Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Chevrolet Equinox - part 1

The contact owns a 2017 Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced oil consumption failures. While examine the vehicle he contact discover very little oil was present although oil was recently added to the engine. The oil light warning light did not display and no oil leaks were present. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who was unable to determined the cause of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. . The failure mileage was 130,000.

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Vacuum pump failed: on may 28th, 2025 the brake pedal on our 2019 Chevrolet Equinox became very hard along with check engine light, a "reduced power" notification, and "brake assist failure" notification. After a mechanic inspected the engine, he found that the vacuum pump had shattered. The mechanic replaced the pump with an oem replacement from gm. On may 11th, 2026 the same exact issue happened again. 1. The vehicle and/or part is available for inspection. 2. Anyone driving or riding in the vehicle is at risk due to the difficulty of braking. 3. The vehicle/component has not been inspected by the manufacturer since the 2nd incident.

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Travelling on a highway with 70 mph posted speed limit, the vehicle dashboard signaled the check engine light and a variety of warnings that "power reduction measure" was enabled and to "service brake assist. " at the next available exit, I was able to exit from the highway and go to a gas station, where upon pulling next to a pump the brake pedal became extremely hard and nonresponsive, resulting in poor braking, nearly striking the car in front of me, even at a very low speed. Upon a quick internet search, it appeared that other vehicles were having the same issue, and it was recommended not to drive, as well as information referring to an ongoing class action lawsuit. A tow was called and brought to the nearest Chevrolet service center (nels gunderson Chevrolet), where they confirmed the brake booster vacuum pump failed (exploded) and sent shrapnel into the camshaft, noting that both would need to be replaced, which is the exact same repair that other vehicles similar to this one are having or have had.

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The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at 70 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated to 10 mph with no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle following the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,700.

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I was trying to stop at a light and the brakes wouldn't work. I almost crashed into the car in front of me but I had to step on it really hard to stop. Then the brakes were stiff and it was hard to stop. I brought it to a chevy dealer yesterday and they said the vacuum pump exploded and pieces were in the engine, and it messed up the cam shaft. This is 5l worth of damage. When I looked it up online it seems this has been an issue with gm cars and the Equinox was left out of the recall which could have prevented this. I have 95k miles on this car and never had an issue until now. However it is not worth spending 5k on a car that is high in mileage.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed as needing transmission fluid. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, where the vehicle was diagnosed with missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator impact. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign:20v668000 (power train); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 80 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated. The contact pulled over to the closest exit and pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was turned off and then restarted; however, while attempting to drive forward or reverse, the vehicle failed to move. The contact inspected the vehicle. While inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that there was fuel leaking from the side of the engine near the high-pressure fuel pump underneath the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the transmission intake failed, causing the transmission to fail. The transmission was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,053.

I felt ill for a few months. Started to smell gasoline in my garage and inside the car. When I sent in, the fuel feed hose was leaking and not attached and damaged. My car could have blown up at any time, and I inhaled fumes probably for months.

I am reporting a vehicle fire involving a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox [xxx] ). The fire originated in the engine compartment. The official fire report lists the causes as "undetermined", with the area of origin identified under the hood. There were no prior warning lights, mechanical issues, or indications that a fire risk was present. The vehicle was being used under normal conditions and was properly maintained to my knowledge. The vehicle was declared a total loss by my insurance company. Due to the undetermined cause and engine compartment origin, I am concerned there may have been a potential mechanical or electrical defect that was not identified. I am submitting this report in case similar incidents have occurred and to support an potential investigation int vehicle safety. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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On Saturday, April 18, 2026, I was driving home from a neurology appointment with my two daughters, including my child with special needs. I intentionally chose not to take the expressway and instead drove a lower-speed route home for safety reasons. While traveling approximately 35 mph, the vehicle suddenly displayed an “engine power is reduced” warning. As I attempted to safely maneuver through traffic and pull over, the brake pedal became extremely stiff and difficult to depress, requiring significant physical force to slow and stop the vehicle. The sudden reduction in braking assist created a serious safety hazard for my family. Had this occurred at highway speeds on the expressway, the outcome could have been catastrophic. A post-incident inspection identified failure of the vacuum pump drive assembly and related timing/variable valve timing (vvt) components. Photographs taken during disassembly document the condition of the timing chain, camshaft, vvt actuator/phaser, vacuum pump assembly, and associated components at the time of repair. Diagnostic records also documented dtc code p1101 following the incident. The vehicle is currently undergoing further inspection and diagnostic evaluation at a certified Chevrolet dealership to validate cpo warranty coverage and determine the full extent and cause of the failure. Based on the sudden loss of engine performance and reduction in brake assist, I believe this condition represents a significant safety risk to vehicle occupants and the public.

2017 Chevrolet Equinox premier certified pre-owned vehicle experienced multiple safety-related defects. 1. Repeated starting failures (electrical/battery/starter system): - March 17, 2026: complete battery failure, vehicle would not start. Aaa/gm roadside assistance called. Dealer inspected but could not diagnose root cause or explain battery drain. Preceded by unusually loud windshield wiper motor and engine noise (March 15). - April 13, 2026 (4:01pm): engine failed to turn over twice in parking lot before starting on third attempt. Safety risk: sudden starting failures create stranding hazard and risk of being rear-ended in traffic. 2. Water intrusion through headliner (sunroof/headliner/mic assembly): - April 15, 2026 (10:40-10:45am): approximately 1 ounce of water poured from headliner/radio microphone assembly directly into driver's eyes while driving on expressway. Continued dripping intermittently for hours. Safety risk: complete vision obstruction while driving at highway speeds. 3. Intermittent safety chimes (electrical/infotainment): - ongoing for weeks: five rapid electronic dings with no dashboard warning lights or indicators. Occurs sporadically while driving (10 occurrences in one recent day). Dealer previously informed by phone but no resolution. Safety risk: distracting chimes with no identifiable warning create driver confusion. 4. Additional electrical: remote start now works intermittently. All components available for NHTSA/manufacturer inspection. Dealer confirmed March 17 battery inspection but found no cause. No manufacturer inspection. No warning lamps preceded any failures except unexplained chimes. Problems began immediately after certified pre-owned purchase despite carbravo certification. Safety defects render vehicle unreliable and hazardous.

The engine failed while driving on the highway on two separate occasions due a fuel pump issue. The first time it happened, it was just reduced power (could only drive maybe 40 miles an hour). I brought it to the dealership and they said that general motors told them it needs a software update which they completed. However the second time it happened (4 months later) it was full engine shutdown in the left lane on a 65mph highway with my family (including my toddler) in the car. The first time it happened we were able to make it home by driving with the hazard lights on very slowly. But the second time we were doing the 65 mph speed limit in the left lane on a 3 lane highway. To avoid causing a pile up of cars or a deadly accident, we had to use the momentum of the speed we were going to try to safely drift across three lanes of congested traffic just to make it safely to the shoulder. We were then stuck on the side of the highway in the sun on an 80 degree day with a car with no power. I had to remove my two year old from the car so he didn't get heat exhaustion and stand on the side of the highway holding him in the little bit of shade we could find. The car then had to be towed back to my dealership over an hour away because it would not even turn on. The dealership was not able to replicate the issue the first time it happened, but did the software update that the manufacturer recommended. To my knowledge its only been inspected by the dealership. The only warning signs/messages/lights were the ones happening as the engine was failing/shutting down. There was no advanced warning. This care is less than two years old and its a leased vehicle from the dealership down repairs, I work from home there are less than 20k miles on I, this is not neglect on my part or over usage in anyway of the vehicle.

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The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer for technical service bulletin TSB #: 19-na-065. While driving at 15 mph, the vehicle lunged forward; the driver was able to pull over. While attempting to restart the vehicle, it suddenly caught fire. No warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure. Aaa was called, and the vehicle was towed to her residence. The occupant called 911, and the fire department was able to extinguish the fire. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was called, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was unknown.

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On Friday March 20, 2026, we traded in a chevy Equinox to get a newer model which is the VIN number we listed in this complaint. Driving home from the dealership the vehicle went from drive to park on its own (driving at 65 miles/hr) and my husband had to immediately put the car physically back into drive. Once we finally got the vehicle to our house, I went out to check it, and the vehicle would not even start. Every single light came on yet it would not start up. We called on-star and they couldn't do anything and told us we'd have to take it to the dealership. We finally got it to start up again, but the check engine light never went off. The next day my husband was able to get it started and immediately took it back to the dealership it was bought from, which it was actually transferred to from another dealership within the state, but on the way to the dealership we bought it from the car went into park on its own 5 more times, very dangerous and unacceptable. Once the car made it to the dealership, they could not even get the vehicle to shut off once they pulled in into the service area. My husband luckily is a professional driver, but is this was someone not as familiar or calm, this could have been a horrible catastrophe.

Vehicle looses power and can very easily cause a bad wreck I've replaced multiple thing and it still does it I'm not sure what it is possibly the timing or something to do with camshaft.

Car uses excessive amount of oil! we have had the timing replaced and now it’s stating the p0420 catalyst system efficiency below threshold bank 1.

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Brake system has failed. “brake assist service” has popped up on screen. Taken to two separate facilities who said this is a known problem with this vehicle make and model.

Recall/loss of power I am filing a safety complaint regarding a 2023 chevy Equinox. The vehicle began losing engine power and will not go over 40 mph. This creates a dangerous driving situation because the vehicle cannot maintain highway speed. The vehicle has a fuel system recall, and the issue appears to be related to the fuel system. The vehicle is currently at a Chevrolet dealership and has been there for almost a month. The vehicle is currently inoperable. This is a safety concern because loss of engine power while driving could cause an accident. I am requesting that this issue be investigated as a safety defect. Sincerely, [xxx]   VIN [xxx] mileage: 63,000 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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Onstar telematics module is defective and keeps draining the battery causing the need for multiple jump starts. The problem has been confirmed by don hewlett Chevrolet Buick on March 5th, 2026 and was told that the part is on backorder and that there is no eta.

While driving at around 110,900 to 111,115 miles(it being 111,115 now), it occassionally will get a very loud thumping sound and my car goes into limp mode and loses power. Shakes horribly bad in the process. I have to turn the car off and sit there waiting for it to calm down and then drive 35mph to get home. Piston problem ive been told. Every time this has happened, ive been on a very busy highway with my 2 kids in the car with me. Please send out a recall! the miles are not high. This started in February 2026.

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The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started shaking abnormally before unintendedly decelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with excessive oil consumption; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

Engine went into limp mode with now warning. I recieved a reduced engine power warning and the vehicle lost acceleration on the highway almost leading to an accident. I had the car towed to coggin gm for diagnostic and was told that my throttle body has to be replaced. I was advised that this is common issue with this engine and notify due to a recall of older Equinoxes.

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The abs braking and stability control light came on and has stayed on and took to mechanic shop and was told to repair would be $4000 . That's more than what the car is worth!changed motor oil many times since I owned the car and it uses oil quite much. Ihe oil gauge can say I have 70 percent oil and the dipstick reads no oil so I must put 2 -3 quarts of oil in car because I can hear lifters rattle due to lack of oil. The abs stability control keeps car steady especially in I snow or rain weather and can lose control of the 2012 chevy Equinox. If I was to drive vehicle on long trip the motor could freeze up while driving and shut down and cause dangerous situation in traffic.

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Vehicle safety complaint – 2024 Chevrolet Equinox I am reporting a safety defect involving unintended vehicle movement and improper shutdown behavior. While operating my 2024 Chevrolet Equinox, I was able to shut the vehicle off even though it was not in park. After shutdown, the vehicle rolled forward on its own and struck a tree. At the time of the incident, the radio remained on despite the vehicle being turned off, indicating the vehicle may not have fully entered ignition-off state. This incident suggests a potential malfunction involving one or more of the following systems: gear position detection system transmission park engagement mechanism electronic shift control module ignition state logic or body control module the vehicle should not allow shutdown unless it is in park, or it should provide clear warnings and prevent unintended movement. This behavior presents a serious safety risk of rollaway incidents. I am requesting a full diagnostic inspection and documentation of all stored fault codes, including history codes, prior to any resets. Please also check for software updates, technical service bulletins, or known defects related to shift position recognition or ignition state control. This issue resulted in unintended movement and property damage and poses a significant safety hazard.

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 contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and was able to restart the vehicle. The contact resumed driving, but the vehicle failed to exceed 55 mph on the expressway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a factory defect. The dealer determined that the turbo wastegate solenoid, the charge air cooler, and the tcv wrap needed to be replaced with an aftermarket part. The parts were ordered; however, the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.

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Case number 11715650 , check engine light went on , and the vehicle reduced speed, I took car into dealership, they said the engine had an ice problem and a repair would be needed, they said that this was a flaw in design, and it should be part of a recall, and that this is a common problem with this vehicle. The cost of a repair would be around $1000. 00 . T fill this should be covered by the manufacture because of a design flaw.

Got word from the mechanic at the dealership that the cam shaft is leaking oil as well as the fuel injectors retainers are out and need to be sealed as they are also leaking. The engine went into safe mode to prevent any engine fires.

Vehicle is leaking coolant excessively. Faulty 55513550 water pump (acdelco/gm oe) commonly causes engine overheating, coolant leaks (often from the weep hole), and unusual noise (squeaking/rumbling) in 1. 6l diesel engines for Chevrolet cruze, Equinox, and GMC terrain. It may cause cabin heating issues and trigger engine codes. Major problem #2: electrical described by tony dubois at midas (cinco ranch location) - electrical pulse are being received through the wiring causing lights to go on and off. No other manufacturer or repair shop can fix this issue because of the inability to access the coding. This is an dealership software issue.

Transfer case and front differential failure. No warning lights came on beforehand.

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The check engine light came on and the engine lowered performance because the intercooler froze and cracked. Despite there being a service update to stop that from happening, we were never informed of the update from chevy, only once it had happened did they tell us about the update and included it in the repair cost.

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 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 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that there was an abnormal odor of fuel coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the brake pads were wearing abnormally quickly. The message speed reduced was displayed. The engine warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

While driving, my engine light came on. After taking it in, it turned out that I had water/oil freezing in the intercooler. This could have been very dangerous when I was driving. I have had the gm wrap put on it. I am hoping that this will not be a problem again.