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8.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,630
Average Mileage:
92,950 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
  2. repair gaskets, seals (3 reports)
  3. replace pcv valve (2 reports)
2012 Chevrolet Equinox engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Comments

problem #8

Apr 222019

Equinox LT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 112,346 miles

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

I have heard a lot of the same problem and not covered under my warranty.

- Roy A., greer, US

problem #7

Jan 202019

Equinox LS L4 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,720 miles

NO WARNING OF LEAK ---OIL WARNING LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON--HEAR FROM OTHERS IT WON'T UNTIL YOU DON'T HAVE A DROP IN YOUR CAR!!! SO CHECK YOUR OIL GAUGE OFTEN. AS OTHERS HAVE STATED MY "VIN" WASN'T COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH GM DOES SEEM TO KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM --THEY AREN'T COVERING EVERYBODY---LIKE OTHERS "I SAID THAT WAS NUTS/CRAZY" ---- HAD TO REPLACE REAR MAIN CRANKSHAFT SEAL AS WELL AS MAIN BEARING OIL SEAL & INTAKE MANIFOLD (APPROX. $2,000.00 CAN.) NOT A HAPPY CAMPER!!! HEARD THIS WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY EXTREME COLD FOLLOWED BY WARM WEATHER, ETC. & PERHAPS BY ONLY DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE - - SO WILL THIS HAPPEN AGAIN????!!!!-- LIKE NEXT WINTER !!! LOVE MY CAR BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS !!!

- jsharon, Harrow, ON, Canada

problem #6

Feb 012017

Equinox LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,000 miles

My vehicle burns oil bad. I did have a significant repair that was covered by warranty, but the necessary repairs to fix the oil consumption are not covered and I can't afford the cost. If this engine is faulty I would like to join the class action

- Shelli H., Alma, MI, US

problem #5

Jun 012017

Equinox LS 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,500 miles

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

Got a letter from Chevrolet about the oil consumption issue. Before that, I was wondering why I had to add at least 2 quarts of oil in between oil changes while I don't need to do so with my other vehicles. Went to the dealer for the scheduled oil change and had them address the issue. They had me drive the car for 500 miles and come back. When I got the car back, the oil dipstick states that it's full. At 494 miles, I checked it again and it was at the halfway mark. I took it back to the dealer and they're repairing it no charge. We'll see how long this lasts.

- redgt10, Chesapeake, VA, US

problem #4

Oct 182016

Equinox LS 4cy

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,000 miles

well I have been taking my car to the dealer, seen the very first oil change that my car altered me to, then I notice that the car was make noise like it was out of oil, two months after my first oil change , so I went to auto zone, and the worker checked my oil and I was two quarts low. so I put two in and called the dealer and took my car in. Then the dealer told me that they couldn't find the problems i said to them that I could not be burning up oil like that its going somewhere. The dealers ended up doing work on my engine and still not reporting the leak. I continued to take my car to the dealer for oil changes and still oil was missing. Then just about The end of January I take it to Midas to get an oil change and the told me that their is a leak in the engine but it is a small leak... so I then called the dealer to ask way they did not find the leak and Midas did. the dealers ask me to bring the car in and the check the engine again and then they found that the pistons needed to be replaced and some other thing and gave me a total of 3,653.60 for repair. The clerk stated that a lot of equinox owners are bring their car in with the same problems and that she is surprised that their has not been a recall. More than have the owners have the same problems.

- Monica B., Columbus, OH, US

problem #3

Jan 192016

Equinox LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles

Noticed some oil under my vehicle as I was leaving for work. Decided to drive to dealership instead and almost made it. 1/4 mile form dealership, car goes into "reduced engine power mode" and I crawled into the dealership. Blew out the Main Rear Seal sending oil everywhere. Car in shop for 10 days. I paid $129.99 for a radiator flush as it was recommended by a friend who thought the burst of oil could have gotten into the radiator as well. NOT covered by warranty. Was told this happened because of a clogged PCV valve.

- DeeDee V., Kingston, MI, US

problem #2

Feb 132016

Equinox 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,800 miles

If you live in cold climate area look up Tech. Svc. Bulletin 14882 aka Service Bulletin 384545. I am original/only owner of vehicle. Driving at freeway speed 70 mph when all oil left engine. Per the sample letter on page 8 of TSB the 2.4L "can experience a frozen and/or plugged PCV system during cold weather operation" and "this condition may increase crankcase pressure leading to a rear crankshaft seal oil leak". While I wasn't experiencing extensive oil loss/consumption like some other owners have mentioned, the dealership mechanic confirmed that the crankshaft seal did fail. It was replaced at no cost to me under the power train warranty which has been extended by GM from 100k to 120k miles for this specific issue. This would cost about $3k if not under warranty as they have to pull the transmission to replace seal as well as pull fuel pump, remove intake manifold to clean out PCV passage and replace a fuel pump pipe, etc. Tons of labor.

My biggest concerns besides the safety issue of a high speed engine shutdown in traffic are for one, I never got a copy of the warning letter referenced above, and what is to prevent this from happening again during cold weather (it was 7 degrees F.). The dealership mechanic said the replacement seal is "better" than the original and will hold up. Well that's certainly reassuring To their credit the dealership didn't even blink about covering all under power train warranty but it is very disturbing that this problem has clearly been recognized but no recall has been issued. Given the cost of the fix it is understandable why they aren't in a hurry to do a recall, but it seems to me there is a real safety issue here as the seal failure is most likely to occur when the engine is running at higher speed/rpm.

Caveat Emptor!

- cornwallis, Lansing, MI, US

problem #1

Jan 072016

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

I've had this vehicle less than 3 months, twice now the oil was empty. Apparently issues with gaskets and such, something about pistons/rings.

Update from Feb 11, 2016: The check oil light NEVER came on, even though Chevrolet is aware that the Equinox uses ridiculous amount of oil. What's up with THAT?

- Carol K., Saginaw, MI, US

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