2017 Chevrolet Equinox Engine Problems
Owners have filed 180 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox, 65% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 80,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “rear main” (30% of reports).
- 180engine complaints
- 80,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $4,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 48%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Rear main: mentioned in 54 of 180 complaints (30%)
- Timing chain: mentioned in 25 of 180 complaints (14%)
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 23 of 180 complaints (13%)
- Pcv valve: mentioned in 20 of 180 complaints (11%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox at $4,000, and half of them between $2,950 and $6,250.
Based on 21 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2021–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 40 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 180 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 2 an injury.
Chevrolet Equinox engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Equinox | 7 | 10% | 3,678 |
| 2025 Equinox | 23 | 10% | 12,000 |
| 2024 Equinox | 14 | 18% | 10,000 |
| 2023 Equinox | 17 | 17% | 37,000 |
| 2022 Equinox | 28 | 15% | 63,360 |
| 2021 Equinox | 16 | 16% | 119,433 |
| 2020 Equinox | 92 | 29% | 29,165 |
| 2019 Equinox | 100 | 33% | 4,400 |
| 2018 Equinox | 86 | 21% | 31,500 |
| 2017 Equinox | 180 | 65% | 80,000 |
| 2016 Equinox | 203 | 51% | 85,000 |
| 2015 Equinox | 227 | 33% | 90,000 |
| 2014 Equinox | 218 | 40% | 95,000 |
| 2013 Equinox | 412 | 55% | 91,918 |
| 2012 Equinox | 355 | 52% | 88,957 |
| 2011 Equinox | 386 | 49% | 88,000 |
| 2010 Equinox | 271 | 35% | 87,000 |
| 2009 Equinox | 18 | 19% | 78,200 |
| 2008 Equinox | 27 | 7% | 84,000 |
| 2007 Equinox | 37 | 5% | 97,985 |
| 2006 Equinox | 68 | 10% | 98,000 |
| 2005 Equinox | 55 | 9% | 100,631 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I own a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox with a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine and approximately 50,000 miles. The vehicle suddenly stopped starting without any prior warning signs, unusual noises, or dashboard warnings indicating a serious mechanical problem. After the vehicle was inspected by a mechanic, I was…
ENGINE OIL MESSAGE SYSTEM FAILED. Vehicle available for inspection upon request. PERSONAL SAFETY and SAFETY of PASSENGER and OTHERS AT RISK due to driving car with no to little oil burning oil presents loss of control of vehicle while operating. PROBLEM CONFIRMED by Independent Insurance Servicer…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2017 Chevrolet Equinoxs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 180 owner complaints about engine for the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox (65% of the 276 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 80,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,000 (half paid between $2,950 and $6,250), from 21 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox?
The most frequent phrase is “rear main”, in 54 of 180 complaints, followed by “timing chain” (25).
See all 2017 Chevrolet Equinox problems or engine problems across all Equinox years.