2012 Chevrolet EQUINOX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Chevrolet EQUINOX has 943 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 11.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (38% of all complaints), specifically: when stopped at a stop sign or red light sometimes the engine tries to cut out, and the car jerks like it is trying to stay cranked. i have a friend that has a gm terrain and hers does the same thing. when turning there is a knocking in the steering. the speakers have a rattling sound like they a. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.

8 fire reports 7 crash reports 8 injuries

943

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

11.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

362 complaints

38%

• WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT SOMETIMES THE ENGINE TRIES TO CUT OUT, AND THE CAR JERKS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO STAY CRANKED. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS A GM TERRAIN AND HERS DOES THE SAME THING. WHEN TURNING THERE IS A KNOCKING IN THE STEERING. THE SPEAKERS HAVE A RATTLING SOUND LIKE THEY A
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO
• THE 2012 CHEVY EQUINOX STALL CONSTANTLY BELOW 30 MPH. IT STALLS AT LEAST 2 TO 3 TIMES TRYING TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE TO MOVE IT 10 FEET. THE IDLE STARTS OFF SMOOTH BUT WITHIN 10 SECONDS THE EQUINOX STARTS IDLING ROUGH AND JERKING, THEN IT STALLS. WHEN STOPPED AT STOP LIGHT THE EQUINOX JERKS BACK AND F

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

“WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT SOMETIMES THE ENGINE TRIES TO CUT OUT, AND THE CAR JERKS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO STAY CRANKED. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS A GM TERRAIN AND HERS DOES THE SAME THING. WHEN TURNING THERE IS A KNOCKING IN THE STEERING. THE SPEAKERS HAVE A RATTLING SOUND LIKE THEY A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

128 complaints

14%

• FILLED UP MY GAS TANK AND WHEN TANK WAS FILLED AND PAID FOR PUT IN D AND A HUGE BANG WAS HEARD, LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR TO FIND THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. THREE GENTLEMEN CAME RIGHT TO THE CAR AND ASKED WHAT HAPPENED CAUSE THE HEARD THE BANG. ONE OF THE MEN CLEANED THE GLASS OUT OF MY WINDOW SO
• EVERY TIME A SMALL ROCK HITS MY WINDSHIELD IT CRACKS OR CHIPS. SMALL SAND OR GRAVEL EVEN PUTS CHIPS IN THE WINDSHIELD. CHEVY HAS A HISTORY OF USING INCORRECT PRIMER, SO I AM WONDERING IF IT IS STILL AN ISSUE. I CAN VISIBLY SEE OVER 10 CHIPS IN MY WINDSHIELD. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT R

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

“FILLED UP MY GAS TANK AND WHEN TANK WAS FILLED AND PAID FOR PUT IN D AND A HUGE BANG WAS HEARD, LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR TO FIND THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. THREE GENTLEMEN CAME RIGHT TO THE CAR AND ASKED WHAT HAPPENED CAUSE THE HEARD THE BANG. ONE OF THE MEN CLEANED THE GLASS OUT OF MY WINDOW SO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

84 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAI
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THREE SEPARATE SUDDEN ACCELERATION FAILURES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WERE UPDATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY C
• AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, I THEN APPLIED THE GAS TO GO AROUND A CORNER. UPON APPLYING THE GAS, THE ENGINE REVVED UP MUCH FASTER THAN IT WOULD NORMALLY. I QUICKLY APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND STOPPED FORWARD MOVEMENT. HOWEVER,THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO "REV". I PUT THE GEAR IN "NEUT

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

69 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME BLURRY WHEN THE SUN REFLECTED ON IT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTA
• WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT SOMETIMES THE ENGINE TRIES TO CUT OUT, AND THE CAR JERKS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO STAY CRANKED. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS A GM TERRAIN AND HERS DOES THE SAME THING. WHEN TURNING THERE IS A KNOCKING IN THE STEERING. THE SPEAKERS HAVE A RATTLING SOUND LIKE THEY A
• THE NIGHT SANDY HIT ON THE EAST COAST, IT WAS WINDY IN MICHIGAN. OUR CITY WAS DOING LEAF PICKUP AROUND THAT TIME SO LEAVES WERE ACCUMULATED AT THE EDGES OF THE ROADS. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN THROUGH A SUBDIVISION ON A PAVED ROAD AND IT JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE. GM WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME BLURRY WHEN THE SUN REFLECTED ON IT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

59 complaints

• CHEVY HAS KNOWN FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS THAT ANDROID AND BLACKBERRY PHONES DO NOT WORK WITH MANY NEW CHEVYS. THEY HAVE A SOFTWARE GLITCH THAT THEY CAN NOT REPAIR. THIS MEANS THAT OWNERS ARE NOT ABLE TO SAFELY USE THEIR PHONES WHILE IN THEIR CARS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLE
• 2012 CHVEROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH TOWING THE VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, THAT IN ORDER TO TOW THE VEHICLE ON ALL FOUR WHEELS, THE NUMBER 32 FUSE MUST BE REMOVED. HOWEVER, WHEN IT WAS REMOVED, THE 12 VOLT RECEPTACLE WAS DISCONNECTED WHICH RENDERED THE
• THE CROTCH BUCKLE ON MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT GETS STUCK AT TIMES WHICH MAKES IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET MY SON OUT. IT'S HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY REASON TO WHY OR WHEN IT HAPPENS. IN ORDER TO GET THE BUCKLE TO RELEASE I HAVE TO USE SO MUCH FORCE THAT IT HURTS ME AND I FE

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

“CHEVY HAS KNOWN FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS THAT ANDROID AND BLACKBERRY PHONES DO NOT WORK WITH MANY NEW CHEVYS. THEY HAVE A SOFTWARE GLITCH THAT THEY CAN NOT REPAIR. THIS MEANS THAT OWNERS ARE NOT ABLE TO SAFELY USE THEIR PHONES WHILE IN THEIR CARS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~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 943 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT SOMETIMES THE ENGINE TRIES TO CUT OUT, AND THE CAR JERKS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO STAY CRANKED. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS A GM TERRAIN AND HERS DOES THE SAME THING. WHEN TURNING THERE IS A KNOCKING IN THE STEERING. THE SPEAKERS HAVE A RATTLING SOUND LIKE THEY A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: FILLED UP MY GAS TANK AND WHEN TANK WAS FILLED AND PAID FOR PUT IN D AND A HUGE BANG WAS HEARD, LOOKED IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR TO FIND THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. THREE GENTLEMEN CAME RIGHT TO THE CAR AND ASKED WHAT HAPPENED CAUSE THE HEARD THE BANG. ONE OF THE MEN CLEANED THE GLASS OUT OF MY WINDOW SO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME BLURRY WHEN THE SUN REFLECTED ON IT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)