2010 Chevrolet EQUINOX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Chevrolet EQUINOX has 1118 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 14.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: my brand new chevrolet equinox 2010, which has less than 2000 miles has been overheating already. i took it into the dealership and they have no idea what the problem is. the temperature gauge does not work at times. the error message that i am getting: "ac off due to high engine temperature". *tr. ⚠️ 12 fire reports filed.

12 fire reports 15 crash reports 22 injuries

1118

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

14.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

304 complaints

27%

• MY BRAND NEW CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2010, WHICH HAS LESS THAN 2000 MILES HAS BEEN OVERHEATING ALREADY. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT WORK AT TIMES. THE ERROR MESSAGE THAT I AM GETTING: "AC OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE". *TR
• ROUGH IDLE DURING COLD START OF MY 2010 CHEVY EQUINOX 2.4L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE ENGINE IDLES ROUGH AND MISSES UNTIL IT WARMS UP WHEN IT GETS BELOW 40 DEGREES TOOK CAR TO DEALER AT 2,000 MILES IN NOVEMBER, THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND TO SPECIFICATIONS. SAID THEY WOULD KEEP A EYE OUT FOR SERVICE
• BOUGHT A 2010 CHEVY EQUINOX ON OCT. 31ST..HAVE HAD IT 5 MONTHS AND HAS 5,500 MILES ON THE MOTOR IS MAKING A SEVERE OR REALLY LOUD TICKING NOISE. TOOK IT TO 2 CHEVY DEALERS AND THEY TELL ME THIS IS NORMAL BUT WHEN YOU START ONE UP ON THE LOT IT MAKES NO WHERE NEAR THE NOISE MINE DOES. THEY TELL ME IT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“MY BRAND NEW CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2010, WHICH HAS LESS THAN 2000 MILES HAS BEEN OVERHEATING ALREADY. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT WORK AT TIMES. THE ERROR MESSAGE THAT I AM GETTING: "AC OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE". *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

182 complaints

16%

• ON 09/04/09 I BOUGHT A NEW 2010 EQUINOX AND WITHIN 3,000 MILES I BEGAN EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT SHIFTING ISSUES AND ROUGH IDLING/STALLING AT STOPS. ON 01/08/10 I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE SHOP FOR THE 4TH TIME IN 60 DAYS FOR THESE PROBLEMS. VERY CONCERNING IS THAT EVERY TIME I HAVE
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN SHE SHIFTED FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE PRO
• 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION "SLIPPING" OR BUMPING BETWEEN SHIFTS. I BROUGHT IT TO DEALER TWICE. SAID IT WAS PROGRAMMING ISSUES - SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT - BUT STILL DOING IT. THEN LAST WEEK WITH ONLY 26,000 MILES - I HAD A STABILITY TRACK LIGHT COME ON AND IT IDLED VERY RO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“ON 09/04/09 I BOUGHT A NEW 2010 EQUINOX AND WITHIN 3,000 MILES I BEGAN EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT SHIFTING ISSUES AND ROUGH IDLING/STALLING AT STOPS. ON 01/08/10 I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE SHOP FOR THE 4TH TIME IN 60 DAYS FOR THESE PROBLEMS. VERY CONCERNING IS THAT EVERY TIME I HAVE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

162 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE SUN WAS SHINING ON THE CHROME LATCH OF THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT OVER THE DASHBOARD, THE GLARE FROM THE SUN WOULD OBSTRUCT THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER AND THERE
• TL*THE CONTACT OWN A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME ON THE DASHBOARD IMPAIRED HIS VISION DUE TO GLARE ON THE CHROME KNOB WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THEIR WAS NO ALTERNATIVE PART TO REPLACE THE KNOB; THEREFORE, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO
• JUST ONE DAY THERE WASN'T HEAT ON MY 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX WITH 50,900 MILES. WITHOUT HEAT FROST COULD FORM ON THE WINDSHIELD AND BLOCK VISIBILITY. A QUICK CHECK ON THE NET INDICATED A COMMON PROBLEM (LATENT DEFECT?) THAT THE STUB TO THE ACTUATOR ON THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR BREAKS OFF. I TOOK IT T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE SUN WAS SHINING ON THE CHROME LATCH OF THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT OVER THE DASHBOARD, THE GLARE FROM THE SUN WOULD OBSTRUCT THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER AND THERE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

82 complaints

• MY 2010 CHEVY EQUINOX LS STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. THE ELECTRICAL ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE RADIO WILL START FLASHING AND THE AIR BAG WARNING KEEPS COMING ON EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE STATED ALL OF THE ISSUES HAVE BEEN FIXED AND PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE
• ON 09/04/09 I BOUGHT A NEW 2010 EQUINOX AND WITHIN 3,000 MILES I BEGAN EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT SHIFTING ISSUES AND ROUGH IDLING/STALLING AT STOPS. ON 01/08/10 I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE SHOP FOR THE 4TH TIME IN 60 DAYS FOR THESE PROBLEMS. VERY CONCERNING IS THAT EVERY TIME I HAVE
• THE CENTER CONSOLE (WHERE THE CONTROLS ARE FOR THE RADIO, HEATER/AC, DEFROSTER, HAZARDS, DOOR LOCKS, ETC.) INTERMITTENTLY GOES ON AND OFF, AND LOCKS UP UNEXPECTEDLY. IT FIRST OCCURRED ON 1 DEC 09, AGAIN ON 2 JAN 10, AND SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. VEHICLE EXAMINED BY LANDERS-MCLARTY CHEVROLET IN HUNTSVILLE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“MY 2010 CHEVY EQUINOX LS STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. THE ELECTRICAL ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE RADIO WILL START FLASHING AND THE AIR BAG WARNING KEEPS COMING ON EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE STATED ALL OF THE ISSUES HAVE BEEN FIXED AND PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

60 complaints

• IN NEW CHEVY VEHICLES THERE IS A CENTER STORAGE COMPARTMENT LOCATED ABOVE THE CENTER CONSOLE. THIS IS HELD DOWN IN PLACE BY A SIMPLE PUSH BUTTON. THE BUTTON HOWEVER IS PROBLEMATIC AS IN SOME TRIMS IT IS A CHROME FEATURE. IN SUNNY CONDITION, THE REFLECTION FROM THE CHROME PUSH BUTTON REFLECTS INTO
• THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE STEERING. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN AND 1/2 HOUR, IT BECOMES STICKY ON EACH SIDE OF THE CENTER. I HAVE HAD NO SERIOUS PROBLEMS AS OF YET, BUT THE LONGER IT IS DRIVEN, THE WORSE IT GETS. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE NATURAL RESPONSE IS TO CORRECT AND SOMETIMES T
• TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON 10/27/10 26 DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THIS NEW VEHICLE. THEN THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE CAME ON FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHILE TRYING TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND PARK,AS I SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE,THE VEHICLE KEPT ROLLING BAC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“IN NEW CHEVY VEHICLES THERE IS A CENTER STORAGE COMPARTMENT LOCATED ABOVE THE CENTER CONSOLE. THIS IS HELD DOWN IN PLACE BY A SIMPLE PUSH BUTTON. THE BUTTON HOWEVER IS PROBLEMATIC AS IN SOME TRIMS IT IS A CHROME FEATURE. IN SUNNY CONDITION, THE REFLECTION FROM THE CHROME PUSH BUTTON REFLECTS INTO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1118 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: MY BRAND NEW CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2010, WHICH HAS LESS THAN 2000 MILES HAS BEEN OVERHEATING ALREADY. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT WORK AT TIMES. THE ERROR MESSAGE THAT I AM GETTING: "AC OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE". *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: ON 09/04/09 I BOUGHT A NEW 2010 EQUINOX AND WITHIN 3,000 MILES I BEGAN EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT SHIFTING ISSUES AND ROUGH IDLING/STALLING AT STOPS. ON 01/08/10 I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE SHOP FOR THE 4TH TIME IN 60 DAYS FOR THESE PROBLEMS. VERY CONCERNING IS THAT EVERY TIME I HAVE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE SUN WAS SHINING ON THE CHROME LATCH OF THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT OVER THE DASHBOARD, THE GLARE FROM THE SUN WOULD OBSTRUCT THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER AND THERE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: MY 2010 CHEVY EQUINOX LS STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. THE ELECTRICAL ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE RADIO WILL START FLASHING AND THE AIR BAG WARNING KEEPS COMING ON EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE STATED ALL OF THE ISSUES HAVE BEEN FIXED AND PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)