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2017 Chevrolet Equinox problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
83%
207 of 249 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

83% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 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 98% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 24 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 76%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 207 of 249 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (83%), and the largest group is filed under engine (178). For comparison, the 2016 scores 58% and the 2018 scores 43%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
207
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
273
this model year
Fires reported
4
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
18 crashes · 14 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE178 · 65%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER36 · 13%
POWER TRAIN32 · 12%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM20 · 7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19 · 7%
AIR BAGS19 · 7%

The years either side

2010
60%
432 of 784
2011
70%
512 of 782
2012
63%
416 of 685
2013
65%
467 of 751
2014
50%
260 of 548
2015
41%
265 of 680
2016
58%
221 of 396
2017
83%
207 of 273
2018
43%
165 of 408
2019
55%
155 of 302
2020
53%
156 of 309
2021
49%
42 of 96
2022
61%
103 of 173
2023
58%
54 of 95

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox

What one owner reported

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM01/08/20235 INJURED
The exhaust is coming into the cab. Was told that Chevy is allowed to kill people slowly with carbon dioxide poisoning. Also was told NHTSA is paid by Chevy to keep the information of the exhaust issue under wrapps. I understand killing babies is no crime in the liberal world but I am not an ugly liberal.

One of 207 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Checking one particular 2017 Chevrolet Equinox? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox

Does the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 207 of 249 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (83%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox.

Which Chevrolet Equinox years are better?

Among the Chevrolet Equinox years we track, the 2015 (41%), the 2018 (43%) and the 2021 (49%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (83%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2017 Chevrolet Equinox has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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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.