4.5

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,266 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #7

Feb 242014

Equinox 4-cyl

  • 81,000 miles
I have had problems with my 2011 Chevrolet Equinox since the day I got it but yesterday was the worst. The engine all of a sudden stalled on the highway and I had to pull off the road. I just had it in the shop last week and had the fuel pump and timing chain replaced. I was able to get my car home only able to drive 40 mph. This morning I was going to try to get it to work to be closer to someone who could check the code out on it but as I was going down the road it completely stalled out and I barely got off the road before the engine cut out all together. I have read numerous forums of customer with the same vehicle having the same problem. This is a safety issue and GM needs to address it. The shop is saying that if it's the fuel throttle body which is what I suspect they will not cover it under warranty. From what I understand there was a bulletin put out on this issue and it was covered for awhile on the powertrain warranty but they pulled the bulletin and no longer cover it. I need help. GM knows they have issues with this vehicle but they will not do anything about it.

- Farnham, VA, USA

problem #6

Nov 132013

Equinox 4-cyl

  • 48,000 miles
Check engine light came on, had autozone run on computer, came back code P0011, found recall on code in 2011(11195A), car is doing same thing as recall stated, I called GM and they said it was not part of recall, I explained problem and they would not tell if part was under warranty, all they said was take to dealer. GM told me so ES vins were recalled, but not all, couldn't tell me why this one was not recalled even though it is doing same thing.

- Alexandria, KY, USA

problem #5

Apr 232012

Equinox 4-cyl

  • 27,381 miles
I received a letter from Chevrolet (July 2013) explaining that there are issues with numerous engine parts, particularly the fuel pump and balance chain. Chevrolet stated that they are extending my power train warranty to 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever occurs first. I have had the balance chain replace twice already. I am concerned that the condition with the fuel pump could cause a fire or serious engine damage. The letter from Chevrolet states: "in addition, the fuel pump plunger shaft seal may wear and allow fuel to leak into the crankcase, which would illuminate the malfunction indicator light. This can cause run-on and/or the engine to run rough". I would assume that the engine and oil in the Equinox would reach very high temperatures when they have been operated for a period of time. The introduction of fuel into the crankcase and engine could possibly ignite. Also the failure of the balance chain could cause engine failure under some driving conditions that could leave the car inoperable, causing an accident. I believe Chevy should be held accountable for the defective parts and potential danger their failure could cause. Chevrolet should be directed to issue a recall to replace these defective parts..

- Schaumburg, IL, USA

problem #4

Sep 232011

Equinox

  • 6,590 miles
Concerning 2011 Chevy Equinox 4cyl, on startup, there will be a loud knocking noise, sounds as if there is no oil in the engine, sound lasts from 1-5 seconds then goes away. Most of the times it will do it on first start-up of the day but there have been a few times where it has done it multiple times in the same day. Car has been in the shop 4 times for the same issue, they have replaced the cam actuator and solenoid, which I had to bring back again (#5) because the gasket was seated incorrectly and was leaking oil on my driveway. Service account manager has heard the noise the first time I bought it in and the last time it was in, both times the sound lasted about 1 second, but it was enough that both of us heard it, not as long as the times when starting at home, probably because those were on first start-up of the day whereas the times at the dealership it was either already running or was started a few times that day. They also replaced a high pressure pump insulator cover for a ticking noise that had nothing to do with the knocking noise. Also have mentioned to them that while accelerating (from dead stop at traffic light, going up on-ramps to highways and merging into high-speed traffic), the RPM's will drop down to zero and car almost stalls then it kicks back into gear (up to 6500 rpms), this has happened at least 5 times, and they couldn't duplicate that problem either. I have tried all 3 grades of gasoline and issues were present with all 3. at this point it has already been in 4 times for the same issue and I feel as though one day the engine will have more serious issues because of these issues.

- Blackwood, NJ, USA

problem #3

Oct 162011

Equinox

  • 6,888 miles
I was driving my Equinox out of a parking lot and it stalled, I restarted it, drove it up the road and was going about 30 mph and it stalled again, I turned around back to the parking lot and it happened 2 more times. I have also be getting very poor gas mileage (15-18mph). The car was towed to the dealer and they said they reset the electrical control module because it had errors on it. This has thus far resolved the car from stalling but has not improved the gas mileage.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #2

Aug 142011

Equinox 4-cyl

  • miles
Purchased 2011 Equinox with 4-cyl engine specifically for the listed 32/23 mpg. I drive 30 miles per day back and forth to work, figured I would get around 24-25 mpg for in city highway driving. Instead, I have gotten no better than 21 mpg and usually less. I then drove from Kansas City to Oklahoma city for work, used cruise control most of time. However, it was windy so I figured it wouldn't quite be at 32. However, I was very surprised to only get 22-23 mpg for highway mileage. Very disappointing. The first time I contacted dealer (around 1,800 miles on odometer) service rep explained that the poor gas mileage was due to the change from winter blend gasoline to warm weather gas. As the poor mpg continued, around 3,000 miles I took car to dealer to have oil changed and at that time mentioned poor mpg. The service rep (different rep than previously) told me that the Equinox had a 5,000 mile break-in period when it computes how the car is driven and adjusts for the driver's habits (how would that work if multiple people were driving the vehicle?). any ways, I complained but was told it would get better. Now at 5,500 miles and still getting no better than 19-21 mpg. It should be noted that I generally run in "eco" mode. I have always been a Chevy driver and will continue to be, but I will certainly research the cars better next time because I have noticed a lot of complaints about this same problem on several social type websites.

- Liberty, MO, USA

problem #1

May 032011

Equinox 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
2011 Chevrolet Equinox. Consumer writes in regards to defective vehicle operation and safety the consumer stated the vehicle was returned to the dealer three times, due to it running rough, loss of power, an overwhelming smell of gasoline, a sticky accelerator pedal and the check engine light illuminating. The dealer replaced the high pressure fuel pump, fuel rail pressure sensor and an attempted repair of the PCM and the reprogramming of the tac. The dealer has been unable to resolve the defects.

- Belleville, NJ, USA