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8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,050
Average Mileage:
102,800 miles
Total Complaints:
19 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (13 reports)
  2. replace engine (3 reports)
  3. replace camshaft accuator (1 reports)
  4. replace sensor (1 reports)
  5. replace solenoids (1 reports)
2012 Chevrolet Equinox engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Comments

problem #19

Oct 052023

Equinox LTZ 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 133,000 miles

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

I replace cracked exhaust manifold, timing chain, throttle body, O2 sensors, spark plugs, coils and fuel pump to no avail. My car is STILL shutting off while driving. The power completely goes out and I have to pull over to shut the car off then restart. I am at my wits end to figuring out this problem. Been to 3 different mechanic shops, including Chevy but still the problem has not been fixed. HELP what is going on. Does anyone have any thoughts. I want to just park it on the side of the road and leave it!

- Trina C., Ocoee, FL, US

problem #18

Sep 112021

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 207,231 miles

So I just purchased this 2012 Chevy Equinox yesterday at Palm Coast Ford in Palm Coast Florida, and halfway home it started jerking and jumping when I stopped at red lights or stop signs. At first as long as I smash the break hard it kinda stops. I was freaking out and thought I wouldn’t make it home, crying my eyes out with my 4 year old son in the back, and Palm Coast Ford swore there was nothing wrong with this vehicle. They swore it ran like it was new. Yes, the miles are high but for a single mom of 3 I paid a good penny for this vehicle and I don’t have money like that but we ended up making it home.

It did it the whole way home, got home and parked it! Woke up, had to run to the store and thought maybe it was a one time thing, but nope. Today is September 12th, 2012, day two of owning it and it did the same thing again at red lights and stop signs but today it stalled out twice while pulling into the store and into my dirt road. Thank god it wasn’t heavy traffic - this s*** can cause a serious accident. It's so dangerous especially with my children in the vehicle. The vehicle completely lost power but I put in park and restarted it just fine, but it does the same thing again!!

I know I’m screwed as I didn’t pay for a warranty and it took me forever to save for this vehicle - there’s no way Palm Coast Ford didn’t know about this. They lied straight to my face - how can they see a single mom of 3 children and rip someone off like this? It’s sad... now I have no way to get my kids to school. This is absolutely horrible, it’s one thing after another. I’m furious with Palm Coast Ford - I will never buy from them again and I’m reporting them and will let everyone know they are liars and scams!! They took advantage!! Does anybody know what the problem could be at all? My dad does some mechanical work and is telling me it’s garbage, there's no fixing it :-(

- Amanda R., Melrose, US

problem #17

Nov 082019

Equinox 3.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 148,000 miles

This car has completely died in the middle of a very busy intersection and was almost hit. We bought and paid for this piece of crap and I want Chevrolet to recall all of these cars. Chevrolet needs to fix these cars at no cost to the customer. We paid too much for this vehicle (a death trap) that has become a problem and a danger to my family. I called the dealership where we bought it and they put me through to an already full mailbox (the Johnstown N.Y. Dealership). I wanted to find out if there were any other complaints or recalls and that's what I got!!! So now I'm waiting for corporate headquarters to call me back??

Now I have to wait a day or two for them to call me back, it remains to be seen if the Chevrolet company cares about the people or the money they make from selling cars that have bad parts to begin with??? The lady that I spoke to was very nice and helpful but that doesn't mean much right now, the car is going through oil way more than it should. We don't have money for a new engine, and even if we did have the money, it's not up to us to fix a major problem that Chevy was well aware of.

- Pamela J., Hadley, NY, US

problem #16

Nov 012018

Equinox LT 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 112,000 miles

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

MY VEHICLE WANTS TO DIE WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES, IF I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL HARD IT WILL CONTINUE GOING. SOMETIMES, IT WILL JUST DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY OR STOP LIGHT.

THIS KINDA PEES ME OFF BECAUSE MY 3 CHILDREN ARE IN MY VEHICLE WITH ME. I LIVE ON A HIGHWAY THAT BIG RIGS DRIVE AND I AM SCARED THAT IF MY VEHICLE DIES ON THE HIGHWAY, I WILL GET HIT AND ONE OF MY CHILDREN OR MYSELF WILL GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN DIE!!!!

I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. IF I CANNOT WORK, I HAVE NO MONEY TO LIVE.

- Amanda W., White Hall, AR, US

problem #15

Jan 222019

Equinox LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

We bought my parents 2012 Chevy Equinox from them this August and agreed to pay them $100 a month until we paid them $5,000. My mom kept the car in PRISTINE condition, maintained everything faithfully & took it to the Serpentini Chevrolet faithfully for any and all recalls, notices, etc.

Last Tuesday the car completely died and upon having it towed to a nearby mechanic, found that the engine was shot due to oil leaking in from faulty engine seals, and that the car needs an entirely new engine and would cost approximately $5,200 to install a used engine. As we don't even have $1000, we then had it towed to Serpentini Chevrolet under the hopes that they could help as this is OBVIOUSLY due to the known leaky seal issue. We were told there are no recalls, etc on this and the only things they could do was give us a brand new engine for $5,800 with a 3 year warranty on the engine.

At this point, we still owe $4300 on the car and don't have another $5,800 to dump into it, especially when it's already 7. When we asked what Serpentini Chevrolet would give us to trade in and buy a cheap car to get us from point A to B, they will only give us $500 for the car which is otherwise in gorgeous condition. We are screwed and have no money or options. Is there ANYTHING that can be done?

- Megan B., Olmsted Falls, OH, US

problem #14

Jan 062019

Equinox LS 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 180,000 miles

DRIVING MY EQUINOX AFTER WORK AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AT THE SAME TIME IT ALARMED REDUCE ENGINE POWER. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 55MPH AND HAS HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS. STABILITY LIGHT IS NOW ON AND IT CUTS OFF ONCE I GET TO STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. NOT SURE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. CHANGED THROTTLE BODY AND ISSUE STILL PRESENT.

- nikkirai, San Antonio, US

problem #13

Mar 312018

Equinox LS 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,465 miles

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

Had engine rebuilt under warranty a year or so ago due to excessive oil consumption and now engine started stalling out just this past weekend.

Very dangerous situation when in traffic in the city.

I am hoping this is covered under warranty and I have 145,000 kms on vehicle but after the previous engine fix, GM extended the engine warranty to 193,000 kms.

- Colin C., Trepassey, NL, Canada

problem #12

Oct 252017

Equinox LT 2.4L L4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,078 miles

Wife was driving the car luckily in a parking lot and the engine and lights just went dead. Here are her words on what happened.

"I just fueled up and went to park to go shopping. While driving, all of a sudden the car and all electrical died. It was smooth and I coasted downhill to a parking stall. Then I put the vehicle into park and it started. I drove a little to turn around and back into the stall. During this process the car once again died, same as before. I shopped then went to drive home. The vehicle started and as I accelerated it tucked under. I drove home, 3 miles, driving slower than usual and not accelerating too fast. Once on the drive home, while sitting at a red light the vehicle died again. Started it right back up and drove the rest of the way home."

When she got home I took it for a test drive and it was idling rough and tucked under, though it did not die on me. The check engine light had come on for the ODB II that indicated that you should not accelerate hard or continue driving the vehicle. We had the car towed to our local ADS shop. The next morning it was diagnosed as the intake and exhaust Solenoids that were creating too much resistance and when they do everything shuts down to protect the engine. We were told that no preventative maintenance would have done anything about this. The service rep. said he had seen this a lot in the dealership that he worked for and Chevy just keeps putting in the same defective solenoids and we have to live with the possibility that the vehicle may do the same thing at any time.

This could really be a problem and do people have to die to get identified faulty products changed?

- Jack B., Mesa, US

problem #11

Sep 292017

Equinox 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,000 miles

Car died in traffic. Took some time to put into park and then restart.

- tglicari, Barrington, US

problem #10

Jan 042017

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 114,000 miles

So my daughter bought this car and has driven it for a couple of years. last October we had the transmission replaced. So NOW when she puts the car in reverse, it goes dead. So my husband checked the oil, he had to add a couple of quarts. Note, we always get the oil changed and we put the higher priced oil in the car and use the same Firestone location every time. he also put new sparkplugs. Drives better but the problem happened again. Stay tuned

- Kim P., Huntsville, AL, US

problem #9

Oct 212016

Equinox LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,800 miles

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

Car just stopped running, had to have it towed in. They say it's a timing chain and it wrecked the whole engine, warranty expired a month earlier so GM wouldn't help pay a thing. It cost $4,200 to replace engine and it only had 72,000 miles on it when timing chain stretched, they said.

- cindy77l, Butternut, WI, US

problem #8

Nov 112016

Equinox LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,800 miles

2012 chevy equinox timing chain stretched is what they say and wrecked the whole engine. Warranty ended last month and it only has 72000 miles on it . Called everyone to see if they would help us cause I have never heard of a timing chain go on a 5 year old car. But chevy has said more or less tough sh*t cause the warranty ended last month. What a bunch of crape . Oh and they called and said the bill will be 4500 what? Well I will keep complaining and spreading the word on the vehicle cause I have read alot of complaints on 2010-2012 with timing chains going on them. I am 60 years old and have alot of cars and never has a timing chain go on them. My last car was a 2004 chevy impala great car and decided to up grade and bought the 2012 equinox just a year and ahalf ago from a chev dealer and this happens. We have contacted everone from the dealer we bought it from to chev and the chev dealer that has it now. I am so made right now. The car should be done today or tomorrow not sure where the money is coming from very sad!

- cindy77l, Butternut, WI, US

problem #7

Oct 222016

Equinox LS 2.4L Cc L4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,652 miles

I was reversing my 2012 Chevrolet Equinox out of a parking spot today. The engine shuddered, and then stalled after I had backed up about ten feet. I put the car in park and then restarted it. A couple hours later, the same sequence of events happened again.

I have noticed in general the last couple of days that the engine has a rough idle. I am going to keep it parked until Monday and take it to the dealership. I will be looking for this to be covered by my warranty as the vehicle has just under 60,000 miles.

GM never does anything about these things unless they absolutely have to. Everything is a calculation to GM. If we were all coordinated (given that it could collectively cost all of those affected millions of dollars) then maybe GM would be forced to listen.

- Scott L., Ottawa, ON, Canada

problem #6

Jul 222016

Equinox LT 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,000 miles

Me and my girlfriend were leaving Petco and I pushed on the gas the car stutter so I let off the gas pushed on it again and it stuttered again and then died no check light or anything I had to turn the key off to put it in park a few minutes later i turned it back on and it was fine I know the 2011 has a recall for the camshaft actuator I took it to my mechanic and as we were leaving his house it died again but this time a light came on so he checked it and it said its the camshaft actuator he looked it up online and there are a lot of people that have the same problem with the 2012 as the 2011 but they wont make it a recall until more people have that problem

- Jeremiah L., Keizer, OR, US

problem #5

Feb 142016

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 153,000 miles

Had just had an oil change. Checked oil level before leaving to take daughter back to college. Half hour into trip, warning light, low oil pressure, turn off engine. Car dies on expressway. Towed to mechanic. Blew a gasket. Was told there was a recall on pcv and excessive oil consumption.

- Jane S., Clarkston, MI, US

problem #4

Feb 042016

Equinox LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles

Picked up the vehicle from the service dept. on 1-28-16 only to have the vehicle stall out on me again on 1-31-16. Stalled again on 2-4 and I took it back to the dealership. Stalled 3 more times in 2 minutes with the engine light finally coming on. Ran the scanner and it was the camshaft accuator valve that I just replaced 3 months ago!!! Missed my 3rd day of work from this vehicle and don't know how much more I can take. I drive for work and have family that live out of state. I BOUGHT this vehicle instead of leasing due to the miles I knew I would be putting on it.

Good news, I STALLED AGAIN YESTERDAY!!! Goody, maybe I can spend another day at the dealership. When I asked about these bad parts, I was told "they make 1000's everyday so there's always a chance you could get a bad one". REALLY?? These guys make over $30 an hour to make GOOD parts!! Where are the quality control people??

- DeeDee V., Kingston, MI, US

problem #3

Nov 122015

Equinox LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

I purchased this vehicle in Sept. 2015 w/ 64,000 miles on it. Drove to the U.P. no problem. Then it started stalling every time I would move the shifter into gear. Would always re-start but sometimes would stall 4-5 times before actually getting going. Was told it was the camshaft accuator and they replaced it under my power train warranty

- DeeDee V., Kingston, MI, US

problem #2

Feb 012016

Equinox LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles

jerking, stalling, shuts down at idle

I can't believe this happened again!! Drove 50 miles away to a client and stalled 3 times in the parking lot while moving the shifter from park to reverse and also to drive. I just had the camshaft acuator replaced on Thursday!!! 4 DAYS AGO!!! I get online all I see are people saying they are having the same issues with no help from GM. I have leased for years but wanted the freedom to travel as I have older parents who live out of state, so I purchased this vehicle less than 6 months ago. Supposed to visit them next month but GM has probably ended that hope!!!

- DeeDee V., Kingston, MI, US

problem #1

Oct 282015

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

stalls when accelerating from a stop

After driving 45 minutes, I stopped for gas and when taking off, the car died. Started it right up, started to take off and it died again. Started it again and I had to push on the gas more aggressively while taking my foot off the brake, and it then took off. Rest of the day it was fine. Next morning, drove for over an hour, stopped for coffee. Same thing happened - I tried the same thing as the previous day, and drove myself home and to auto mechanic. He said there was no code to read. He thought maybe could be oil actuator. But, it needed an oil change so we tried that and also said I was low on transmission fluid. Fixed all that. I then drove my car for a week, with no problems and thought it was fixed. Yesterday, it happened again. Car started to stall when I started it up and started to take off. Next week, I'm going to have to take it in for troubleshooting but would sure like to know if anyone has had this issue and had it fixed. I dread having to start paying dollars for solutions that don't work.

Update from Dec 19, 2015: I called the Chevy service manager and he said he wasn't aware of this stalling problem. Since I really didn't want to spend money for them to troubleshoot, I went to an independent mechanic. He said he felt he knew what was going on as he sees it with Chevy and his Chevy Impala did the same thing.

He checked for 'resistance at actuator solenoid,' The resistance was 'out of specs.' He changed the intake camshaft position actuator solenoid. It's been 6 weeks and my car hasn't stalled once.

- judecar, Monterey, CA, US

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