6.9

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,370
Average Mileage:
70,350 miles
Total Complaints:
18 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (9 reports)
  2. timing belt was changed (5 reports)
  3. after replacing the fuel pump they had to reset the computer (1 reports)
  4. cracked manifold (1 reports)
  5. engine rebuild (1 reports)
  6. replace balance chain (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Chevrolet dealer.

problem #18

Jul 122010

Equinox [2.4L L4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,000 miles

Had purchased vehicle new off the lot. Total price was 33,000. Only drove it for about 6 months when timing chain jumped. I was in the middle of a turn on a busy road right under the street light when it jumped. Only way to keep it running was to go fast, no stops. I luckily made it to the dealer which was about 4 blocks away. I was given a loner vehicle and GM paid under warranty to fix. My dad is a machinist and has his own shop. He worked on Chevy vehicle engines from the dealership in our home town. He said when the timing jumps it warps the pistons.

- yooper01, Abrams, US

problem #17

Dec 042015

Equinox LT 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,565 miles

I purchased my 2010 Chevy Equinox used with 65000km in winter 2015, stylish and very comfortable vehicle. Not until 2-3 months later until I noticed a rather loud ticking and clanking noise coming from my engine I took the car into the shop for an oil change being that I have driven 50-100 km past the suggested kilometers to do an oil change to find out THERE WAS NO OIL!!!!! I have owned several vehicles that Ill drive 1000 km+ past the oil change date and MAYBE the engine would be half a quart low AT THE MOST!!! So now I find myself getting oil changes every 2000km if not adding oil which is F* ridiculous. Not to mention all the other issues like replacing my transmission at 90000km ($5000), replacing throttle body ($500) because my car would just stall while driving in the middle of the road as well as replacing my muffler. Currently I have a NEW set of brakes that squeal like no tomorrow and my check engine light just came on giving me codes to replace 2 camshaft positioning solenoid actuators ($150 a piece) and finally the car it turning into a complete rust bucket. I am going to trade in my equinox and lose money considering I'm around $2000 upside down on my loan. Last thing I want to do is sell this piece sht to someone at a retail price and completely screw them over, so me being the nice guy will give it back to dealer for them to deal with. STAY AWAY FROM THE EQUINOX or any car with the 2.4L Ecotecs.

- Mason R., Essex, ON, Canada

problem #16

Feb 012016

Equinox LTZ V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

Engine is running rough. It's like it wants to stall! Sometimes it feels like it is having a problem shifting to the next gear(transmission). I took it to the dealership in Byron Ga for the recall about the timid chain. They told me it was a quart low on oil. They are doing a oil consumption test to see if it is losing oil somewhere. The technician said they might have to change the rings and Pistons at no charge. GM knows about this problem with many other issues! The will be the last GM I ever buy!

- jshumate, Warner Robins, GA, US

problem #15

Jul 102015

Equinox LX 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles

THIS IS THE WORST CAR I EVER BROUGHT. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS MANY PROBLEM WITH CAR GOT THIS CAR I JULY HAD ISSUES WITH IT EVER SINCE. MY FORD WAS MUCH BETTER THAN THIS AND IT WAS A 2001 WITH OVER 2K MILES JULY TO NOW HAD TAKE IT BACK 5 TIMES KEEP TELLING THEM I KEEP HEARING LOUD NOISE ITS LOUD THESE PEOPLE LOOKING AT ME LIKE I AM CRAZY. ON TODAY ENGINE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ANOTHER LIGHT SAYING ENGINE SPEED REDUCE TRUCK SHAKING AND LOUD. I REALLY THOUGHT CHEVY WAS BETTER THAN THIS. TRUCK ONLY HAVE 87,000 MILES REALLY

- Jennifer G., Lake City, SC, US

problem #14

Jun 152015

Equinox LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,641 miles

The engine was running very loud- I had taken it in and told them one year prior, that I did not like the noise it was making. They told me to get the oil changed. I take care of my car and have had the oil changed religiously. What a load of crap- I also mentioned that it was using a lot of oil. They looked at my like a deer in the headlights-like they wanted to say something but they better not. I knew something was up. I am convinced that they knew it was an issue.

- karll, Glen Carbon, IL, US

problem #13

May 152015

Equinox LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 123,000 miles

Just a pain in the ass, one problem after another and dealership does not know how to fix the problem.

- Curtis D., Dunnegan, MO, US

problem #12

Jul 022015

Equinox LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,048 miles

One day after warranty ran out ARE YOU KIDDING!!! Upon starting, car was loud and sounded like something was rattling..bad manifold, dealer replaced..

- Donna Y., Remsen, US

problem #11

Mar 192015

Equinox LTZ V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,673 miles

Again want to get rid of this piece of crap as soon as possible

- Jerry G., Selah, US

problem #10

Nov 032013

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

I've had 3 timing belts and water pumps replaced before warranty expired. I've also had 2 timing chains replaced before the 100,000 mile warranty. I'm pretty sure my timing chain is going out again, same noises and shaking with a rough start up is occurring. Not sure if chevy will replace these things if its the same problem.

- berhead, Lexington, SC, US

problem #9

Feb 082015

Equinox LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 108,017 miles

My wife says that the engine has been rough since we bought the car in 2010, but it didn't do it very frequently until about six months ago. Recently though, within the last couple of months, the check engine light has been coming on too. When we take it to the dealership, they hook up the computer to diagnose the problem and it won't even produce a code to tall them what the problem is. So, they use the computer to manually turn off the check engine light.

The engine usually doesn't run rough while driving, only while idling. And when it happens and we turn the engine off, it shuts down rough - like an old diesel engine.

My wife took it to the dealership a couple of weeks ago when the engine light was on and they told her that it was completely out of oil, but it wasn't even time for an oil change yet. So, they're currently running an oil consumption test on it. It involves us taking it to them every 1500 miles to have the oil checked. A few days ago my father-in-law checked the oil and it was very low and it had a milky look to it. My wife took it to the dealership right away and they checked the oil while she was inside the building and they told her it was full with no milky color. We can't be positive, but we think they might have put fresh oil in it before.

The dealership always seems to have some kind of excuse when we take it to them. We can't prove anything, but it just doesn't seem like they're being honest with us. We're not sure what to do. A vehicle this new shouldn't be experiencing these kinds of problems. And if it does, then the company aught to be bending over backwards to make it right.

- chice, Tullahoma, TN, US

problem #8

Nov 032014

Equinox LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,678 miles

Very expensive to fixed these variable transmissions.

- Todd T., Bolingbrook, IL, US

problem #7

Oct 082014

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,000 miles

Once again, something all time it seems, I paid CASH in FULL at purchase of brand new car, thought I was getting hassle free vehicle.

- Rachel S., Searcy, AR, US

problem #6

Aug 012013

Equinox LTZ V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

Chevy Equinox started making some rattling noise from the engine and most of the time it's an oil change is what the solution that the car mechanics are doing to reduce the sound.

The oil change is performed before the specified time and also fuel consumption is more and not giving the mileage as expected. Really don't like the van any more but just stuck with it

- ashburn2012, Ashburn, VA, US

problem #5

Jan 162013

Equinox LX 4.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,000 miles

The engine began running rough within 2 months of purchase. I was told that this was how the new gasoline saving engines run. After several visits the timing belt was changed and shortly thereafter so was the Engine. The vehicle still runs as if it is not hitting on all cylinders. I GAVE UP as of TODAY 8/29/2014.

This vehicle is immaculate in how it has been kept up .... but the reality is that this vehicle is trash. Chevrolet should be ashamed they made it and do not honor the repair issues without having to fight and kick every inch of the way.

- Andrew G., Nederland, TX, US

problem #4

Jun 212014

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

I am currently using this vehicle to commute while I make repairs to my personal vehicle. A few weeks ago, it began to periodically (once a week) start rough. If I shut it right back off, it would shut down rough (as in 80s diesel rough), but would then start up normally. The noise coming from the engine compartment has been getting progressively louder (a rattle similar to my Ninja after kicking a rod), and the diesel like start up and shut down has become a permanent trait. For a 4 year old car with mileage still in the 5 digits range, this is absurd. My Mercedes (30 years old and nearly a quarter million miles) still starts and runs smoother than this, and the only reason it needs repairs is because rubber has a life span. If this is what a modern American car is, then I can say for certain that there will never be one in my driveway again.

- Steven V., Highland, CA, US

problem #3

Apr 242014

Equinox LTZ 4- cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

My Nox, started with a revving engine..3/times a day..cold starts,warm starts.. It would bury the tach and then seems to self adjust. The car is at the Dealership for an overnight stay now, they replaced the fuel pump and it still is not fixed, they don't know what it is.. Anybody have answers to this?

The Dealership said it wasn't the throttle body. I have about seven fixes on this car for other issues, my best advise is to always purchase a ext. warranty. Mine has already paid for itself. I was even told I may have bad gas, Not it. We need these complaint boards to help each other. I will post if and when it gets fixed.

Update from Apr 27, 2014: after the reset of the computer and two days later ,so far it seems fixed. They also had to change the oil,as hey said it had some water in it.

- dhanley, Tawas City, MI, US

problem #2

Nov 012011

Equinox 1LT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

I have had my Equinox in the dealership to deal with engine running rough issues since Nov 2011 - a total of about 12 times. I have had the following replaced: timing chains, cam actuator, solenoid, throttle body, fuel pump, etc. Also, the oil monitoring system recall was performed. Basically everything that could go wrong in a 2010 Chevy Equinox 2.4L related to their KNOWN engine issues has gone wrong and been replaced on my vehicle and it STILL doesn't run right. How do we get GM to recall the 2.4L Equinoxes to fix/replace these engines?!?!? I have never had so many big ticket problems with a vehicle ever in my entire life. And to think GM will only stand behind these faulty components up to 120K is really alarming.

- jeverts, Madison Heights, MI, US

problem #1

Apr 022013

Equinox ES

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

I'm not sure on the mileage and dates of all these events without the paperwork on me. The car runs rough off and on since 50,000 miles. It has gotten louder and gas mileage is down also. So much for a "maintenance free car". Every time I have contacted the dealership about issues, I'm always told - " Unless its doing it when you bring it in to us, we can not diagnose it. " Therefore its pointless unless I'm sitting on the side of the road to even bother with taking it in. Don't buy an Equinox!

- crumley, Bertram, TX, US