2015 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
My vehicles engine was destroyed when the timing chain snapped due to oil consumption problems with the engine. I started my vehicle up one day and there was a very loud sound for a few seconds and then the car shut off and wouldn't start again. I called many shops before taking it to be diagnosed and everyone of them including a Chevy dealer employee said that this unfortunately is a common problem with this vehicle . They have a terrible oil consumption problem which leads to the timing chain breaking and destroying the engine. I then took my car to a shop and they determined that it did snap and I needed a whole new engine. Chevy dealership didn't have any engines available and they still don't not because they are on back order still. So I had to take somewhere else and get a new engine put in. I got a zero mile engine put in the car with a warranty. But Chevy won't reimburse it because there is no recall associated with my vin Besides my vehicle I know of 2 other people who have the same make and model year who also had the timing chain snap and destroy the engine. One of which happened two weeks before mine. This problem has been detected in prior year models of the equinox. There was a class action lawsuit for year 2010-2013 They claimed to have fixed the problem but they clearly have not. I believe this engine needs inspected recalled and pulled from the market. This is a very costly problem that needs to be fixed. And Chevy should be held accountable for selling car's with faulty engines. I'm sure they're many more people affected besides myself and the two people I know . Luckily for myself I was in my driveway when it happened and not out with my kids in the car because total engine failure in the middle of traffic could have lead to serious injuries. Please look into this problem
The contact owned a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle's engine started making a loud humming sound. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled into parking and observed what appeared to be steam issuing from under the hood. The contact raised the hood and saw that the engine compartment was on fire. The fire department was called and the fire was extinguished with chemical fire extinguishers. The police were also on the scene and wrote a report. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was declared a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle started making a loud tapping sound. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine rods needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed the engine revved, a burning odor was detected with the check engine warning light illuminating The vehicle was taken to Pep Boys where the failure was diagnosed as an oil leak and a smell of burning odor. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure as an oil leak in the transfer case. The mechanic stated that the catalytic converter and exhaust manifold needed replacement. The catalytic converter and exhaust manifold were replaced. The contact stated that she picked up the vehicle however, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic who stated that there was an excessive oil consumption failure and the fuel intake sensor needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance as there were no recalls open. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
It's has oil consumption problem issuse because the added 3 quarts of oil and it still wouldn't show on the dipstick
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenance, the dealer inspected and diagnosed that there was a leak near the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) main seal. The dealer replaced the PCV main seal and intake. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no open recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
Engine stopped working while advancing In turn lane to turn left at a busy intersection. It stopped moving. Required assistance from 3 other passerbys to push car through traffic and out of the intersection. It it had failed moments later the car would have been in the middle of the intersection. Then needed a tow truck to get the car to the service station. They diagnosed it to be a broken timing chain that damaged the cams and destroyed the engine. It was not inspected by anyone other than the sevice center. The car started rough 3 minutes earlier and was on the way to have it diagnosed at another service center. The check engine and system chassis lights came on after the timing chain failure.
I don't understand on why there can be a recall on a windshield wipers and not a recall on a defect which results in total engine failure while driving. You must be aware of the problems that the 2.4 ECO-TEC engine has in relation to oil consumption and clogged PCV valve in cold weather. When the valve freezes it results in oil loss and engine failure which puts the driver and passengers in a very dangerous situation. Its all about the money and how much GM would have to pay to make this problem right. Instead the NHTSA turns a blind eye to the dangerous problem and instead investigates on why some wiper blades don't work. Do some real investigation by first going to the Facebook page titled Terrain Equinox oil consumption problems and read some real accounts of owners being put in dangerous situations.
Engine Rear main seal leaks oil.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle started to leak engine oil. The contact had the vehicle towed to the local mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rear main seal was leaking due to positive pressure building up in the PCV system however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
On December 29, 2021 my 2015 Chevy Equinox did not start (couple days prior vehicle would jerk when coming to a stop - no dash lights came on). Had my Equinox towed to the dealship where I bought the vehicle and where I had every oil change completed. The service department stated I needed a new engine (not given a reason on exact issue), it is currently sitting at the dealership as I dont have 8K to replace engine!
While driving on I-96 in Michigan, the vehicle began to shake, and act like it was going to stall out. The check engine light came on, the no power to engine and check oil level messages appeared, disappeared, and reappeared again. After getting off at the nearest exit ramp, the vehicle did eventually stall out and would not start again. I checked the oil, the dipstick indicated that there was no oil, the dipstick was dry. I was confused because I had just had oil changed approximately 3-4 weeks prior to this incident. I had the vehicle towed to a mechanic where it was inspected and concluded that the engine was damaged and the vehicle would need a new engine. The mechanic indicated to me that there was a known issue with the Equinox 2.4L, 4 cylinder engines, where the engine burns excessive oil internally, leading to engine failure. He had just had another equinox in his shop with the same issue. The mechanic contacted Jasper motors, a company that rebuilds engines, they could get me a new engine, but not until mid-march because there were 40 of this engine on backorder. I conducted an internet search to see how widespread the issue is. Websites such as carbrain.com, chevroletproblems.com, motorreviewer.com, vehiclehistory.com, and wvdot.com, all say the same thing; the 2.4L engine "burns excessive oil". I guess on one hand, you could say buyer beware, you have to know what you are purchasing, but on the other hand, the Chevrolet dealer that I purchased this vehicle from did no disclose to me that there was a know issue with these engines and I should continually check the oil levels. Had that been disclosed, I would have likely purchased a different vehicle, or, at least had the necessary knowledge to prevent this from occurring. If there is a know issue with this engine burning excessive oil, why hasn't it been recalled and fixed?
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact’s daughter stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The driver pulled over to the side of the roadway. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the rear main seal replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact to bring the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
2015 Chevy Equinox with Excessive oil Consumption. Known complaints for this model. My engine seized up . No warning . Oil had been changed
Excessive oil consumption has caused my engine to completely deplete all oil which can lead to my engine freezing while driving
The timing chain broke at 107,988 miles on this vehicle, I bought it with 72000 miles on it in April 2020. luckily I was in a parking lot and the vehicle not moving. It's over a $5,000 repair estimate. I have it at a local repair shop. yes it is available for inspection.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 50 MPH, she heard loud knocking sounds coming from the engine and the vehicle was jerking. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that her daughter was able to pull into the nearest parking lot. The vehicle was towed to her daughter's friend residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired. The dealer informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle under recall because the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact also contacted a second dealer - Mike Bell Chevrolet (1200 N. Park St, Carrollton, GA 30117) for the repair. The dealer confirmed the information of the first dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 102,000.
May 29, 2021 last oil changed at Chevrolet Service Center Aug 14, 2021 engine stopped working due to empty oil, as a result of oil leakage. However, the oil light didn’t show up. Note: Oil change is not yet due.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR THE OTHER DAY AND IT STARTED MAKING A STRANGE NOISE AND A WAS A HALF A MILE FROM MY HOME AND PULLED IN THE DRIVE WAY TO HAVE MY HUSBAND CHECK MY CAR AND OIL WAS PORING OUT OF MY REGION ON THE DRIVEWAY. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS WENT ON TO TELL ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM EITHER. TOOK IT TO A SERVICE GARAGE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ME $4,500 TO FIX IT. I SERVICED MY CAR ON THE REGULAR SO I SHOULD OF HAD NO PROBLEMS.
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE END OF MARCH 2020. MY MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. NO CODES COME UP ON THE COMPUTER FOR DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. 2 SENSORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED. TOOK IT INTO THE MECHANIC'S YESTERDAY AND THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. I WAS JUST DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE ENGINE MAKES A RATTLING SOUND WHEN IT IS STARTED UP. VERY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HAD PROBLEMS WITH 4 OTHER GM VEHICLES THAT I HAVE PURCHASED IN THE PAST. THIS IS THE FIRST PROBLEM VEHICLE THAT I HAVE EVER OWNED. I DO NOT WANT TO OWN ANOTHER CHEVY AGAIN.
WITH ONLY ONE DAY NOTICE MY ALERT SYSTEM NOTED ON MY DASHBOARD TO REDUCE POWER. AND TAKING MY VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD THAT MY ENGINE WAS RUINED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, WHICH IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE CHEVY EQUINOX. MY CAR IS A 2015 CHEVY EQUINOX. THE REASON I FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IS BECAUSE THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF AND DIES ON THE HIGHWAY EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GO 30 MILES AN HOUR. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS ALMOST HIT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE CAR CONTINUED TO STOP. I STOP DRIVING ON HIGHWAY UNTIL I COULD GET HOME AND THEN THE CAR DIED IN DRIVEWAY AND I HAD NO BREAKS EVEN TO STOP THE CAR FROM ROLLING. I FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD BE A ISSUE THAT GMC SHOULD BACK UP BECAUSE IT IS SUPPOSEDLY A WELL-KNOWN FACT THAT THE CHEVY EQUINOX HAS A HIGH CONSUMPTION OF OIL USAGE. I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT INFORMATION WHEN I PURCHASED THAT VEHICLE AS A USED VEHICLE THREE YEARS AGO. I OWE $11,000 ON THIS VEHICLE THAT I AM BEING QUOTED $8000 FOR REPAIRS. IF THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS PROBLEM THEN MY NAME SHOULD BE ENTERED IN THAT LAWSUIT SO THAT I COULD GET THE REPAIRS DONE ON MY VEHICLE SO THAT I AM ABLE TO GET BACK-AND-FORTH TO WORK AND GET MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED
While driving, the check engine light came on. After getting the code we called our local mechanic and he told us the first thing we should do was check the oil level, as this is a common problem with 2015 Equinoxes. We had to add 2 quarts just to get the oil to even reach the dipstick. At no time did we ever receive an indicator about the oil being low, we just got the check engine light. Our mechanic said if we were lucky that an oil change might fix the issue. After leaving the shop, the Equinox kept stalling and the engine light came back on. We took it back in and he replaced both solenoids, which we thought had fixed the problem, but he informed us about this being a well-known issue. We then had to take the Equinox to a GM dealership anyway to fix the windshield wiper transmission issue (which is a known issue that I only discovered after my wipers broke while I was driving on a busy highway in the rain) and we asked them to do a fuel consumption test. The diagnosis came back that the pistons and rings need to be replaced, which appears to be the same issue that the 2011-2013 Equinoxes/Terrains have. There are special coverages for the previous model years and there was also a class-action lawsuit, so I don't understand why I'm repeatedly being told by GM that it's not a common issue with 2015s. As someone who works for a supplier to GM and who has friends and family members who work for GM, I'm not ignorant to how the automotive industry works. It's no secret that these engines get used across multiple model years, so it seems likely that this is the same 2.4L engine. Yet GM has repeatedly told me that even though I believe that this is a common issue, it actually is not.
MY 2015 CHEVY EQUINOX WAS SCHEDULED FOR ITS REGULAR OIL CHANGE ON TUESDAY, APRIL 27TH AT 8 AM. THE WEEK PRIOR I STARTED HEARING A "KNOCKING" NOISE AND TWO WEEKS PRIOR SMELLED AN ODOR THROUGHOUT THE CABIN. THREE DAYS BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT I DROVE CAR 5 MINUTES ONSITE AND WORK AND PARKED IT. I CAME OUT 40 MINUTES LATER AND IT WOULD NOT START (HOWEVER, IT DID TURN OVER). ATTEMPTED TO JUMPSTART VEHICLE TO NO AVAIL. CONTACTED TOW COMPANY ON MONDAY AFTER CHECKING AGAIN AND HAD IT TOWED TO LOCAL SHOP THAT WAS SCHEDULED TO DO SERVICE. RECEIVED A CALL AT 10:47 AM STATING THAT VEHICLE NEEDED NEW ENGINE, SOMETHING BROKE INSIDE. I AM AT A LOSS FOR WORDS. 120 K MILES AND ENGINE DOWN??!! NO WARNING SIGNAL, NO LOW ENGINE LIGHT, NOTHING!! GMC NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES AND INCLUDE ALL EQUINOX IN THE RECALL, FOR OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM.
HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION 1 1/2 QUARTS EVERY MONTH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY STRONG EXHAUST ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL CRACKS TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER EDD ROGERS CHEVROLET BUICK, LLC., (674 W BOCKMAN WAY, SPARTA, TN 38583) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,200.
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The 2015 Chevrolet Equinox has 152 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.