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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

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2012 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Comments (Page 7 of 18)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #222

Nov 012019

Equinox

  • 56,163 miles

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

Burning lots of oil and GM is not doing anything to help

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #221

Jan 172020

Equinox

  • 92,000 miles
At approximately, 92000 miles on my Equinox, while driving on a highway the PCV valve clogged/froze and exerted to much pressure to my engine causing the rear main seal to blow and spill all of the engine's oil all over the ground. This caused the engine to seize up and stall. Thankfully, I was able to pull off to the side of the road and avoid any accident. This exact issue is detailed under GM's service bulletin 14882 which lists a recall on this vehicle. However, my VIN# is not covered for some reason. This recall has to be extended to other VIN #'s. I currently have my car sitting at a Chevy repair shop awaiting service totaling over $1800 to repair this issue which should have been covered by the recall. GM has not handled this recall properly.

- Troy, NY, USA

problem #220

Jan 202020

Equinox

  • 72,000 miles
The PCV valve build up condensation while running, which subsequently froze. Upon starting the vesicle again, it built pressure to such an extent that it then blew out my rear main seal. It is exactly the scenario described in GM's special coverage adjustment #14882 or document id 4098165. Somehow my VIN is not covered under this known defect! this is ridiculous. The warning I had was a power steering light flash, then later a oil pressure light flash (all went out). This happened on the highway and on surface streets. This became worse when breaking.

- Hazel Park, MI, USA

problem #219

Jan 142020

Equinox

  • 83,000 miles

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

I purchased this vehicle about a year ago from original owner. It has burned oil since I owned it. I have 83,000 miles on the vehicle and the engine seized on me. The cost to repair is $6700. I have had oil changes every 2,000 miles since I bought it and take good care of my vehicles. I will never buy Chevy again.

- Neenah, WI, USA

problem #218

Jan 012020

Equinox

  • 159,193 miles
Done a oil change and about 3 weeks later no oil. Had to change the camshaft sensor and now throwing the code 420. Runs sluggish and exhaust is now blowing through the vents.

- Owingsville, KY, USA

problem #217

Dec 142019

Equinox

  • miles
Burning oil. I got an oil change and within less than a month I had no oil in my car. Not use and driven a lot either.

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #216

Feb 082019

Equinox

  • 115,000 miles

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

Car stalls and cuts off, loss of power while driving, excessive oil consumption even after replacing oil, hard to start sometimes.

- Prosper, TX, USA

problem #215

Nov 122019

Equinox

  • 89,223 miles
My 2012 Chevy Equinox LT2 with a 2.4L 4 cyl, has had the same condition diagnosed by a certified Chevy dealership, clements Chevrolet in rochester, mn. Bulletin #14882, describes the excessive high oil consumption. This has happened on this vehicle, with the pistons and rings needing to be replaced, due to recall # 16118. The vehicle was brought in to dealership multiple times for regularly scheduled vehicle oil consumption tests. They found nothing wrong at those intervals. Now the PCV orifice was plugged by moisture in the intake manifold, causing the main seal to blow out. They are telling me it's not covered by their recall, despite GM having this issue on models from 2010-2018 year models of the Chevy Equinox 2.4L motor. This is an obvious design flaw, as outlined by the class action law suit currently being decided in the courts of Florida, over this exact case.

- Rochester, MN, USA

problem #214

Mar 302018

Equinox

  • miles
I have had my engine rebuilt from dealership I bought it from due to oil disappearing and found it coming out of my exhaust! sense the repair I had to go back to dealership several times and also do a oil consumption test. Now I have oil coming out of my exhaust still and and when I change my oil it smells like gasoline! been having this issue ever sense I have bought the car and I got my catalytic converters replaced and it still has same issues. Obviously sense I been reading up on these cars there should be some recall with the engine 2.4 liter would make lots of owners happy!!!

- Silver Bay, MN, USA

problem #213

Oct 222019

Equinox

  • 89,000 miles
The car started glitching and all of the warning lights were going on and off while I was driving. The wipers and turn signals were flashing as well. Following all of this the motor shut down and I had to put the car in neutral and restart it while exiting the highway. The car has since been parked and if I go to start it again it begins with the wipers acting own their own and if it does start the motor runs very rough and stalls with no warning. Also while all this is happening the throttle pedal has no response to the motor.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #212

Dec 102018

Equinox

  • miles

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

The right head light side goes on and off, the stereo turnes off while listening to it and the signal lights don't work when the radio turns off on its own also the rear view camera turns off at the same time the radio does. The front and rear wipers don't always work. The engine lights comes on and off and the tire pressure sensor comes on and off. Also engine oil consumption.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #211

Apr 022019

Equinox

  • 102,000 miles
My 2012 Chevy Equinox motor has been severely damaged by an oil consumption problem. Its unsafe to drive... the engines have been blowing up...they oil system notification lights are faulty and has never came on... therefore we have to check & put oil in our car before driving everyday!! this has caused serious problems in our motor scraps of metal, timing chain, piston N rings, stalling choking etc..on every road we are..scarey while on highway N car stalls out!!! we have put 1000 $ into this car already GM knows of this problem and is giving me the run around even thou there are 1000's with same problem and class actions suits!! please help us be safe on the road and have GM stand by their product and fix them that's all I want is my car fixed...nothing more I am within the miles and the time frame been putting my own money into this since April of 2019 thank you

- Ocean City, NJ, USA

problem #210

Apr 012019

Equinox

  • 117,357 miles
The engine has being replace and we are having trouble with this one check engine light was came on twice excessive oil consumption as well

- East Point, GA, USA

problem #209

Aug 192019

Equinox

  • miles
At the start of vehicle is fine but once put in gear reverse and go to put back up it cuts off it does this several times before it's ok then while driving it is ok once stop at red light or just stop in traffic it cuts off once it's cuts off the steering wheel locks up and hard to put back in park once it stops the engine light comes on but once car is back on engine light sometimes goes back out I have taken it to several different shops and the told me to contact manufacture because all codes are good

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #208

Jul 022019

Equinox

  • miles
Takata recall, I have a 2012 equniox, the timing chain sliped and broke causing engine damage, I am a GM man by heart, own all GM products, my silverodo has 329000 miles, and still going, my Yukon,266000 still going, why do I have a 2012 equniox with 138000 miles and a chain breaks and destroys my engine, I was told that GM was sending recall warrantys for this 2012 equniox for this problem, please advice, (xxxxx) is my name, (xxxx) is my number, (xxxx) is my email address. Redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Hampton, GA, USA

problem #207

Jul 152019

Equinox

  • miles
The Equinox burns excessive oil and make loud noise if the oil get low. No low oil light indicator does not work. After monitoring the engine consumptions for 2 months, I have to put a quart of oil every 300/400 miles which is every two weeks.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #206

Jun 122019

Equinox

  • 115,882 miles
Oil consumption is ridiculous. I have to add oil every 750 miles, car makes ticking noise when first started and lunges when vehicle comes to a stop. Sluggish when driving on interstate.

- Newburg, MO, USA

problem #205

Jul 012019

Equinox

  • 101,000 miles
GM notified us of a known oil consumption problem with the vehicle. Our vehicle was constantly losing oil. We completed the oil consumption tests over a period of two years before the service department would replace the piston and rings, which were replaced in June 2018. July 1st 2019, after 10,000 miles, the engine exploded and caught fire while driving the vehicle down the street. Fortunately, no one was serious harmed. The vehicle stopped in the middle of a 6 lane street in moderate traffic. The fire department was called and put the fire out. The vehicle could not be pushed out of traffic and was towed to the service department.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #204

Mar 222019

Equinox

  • 153,000 miles
On three different occasions, I had an Equinox serviced for weird engine sounds. Each time, I was told it was a normal sound. The first time occurred a month after I purchased the vehicle. The second time, my vehicle shut off at a stop light and turned on service engine/ service stabilitrak. The third time, the company I brought it to said that my vehicle was having oil consumption and recommended having my piston rings replaced. I've called General Motors many times and each time I was told that I would have to pay to replace these parts myself. I just hit a year after I bought this vehicle. I parked it seven months after purchasing it due to the noise and oil comsumption as recommend. My oil was barely on the dip stop the last time it was brought it. I had an oil change not even three weeks before this occurred. General Motors should be ashamed of making this vehicle. My car only has 153,000 miles on it.

- Merrifield, MN, USA

problem #203

Jun 052019

Equinox

  • 112,000 miles
Vehicle will stop while driving, sitting at light, and driveway.. I have to continue putting oil in every other day. Power steering light came on, unable to start my vehicle or roll windows up. Doesn't want to start now.

- White Hall, AR, USA

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