2010 Chevrolet Equinox Steering
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
POWER STEERING BECOMES STIFF AND VARIABLE. DOESN'T GO BACK TO CENTER AFTER TURNING. THIS PROBLEM COMES AND GOES.
AFTER A SHORT WARM UP (5-10 MINUTES OF DRIVING), THE STEERING WHEEL WILL INTERMITTENTLY LOSE POWER AND IS DIFFICULT TO STEER. IT IT DOESN'T MATTER THE TYPE OR SPEED OF DRIVING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
A CODE RANDOMLY APPEARS ON THE DASH WHILE DRIVING. IT'S SAYS TO SERVICE THE POWER STEERING. WHEN THIS POPS UP YOU LOSE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY. IF YOU ARE IN A MIDDLE OF A TURN, YOU CAN LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR CAR. THIS HAS ALMOST HAPPENED TO ME. THIS CODE WILL STAY ON THE SCREEN THEN RANDOMLY GOES AWAY AND POWER STEERING RETURNS. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CODE WILL POP UP WHEN YOUR DRIVING AND SAME RESULT, NO POWER STEERING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AND THIS HAPPENS.
NHTSA REFERENCE #: 10081067 TSB REFERENCE #: G-205009 SPECIAL COVERAGE #: 14232A AFTER THE DEALER REPLACED THE PARTS ON MY VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL IS STILL STICKING AND THE DEALER IS REQUESTING THAT ADDITIONAL PART(S) FROM THE STEERING WHEEL BE REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSES. I DO BELIEVE THAT ANY ADDITIONAL PARTS REQUIRED TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE SHOULD BE AT THE MANUFACTURER EXPENSES. THE TROUBLESHOOTING WAS NOT DONE THE RIGHT WAY IN ORDER TO ISOLATE THE COMPONENTS.
WHILE DRIVING MY EQUINOX, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE THAT STARTED. WHEN I TURN MY WHEEL, THE STEERING WHEEL IS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. AND BECOMES VERY LOOSE. I CURRENTLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR
INTERMITTENTLY, THE STEERING WAS SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED WHEN DRIVEN. CONTACTED GM AND THEY SENT ME TO A GM CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP/TECHNICIAN. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE (DUE TO A "TWISTED STEERING SHAFT") AND STEERING COULD COMPLETELY FAIL AT ANY TIME. I ESCALATED THE ISSUE TO A CHEVROLET SENIOR ADVISOR IN DETROIT. THE SENIOR ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. I INFORMED THE ADVISOR THAT THIS DEFECT COULD INJURE / KILL SOMEONE IF NOT MADE PUBLIC. HE INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO FURTHER... I JUST DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. PLEASE INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THIS ISSUE!!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE WHETHER A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LOWER BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
WIFE STOPPED FOR GAS PULLED OUT ON TO STREET VERY HARD TO STEER. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS ALMOST WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE. THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IT HAS BEEN CONSTANT WHETHER I AM GOING 2 MPH OR 70 KPH A CONSTANT STIFFNESS IN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT IT'S AS IF IT WAS A FLUID TYPE POWER STEERING NOT ELECTRICAL.NOW THIS IS A EARLY 2010 WE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JULY 2009.THERE ARE NO SIGNS OR ANY KIND OF NOISES TO INDICATE ANY KIND OF PROBLEM BUT I AM GETTING KIND OF NERVOUS IN DRIVING THIS SUV ANYMORE.THERE MUST BE OTHER CHEVY CARS THAT HAVE SAME PROBLEM I DO HOPE THERE WILL BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM SOON. THANKS *TR
STEERING STARTED ACTING ODD. BINDING UP WHEN TURNING. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERS. FIRST THEY TOLD ME THEY RESET THE STEERING. TWO DAYS LATER BROUGHT IT BACK STILL BINDING. DETERMINED IT WAS THE STEERING ASSIST MOTOR. THE CAR DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR ALMOST A WEEK. TOLD ME THEY HAD TO ALSO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR, MOTOR ASSEMBLY, AND STEERING WHEEL ANGLE SENSOR. TOLD ME CAR WAS REPAIRED. DROVE IT HOME APPROX. 20 MILES. CAR STEERING IS STILL BINDING UP. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERS TWO DAYS LATER. THE MECHANIC DROVE THE CAR AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. NOW I AM AT A LOSS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
MY WIFE WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO COMPLETE THE TURN DUE TO FACT THAT SHE COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE WAS JUST STARTING TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE TURN SO SPEED WASN'T AN ISSUE. THANKFULLY SHE WASN'T TRAVELING AT A FASTER SPEED. WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE EQUINOX NEEDS A STEERING GEAR REPLACED. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE ENGINE WAS WARM, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME STIFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 6/17/14*CN
2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING RACK. THE DEALER FOUND THE STEERING GEAR LEAKING AND REPLACED THE RACK ON A 2011 GMC ACADIA AT NO CHARGE. UPDATED 03/04/15. *JB
POWER STEERING FAILURE. STEERING LOCKED UP. VEHICLE COULD BE STEERED ONLY WITH EXTREME MANUAL EFFORT. IT OCCURRED REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, FROM 0 TO 35 DURING THIS INCIDENT. WHEN WHEEL WAS TURNED IT WOULD NOT RETURN TO PREVIOUS POSITION. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN TURNING A CORNER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STRAIGHTEN OUT WHEN THE TURN WAS COMPLETED UNLESS THE WHEEL WAS MANUALLY PULLED BACK, AGAIN WITH EXTREME EFFORT. LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED BUT HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY SUCH PROBLEM. DAYS LATER THE POWER STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL BY ITSELF! THEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! *TR
I WORK APPROXIMATELY 36 MILES FROM AND WHILE TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK ON THE EXPRESSWAY I NOTICE MY POWER STEERING MONITOR APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD AND MY AIR BRAKE WARNING SIGNALS CAME ON AND ALSO MY TRACTION CONTROL SIGNAL WAS ON AND MY STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF AND TIGHT VERY HARD TO CONTROL. I CONTACT GM CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT I HAVE RESEARCH OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE MANUFACTURED BY THEM WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT IS NOW ON THEIR RECALL LIST. THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL.THEY WERE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY IN MY HANDS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM THEN TO SATISFY ME AS A CUSTOMER. *TR
WHILE TURNING, POWER STEERING NO LONGER PRESENT. POWER STEERING DID NOT RETURN AFTER CHECKING FUSES AND REPLACING BATTERY. DEALER INDICATED NEEDED TO REPLACE STEERING GEAR AND CHARGED $1500. POWER STEERING ASSIST RETURNED FOR A FEW DAYS. POWER STEERING BECAME INTERMITTENT. WHEN I RETURNED TO DEALER, THEY SAY IT WAS THE SHAFT JOINTS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND REPLACED THOSE AT NO CHARGE. *TR
WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK. I HAD TO TUG FORCEFULLY ON THE WHEEL FOR THE STEERING WHEEL TO COME BACK TO CENTER. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN 3 DAYS LATER AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A BUSY ROAD. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK CAUSING ME TO NEARLY RUN OFF THE ROAD. I HAD TO PULL WITH FORCE TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER CAUSING ME TO BRIEFLY SWERVE INTO THE LEFT LANE. LUCKILY I DID NOT RUN OFF THE ROAD OR INTO ANYONE. *TR
THE STEERING STICKS. EXTRA EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO MAKE CORRECTIONS OFF CENTER. THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO CORRECT OR TURN THE VEHICLE INCREASES OR STICKS. THIS RESULTS IN UNDER OR OVER CORRECTION OR CAUSES PROBLEMS IN TURNING AND RETURNING THE WHEEL TO CENTER. SOMETIME THE STEERING IS FINE AND THEN THIS STICKING OR THIS COULD BE DESCRIBED AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS STUCK IN A RUT THAT REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT TO GET OUT OF. LIKE GETTING OUT OF A RUT SOMETIMES YOUR GO TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT DUE TO THE EXTRA EFFORT REQUIRED WHILE AT OTHER TIMES ONLY NORMAL EFFORT IS NEEDED. THIS IS DANGEROUS, I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT GM HAS A BULLETIN PIT 4992A BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS BULLETIN INDICATES. MY LOCAL DEALER DIDN'T KNOW OF THIS BULLETIN BUT SAID THEY WOULD CHECK. I NEVER GOT AN ANSWER. THIS STEERING ISSUED WITH THE 2.4 L ENGINE AND THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. *TR
MY WIFE NOTICED THAT IT WAS BECOMING HARD TO STEER. IT CONTINUED FOR A FEW MORE DAYS , SO I CALLED CHEVROLET DEALER TO SEE IF THEY HAD BEEN AWARE OF SUH A PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME NO THEY HAD NOT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHT OR ANY CODES STORED. I CALL GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY SUCH PROBLEM. IT HAS BECOME INCREASING WORST TO DRIVE WHERE IT MAY LEAD TO ACCIDENT. I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE ONE PART AFTER PART .THERE ARE TO MANY COMPLAINTS OUT THERE FOR GM TO REMAIN BLIND TO SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR
MY 2010 CHEVY EQUINOX IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 45 MINUTES, THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS OR BINDS WHEN TRYING TO MAKE MINOR LANE CORRECTION CHANGES. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE ON SMOOTH ROAD SURFACES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AN EXTRA AMOUNT OF FORCE MUST BE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET IT TO MOVE AWAY FROM IT'S STUCK POSITION BUT ONCE IT DOES MOVE, THE EXTRA AMOUNT OF FORCE USED CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO TRAVEL PAST IT'S INTENDED POSITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVER CORRECT AND TRAVEL TOO FAR TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY DURING WET AND SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 9,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS CONDITION DID NOT EXIST UNTIL AROUND THE 8,000 MARK. *TR
STEERING STICKS WHEN HAVING TO MAKE A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT IN KEEPING THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE IN STRAIGHT LINE. THIS OCCURS WHEN DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. THE STEERING ALSO STICKS WHEN STEERING INTO A SLIGHT BEND ON A FREEWAY. THIS CAUSES AN OVER CORRECTION IN KEEPING THE VEHICLE IN THE DESIRED PATH. THIS OVER CORRECTION DOES NOT RESULT IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE OF THE LANE UNLESS YOU WERE ALREADY RIDING THE DIVIDER BETWEEN LANES. *TR
JERKING IN STEERING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ROBERTS CHEVROLET OF PLATTE CITY, MO REPAIRED THE STEERING. WHEN TAKEN IN THEY STATED THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. I HAD QUESTIONED THE SITUATION ONE OTHER TIME AT AN OIL CHANGE. THE STEERING JERKING WAS GETTING MORE INTENSE OVER TIME, SCHEDULED FOR IT TO BE CHECKED ON JUNE 30, 2011. ON MY REPAIR ORDER #192798 IT IS STATED REPLACED STEERING GEAR. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR I WAS INFORMED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, BUT THEY FOLLOWED UP WITH GM AND GOT A BULLETIN #PIT4992A. THEY PERFORMED THE SERVICE LISTED IN THE BULLETIN. AS OF TODAY THAT SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE REASON FOR LISTING THE COVERED SERVICE IS THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE GETTING WORSE WITH ONLY 18,000 MILES. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL SO FAR AS I KNOW. WE THE JERKING GETTING WORSE WITH TIME I WAS NOT SURE IF IT COULD CAUSE A COMPLETE STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING.
MY NEW 2010 CHEVY EQUNOX DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH ITS ELECTRIC STEERING AFTER IT GOT WARMED UP AND AS DRIVING SPEED INCREASED. DEALERS KEPT TELLING US THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUE SINCE THEY COULD NOT DETECT AN ERROR CODE. ON TRIP TO FLORIDA, STEERING BECOME SO DIFFICULT THAT IT TOOK TWO HANDS TO STEER AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 50 MPH. DEALER (VIENCE FL.) FINALLY CHANGED OUT COMPLETE STEERING GEAR AND PROBLEM WENT AWAY! *TT
OUR 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX HAS DANGEROUS STICKY STEERING AT SPEEDS OF AROUND 70 MPH. MORE EFFORT THAN NORMAL IS REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT THESE SPEEDS, BUT THEN IT "BREAKS LOOSE" AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE SLIGHTLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN JANUARY 2010. THE LOCAL CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT TEST DROVE IT AND SAID THIS WAS NORMAL. I STRONGLY DISAGREE! *TR
HAVE BEEN HAVING THE STICKY STEERING PROBLEM OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT. IT'S NOTICEABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A SMOOTH ROAD SURFACE AND SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN HOTTER, HUMID WEATHER. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES BEFORE TO BE CHECKED AND THEY TOLD ME JUST WHAT I THOUGHT THEY WOULD TELL ME. THERE ARE NO TROUBLE CODES STORED IN THE COMPUTER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND OF COURSE GM IS NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS ONE. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE SO MANY OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I'M HAVING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ON THE EQUINOX, IT REALLY DOES SEEM LIKE A HAZARD BECAUSE OF IT LOCKING UP WHICH IS VERY NOTICEABLE AND DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE COULD BE HARD TO HANDLE IF NEEDING TO STEER QUICKLY IN A SITUATION.
STICKY STEERING, THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS AND YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT A SLIGHT TUG TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT TO GET IT TO MOVE OFF THE CENTER. IT IS NOTICEABLE ON GOOD SURFACES. I WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE STEERING ESPECIALLY IF THE SURFACE IS SLIPPERY. STARTED IN SEPT 2010. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox has 30 Steering complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.