NHTSA Complaint #11233578 — 2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

PURCHASED THE CAR USED WITH 115K MILES. THE FIRST SIGN OF AN ISSUE WAS THE SOUND OF WATER RUSHING TO THE HEATER CORE (AIR). CAR STARTED OVERHEATING A FEW WEEKS LATER AS THE OUTDOORS TEMPERATURE STARTED TO CLIMB IN LATE SPRING. I STARTED TO SEE WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND WAS HAVING TO ADD COOLANT EVERY OTHER DAY. THE ISSUE STARTED TO GET WORSE SO I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE ISSUE HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY ON HILLS, DURING HOT WEATHER AND WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHTS OR IN TRAFFIC. I TRIED TO USE A HEAD GASKET SEALANT WHICH WORKED FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AGAIN. I CHECKED OUT SEVERAL FORUMS AND FIND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN THIS VEHICLE DUE TO A POOR CHOSE OF HEAD GASKET WITH SOME ANTIFREEZE/COOLANT TYPES. HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL. THE RADIATOR HOSES ARE OVER PRESSURIZING AND WILL CAUSE RUPTURES WHICH WILL END UP BURNING SOMEONE SEVERELY.