Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,182 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.

2012 Chevrolet Equinox engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox:

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

2012 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Comments (Page 4 of 18)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #282

Nov 012020

Equinox

  • 80,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the check engine light was illuminated. Additionally, the engine was overheating. The contact stated that the vehicle would vibrate abnormally while coming to a stop. The contact noticed that the engine would run for an extended period after the ignition had been turned off. The vehicle also stalled suddenly while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that initially the vehicle would restart right away however, after the last failure, several attempts were needed for the vehicle to restart. The contact took the vehicle to diamond auto sales (255 easton rd, glenside, pa 19038, (215)887-2345) who replaced the mass air flow sensor and the cam shaft solenoid adjuster however, the failure persisted. The contact then took the vehicle to bryner Chevrolet, Inc. (1750 the fairway, jenkintown, pa 19046, (215)402-7267) who replaced the water pump however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the warranty would not cover the repair. The contact was then referred to NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #281

Aug 152019

Equinox

  • 109,000 miles
The car was in motion when the reduced engine power sensor came on and shut down. It was towed to a local repair shop where it was determined that the timing chain broke due to lack of oil due to bent piston rings and the oil escaping. All of that was repaired and maybe 6 months later the check engine light was back on. We took it back to the shop and it was decided there was extensive damage done to the engine based on the previous oil consumption issue. The engine was then replaced as well as the ECM board due to oil being all over it completely ruining the sensors. We also have had to replace the evap system due lack of oxygen and the car constantly chocking out while in motion and while ideling. We filed our claim when the class action lawsuit came out and of course we're denied, just like the thousands of other people due to there being 'lack of proof' that it was due to lack of oil. I was constantly checking my oil, getting it changed, adding the right oil when it was low and because I did not do the oil consumption test through GM we are out almost 10 thousand dollars on a car that still had issues due to the lack of oil. The first time it broke down I had a power train warranty on the vehicle and they did an investigation to make sure it was due to a lack of oil changes and build up of dirty oil, it was proved that the oil escaped through the bent piston rings and burnt off instead of going back into the engine. They did cover the timing chain but once the engine needed to be replaced we no longer had the warranty. I'm not sure why that investigation was not good enough for the settlement to go through but regardless these vehicles are so unsafe and money pits and are still being sold to innocent people who have no idea what they are getting themselves into. A recall absolutely should be made.

- Saint Charles, MO, USA

problem #280

Mar 312021

Equinox

  • 155,622 miles
I've been to plenty of mechanic shops and they all have said the same thing about the motor and the engine that's in these cars they say they are not the right engines and everyone that have these cars have the same problem I have gotten everything fixed and my engine is going bad. I've been told there is a recall for my engine & or motor. For the last few weeks my check engine light gave been on then out the blue my stabilitrak comes on no one could figure it out I took it to GM they didn't find anything besides spark plugs, oil change, fuel flush & engine top cleaner now they saying after the sparkplugs got done it cleared that code but now my engine is bad. I get oil changed every month. Which means it's getting to much oil.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #279

Feb 152021

Equinox

  • 123,525 miles

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

2012 chevorlet Equinox with 2.4L engine with 123,525 miles has many safety concerns. As a result of this specific engine, there are issues that affect the quality of safety. This vehicle has excessive oil consumption, needs frequent oil refilling (at least 1quart/weekly), and emits the smell of fumes and lingers when vehicle is on. I am not able to have the car on stopped at a stoplight or simply while in park without the overwhelming smell of fumes. This vehicle has completely shut off on two occasions: First, it shut off halfway up a ramp leading off from the highway and second, during a red light at a busy intersection. There were vehicles driving behind at both times. I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle, nor do I think it is safe to have others in the car.

- Gardner, KS, USA

problem #278

Apr 022021

Equinox

  • miles
My car randomly shuts off. It stutters, stalls, jerks, then dies. No check engine light comes on. We have replaced the O2 sensors 3 times, mass air flow sensor, exhaust manifold, intake and exhaust valves twice, alternator, battery twice, spark plug packs twice, throttle body, and catalytic convertor. My car still stutters, stalls, rough idles, jumps while stopped at red lights, and randomly shuts off with no warning. Recently it has been slow to accellerate as well. I was unaware of the oil consumption issue until this weekend. My car says it is 40% oil, it is not due for another oil change for another 1000 miles. After learning about the oil consumption issue I checked the oil, via the dipstick, and my car was bone dry! I never received a low oil warning. I am assuming this is why my car has begun acting crazy in the last year. Unfortunately the Chevy dealership never informed me of any oil issues so I have had to contact GM directly, because now my car is at 126,000 miles!!!

- Jber, AK, USA

problem #277

Mar 052021

Equinox 4-cyl

  • 160,000 miles
I bought a new 2012 Equinox in 2012 ([xxx]) last week the engine failed. Low oil warning light never came on! do I have any options" do don't see any recalls for this" I bought a new 2012 Equinox in 2012 ([xxx]) last week the engine failed. Low oil warning light never came on! do I have any options " do don't see any recalls for this" [xxx] [xxx] I bought a new 2012 Equinox in 2012 ([xxx]) last week the engine failed. Low oil warning light never came on! do I have any options " do don't see any recalls for this" [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Cedar Falls, IA, USA

problem #276

Dec 152019

Equinox

  • 107,200 miles

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

While driving my 2012 Chevy Equinox on Illinois, I-90 at 70 mph vehicle started to lose power. Engine could not accelerate, started shaking, than stalled. Putting myself & family at risk & in danger. Engine needed to be replaced or rebuilt, had it rebuilt. GM is aware of their faulty engines but continues to sell these cars and put families at risk. They lost a lawsuit but continue to deny claims & resell the faulty vehicles. Waited almost a year to be denied. These vehicles with the faulty engines need to be pulled immediately & consumers need to be reimbursed for the cost of fixing GM's mistakes.

- Lake In The Hills, IL, USA

problem #275

Aug 312020

Equinox

  • miles
Oil consumption had to do repairs. Tear down and replacement of pistons and rings. Motor was knocking and siezing

- Indianpolis, IN, USA

problem #274

Nov 012020

Equinox

  • 120,000 miles
I have had multiple issues with the vehicle in question every since I drove it off the lot. The first signs of trouble started when the car would cut off in the middle of driving in busy traffic. Supposedly the dealer fixed the issue, not sure if that was true because it continued as time went on. Secondly I have had so many oil changes since the purchase of this vehicle and there is record of it: 3/2019,05/2019,07/2019, (johnny londoff Chevrolet up until 05/2020),05/2020,10/2020,11/2020,02/2021... and counting. The vehicle has a very high oil consumption and is bringing about more issues within the vehicle. Lastly but not least the sensors and other things are being damaged in the process. At this current time I am having "reduced energy" issues and I just received oil change and I'm being told I needed to add oil, but how when I just got a oil change. I have reached out to the dealer whom sold me the vehicle, recalls dept, etc and I'm not being provided with assistance. Please assist with this ongoing matter. I have records.

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #273

Feb 092021

Equinox

  • 110,501 miles
On February 9th 2021 at 5:00pm when it was 6 degrees with snow covered road outside, I was driving to a appointment about 10 miles away when my car started to act up. No warning lights or bells when off. I pulled into a quick trip and put some heat in thinking to was a gas line freeze up. I went a short 1.5 miles to my appt and my car died. I was able to pull of to the side of the road and notice a lot of oil coming from my car. Again still no warning lights or bells went off. I towed it to hendrick Chevrolet where all the oil changes and all previous work have been done. The problem is a rear main seal that is blown due to the PCV value getting clogged with water and freezing causing high crack case pressure, blowing the rear seal. GM has a service bulletin 14882 which covers this condition if the car is under 120000 miles/10 years from in service date. My car has 110501miles and the end service date 6/2012 and should be covered. However GM says my VIN # isn't part up the 14882 bulletin. My repair cost is $3200 it seems the cars that are manufactured in Mexico are part of this bulletin but the cars manufactured in Canada are not. There are a lot of people out there facing and complaining about this. There is a lot of complaints on your website. This condition only will occurs during below freezing conditions potentially making it a very dangerous condition. In my case if I was driving on I-435 instead of holmes road my life would have been put in danger. This should be a very easy fix for GM it make to in sure the safety of drivers during freezing conditions and to prevent the very expensive cost for the consumer to bare. In my case I'm picking up my car, stowing it and finding a lawyer.

- Belton, MO, USA

problem #272

Feb 062021

Equinox

  • 105,000 miles

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

As I was driving on the expressway I experienced my vehicle losing engine power. The indicator showed that there was an issue with oil pressure. I have since been informed that the engine has blown. I recently had a parts recall and took it in, within a day my check engine light came on.I went back to the dealership to let them know and was treated with confrontation. Now I have no car and still paying on the loan.

- Aurora, IL, USA

problem #271

Feb 012021

Equinox

  • 67,000 miles
Whenever I stop at a red light or stop sign my car starts to violently rock back and forth. Not side to side. There's no movement in the car but you can visibly see the jerking of the car. It's very uncomfortable. Lots of places cannot get the vehicle to mimic this so therefore they cannot fix the issue and insist I'm crazy. Or that I've come to a stop to quickly. Which I have not. I have even went the extra mile of slowing down way ahead of time which also causes the issue of safety. I have my two year old with me constantly and she jerks around in her car seat at almost every stop light:( I'm starting to regret purchasing this vehicle.

- Gowen, MI, USA

problem #270

Oct 012000

Equinox

  • 138,000 miles
Car keep burning oil at a fast pace not letting me know when it is low

- College Park, GA, USA

problem #269

Oct 212020

Equinox

  • 155,000 miles
Engine excessive oil consumption sounding like a diesel when running. Then while looking into this issue with the place we change our oil at, all of a sudden no check engine lights on at all and it stalls at an intersection to find out the timing chain broke and now the whole engine needs to be replaced.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

problem #268

Dec 212020

Equinox

  • miles
Vehicle had been stalling at least every other day for the past couple of months when stepping on the gas to go. It has turned off on several occasions when coming to a stop or red light at the point I step on the gas. Additionally, the vehicles engine sounds forced and trembles on it own on a daily basis, even when in park mode.

- Ontario, CA, USA

problem #267

Jun 012019

Equinox

  • 80,000 miles
Vehicle stalled while driving on highway. Engine seized up while driving due to no oil. No dash indicators, lights, audible tones or other warnings were evident to indicate any problems with oil level, or oil pressure. Total engine failure resulted, leaving me stranded on the highway. General Motors' "2.4L ecotec" motors are known to exhibit severe excessive oil consumption, due to faulty piston rings. A class action lawsuit was settled in 2019, see 2.4 liter oil consumption litigation C/O analytics consulting llc P.O. Box 2003 chanhassen, mn 55317-2003

- Leander, TX, USA

problem #266

Dec 082020

Equinox

  • 96,000 miles
The engine experiences excessive oil consumption due to faulty piston rings, the PCV system sucking oil into the intake, and the oil spray jets forcing more oil past the faulty piston rings.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #265

Mar 012020

Equinox

  • miles
Burns through oil very quickly have to put in more than should often to keep

- Lagro, IN, USA

problem #264

Oct 022019

Equinox

  • 75,831 miles
High engine oil consumption caused by excessive piston ring wear leading to timing belt replacement and eventual complete engine failure at 75,831 miles

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #263

Nov 222019

Equinox

  • miles
Due to faulty piston rings. My car burns oil like crazy. They haven't even issued out a recall or even bought back these cars with the faulty engine. I could be on the highway and my engine could go out at any moment. I go through maybe a quart of oil per week. I'm a college student and can't afford to fix this issue.

- Tyler, TX, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?