Chevrolet Equinox Engine Problems
Owners have filed 2,840 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Chevrolet Equinox across 22 model years. The 2013 model year has the most (412). The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (17% of reports).
- 2,840engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 25mention a crash
- 18mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $4,350typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%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.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 486 of 2,840 complaints (17%)
- Timing chain: mentioned in 303 of 2,840 complaints (11%)
- Rear main: mentioned in 188 of 2,840 complaints (7%)
- Engine power: mentioned in 179 of 2,840 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Chevrolet Equinox at $4,350, and half of them between $2,650 and $7,400.
Based on 166 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2026), 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 1,706 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 2,840 complaints, 25 mention a crash, 44 a fire, 18 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 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.
"Brake vacuum pump seized and shattered, sending metal debris into engine via camshaft. Vehicle lost power and would not restart â towed to dealer. Dealer found metal debris in oil fill (photo available) and quoted $2,101 for camshaft/vacuum pump and $9,480 for engine assembly â total…
Vacuum Pump failed, Camshaft is broken. When vacuum pump failed there were no brakes and no warning. Almost flew off a bridge.
Unknown
Fuel pump control module.Crank no start. Service engine soon light. U18A2 code sent to Onstar. Inspected and confirmed by dealer. Vehicle is currently sitting at dealer that I purchased it from and out of service until repaired.
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Equinoxs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 2,840 owner complaints about engine for the Chevrolet Equinox. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Equinox engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Chevrolet Equinox?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,350 (half paid between $2,650 and $7,400), from 166 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Chevrolet Equinox?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 486 of 2,840 complaints, followed by “timing chain” (303).
Other Chevrolet Equinox problems
- Electrical System problems (1,224)
- Visibility/wiper problems (1,114)
- Power Train problems (1,093)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (832)
- Air Bags problems (630)
- Service Brakes problems (612)
- Steering problems (466)
- Visibility problems (444)
See all Chevrolet Equinox problems.