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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 2
Average Mileage:
80,720 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 2 of 19)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #343

Jan 172022

Equinox

  • 273,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. Additionally, the instrument panel light, exterior headlights, and rear taillights were inoperable. The contact's cousin, an independent mechanic, diagnosed the vehicle with timing chain failure. The contact was informed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 273,000.

- Havana, IL, USA

problem #342

Nov 222021

Equinox

  • miles
Has 103,000 miles and is using a lot of oil. Will stop running in the middle of traffic. Must turn off engine and restart. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. When restarted it will only run approximately 45 mph. Just purchased car one year ago.

- Westminster, MD, USA

problem #341

Sep 102021

Equinox

  • miles
The suv would not go in to drive when you change gears it only, goes in reverse.

- Chicago , IL, USA

problem #340

Aug 142021

Equinox

  • miles

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

has the bad problem of oil consumption now at 120k miles its want even run anymore

- Chattanooga, TN, USA

problem #339

Jul 082021

Equinox

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while checking the oil in the vehicle, he noticed that there was little to no oil on the dipstick. The contact stated that he changed the oil and that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

- Alexandria, MN, USA

problem #338

May 192021

Equinox

  • miles
The engine oil rings are faulty, it's a manufacturer issue but lawsuits have been the only outcome.it also has many environmental hazards involved as well as public safety as this vehicle spews massive amounts of oil and gas and other nasty things out onto the road behind it from the exhaust.

- Caryville, FL, USA

problem #337

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 #336

Nov 162020

Equinox

  • 114,279 miles
The car always needed oil, and we did know why til the timing belt went and the engine had to be replaced and it cost us over $2850 then we found out GM put a bad spray oiler for the timing belt as for the going through so much oil we are unsure. I did hear of a lawsuit we just would like our money back for the motor replacement it's a very bad lemon GM on the 2.4 liter engine they made

- Bainbridge, NY, USA

problem #335

Apr 142021

Equinox

  • 116,000 miles
Not long after my last oil change, my 2011 Chevy Equinox started a ticking sound upon acceleration which worsened to a loud knocking. I took it to a repair garage and told the mechanic what was happening. After hearing the engine knocking, he shut the car off and proceeded to check the oil. It was bone dry. The mechanic told me that the Chevy Equinox was notorious for its oil consumption causing the engines to blow, and that he was afraid my engine was ruined & would need replaced. He put four quarts of oil in the engine & the knocking stopped. Luckily, the engine continued to run and I was still able to drive it. But the mechanic told me it was a time bomb, and that because of its oil consumption the engine could blow at any time. When I got home I researched online regarding the Equinox and was shocked to find more and more people with the same problems with their Equinox and having to replace the engines. I also read about the recall on the Equinox for its oil consumption, and that most people were having great difficulty getting GM to do repairs, denying claims and giving them "the run-around". now I am trying to figure out how to get a different vehicle because I used all my money to buy this Equinox. I can't afford to replace an engine either. I am at a great loss being stuck with this "time bomb" that GM is responsible for but won't fix. I purchased this car used less than a year ago & it has 116,000 miles. I never received a recall notice or any papers from GM.

- New Martinsville, WV, USA

problem #334

Apr 062021

Equinox

  • 70,000 miles
I am currently experiencing issue with my 2011 Chevy Equinox. Vehicle stalled while driving, idle's rough, and sounds like a rough. My vehicle has shut down multiple times while driving.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #333

Mar 052021

Equinox

  • miles

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

Excessive oil use. Burns 1 quart of oil per week. Requires 1 quart of oil every 300 miles. This is getting insanely expensive and annoying. No low oil light comes on but a check engine light does. I never let the engine start to knock before adding oil, but there is a serious problem here. And it sounds like lots of other people have reported the same issue. GM needs to seriously look into this before they get sued drastically.

- Winthrop, MN, USA

problem #332

Oct 142020

Equinox

  • 121,000 miles
Excessive oil consumption, oil engine light does not alert when oil is low. Just checked oil dipstick is bare and I have 3000 miles to go before next oil change. Low oil alert does not alert to the issue this has happened twice since October 2020. It was only by chance that this was found, no warning signs that the vehicle was low on oil. Last oil change toom to dealership for oil change and it was stated the oil level didn't register on dipstick.

- Lapeer Twp, MI, USA

problem #331

Apr 112018

Equinox

  • miles
This 2011 Chevy Equinox is part of a class action lawsuit (ellen berman, et al. V. General Motors llc - case no. 2:18-cv-14371). GM knew about the excessive oil consumption and the lack of oil gauges, resulting in piston wear and failure, causing engines to seize, yet continued to manufacture them as is for years afterward. Had to have engine rebuilt, costing almost $4,000. Received denial of any reimbursement from analytics consulting llc, who is the settlement administrator. Vehicle is not worth selling to anyone, nor would I, in good conscience, put this rust bucket out there for someone else to have to deal with the oil issue. (continues to leak). Got upside-down on loan...had to use tax refund to pay it off. Would really like to be reimbursed for the engine repair and labor costs. It's the right thing for General Motors to do. Will never purchase another GM product! I am speaking on behalf of my young daughter, to whom this happened.

- Wiscasset, ME, USA

problem #330

Jan 112019

Equinox

  • 106,000 miles
Car was using excess amounts of oil yet the oil light never came on. I had all regularly scheduled oil changes. It had begun make a clanking/rattling noise during acceleration. When I took it to the dealer to have it looked at, it was completely empty of oil and no oil leak. It was stated that my car had an oil consumption issue per service bulletin 15285C.

- Royersford, PA, USA

problem #329

Mar 112021

Equinox

  • 124,000 miles
I have had constant high oil consumption, have had to replace vvt solenoids twice, timing and balance shaft chains had to be replaced, engine misfiring. Can barely go 2 months without any issues. Always something wrong. I've looked this up and many people have had similar issues with this engine.

- Winter Springs, FL, USA

problem #328

Mar 012015

Equinox

  • 87,000 miles
Oil consumption issue with this ecotec 2.4L engine. Consuming at least a quart of oil a week due to faulty piston rings.

- New Hartford, NY, USA

problem #327

Sep 042020

Equinox

  • miles
I had gotten an oil change on September 4th 2020. A few days later I drove to Georgia to pick up my boyfriend the day we got back we stood home the entire day the following day I went to go turn on my car and go somewhere the car turned on and then it is immediately turned back off my car has not turned on since then and I don't know what's wrong with it.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #326

Feb 102021

Equinox

  • 93,648 miles
Ice formed in the PCV breather tube, blocking the PCV system, causing pressure buildup and oil to explode out of the oil dipstick tube. Vehicle had to be towed to dealership. This issue is specifically addressed in GM's tsb 14882, covering this vehicle. I was told the VIN was not covered, even though this is a 2011 Equinox with a 2.4L engine and they seem to have a widespread problem with PCV systems freezing up and causing a wide range of problems. I would like to be reimbursed for my tow and repair costs.

- Rochester, MN, USA

problem #325

Feb 072021

Equinox

  • 158 miles
Oil wear out in two weeks N engine blew up.in the city street.

- Manitowoc, WI, USA

problem #324

Dec 062020

Equinox

  • 120,000 miles
2.4 liter ecotech engine used in 2011 Chevy Equinox is in current recall by GM. GM is using VIN number to prevent recall repair to vehicle. Vehicle was purchased in 2018 during recall. Local dealer refused to repair with substantial cost up front. Dealer is aware of issue with vehicle from conversation with lead technician who had been instructed to deter any repair of this vehicle to up front costs only. VIN will not show recall due to General Motors cost of repair or replacement of engine.

- Sun Prairie, WI, USA

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