the loud noises and informed them 3 weeks after they replaced everything that the oil was again empty! They are now ignoring me and won’t do anything further! I am a single mother of 3 kids trying to make ends meet and I bought a car they knew and have known has oil consumption issues which has caused my car to have major issues. The car randomly can to a full stop while I was driving and I am so lucky I wasn’t going 80 miles an hour because it would of killed me all because the car had burned the oil just 2 weeks after an oil change! GM continues to ignore me and will not replace the car or fix anything! I started having issues in August of 2019 and they replaced the engine on jul 14 2022 and I am certain this car is not going to make it much longer it has ac and heat problems as well again all started after replacement and still have oil issues
Engine, Apr 9, 2024
On 2-11-24 a light came on about system reset plus speed reduced to 20. I drove home 4 miles. Called Chevy Corp. Told needs to be checked. Dealership said if drivable come in.Light was safety to get off Rd or to garage. Timing chain slipped and chewed up teeth spreading metal everywhere and killed motor. No warning. It's a known prob with Equinox as I have seen class action lawsuits. Advisor even said need another lawsuit to solve it. Tried going thru insurance but advisor said normal wear and tear. Chevy dealership or corp will not help or give me a rental car. $10300 to get a refurbished motor and hope it doesn't happen again. Same car burns oil had sensor issues on block and every 1-2 years battery dies. Paid 65 to replace it one time under warranty. Timing chain doesn't slip they break to stop car. Advisor says a few mechanical issues caused it. To me it shouldn't do that if made rt. I could have been in an accident if on highway. Insurance won't cover under comp part of policy yet if hit and totaled it's paid.A diff garage said belt or chain shouldn't need replacement until 100k miles. I only have 77k.
Steering, Power train, Engine, Apr 4, 2024
I am writing to address a critical issue involving my 2017 Chevrolet vehicle, which poses a significant safety hazard. I purchased this car from Faulkner Subaru in Bethlehem in 2022. The specific component failure relates to the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system, particularly the lack of a traditional PCV valve and the presence of a fixed orifice vacuum port in the intake manifold. This component is available for inspection upon request. The safety of myself, my passengers, and other road users was compromised due to the sudden and significant oil leakage caused by the malfunctioning PCV system. This not only endangered our safety but also posed a serious risk to others on the road. While the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, it is a well-documented issue with ongoing litigation against Chevrolet. However, there are currently no active recalls addressing the problem. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The incident occurred suddenly while driving, with the strong smell of burning oil and subsequent oil leakage being the first indications of a problem. Your immediate attention to this matter and intervention on behalf of affected consumers is crucial. I urge Chevrolet to address this safety concern through a formal safety recall and to take responsibility for rectifying this manufacturing defect.
Other or unspecified, Apr 4, 2024
While driving everything went blank on my dashboard even radio screen then steering wheel locked up on me for maybe 1-2 seconds then that’s when I got a quick flash come on dashboard and said service power steering or steering wheel. And quickly went away. This could have risked me and my 2 year old toddler life. I took my car back to dealership Lexus of Dayton but they said there was nothing showing on my dashboard. I told them that it went away. So they suggested to take it to a Chevy dealership because it may be cheaper to have it put on a diagnostic because they would charge me 189.00 to do so. Which I feel I shouldn’t have to pay for.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 24, 2024
While I was driving the rear main seal went out and I lost all my oil. Luckily I was close to home,could have blown my motor. This is a 1500.00 to a 2500.00 fix. This happened around feb.26 2024 and my car is still sitting I'm my drive until I can save up the money to fix it. Also the few places I have called around to fix it have had other equinoxes in for the same thind,22 that I know of.
Engine, Mar 18, 2024
I was driving when my car started knocking. I pulled over on the highway and noticed oil all over the undercarriage of the vehicle. I immediately drove to the dealership and had the mechanics take a look. They came back and said, "The rear main seal was leaking due to a plugged PCV port that froze because of the cold weather. This caused high crankcase pressure to build, which blew out the rear main seal." Looking online, I found that this appears to be a common problem. The dealership said they could fix it by drilling the hole in the PCV port bigger, but there is currently no recall on this issue. Just to replace the seal, they are charging $2500, with an additional few hundred dollars to enlarge the PCV port. Thankfully, I was able to pull over and get it to the dealership. I can only imagine how bad things could have been if I hadn't been in a relatively safe spot.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Mar 13, 2024
See attached document for complaint
Engine, Feb 29, 2024
I was driving my vehicle when it started putting at a red light. I was close to my place of employment so I drove it the few blocks there and parked it. When I went to start it on my lunch break I heard a bunch of rattling under the hood and it wouldn’t drive. I checked the oil and realized All of the oil had leaked out.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 5, 2024
My son was driving and all of a sudden the check engine light came on, it got really loud and stalled out while he was driving. Luckily he was on a road with a low speed limit. If this had happened on the highway it could have been extremely dangerous. He is a 16 year old new driver. We took it in and were told the rear main seal blew and we need a new engine. Apparently this is a know issue with this car. We are now in the process of installing a new engine on a car we have taken very good care of with less than 100,000 miles and still has a car payment. There were no prior warnings and the issue was confirmed by the dealer.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 2, 2024
Car started to leak oil, took it for repair was told it has a pcv valve issue, that can lead to main seal failure. This is a 13 hour repair, at a cost of approximately $2500.00 This issue can happen again, and especially in cold weather. So even if you get it repaired this pcv/valve issue can cause main seal failure again. From Mechanic Report: •Finding: .Other engine oil leak issue •Recommendation: See technician notes below •Technician's Notes: Rear main seal leaking. Lower oil pan very likely leaking as well. PCV system failing caused Excessive engine pressure which in turn caused rear main to fail. There is a GM TSB specifically for this issue. Without repairing PCV, seals will fail again. Repairing PCV system will require intake and valve cover removal. •Full recommendation: •-Remove valve cover and clean pcv passages •-Remove intake, replace pcv valve, and clean pcv passages. •-Replace rear main seal •-Replace oil pan seal My vehicle mileage is Odometer 68,201mi so I am out of the warranty window.