NHTSA Complaint #11184463 — 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

WHILE DRIVING TO THE GAS STATION, AND THEN TO WORK, MY VEHICLE GOT VERY SLUGGISH WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY BUT THEN RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. I STOPPED TO GET GAS AND LOOK OVER THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING TO BE OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I FILLED THE GAS TANK AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE 1 MILE TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. WHEN PULLING INTO THE PARKING LOT, I BEGAN HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND THAT I RECOGNIZED IMMEDIATELY. I PARKED THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND LOOKED AROUND AGAIN. THAT IS WHEN I SAW THE OIL ON THE GROUND. I EXAMINED THE ENGINE TO LOOK FOR THE SOURCE OF THE OIL LEAK. THE OIL FILTER, DRAIN PLUG, AND DRAIN PAN ALL WERE CLEAN AND DRY. THERE WAS OIL ON THE FRAME AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FLOORBOARD THAT CAN BE SEEN FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW INTERNET SEARCHES, I FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN (#14882) THAT TOLD ME EVERYTHING THAT HAD HAPPENED. THE TEMPERATURE WAS WELL BELOW FREEZING THAT DAY AND IT WAS SNOWING. I HAVE A STRONG SUSPICION THAT THE WATER THAT HAD MADE IT'S WAY INTO THE PCV SYSTEM HAD FROZEN, THE PRESSURE BUILT UP UNTIL IT FORCED THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL OUT RESULTING IN ALL OF THE OIL IN MY VEHICLE TO EXIT THE ENGINE DURING MY DRIVE. THE SERVICE BULLETIN INDICATED THAT CHEVROLET AND GM KNEW ABOUT THE CONDITION AND YET DID NOTHING TO SOLVE THE ISSUE.