2011 Chevrolet Equinox Engine
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
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. Additionally, the instrument panel light, exterior headlights, and rear taillights were inoperable. The contact's cousin, an independent mechanic, diagnosed the vehicle with timing chain failure. The contact was informed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 273,000.
ICE FORMED IN THE PCV BREATHER TUBE, BLOCKING THE PCV SYSTEM, CAUSING PRESSURE BUILDUP AND OIL TO EXPLODE OUT OF THE OIL DIPSTICK TUBE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THIS ISSUE IS SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED IN GM'S TSB 14882, COVERING THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THE VIN WAS NOT COVERED, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A 2011 EQUINOX WITH A 2.4L ENGINE AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH PCV SYSTEMS FREEZING UP AND CAUSING A WIDE RANGE OF PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY TOW AND REPAIR COSTS.
Has 103,000 miles and is using a lot of oil. Will stop running in the middle of traffic. Must turn off engine and restart. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. When restarted it will only run approximately 45 mph. Just purchased car one year ago.
The suv would not go in to drive when you change gears it only, goes in reverse.
OIL WEAR OUT IN TWO WEEKS N ENGINE BLEW UP.IN THE CITY STREET.
has the bad problem of oil consumption now at 120k miles its want even run anymore
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while checking the oil in the vehicle, he noticed that there was little to no oil on the dipstick. The contact stated that he changed the oil and that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
MANY 2011 EQUINOXS HAVE HAD THEIR TIMING CHAIN RECALLS. MINE IS AT 9000 MILES AND NEEDS A NEW TIMING CHAIN
EXCESSIVE OIL USE. BURNS 1 QUART OF OIL PER WEEK. REQUIRES 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 300 MILES. THIS IS GETTING INSANELY EXPENSIVE AND ANNOYING. NO LOW OIL LIGHT COMES ON BUT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES. I NEVER LET THE ENGINE START TO KNOCK BEFORE ADDING OIL, BUT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE. GM NEEDS TO SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE THEY GET SUED DRASTICALLY.
NOT LONG AFTER MY LAST OIL CHANGE, MY 2011 CHEVY EQUINOX STARTED A TICKING SOUND UPON ACCELERATION WHICH WORSENED TO A LOUD KNOCKING. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR GARAGE AND TOLD THE MECHANIC WHAT WAS HAPPENING. AFTER HEARING THE ENGINE KNOCKING, HE SHUT THE CAR OFF AND PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE OIL. IT WAS BONE DRY. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE CHEVY EQUINOX WAS NOTORIOUS FOR ITS OIL CONSUMPTION CAUSING THE ENGINES TO BLOW, AND THAT HE WAS AFRAID MY ENGINE WAS RUINED & WOULD NEED REPLACED. HE PUT FOUR QUARTS OF OIL IN THE ENGINE & THE KNOCKING STOPPED. LUCKILY, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AND I WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE IT. BUT THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS A TIME BOMB, AND THAT BECAUSE OF ITS OIL CONSUMPTION THE ENGINE COULD BLOW AT ANY TIME. WHEN I GOT HOME I RESEARCHED ONLINE REGARDING THE EQUINOX AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR EQUINOX AND HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENGINES. I ALSO READ ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE EQUINOX FOR ITS OIL CONSUMPTION, AND THAT MOST PEOPLE WERE HAVING GREAT DIFFICULTY GETTING GM TO DO REPAIRS, DENYING CLAIMS AND GIVING THEM "THE RUN-AROUND". NOW I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET A DIFFERENT VEHICLE BECAUSE I USED ALL MY MONEY TO BUY THIS EQUINOX. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE AN ENGINE EITHER. I AM AT A GREAT LOSS BEING STUCK WITH THIS "TIME BOMB" THAT GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BUT WON'T FIX. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO & IT HAS 116,000 MILES. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OR ANY PAPERS FROM GM.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, OIL ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT ALERT WHEN OIL IS LOW. JUST CHECKED OIL DIPSTICK IS BARE AND I HAVE 3000 MILES TO GO BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE. LOW OIL ALERT DOES NOT ALERT TO THE ISSUE THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE OCTOBER 2020. IT WAS ONLY BY CHANCE THAT THIS WAS FOUND, NO WARNING SIGNS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOW ON OIL. LAST OIL CHANGE TOOM TO DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE AND IT WAS STATED THE OIL LEVEL DIDN'T REGISTER ON DIPSTICK.
THIS 2011 CHEVY EQUINOX IS PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT (ELLEN BERMAN, ET AL. V. GENERAL MOTORS LLC - CASE NO. 2:18-CV-14371). GM KNEW ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE LACK OF OIL GAUGES, RESULTING IN PISTON WEAR AND FAILURE, CAUSING ENGINES TO SEIZE, YET CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE THEM AS IS FOR YEARS AFTERWARD. HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REBUILT, COSTING ALMOST $4,000. RECEIVED DENIAL OF ANY REIMBURSEMENT FROM ANALYTICS CONSULTING LLC, WHO IS THE SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATOR. VEHICLE IS NOT WORTH SELLING TO ANYONE, NOR WOULD I, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, PUT THIS RUST BUCKET OUT THERE FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE OIL ISSUE. (CONTINUES TO LEAK). GOT UPSIDE-DOWN ON LOAN...HAD TO USE TAX REFUND TO PAY IT OFF. WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR AND LABOR COSTS. IT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR GENERAL MOTORS TO DO. WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GM PRODUCT! I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY YOUNG DAUGHTER, TO WHOM THIS HAPPENED.
CAR WAS USING EXCESS AMOUNTS OF OIL YET THE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. I HAD ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. IT HAD BEGUN MAKE A CLANKING/RATTLING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, IT WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY OF OIL AND NO OIL LEAK. IT WAS STATED THAT MY CAR HAD AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE PER SERVICE BULLETIN 15285C.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle had been diagnosed with excessive oil consumption by an independent mechanic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning while depressing the accelerator pedal. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that the failure was a known issue however, the warranty on the vehicle had expired. The contact was then transferred to the NHTSA by the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000
OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE WITH THIS ECOTEC 2.4L ENGINE. CONSUMING AT LEAST A QUART OF OIL A WEEK DUE TO FAULTY PISTON RINGS.
I HAD GOTTEN AN OIL CHANGE ON SEPTEMBER 4TH 2020. A FEW DAYS LATER I DROVE TO GEORGIA TO PICK UP MY BOYFRIEND THE DAY WE GOT BACK WE STOOD HOME THE ENTIRE DAY THE FOLLOWING DAY I WENT TO GO TURN ON MY CAR AND GO SOMEWHERE THE CAR TURNED ON AND THEN IT IS IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK OFF MY CAR HAS NOT TURNED ON SINCE THEN AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.
CAR CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING SAYING REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND SERVICE SYABILI TRACK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON
VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO PISTON RING WEAR. THIS LEAD TO A BEVY OF OTHER ISSUES, ICLUDING TIMING CHAIN DAMAGE, MANIFOLD DAMAGE, SELENOID DAMAGE, PISTON DAMAGE. DOCUMENTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR UPLOAD DUE TO ORIGINALS BEING WITH CLASS ACTION ATTORNEYS
NOTICING EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPION WITH OUT WARNING FROM THE CAR'S COMPUTER. THE CAR DOES START TO HAVE OPERATING ISSUES AND WILL CHUG AND TURN IT SELF OFF IF THE OIL DOES RUN LOW BEFORE I CAN CATCH IT. THE ONLY SYSTEM NOTIFICATION FOR THIS IS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NO OIL NOTIFICATIONS APPEAR.
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO ENGINE, FUEL PUMP FAILURE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION .
THE ENGINE OIL HAS BEEN BURNING EXCESSIVELY HAVING TO PUT OIL IN IT A WEEK AFTER OIL CHANGE THE ENGINE NOW HAS DIED
2011 EQUINOX HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND IS GETTING WORSE. THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL THAT IS VAGUE WHICH IS TO SAY IT IS A POPULAR ISSUE WITH NO DIRECT RESOLUTION.
THE 2.4L ENGINE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING BEFORE THE DATE LISTED, THE CAR STALLED ON TWICE ON INTERSTATE 69 SHE HAD TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS WAS DUE TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION IN CAR. SHE DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN THAT CAR AT ALL. ATTACH WIL BE THE BILL OF THE ENGINE REPAIR DUE TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION
I HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY PUT QUARTS OF OIL IN TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T RUN DRY. IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT ISSUE WITH MECHANICS I'VE TAKEN IT TO AT THE DEALERSHIP SAYING THEY'VE SEEN EVERY EQUINOX THEY WORKED ON HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES BURNING THROUGH OIL.
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (BY SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT 15810), HOWEVER THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT I HAD A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD... WHICH WAS NOT COVERED BY THE SPECIAL COVERAGE. IT IS CRAZY THAT AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILS! IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE EXTRA PRESSURE DUE TO THE CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. GM REFUSED TO REINBURSE THIS SERVICE.
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Quick Summary
The 2011 Chevrolet Equinox has 239 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.