TroubleCAR
54
Trouble

2012 Chevrolet Equinox

Complaints: 681Avg mileage: 81,679 miSince: Nov 2011
CrashFire13 injured

Problem Areas

Engine
354
Visibility/Wiper
120
Power Train
82
Electrical System
66
Fuel/Propulsion System
53
Unknown or Other
53
Steering
36
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
26
Structure:Body
22
Air Bags
18

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

AIR BAGS
133,000 miJun 18, 2020ERIE, PA
Crash2 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH, HE SUFFERED A MEDICAL CONDITION AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CRASHING INTO A THREE FEET HIGH CEMENT BOULDER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER HAD THEIR SEAT BELTS LATCHED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,000.

AIR BAGS
Nov 27, 2017MESA, AZ
Crash1 injured

"TAKATA RECALL" AIRBAG WAS EJECTED BUT IT WAS DEFLATED, OFFERING NO PROTECTION UPON IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING STRAIGHT, GOING LESS THAN 30MPH SLOWING DOWN, WHEN VEHICLE IMPACTED ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT.

AIR BAGS
62,271 miJul 1, 2015INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SEMI-TRUCK CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WITH FORCE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, UPPER AND LOWER BACK PAINS, NECK PAIN, AND ARM PAIN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,271.

AIR BAGS
46,000 miMay 3, 2015HOPEWELL JUNCTION, NY
Crash1 injured

I WAS STOPPED BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE MAKING A TURN. I WAS THEN REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROX. 30MPH. THIS CAUSE ME TO BE PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE FRONT AND REAR OF MY VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, ONSTAR CALL ME TO AS IF I NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION, BECAUSE THERE SYSTEM ALERTED THEM OF A AN ACCIDENT. NOW BOTH MY FRONT SEATBELTS ARE LOCKED IN PLACE AND THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I WAS PUSHED SO HARD INTO THE VEHICLE INFRONT OF ME THAT MY METAL BUMPER SUPPORT IS CRACKED 80% OF THE WAY THROUGH. I SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH BECAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. WITH ALL THE DAMAGE FRONT AND REAR, THOSE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED. *TR

AIR BAGS
39,000 miSep 30, 2013MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Crash1 injured

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH AS ANOTHER CAR WAS TRAVELING NORTH. THE CAR TRAVELING NORTH MADE A RAPID LEFT TURN DIRECTLY IN MY TRAVELING PATH. WE COLLIDED AND MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL PRETTY HARD BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. HOW SHOULD I PROCEED? *TR

AIR BAGS
Jan 4, 2024Victor, IA
Crash

Accident involving frontal impact with a deer. Heard and smelled propellant charge for airbag and service airbag light came on, no airbag inflation anywhere I could find it. Front grille/bumper cap, AC core, passenger fender are scrap. Any other cases of this.

ENGINE
May 19, 2023St.Robert, MO
Crash

My 2012 chevy equinox lt had had nothing but issues with the timing chain the oil consumption where it hardly wants to start I have only had this used vehicle for 6 months or less I shouldn’t be having all these problems with it! The tailpipe isn’t smoking out white clouds but when you put your hand over it it leaves black oil gas smelling grunge on your hand! This is the second equinox I have owed in less than 1 year and it should not be costing me a fortune in repairs within a year even though it’s used makes no sense to me why chevy allows this to happen!!!

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
45,000 miJan 12, 2019PUNTA GORDA, FL
Crash

THIS VEHICLE FREQUENTLY LOSES CHARGE ON BATTERY BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ARE NEW. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 70K MILES ALSO THROWS UP COMPUTER CODES RADIO TURNS ON AND OFF WHEN IT WANTS TO. I PURCHASED IT USED WITH 40K MILES AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE. I HAVE QUOTES FOR OVER 2K IN REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD AT TIME OF PURCHASE ALL RECALLS WERE CARED FOR. WAS PURCHASED CERTIFIED PREOWNED FROM A DEALERSHIP. EVERY TIME I FIX SOMETHING THERE'S ANOTHER PROBLEM.

AIR BAGS
153,000 miApr 23, 2017CROSS, SC
Crash

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR ENDED A STOPPED VEHICLE. MY CRUISE WAS SET AT 57 MPH AND I DID NOT APPLY BRAKES. BECAUSE CRUISE WAS SET, I HIT ONCE, BOUNCED BACK AND HIT AGAIN. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. THE VEHICLE HAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRAME BUT NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.

ENGINE
89,000 miJan 10, 2017ABINGDON, VA
Crash

; 2010-2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX; SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT THIS SPECIAL COVERAGE COVERS THE CONDITION DESCRIBED ABOVE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES (193,000 KM), WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, FROM THE DATE THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED IN SERVICE, REGARDLESS OF OWNERSHIP. DEALERS ARE TO PERFORM A CRANKCASE PRESSURE CHECK, AND IF REQUIRED, REMOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND CLEAR THE PCV ORIFICE. THE REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. FOR VEHICLES COVERED BY VEHICLE SERVICE CONTRACTS, ALL ELIGIBLE CLAIMS WITH REPAIR ORDERS ON OR AFTER MARCH 4, 2015, ARE COVERED BY THIS SPECIAL COVERAGE AND MUST BE SUBMITTED USING THE LABOR OPERATION CODES PROVIDED WITH THIS BULLETIN. CLAIMS WITH REPAIR ORDERS PRIOR TO MARCH 4, 2015, MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE SERVICE CONTRACT PROVIDER. THIS IS FROM SERVICE BULLETIN 14882. AS A RESULT OF THE FROZEN PCV, MY WIFE WAS NEARLY KILLED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED INSTANTANEOUSLY ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE CENTER LANE AFTER PREVIOUSLY BEING AT 74MPH. SEMI TRACTOR TRAILERS NEARLY RAN HER OVER. HIGHWAY PATROL CAME TO THE RESCUE SINCE HER VEHICLE COULD NOT BE COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM TRAFFIC. IT CAME TO REST PARTWAY ON THE SHOULDER AND PARTWAY ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP, THEY AGREED THAT IT MATCHED IDENTICALLY TO THIS SERVICE BULLETIN. THEN, WHEN THEY CHECKED THE VIN, GM SAID THAT OUR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THIS SEEMS TOTALLY WRONG. IF NEEDED YOU CAN OBTAIN THE HIGHWAY PATROL REPORT FROM THE MISSOURI HIGHWAY PATROL. THIS HAPPENED ON SUNDAY JANUARY 8, 2017. MY WIFE IS [XXX] FOR REFERENCE. IT OCCURRED AROUND 3PM CENTRAL STANDARD TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. THE REAR OIL SEAL BLEW OUT AND THE MOTOR CEASED INSTANTANEOUSLY WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
80,000 miMar 27, 2016STROUDSBURG, PA
Crash

I OWNED TWO CHEVY EQUINOXES. THE STABILITRAK WENT ON BOTH VEHICLES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE I DROVE TO WORK I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE STABILITRAK WENT AND MY CAR WAS TOTALED.

SERVICE BRAKES
51,000 miMay 25, 2014MIAMI, FL
Crash

AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN GETTING READY TO COME TO A STOP AT ABOUT 10/15 MPH, I PRESSED MY BRAKES AND THEY FELT HARD. I COULD NOT PRESS DOWN SO I CONTINUED TO TRY, WHEN THEY VIBRATED AND COULD NOT STOP, I CRASHED INTO THE PERSON AT THE RED LIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

SUSPENSION
16,391 miDec 12, 2013CUMBERLAND, MD
Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL ALSO BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AS THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHEN THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE AXLE WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL HAD COLLAPSED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE ENGINEERS HAD DETERMINED THAT THE CRASH COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,391.

SEATS
21,000 miDec 4, 2013AVON, IN
Crash

WE WERE SITTING STILL AT TRAIN CROSSING WHEN WE WERE STRUCK FROM THE REAR AND WAS SHOVED FORWARD 8-10 FEET INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. WITH ALL OF THE REAR AND FRONT DAMAGE, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. ALSO, BOTH FRONT SEATS BROKE LOOSE FROM THE SEAT BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE SEATS TO THE FLOOR. MY WIFE (PASSENGER SEAT) NOT ONLY BROKE LOOSE BUT THE SEAT TWISTED. *TR

STRUCTURE:BODY
25,800 miNov 3, 2013PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC
Crash

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AT AN ANGLE TO THE CURB WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED CAUSING IT TO JUMP THE CURB AND HIT A TREE NEAR THE CURB CAUSING CAUSING OVER $6000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *TR

AIR BAGS
19,000 miDec 26, 2012CANAL WINCHESTER, OH
Crash

I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN A VEHICLE REAR ENDED MY VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AROUND 40-50 MPH AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT PUSHED ME FORWARD INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND THE CAUSING VEHICLE AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO ACTIVATE WHICH PROMPTED ONSTAR TO COME ON. THE AIRBAGS NEVER ACTUALLY ACTIVATED. THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE CRASH WAS $17,000 TO REPAIR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED. THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE UPON INSPECTION SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *TR

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
59,500 miFeb 7, 2020WARREN, ME
Fire

ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2020 1:09PM MY 2012 EQUINOX VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE 10 MINUTES AFTER REACHING MY DESTINATION IN A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY. THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF, AND LOCKED WITH THE KEY BEFORE ENTERING THE RESIDENCE. SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY WITH FLAMES. MY CONCERNS: 1) I HAD MY PASTOR WITH ME AND THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING; 2) MY NEXT DESTINATION WAS PARKING IN MY GARAGE AND I WOULD HAVE HAD A HOUSE FIRE. GOD WAS WATCHING OVER US.

ENGINE
101,000 miJul 12, 2019DETROIT, MI
Fire

GM NOTIFIED US OF A KNOWN OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. OUR VEHICLE WAS CONSTANTLY LOSING OIL. WE COMPLETED THE OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS BEFORE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD REPLACE THE PISTON AND RINGS, WHICH WERE REPLACED IN JUNE 2018. JULY 1ST 2019, AFTER 10,000 MILES, THE ENGINE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE STREET. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS SERIOUS HARMED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A 6 LANE STREET IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

ENGINE
107,000 miJan 16, 2018HAMILTON, OH
Fire

RECENTLY MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING. WE OWN A 2012 EQUINOX 2.4L. WE DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL NOW THAT THIS ENGINE IS KNOWN FOR HAVING EXTREME ISSUES WITH A PCV VALVE AND BECAUSE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW THE VALVE GETS CLOGGED UP. IT MAKES YOUR ENGINE BUILD UP PRESSURE AND THEN A CRANKCASE SEAL BLOWS (IN OUR CASE IS WAS THE REAR). THIS IS SOMETHING KNOWN TO GM. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT FOR THIS BUT GM WON'T COVER IT. WE MEET ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS AND THEY STILL WON'T COVER IT. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE ALL OVER THE INTERNET POSTING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND GM WON'T HELP THEM EITHER.

ENGINE
60,000 miApr 29, 2015WILLIAMSTON, MI
Fire

WHILE DRIVING DOWN I-96 IN MICHIGAN AT MILE 62, I FELT AN EXPLOSION UNDER MY FEET. THERE WAS A LARGE CLOUD OF BLACK SMOKE FOLLOWED BY FLAMES UNDERNEATH AND OUT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RAN TO SAFETY WHILE WATCHING THE VEHICLE BURN UNDERNEATH. THE AIR DRAFT FROM PASSING TRAFFIC EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. QUALIFIED TECHNICIANS AT OUR LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER HAVE TOLD US THERE IS A GOLF-BALL SIZE HOLE AND A SOFTBALL SIZE HOLE IN THE ENGINE IN ADDITION TO NUMEROUS ISSUES RESULTING FROM THE FIRE (MELTED FUEL AND BRAKE LINES, CHARRED AND BUBBLED PAINT AND MELTED PLASTIC PARTS, ETC.) ALTHOUGH THIS IS COVERED BY GM WARRANTY AND THEIR INVESTIGATION "TOTALED" THE CAR , CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NOT OFFERED ASSISTANCE THAT WILL COVER REPLACEMENT OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Other Equinox Years

Other Chevrolet Models