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.
Smelled burning oil in garage. Checked under vehicle and noticed large puddle of oil and underside of rear engine soaked with it. Towed to dealership of purchase. Was notified that it was PCV value having moisture/condensation in it and freezing. This occurrence put pressure on the engine and seals. The rear seal connecting to the transmission is what failed. It was a cold day. The car was in a parking lot until end of shift. My wife said it did not start as fast as it normally does. There was not shuttering of the engine, no loud clacking sound and not one light icon lit up. I noticed a trail of oil into the garage in our driveway but no trail in the street. I assume it had just occurred when she was arriving home. She was braking to turn into our driveway. Her route from work is primarily state roads with speeds of 35-55 mph and very often has deer crossing the roads as there are no road noise barriers or tall fencing. She arriving home at the normal time but I was able to pick up our sons. So she was able to just go home. The weather was cold (approx. 6-8 degrees). I have no reports, invoices or photos as the car is currently still in the shop since Friday February 1st. Today is Wednesday February 6th 2019. I have found a lot of information online regarding this issue, tsb #14882. Seems to be very common.
PCV (pressurized crank case ventilation) system froze due to cold climate and poor design of the system.this issue caused the rear main seal of the motor to over pressurize which led to failure of the seal causing the motor to lose oil. The vehicle was in motion at time of the failure on a city street. The motor in my vehicle is not covered by General Motors, but all other 2.4L motors of this type are under some kind of coverage for the PCV system failure by GM. The defect with this motor is wide spread and GM is doing nothing to fix the problem. The motor is designed in a way as to if the rear main seal is compromised a large amount of work must be done to repair the problem. Like removing the transmission and intake manifold from vehicle. This adding up to a large repair bill for the consumer for a problem that should be fixed by GM.
The pvc valve froze causing the rear main seal to blow. This has now caused damage to the engine. The engine needs to be replaced along with the exhaust manifold. The total cost from the dealer is quoted at $7200. This vehicle also used large amounts of oil. I was driving on a city street when this occurred. The Chevy only has 80,000 miles on it.
My vehicle stalled at slow speeds. When gas pedal pressed the vehicle would rock back and forth then die. Very dangerous because it happened on the freeway. A year ago my vehicle was part of the oil consumption issues and the pistons and rings were changed. Now the 'I take camshaft solenoid' is affected possibly causing the current issue. I have done research and see that many people have had the same issues with the same vehicles. Why would something like this not be a recall?? it happened last year as well and was told that by changing the pistons and rings that that would solve the problem. Apparently it didn't.
The check engine light turned on at around 135,000 miles. Following that, the vehicle began losing power, the rpms started to randomly spike up, and it began consuming a lot of oil. When idling or coming to a top the vehicle will turn off or begin shaking really bad and then turn off. I have contacted the Chevy dealer and there is nothing they will do about it.
- Rutledge, TN, USA
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Check engine light comes on and off for no reason. Rpms spike when ideling and vehicle physically jumps forward. Vehicle turns off while driving when coming to stop at intersection.
82K miles on the vehicle and am having to put 2-3 quarts of oil in car between oil changes. Check engine light is coming on every few hundred miles now and the oil dipstick is dry. I fill up with approximately 2 quarts and the engine is fine until another 200-300 miles when the check engine light comes on again and the dipstick is dry again. Had this issue last year in may in tx and the technician stated that the gasket was bad and they replaced that. Car ran fine for almost a year and now I can not go over 1000 miles without putting in quarts of oil.
I purchased a 2013 Chevy Equinox on 5/2/16. On 1/1/18 with 84,000 miles, I was on the highway with my 4 children and the stability track, reduced power warning flashed, engine malfunction warning, and then a message to stop the engine. I pulled to the side of the highway in 0 degree weather with my and stopped the engine. After waiting over 2 hrs I was towed home. On 1/2/18 Chevy's corporate office advised towing to Chevy dealer. I took all of my service records as requested. 2 days later I was told the main seal failed and was not under warranty and Chevy had refused any repair cost assistance so $1500 was the quote later that day they quoted me $2000. I purchased the Chevy 18 months prior and owe way too much money. After going back and forth with jeff schmitt Chevy in beavercreek, oh and Chevy's corporate office, each blaming the other for refusing repair assistance and not honoring the warranty. I had the vehicle towed back home and was billed $130+ for a diagnostic. The dealer acted annoyed by my request to have the results of the diagnostics in writing on the bill. I was also racking up a rental car tab. The next day I called other dealers who quoted $1300 but the seal was on backorder. I located a dealer 2 hours away who had the part in stock and quoted $1300 based on the diagnostic. I had the car towed 2 hours away $ to find out the intake manifold had failed causing the seal to fail and cost $2200. [xxx] diagnostic" this Chevy burns oil like crazy. 1000 miles after an oil change and the dipstick is dry, but no oil leaks." Now the liftgate has gone rogue. It opens and then closes very forcefully (violently), immediatly after opening injuring me. I find it extremely hazardous and have banned my children from operating the liftgate for fear that it may crush one of them. Generations of my family have been very loyal to Chevy. Chevy, where does your loyalty lie? parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA),
The engine does not consume oil properly and uses an excessive amount of oil. The car has had regular and on time maintenance and oil changes. There is no warning or notice when the oil is low and this can cause engine failure while driving and I would have not notice. The Chevrolet dealership says they have seen this a lot in these cars. The dealership said the solution is the car needs new pistons a $2,000 repair. The car has only 72,000 miles on it. The car also needs new timing chains and the dealership said they also see this a lot. Another $2,000 repair. The timing chain problem caused the car to shake violently when braking.
The 2013 Chevy Equinox burns so much oil in between oil changes that I am constantly dumping oil in. Chevy will not include my year in any service bulletins, making me responsible for repairs that may or may not work and buying oil every week. Also, the oil consumption problem is ruining the engine, leading to a crack in the exhaust manifold, which allows exhaust fumes to leak into the cabin. Especially if I use the heat or air conditioning, the windows have to be cracked for fear that I would gas myself to death.
Differential transfer case cracked and spraying oil on engine according to mechanic. Also, according to mechanic this is a known issue regarding this vehicle. Considering the oil is spraying on the engine this should be considered as a recall issue.
Just purchased vehicle amd trandmission is slipping in 3rd thru 5th. No warranty seems like this happens in alot of Equinox. This is a major safety concern in which GM is not taking serious.
This car has had documented excessive oil consumption issues since I bought it used in 2015. Chevrolet will not make right. So far I have had to replace the timing chain and main seal twice due to massive oil leakage and loss. Most recently engine seized up while I was going 70 mph and stopped in the middle of the highway. A very dangerous situation. Even though oil had been changed 1500 miles previously, it was bone dry and main seal blew out for the second time. GM says it "costs too much" to replace faulty piston rings which are the source of several service bulletins and recalls. This is a very dangerous car and someone is going to get killed driving these things!! this is the 3rd time the engine has seized up on me in traffic. Car only has 132K miles, problems started at around 45K miles.
I made an appointment 2013 Equinox into the dealer because I was smelling strong exhaust smell in the cab. As soon as I talked to the mechanic he told me it was most likely a cracked exhaust manifold and that it is happening frequently in the Equinox models. Then 2 days before my appointment to get my car looked at my check engine like turned on so I parked it and didn't drive it until it was time to take it to the dealership. When I got there I let them know that the light had just came on. After inspecting my car they found that the exhaust camshaft actuator solenoid was out of spec. The removed it and replaced it and found a lot of metal shavings on the actuator. R/R intake solenoid and and cleaned more metal shavings off of that. They checked the oil and there was no oil on the dipstick, car is not leaking oil and has been regularly maintained. The service manager at the dealership came out and talked with us and said that we need a full engine rebuild because these cars will start to use oil and the timing chain wears the guide out at then the chain gets worn out and it ruins the entire engine. There was no indicators of issues until the engine is shot. The dealership and GM said that there is a special program for 2010 - 2012 euqinox to fix this problem but because mine is a year newer (2013) that my vehicle doesn't qualify. Not only is the engine totally shot after 117,000 miles and 4 years but the exhaust manifold is cracked right at the the fresh air intake and so it sucks exhaust right into the cab of the vehicle when the heat is running. It is so strong that the windows have to be rolled down to drive it. Not safe!!! super dangerous to be filling the cab with carbon monoxide! not to mention the engine is totally shot due to a designe flaw and could break down on the side of the road at anytime.
My car is cutting off without any warnings in traffic and when parking also at stop lights. I took it to a local shop to have it checked due to the check engine light finally coming on. Only to find out my car had no oil. Note I keep my routine maintenance up on my car due to having a small child. Also cam shaft code my car is out of warranty and I just paid car payment. Reading complaints I see this problem is happening alot. Not sure if I will keep this car feeling very unsafe with a small child and car cutting off and oil running out without any warnings GMC should fix this problem should have been fixed years ago. Putting families life in danger just too make a dollar. Safety first is my #1 reason for sharing this my car cut off 12 times in one day really & I would keep this car.I could have been rear ended several times with the car turning off.I have to take the key out and restart it really on 2013.I can't believe this is happening to me once again I have a lemon and I know for fact I'm not the only one with this problem
My car engine light came on last week after I had picked it up from Chevy dealership after they had repaired my vehicle. Since the light has been on I am unable to use my remote start. My engine seems like it wants to cut out. My car does not run properly.
6 months after purchase car began stalling. Vehicle always was low on oil, even with proper maintenance. Loss of acceleration speed and stalling became usual. Finally after filling the tank it stalled and would not start so we had it towed. Timing chain was the reason given so $3600 later I figured it was fixed. Not the case. Oil was still having to be added and 1.5 years later while driving, the motor has blown. We still owe 9K on a car that is inoperable and also usaa requires us to keep our insurance. I
I just recently replaced my engine that blew up. I was driving home from a doctors. Appt when all of a sudden my SUV went from driving the speed limit to barely moving. I had to turn it on and off several times to be able to park it in a safe place.I had it towed to a local dealership and was told my transmission died. So in less than two months I have had to replace both my engine and transmission once I hit 100,000 miles. The vehicle received routine maintenance and there is no reason for both to completely die back to back.
These vehicles have a problem with transmissions. They seem to lurch forward when down shifting. Have brought it to several dealers, they say this is normal really. This is not safe. Called GM they are no help!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Warren, OH, USA