2017 Chevrolet Equinox Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
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On 1/27/26, while driving at highway speeds, I received a "Reduced Engine Power" alert. I was forced to pull over immediately; the vehicle stalled before I could reach a complete stop. This left me stranded in dangerously cold temperatures for an extended period while awaiting a tow. Upon inspection, I was informed that the engine has failed and requires a complete replacement. This is highly distressing for several reasons: * Low Mileage: The vehicle has only 54,000 miles and is well under the expected lifespan of a modern engine. * Meticulous Maintenance: As a loyal customer, I have had every scheduled oil change and service performed at my local Chevrolet dealership. My service history will confirm that this vehicle has been maintained to the highest standards. * Brand Loyalty: I have been a dedicated Chevrolet owner for years, having purchased five brand-new vehicles from your dealerships. I chose Chevrolet based on a reputation for reliability that, in this instance, has not been met. "I am specifically concerned because my vehicle's symptoms align with Special Coverage Adjustment #14882 (PCV Icing). Given that the failure occurred during extreme cold and resulted in immediate engine failure, it appears to be the exact scenario outlined in your technical service bulletins regarding the 2.4L engine. I am requesting that this repair be handled under that special coverage or a similar goodwill extension." My research indicates that this specific engine model has a documented history of similar issues. Given my history with the brand and the premature nature of this failure, I am requesting that Chevrolet review my case for a goodwill repair adjustment or a significant cost-sharing assistance for the engine replacement.
I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety defect involving a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox that experienced a sudden and complete loss of engine power while the vehicle was in motion. While traveling approximately 50 mph in active traffic, the engine abruptly shut off and the vehicle immediately lost all ability to accelerate. The loss of propulsion was total and occurred without warning. There were no warning lights, alerts, or indicators of a low oil or engine condition prior to the failure. Moments before the shutdown, the engine began making an abnormal mechanical noise. A video was recorded during the incident while the vehicle was still operating in traffic. The recording captures the engine failure in real time, including the vehicle decelerating from approximately 50 mph to a complete stop as the engine shut down. I was able to coast into a breakdown lane and then into a nearby parking lot, narrowly avoiding a collision. A sudden loss of propulsion at this speed and in these conditions presents a severe and immediate safety risk to vehicle occupants and surrounding traffic. This vehicle has been regularly serviced by authorized Chevrolet dealerships and maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule. At no point was I advised that the vehicle required frequent manual oil checks between scheduled oil changes, nor did the vehicle provide any warning prior to engine shutdown. I routinely operate this vehicle at highway speeds and regularly transport my child. Had this failure occurred on a highway or in heavier traffic, the risk of serious injury or fatality would have been significant. The exact cause is UNKNOWN at this time. The vehicle is available for inspection, and I can provide maintenance records and video documentation upon request.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and the vehicle decelerated to 5 MPH. The contact stated that the message "Vehicle Entering Power Saver Mode" was displayed. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that when the vehicle was restarted, the message “Engine Oil Level Low – Shut-off Immediately" was displayed, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear main seal had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. While the contact’s son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly started shaking, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear engine seal had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
The rear main seal has gone out in two 2017 chevy equinox right around 100,000 for both vehicles costing over 1000$ plus to fix.
2017 chevrolet Equinox LT with a 2.4L ecotec engine. The PCV system froze due to the cold weather conditions caused the rear main seal to blow futher causing cylinder scoring to the engine. I got it checked out by a local mechanic that actually works with the extended warranty company called Silverrock that's provided from the dealership Drivetime from who I financed the truck from. The mechanic shop name is hoekstra muffler and alignment located at 722 W 151st St, East Chicago, IN 46312. They were the ones to diagnose the problem and provided me with a diagnostic sheet for this issue. The vehicle has not been checked by a chevrolet technician yet. I took the truck in for a regular maintenance oil change on January 8th at Walmart in portage, indiana. My truck was driving fine and suddenly on January 20th my truck seized on the highway on my way to work at 7am. A warning light marking low oil pressure turn off engine was marking on my dashboard. After i was in a safe spot on the side of the expressway, I have Life360 and proceeded to call for a tow truck. When the tow truck driver arrived in order to put the car in neutral he has to jump start my equinox. My truck will only start if it's jumped and keep the cables connected, otherwise it shuts off.
Due to cold temperatures, the main rear seal blew causing engine, coolant and intake systems to fail. Full replacements are now needed.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to restart with a knocking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that oil had seeped out of the vehicle, a seal was fractured, and the engine had seized. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
There is water my oil and I have a blown head gasket. I get all maintenance done and have oil changes on time
The 2.4L engine is experiencing significant issues, including power loss and rapid oil consumption. The power loss has been observed while driving on both expressways and city streets. The oil burning commenced less than a month after an oil change, resulting in an oil level of zero. This situation poses a risk of accidents and endangers the occupants of the vehicle. An independent service center has confirmed the problem. The center determined that a new engine is necessary as the issue cannot be resolved. There have been no inspections by manufacturers, law enforcement, or other relevant authorities. Additionally, there was no warning about the oil being low to the point of being absent from the engine. The code for the power failure, P0303, was obtained from the service center. It is imperative that this issue be addressed promptly. Either the engine should be recalled or the vehicle should be repaired. Otherwise, I will be compelled to purchase a new engine or a new car.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - 2.4L engine failure. PCV system froze Dec 05 2025. Crankcase pressure increased and caused the rear main engine seal to fail, which inturn allowed all the engine oil to leak out. Due to oil starvation the timing chain components failed. Additional internal engine damage is possible, but not yet confirmed. Failed parts will be available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Engine failure while driving with no notice. Happened on a day with sub zero wind chill. Stalled vehicle poses a safety risk to occupants and other drivers. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? UNKNOWN Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? UNKNOWN Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? UNKNOWN
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered before hesitating to maintain automotive power. In addition, while at a stoplight, the vehicle lost automotive power. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. A second independent mechanic arrived at the residence and diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed the failure. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 72,500.
The PCV Valve froze last week causing pressure to build up and blew the rear seal. All the oil leaked out and caused a grinding noise and the vehicle shutoff on its own. This I have seen is an ongoing problem with the Chevy Equinox. I was quoted $3800 from the dealer to repair.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, there was an abnormal odor entering the cabin of the vehicle while the air conditioning system was activated or turned off. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was a leak in the exhaust pipe, and that the exhaust pipe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
I have the ECOTEC 2.4 engine the engine has gone out and GM is stating car needs a new engine. At 10,000. Two different associates told me to get a new car before they even checked the car.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stoplight, the engine seized without any warning lights illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 147,000.
The contact owned a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming 5 quarts of oil for every 2,000 miles driven. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an oil consumption test was performed, and the dealer confirmed that the vehicle was experiencing an excessive oil consumption. Additionally, the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and while driving, the engine made abnormal metallic and banging sounds. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the engine was replaced at the contact's expense. However, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the engine was replaced twice under warranty. The contact stated that the vehicle seemed to be repaired; however, the vehicle was involved in a crash and was totaled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
TIMING CHAIN MALFUNCTION CAUSED THE ENGINE TO COMPLETELY FAIL AND THE CAR IS NOW UNROAD WORTHY. DID OIL CHANGES FREQUENTLY DUE TO FAST CONSUMPTION OF OIL. NEVER OVERHEATED BUT NOW THE CYLINDERS, OIL PUMP AND HEADS ARE NO GOOD AND A REBUILT OR NEW USED ENGINE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR THE CAR.
Fo2017 Chevrolet Equinox with the 2.4L Ecotec engine, excessive oil consumption can indirectly cause a timing chain to fail which is a major safety hazard to all occupants.
PVC port plugged during freezing weather caused excessive crankcase pressure causing the rear main seal to blow out resulting in the loss of engine oil. Went to 2 different repair shops who confirmed each other’s diagnosis. At minimal mileage for a 2017 year car, the engine had to be replaced at considerable cost. The car was continuously maintained by a Chevrolet dealership, with records to support that maintenance.
My car began making a knocking noise and lost power. I was not expecting to be out of oil as I recently had my oil changed. This happened several times while traveling before I realized the engine was burning through oil. My solution has been temporary, frequently checking the oil level and adding oil after an estimated 500 miles. I do not take my vehicle on trips more than 30 minutes and recently rented a vehicle to attend a meeting. I spoke with the service department of Herb Chevrolet and was told my vehicle is not under recall, but what the issue has been found to be is a need to reseal or replace the pistons.
EGR valve froze cause the rear main seal to blow, has timing chain fixes. Now having more issues again.
REAR MAIN SEAL GONE BAD DUE TO ENGINE DEFECT NOTED IN GM SERVICE BULLETIN PIP5093C WHICH IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE ENGINE.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was a loud sound coming from the exhaust and there were exhaust fumes entering the cabin of the vehicle while starting the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.
Engine failed in traffic at stop sign Numerous reports of burning oil Quickly and engine failing... Could happen at any time anywhere leaving one stranded and at risk of collision or crime... After having it replaced at 64000 miles it did the same thing 1 year later. Cost 10000$. Thousands of people have reported this defect.
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The 2017 Chevrolet Equinox has 132 Engine complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.