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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 2
Average Mileage:
56,238 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Chevrolet Equinox engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #47

Apr 192024

Equinox

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought my 2011 Equinox new then in 2013 the gas pedal went to the floor and stuck down on a two lane road and I could not control the speed as we react 90 I shut down the vechical took it to the dealership the next day the chevolet co had the dealership dump the on board computer and then down load a new program this worked until the other day we were coming home from taking another couple to there dentist appointments on the way home the gas pedal sucked right to the floor again the speed rose to the 90 we were on a four lane I had cars behinde me but not in front i keep trying to get the foot up i was afraid if i shut it offf we would get rear ended every one was scared i told them what was going on as the speeds keeped increasing trying to hit the brakes to slow some down and taping on the gas pedal i tried prying the pedal up with my foot and after the third attemp it poped up. I call chevolet they said they were not going to do anything about it I told them this is a big safty issue there commet was the vechical is out of warranty and miles I ony have 103K on it and very well maintained with Birdnow chevorlet great dealership Chevrolet is not taking these gas pedal sticking down serious I read were there are several vechical with this same problem and it will take people getting hurt or killed before something down Thank You

- Monticello, IA, USA

problem #46

Jul 042023

Equinox

  • miles
Accelerator became unresponsive. Had to place car in nutral and back to drive to regain control.

- Uniontown, PA, USA

problem #45

Feb 102022

Equinox

  • miles
Engine Check Light On took in for diagnostic and was told nothing was wrong just over heated. Taken in multiple times. Finally on February 10, 2022 a visual inspection of leak was done to find rear main seal blew out and leaking oil! At which point it was recommended replacing engine. Through a search on 2011 Chevrolet Equinox it was found to be a common problem for this model. Also mentioned was transmission issues with jerky or slippage in gears -??? in Automatic/Manual transmissions combination types! Plus having trouble with speed control revving up, going up and down hills as concerning with gas pedal sticking!

- Fremont, MI, USA

problem #44

Jul 242020

Equinox

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

stability control has come on the engine and it have reduce speed

- Springfield, MA, USA

problem #43

Oct 112021

Equinox

  • miles
Transmission is slipping out of first gear to second, reverse Sticks, hard shifts from first gear to second gear to third gear

- Palmyra, VA, USA

problem #42

Jul 202021

Equinox

  • miles
My car was purchased used at a Chevrolet dealership. I noticed right away that the carjerks when I accelerate, it also stalls when trying to accelerate when making a turn which cam cause an accident. The vehicle revs and slowly moves and then takes off. Its a dragging motion when driving its very slow. The steering wheel locks when turning as if I need power steering fluid. This car is a hazard, waiting to happen. When starting it, it makes this loud humming noise. I just had it inspected and the mechanic said the car was fine, but driving it is a different story.

- Philadelphia , PA, USA

problem #41

Mar 152021

Equinox

  • 154,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Bought the Equinox used.sure wish I would have researched better. It ran dry of oil. Dash read 55% oil life at the time. Car just cut off on me and after discovering a dry dipstick and replenishing oil, it sounded like a broken sewing machine, very loud rattling! car shakes so bad while stopped at traffic light, we are scared it is just going to die in traffic.car will not idle to warm up. It cuts off.and once I get going, I almost have to pump gas pedal steadily to keep it running. Horrible!!! and money down the drain

- Hickory, NC, USA

problem #40

Mar 132021

Equinox

  • 89,000 miles
My repair stabiltrak light came on in the dash. The check engine light is illuminated, my traction control light, is on. My anti-lock brake light is on. All of sudden when I pull out into traffic my car loses power on acceleration and my anti-lock brakes engaged. I have to pull over so I'm not rear ended. This has happened to me driving on a city street and on highway. There is a serious problem with the stabiltrak/ traction control system. I only have 89,000 miles on my vehicle. I see this is a known problem on Chevy Equinox. I'm worried about being killed in an accident since my vehicle loses power without warning. These vehicles need to be recalled !

- Dickson City, PA, USA

problem #39

May 132020

Equinox 4-cyl

  • miles
It keeps cutting off and the oil keeps going empty some say recall 11195A mite be the problem but I don't know jus got the car and when I start it up the peddle gets stuck and starts rite back up in motion and soon as you back up and soon as you turn out it cuts off on the high way and on city street and turning.

- Riverrouge, MI, USA

problem #38

Dec 312019

Equinox

  • 121,000 miles
This should clearly be a recall based on all the poste everyone is having the same issue. All my lights come on stabilitrack, ABS, check engine, steering fluid. I barely have any power, and my speed sensor no longer reads at all. Also my oil burns extremely fast. Link to forum where everyone is having the same issue. Https://chevroletforum.com/forum/Equinox-23/service-stabilitrak-check-engine-light-62780/page11/

- Mount Juliet, TN, USA

problem #37

Jul 312018

Equinox

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Cat converter gone out, ABS light on, brakes are making a knocking sound, when I get it fixed it's something wrong with it.

- Columbia, MO, USA

problem #36

May 072019

Equinox

  • 110,000 miles
My husband, newborn baby and I were driving on the highway when the vehicle suddenly slowed and then stalled in the middle of traffic. This occured every time my husband used the brakes. Luckily we managed to make it back home safely. The vehichle constantly needs oil and then it died for the last time about a month ago as we pulled into a family members driveway.

- Stafford Springs, CT, USA

problem #35

Apr 152017

Equinox

  • miles
Takata inflators

- Ona, FL, USA

problem #34

Nov 142018

Equinox

  • 110,000 miles
While driving, lights came on displaying "all wheel drive off", "traction control off", and service stabilitrak. Car dropped suddenly (on curve, on busy road) to 10mph. Shaking bad and brakes barely working. Car shakes worse when applying brakes. Dealer will not fix. Says lights are off when they see it so they can't diagnose problem. This same problem has happened several times. Always in cold weather. No ice or snow this time.

- Westfield, NY, USA

problem #33

Aug 102018

Equinox

  • 117,000 miles
I was traveling on the service road when my car suddenly stalled without notice. I was almost hit by vehicles traveling behind me. The car started up right away and I was able to park safely. The check engine light is now on and it shows a code for a bad solenoid. This is a prominent problem with this car, I have seen numerous people complain on various websites about this issue. I just want to know why this car is still out on the road. It is unsafe. It will kill someone eventually. I am now scared to drive this vehicle and will trade this vehicle in.

- Bourbon, MO, USA

problem #32

Mar 222018

Equinox

  • 178,500 miles
Timing belt failed within two years of the first time being fixed. First time was when vehicle was purchased used at approx 123K, second time it has failed is approx 179K. There is an ongoing oil consumption issue with the vehicle. I have heard that there is a recall on the oil issue that was not publically announced and I would like to find out why it wasnt if in fact this is an issue. Timing belt should not fail twice. Took vehicle in to shop after vehicle began shaking violently and jumping while stopped at a light, in drive with the breaks on. When I went to drive, vechicle would drive but had severe loss in poer and was vibrating the whole time. Upon taking to the shop and having an engine diagnostic test done, it was confirmed that the timing chain was indeed stretched out and would need to be repaired at a cost of $2500. This repair had been made two years prior as well, having had to replace the chains and such due to this recurring and ongoign oil issue

- Springfield, IL, USA

problem #31

Feb 152018

Equinox

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. While driving various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer (dave white Chevrolet, 5880 monroe St, sylvania, oh 43560) where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000. The VIN was not available.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #30

Mar 222018

Equinox

  • 93,000 miles
In the middle of accelerating out of a parking lot into two way traffic, vehicle was in drive and in motion, the vehicle quit accelerating to a stop and acted as though it was in neutral even though it was in drive. No engine revving sound (engine sounded "normal") when accelerator was pushed (to the floor), and vehicle began to roll backwards (due to slope nature of parking lot) even though the vehicle was in drive. I put the vehicle in park, hoping it would "reset", then put back into drive with no forward motion or engine revving when accelerator was pressed. I then put the vehicle back into park and turned off the engine. After restarting the vehicle I was able to appropriately accelerate the vehicle in drive.

- Napa, CA, USA

problem #29

Feb 222018

Equinox

  • 101,733 miles
The 2011 Chevrolet Equinox I own started to idle really high then really low and made the car speed up and then the idle speed would drop to a point where the engine would die. You would have no pedal control at all just rolling along on a city street. It happened out of the blue and was very scary in busy traffic. I brought the car to the Chevrolet dealership and was informed that they had special coverages on the vehicle that I was never notified about.(even though I owned the car at the time the special coverages were released). The dealership told me that Chevrolet was well aware that this car has a problem with excessive oil consumption. (I already new that with oil changes and having to add a quart of oil every 1000 miles). The dealership also informed me that Chevrolet, new that the timing chain on this vehicle would break and be very dangerous to the engine. The dealership said they would also fix that on special coverages. I told them to go ahead and fix these two issues. They took the engine apart, and informed me that because of these 2 issues that GM and Chevrolet were well aware of, it had scoring in my cylinders. The vehicle was extremely dangerous to be driving because it would idle out of control and shut itself off out of nowhere. The dealership was confident that the scoring on the cylinders was a direct result of the two issues that were covered under the special coverages. I was never notified of any of these special coverages from GM or Chevrolet. Chevrolet customer service told me they had my address correct but could not confirm that the notices were sent to me for the special coverages. My family and I were in danger driving this vehicle, and Chevrolet new all about the dangers in driving this vehicle. I now have a car sitting at the dealership with a blown engine and Chevrolet won't do anything for me. There should have been recalls.

- St. Paul, MN, USA

problem #28

Jan 162018

Equinox

  • 135,000 miles
Had to replace the catalytic converter due to over heating of the engine/exhaust as a result of the excessive oil consumption (Sept 2017). Stabilitrak service light came on and reduction of engine power and speed while driving (Jan 2018).

- South Elgin, IL, USA

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