2011 Chevrolet Equinox: engine and transmission complaints
VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
70%
512 of 728 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
70% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 92% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 54 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 65%).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
IT KEEPS CUTTING OFF AND THE OIL KEEPS GOING EMPTY SOME SAY RECALL 11195A MITE BE THE PROBLEM BUT I DON'T KNOW JUS GOT THE CAR AND WHEN I START IT UP THE PEDDLE GETS STUCK AND STARTS RITE BACK UP IN MOTION AND SOON AS YOU BACK UP AND SOON AS YOU TURN OUT IT CUTS OFF ON THE HIGH WAY AND ON CITY STREET AND TURNING. *TR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE12/06/2023FIRE1 INJURED
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, he noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled into a business parking lot. The contact stated that he opened the hood and noticed the engine compartment had caught fire. Add…
SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE04/17/20161 INJURED
THE HEADRESTS ON THIS CAR PUSH MY HEAD SO FAR FORWARD THAT I HAVE TERRIBLE PAIN WHILE DRIVING. I ALSO CANNOT SEE WHERE I AM GOING DUE TO THE EXTREME ANGLE OF MY HEAD JUTTING FORWARD. NOT TOO SAFE--ANY REASONABLE PERSON CAN FIGURE THIS OUT. IN ADDITION, THE CAR IS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL. ALSO, WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERA…
Three of 512 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (3)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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 b…
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
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…
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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 ANCHO…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
Ask the seller whether the engine has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many engine faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the engine.
3 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle.
