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9.3

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,980
Average Mileage:
94,500 miles
Total Complaints:
11 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replaced rear seal (8 reports)
  2. not sure (3 reports)
2012 Chevrolet Equinox engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Comments

problem #11

Apr 202022

Equinox LT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,967 miles

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

Yes, after thoroughly researching the 2012 Chevy Equinox, I have seen that the rear end main seal problem is a major one that needs a recall along with the PCV valve in the cold climate temperature in places like Rochester New York. They say it freezes up and causes the rear end main seal to blow out which was done to this 2012 Equinox with less than $75,000 miles. No one wants to cover it - I even had an extended warranty from Endurance and they refuse to cover it, making a mention that the PCV valve was the issue that caused the problem and since they do not cover the PCV valve they will not cover the blown rear end seal problem so this is why my complaint to GM is that they should fix all of this for free.

I believe it has ruined my entire engine along with finding out information that this car consumes tons of oil that they never told the consumer to make sure that they keep up with all oil changes which I have a record of. We pretty much did that. This is my 92-year-old grandmother's vehicle who has no money for this repair so I'm asking GM to either repair it as a tax write-off or start a senior citizen program at the GM dealerships on behalf of the unfortunate. Thank you for listening and hopefully this class action can go forth and bring forth great results.

- Corey B., Rochester, US

problem #10

Feb 092021

Equinox LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,501 miles

On February 9th 2021 at 5:00pm when it was 6 degrees with snow covered road outside, I was driving to an appointment about 10 miles away when my car started to act up. No warning lights or bells when off. I pulled into a Quick Trip and put some heat in thinking this was a gas line freeze up. I went a short 1.5 miles to my appointment and my car died. I was able to pull off to the side of the road and notice a lot of oil coming from my car. Again, still no warning lights or bells went off.

I towed it to Hendrick Chevrolet where all the oil changes and all previous work have been done. The problem is a rear main seal that is blown due to the PCV value getting clogged with water and freezing causing high crack case pressure, blowing the rear seal. GM has a service bulletin 14882 which covers this condition if the car is under 120000 miles/10 years from in service date. My car has 110501 miles and the end service date 6/2012 and should be covered. However GM says my VIN # isn't part up the 14882 bulletin.

My repair cost is $3200.00. It seems the cars that are manufactured in Mexico are part of this bulletin but the cars manufactured in Canada are not. There are a lot of people out there facing and complaining about this. There is a lot of complaints on your website. This condition only will occurs during below freezing conditions potentially making it a very dangerous condition. In my case if I was driving on I-435 instead of Holmes road my life would have been put in danger.

This should be a very easy fix for GM it make to in sure the safety of drivers during freezing conditions and to prevent the very expensive cost for the consumer to bare. In my case I'm picking up my car, stowing it and finding a lawyer.

- altenbernd, Belton, US

problem #9

Feb 172021

Equinox LTZ 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

We bought this car two 2 years ago from original owner. Low mileage in great condition in 2019. The vehicle had 34,000 miles on it . Last week 2/20/2021, it was zero degrees . My wife drove the car to get groceries. Half way there the engine started to shake, rattle and I told her to park and leave at the store for a few days for temp to warm up. I went back to the store a couple of days later hopping the vehicle would run better. Half way home which was 3-4 miles, the car started the same with me but a light came on showing low oil pressure. So I immediately pulled over and shut the car down . I checked the oil, it was almost dry.

My wife had just gotten an oil change a month earlier. I went and got three quarts of oil, put in the car, ran fine to get me home .When I pulled in the drive and checked the oil, it was pouring out of the car. Had a certified mechanic look at it and he stated the PVC line froze and caused the rear main seal to blow or the vehicle was low on oil .This vehicle has a 5 year 100,000 power train warranty on it. I called Chevy dealer -one claimed the 5 years was over even though the SUV only has 60,000 miles on it. The other dealer ran the vin and stated that the PVC or rear main seal was not under warranty. This is Horse@>?}. We are told to buy American, which used to take care of issues and offered quality products . I guess GM does not have those same values anymore? This is the last GM product I or my family or friends will buy, after reviewing all the people that are having this same problem with this lemon motor. They should have a recall but now they know time passes so sweep it under the rug .

- Greg T., Mt Zion, US

problem #8

Jan 272019

Equinox LT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 121,500 miles

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

click to see larger images

rear main seal blew out

On 1/27/2019 the rear main seal blew while driving at 70+ mph on a 5 lane freeway. Complete loss of all power and NO warning in heavy traffic, all due to the failed frozen PVC valve. My Vin was not included in the GM service bulletin # 14882- this almost cost me my life and has now cost me over $6K to date!!

- Kerri W., Eau Claire, US

problem #7

Jan 142019

Equinox LT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,950 miles

Last week at a red light my 2012 Chevy Equinox car started jerking and shaking. I was one mile from my office so I was able to drive the car to our lot, however the oil pressure light started flashing. I called AAA, the driver brought me to a local store to purchase 4 quarts of oil. However after filling the engine with the oil we discovered it was just pouring out.

I had my car towed to a local mechanic who explained the issue was a plugged PVC orifice in the intake manifold. They explained this problem is very common to GM and I should contact GM since they are aware of this issue along with high oil consumption issue. Discovered a service bulletin # 14882 on 2010-2014 Chevy Equinox cars with 2.4L engines. I spent 3 hours on the phone with GM customer service who claimed my VIN number was not included. This is complete BS, obviously, 2013 and 2014 Equinox cars have the same problem so it was not rectified. I called two Chevy dealers and they offered zero help. I had the mechanic fix the issue, they mentioned when the part was ordered they received the same service bulletin.

Bottom line- I know others have experienced the same problem. I plan to hire an attorney to help me deal with GM. I'm curious if anyone has experience fighting GM on this same issue? Appreciate any feedback-

Update from Mar 17, 2022: Regarding the "class action" oil consumption lawsuit. I was denied twice, all documentation and paperwork was completed and reviewed by my mechanic. I called both times to ask why my claim was denied and I was told basically nothing.

Curious how many others were also denied. Thank you-

Update from Mar 17, 2022: Regarding the "class action" oil consumption lawsuit. I was denied twice, all documentation and paperwork was completed and reviewed by my mechanic. I called both times to ask why I my claim was denied and I was told basically nothing.

Curious how many others were also denied. Thank you.

- lynnmm26, East Greenwich, RI, US

problem #6

Mar 142018

Equinox LTZ 2.4L I4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

Engine sludge buildup everywhere in engine despite consistent oil changes. Had engine cleaned out completely exposing rear main seal leak at only 85000 miles. Maintenance happens on vehicles but unbelievable at this mileage. $2500 repair bill

- carsplease, St. Paul, US

problem #5

Feb 012018

Equinox LT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,000 miles

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

click to see larger images

rear main seal blew out

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE ON 2/1/18 MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON SO I PULLED OVER AS QUICK AS I COULD AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. I LIVE IN ND AND IT WAS BELOW ZERO AND IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY COLD. NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED OR WHY THERE WAS A PILE OF OIL UNDER MY CAR I GOT IT TOWED TO THE SHOP TO FIND OUT MY REAR MAIN SEAL BLEW OUT. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE ICE CRYSTALS AROUND THE MAIN SEAL AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED IT FROM HAPPENING. I PAID $1,700 TO GET IT FIXED AND THE SHOP SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL GOOD. WELL I PICKED IT UP FROM THE SHOP AND DROVE HOME (I LIVE 40 MILES OUT OF TOWN) AND IT SEEMED FINE. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE NEXT DAY, MIND YOU IT WAS STILL WELL BELOW ZERO DEGREES OUTSIDE, THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AND I SHUT OFF THE CAR AS FAST AS I COULD; I GOT STRANDED ALONG THE INTERSTATE AGAIN BUT THIS TIME WITH MY 6 MONTH OLD SONÂ… SITTING IN THE FREEZING COLD WAITING FOR A RIDEÂ… I AM STILL FURIOUS!! I GOT THE EQUINOX TOWED TO THE SHOP AGAIN TO FIND OUT THAT MY ENGINE IS NOW WRECKED. THERE IS ONLY 84,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS; HOPEFULLY CHEVROLET WILL KEEP ME AS A CUSTOMER AND PAY FOR THE ENGINE THAT GOT WRECKED BECAUSE OF THEIR FAULTY REAR MAIN SEAL THAT CANÂ’T PERFORM IN COLD WEATHER.

- Mindy H., Leonard, US

problem #4

Feb 022018

Equinox LS 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,671 miles

This is my first new car and for a 6 year old car and all the headaches it shared to me as well as the dealer malpractices, I'm probably not going for american cars anymore.

- wynther, Waterloo, ON, Canada

problem #3

Jan 162018

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 109,548 miles

at 109,548 miles all oil drained through main oil seal failure, trial of oil behind car when stopped and all oil gone.

Problem seems to be known and common, expensive and should be a warranty or recall fix,

Had in shop last summer for exsessive oil use last summer but told did not use enough oil, 2 to 3 quarts extra per oil change has been normal since about 50,000 miles. Kathy at dealership says not under warranty.

- Paul J., Havana, US

problem #2

Jan 122018

Equinox

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

The rear main seal blew out in January 2017 and the entire engine had to be replaced, it was covered by Chevy due to being under warranty. This morning the same thing happened and Chevy refuses to pay for it because the warranty is expired. The engine should not being having this many issues in a car that it only 6 years old. AND the engine should still work fine when it is ONLY a year old.

- Amanda M., Hampton, US

problem #1

Jan 072017

Equinox LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,000 miles

I haven't had my 2012 Equinox a whole year yet. I bought it February 24th, 2016. It had 93,000 miles when I bought it. I also bought a $1,200- 2 year, 24,000 mile powertrain warranty to go along with my $12,000 purchase. Almost a year later, I was warming my car up to go to work on January 6th, 2017. It was bitterly cold for around a week with temps below zero. I got in my car and noticed the service engine light was on. It hadn't been on before so I was going to bring it to the shop the very next day to have it looked at. Upon coming to a stop at a stop light, my car started to hesitate. I pushed the brake even harder and the hesitation got a little stronger when I did that. It reminded me of a throttle body issue I had in my old impala. I worked for about 7 hours that evening and started driving home. I live about 20 miles from work. I got to my home town and decided to put air in one of my tires that was low. When I stopped, I got out and my car started smoking black smoke from the back and the front. It sounded terrible. I limped it about 50 yards to the body shop and turned it off. This was at about 12:30 am and I am thoroughly annoyed. The body shop took it in and put it on a hoist to warm up until business hours on that next Monday. They informed me that there was oil all over the bottom of my car. The shop found out that the PCV Valve had frozen and it caused the rear seal to blow out due to moisture in the motor. They called my powertrain warranty to start a claim. Ultimately the warranty will not cover the cost of repairs because the ice in the motor was "an act of nature." UNBELIEVABLE! There is a service bulletin (14882) but my VIN is not included. The parts to fix it aren't terribly expensive but they have to remove the transmission to fix the rear seal. That's the expensive part. I cannot believe a motor that collects that much moisture is not a defect! How can they sell a vehicle, with this common issue, in areas that get below zero? I wrote to GM and surprisingly they have not returned my e-mail! So I'm probably going to be into this car around $17,000 and it is only worth around $11,000. I am going to get rid of this vehicle as soon as I catch up to the repairs.

- angiej, Askov, MN, US

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