2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
4/5
Safety Rating
1,132
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
55
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
The 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX has received a total of 1,132 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST. 55 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (384 complaints), Power Train (139 complaints), and Visibilitywiper (69 complaints).
Recalls for the 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX, potentially affecting up to 528,910 vehicles.
Recall 16V502000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
| 8,367 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain...
Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782....
View full details →Recall 16V502000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
| 8,367 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain...
Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782....
View full details →Recall 14V447000 — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
| 414,333 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the...
Consequence: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service...
View full details →Recall 10V623000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
| 97,843 vehicles affected
Defect: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC SRX, CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES. THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ANCHOR MAY FRACTURE AND SEPARATE NEAR THE SEAT ATTACHMENT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELT SYSTEM MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT(S) AS DESIGNED AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PASSENGER AND/OR THE DRIVER SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AS NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 18, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339,...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
1,132 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Wipers have stopped working, have had it repaired twice and they keep quitting.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. While driving at various speeds, there was a misfire coming from the engine while attempting to accelerate. The failure occurred while attempting to accelerate from a stop. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that a shaft inside the engine had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced with a rebuilt engine; however, the failure reoccurred approximately 4 months after the engine was replaced. The vehicle was returned to the mechanic, who diagnosed and determined that the same failure had reoccurred. The engine valves and exhaust were cleaned; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that smoke was entering the cabin of the vehicle and out of the exhaust pipe while the heater was activated. The vehicle was returned to the mechanic, who then diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced another time. The vehicle was repaired again. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while the windshield wiper was activated, the windshield wiper arms detached. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
While driving, the car wouldn't accelerate even though I was pressing the gas pedal to the floor. It made funny noises and was jerking. I was told not to drive because of the danger to my engine. The engine light did come on
While driving, the car wouldn't accelerate even though I was pressing the gas pedal to the floor. It made funny noises and was jerking. I was told not to drive because of the danger to my engine. The engine light did come on
Safety Rating for the 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
The 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
General Motors, LLC has issued 55 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
N192266181 — EQUIPMENT
Special Coverage. On certain vehicles, the ball joints in the front windshield wiper modules of these vehicles may experience high corrosion and wear that could result in the separation of one or more ball joints from their sockets during wiper operation. If a ball joint were to separate, one or...
PIT4916H — VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have may a helicopter type noise when a rear window is lowered. This is a normal characteristic of this vehicle, but the concern can be minimized by lowering a front door glass approximately 1 to 2 inches.
17-NA-098 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to Replace both camshaft position actuators to correct a condition of the engine runs rough, hesitates, hard to start, and or stalls. During diagnosis a technician may find DTCs P0010, P0013, P0011, P0014 set or stored due to camshaft position actuator failure.
GCUS-9-2602 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
15810 - Special Coverage. A malfunction-indicator light (MIL) may illuminate due to thermal damage or face erosion of the catalytic converter. Replace the catalytic converter. The repairs will be made at no charge to the customer.
PIP5277B — ENGINE
THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ON THE STEPS TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR VEHICLES THAT HAVE A RESONANCE TYPE VIBRATION OCCURS BETWEEN 40 TO 60 MPH. IN MOST CASES THE ENGINE MUST BE UNDER A SLIGHT LOAD SUCH AS A/C COMPRESSOR ENGAGEMENT, LIGHT THROTTLE, AND IN 6TH...
15285B — ENGINE
15285B - SPECIAL COVERAGE (LABOR TIME REVISED). VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.4L ENGINE, MAY EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION (LESS THAN 2,000 MILES PER QUART OF ENGINE OIL), DUE TO PISTON RING WEAR. IF THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, THE OIL CAN LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OR THE...
PIP4936C — ENGINE
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that vehicles with engine Regular Production Option Codes LY7, LLT, LAU, LF1, or LFW that there is a new cylinder head design. When replacing cylinder heads on High Feature V6 engines if you are using a 2011 new style "saddle cap"...
PI-1090-A — STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CHEVROLET/GMC: IN FOOTWELL AREA OF SOME VEHICLES, IN DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE, CARPET/FLOOR IS WET DUE TO SEALING THAT WAS INSUFFICIENT OR INCOMPLETE IN FRONT ROOF OF BODY SIDE SEAMS OUTER PANEL. MODEL 2010-16 TERRAIN, EQUINOX. *PE
14710 — AIR BAGS
"14710 - SPECIAL COVERAGE. ON SOME 2010-2011 MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES, HIGH RESISTANCE IN THE SIDE-IMPACT AIRBAG (SIAB) CIRCUIT MAY CAUSE THE AIRBAG-READINESS LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE SERVICE AIR BAG MESSAGE TO DISPLAY. DEALERS ARE TO CRIMP AND SOLDER THE SIAB WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, LOCATED...
SC-14710 — AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
GMC/CHEVROLET: TSB CONTAINS AN OWNER'S NOTIFICATION LETTER. SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON BELOW. ON SOME TRUCKS, MESSAGE WILL DISPLAY SERVICE AIR BAG, DUE TO HIGH RESISTANCE OF SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG (SIAB) CIRCUIT CAUSING ILLUMINATION OF AIRBAG READINESS LIGHT. MODEL 2010-11 EQUINOX, TERRAIN. *PE
Showing 10 of 55 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the CHEVROLET EQUINOX
- 2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 950 complaints
- 2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 947 complaints
- 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 535 complaints
- 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 150 complaints
- 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 1,113 complaints
- 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX (current)
- 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 939 complaints
- 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 979 complaints
- 2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 689 complaints
- 2015 CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 835 complaints
- 2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 483 complaints
Other CHEVROLET Models
- CHEVROLET MALIBU — 28,991 total complaints
- CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 — 22,175 total complaints
- CHEVROLET IMPALA — 15,197 total complaints
- CHEVROLET TAHOE — 12,511 total complaints
- CHEVROLET BLAZER — 11,032 total complaints
- CHEVROLET SILVERADO — 10,928 total complaints
- CHEVROLET SUBURBAN — 10,375 total complaints
- CHEVROLET COBALT — 10,106 total complaints