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2012 Chevrolet Equinox

The Verdict

15 Total Klunk

The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox has 680 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (378 complaints) and body (214 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 15/100, it earns a "Total Klunk" rating. If you're shopping for a Chevrolet Equinox, consider the 2024 model year which has 90% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2024 has 90% fewer complaints

View the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox dashboard →

15

Klunk Score: Total Klunk

Among the most complained-about vehicle years on record. Strongly consider alternatives.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

11V511000 TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 18, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 6, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQU...

Risk

UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN RESULT IN TIRE OVERLOADING AND OVERHEATING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE CRASH. THE RESULTING CRASH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. UNDERINFLATED TIRES CAN ALSO ...

Remedy

GM DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 9, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866...

Reported Apr 10, 2026

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20051267714219696
20063337412114224
20071392520529124
200810971598113
200916341286
201022913101325116
2011164208143974
201221484637834
201320795943331
201423194524117
2015337126324223
20161463232109
20173182419213
201885894912045
201948573312923
202046672613022
2021255192711
2022264131064
2023131410462
202417128244
20257717583222

By Category

Engine
378
Body
214
Electrical
46
Transmission
34
Brakes
8

By Severity

1
310
2
342
3
6
4
22

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Engine 2

Wipers do not work Seems to not recognize when idling and starts to shake if stopped at a red light. Randomly will go through 2 quarts of oil in one day

2mo ago
Engine 1

The abs braking and stability control light came on and has stayed on and took to mechanic shop and was told to repair would be 4000 .that's more than what the car is worth!changed motor oil many times since I owned the car and it uses oil quite much.ihe oil gauge can say I have 70 percent oil and the dipstick reads no oil so I must put 2 -3 quarts of oil in car because I can hear lifters rattle due to lack of oil.the abs stability control keeps car steady especially in i snow or rain weather and can lose control of the 2012 Chevy equinox.if I was to drive vehicle on long trip the motor could freeze up while driving and shut down and cause dangerous situation in traffic.

4mo ago
Engine 2

The vehicles oil needs to be checked every day to make sure the levels are not low. The vehicle has no visible oil leaks on the ground or inside, but the oil levels will drop. With that I have to constantly have oil on hand to make sure I refill it or the engine would be dry. It’s becoming a hassle because I have to constantly monitor and make sure that the engine has oil so it doesn’t blow up.

5mo ago
Body 1

ABS stabilizer light on dash shows ABS malfunction.took it to certified mechanic to check the problem and was told the system had to be replaced at the cost of $4000.

7mo ago
Engine 1

Recently got an oil change, and in a month I’ve had to “top-off” my oil. Constantly have to make sure I carry a few quarts of oil to make sure my oil is filled. One day, I forgot to check the oil and my car was stalling on a busy road. Had to pull over to make sure I put the oil in there. Everyone that I’ve asked said they have the same issue. I stopped asking people after the 10th person. My uncle is a mechanic and he said the same thing about the oil. He said he wasn’t sure where is goes but it just disappears.

8mo ago
Body 1

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The rear suspension trailing arm and subframe assembly rusted completely through, causing the suspension to separate from the frame. The corroded and broken components are still attached to the vehicle and are available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The rusted frame and failed trailing arm caused the rear wheel alignment to shift dangerously, making the vehicle unstable and unsafe to drive. If the part had completely detached while driving, it could have caused a total loss of control and a serious accident, endangering the driver, passengers, and others on the road. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The issue was visually inspected and confirmed by an independent repair facility, which advised that the frame is structurally compromised and the vehicle is unsafe to drive without major frame replacement. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Not yet by the manufacturer, but photos and documentation are available. The damage has been assessed by a certified mechanic who confirmed the severity and the safety hazard. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lights or messages appeared. The issue was first noticed after hearing unusual noises and instability from the rear of the vehicle. Upon inspection, severe frame rust and separation of the rear trailing arm were discovered.

8mo ago
Engine 2

I had the excessive oil consumption recall repair done when it was recalled originally, however the problem has returned and from my research it appears that the piston rings were not the proper size to stop the oil from blowing back out the exhaust. Is there anything I can do about that as far as having those repairs covered again?

9mo ago
Electrical 2

Rear tailgate. Borrowed vehicle from a friend for a trip. When opening the tailgate with the external switch it opens all the way and immediately comes back down about 12 inches or so then it immediately goes back up and immediately comes all the way down. My wife was almost trapped between the bottom of the tailgate and the floor of the storage compartment. When I tried it, I tried to hold it up when it started down for the second time and it was impossible for me to stop the tailgate from closing. It substantially overpowered me. There is a PROBABILITY that it could have broken her back or strangled her. Even more so if she was packing the car by herself. I exerted all my strength trying to stop the tailgate as I indicated before. I have not contacted anyone about this situation. The vehicle has a little over 84K miles and is in excellent condition. When I called my friend about the problem she said she was aware of it and is living with it because it would cost over $1,000.00 to fix it. I know she bought it used from Ferman Chevrolet in Tampa a few years ago. I was hoping to get it fixed for her before returning the car to her.

9mo ago
Engine 1

Its iz using 2 or 3 courts of oil every 200 miles

10mo ago
Engine 1

I purchased this vehicle on[XXX]. I was advised that there was an open recall for the O2 SENSOR. On 11/11/24, I took this vehicle to LOU BACHRODT in Coconut Creek,Fl. where they performed the recall. Shortly after having the recall done my vehicle's check engine light came on and then would turn off and continue to come intermittently. I took it to one of my local parts store that does the check engine light scan and it was giving the code for a faulty O2 sensor. I took it back to same dealership on 12/17/24. I explained to Charles Ramasir ( service advisor) what was happening. He ran a scan even though the check engine was not on at that moment. The code that was stored was a transmission modular code. He said I would have to bring the vehicle back when the engine light was actually on because he could not accept a scan/fix finder report from any other then this dealership. The problem continued and was now affecting the performance of my vehicle. I was able to get the vehicle back to Lou Bachrodt while the lite was on and their scan did indicate the O2 sensor. The part was reordered and the recall was done a second time by Lou Bachrodt Chevrolet. My vehicle continues to have the same problem. The engine lite continues to come on intermittently and the scans continue to indicate a problem with the O2 sensor: code on [XXX] =P0138 code on [XXX] =P2271 I returned to Lou bachrodt on may 3,25 while the lite was on. As I drove into the service area the service greeter advised me to drive up and wait for the service advisor-Charles. I proceeded to turn off he vehicle and wait. As soon as I turn the vehicle back on to show Charles the engine lite, it was no longer on. And once again I was told that if the lite was not on he could not run the scan or accept the scan report from Auto Zone from the day before. He also seems to be fixated on the transmission code that no longer comes up in current scan reports. problem not solved and continues. please help. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

14mo ago
Electrical 2

About six months ago, my steering wheel would get hot in the middle of it, but I kind of didn’t know what that was but then now my airbag sensor came on and then went off. I’m not really sure but I feel like something’s not right with it. Gonna go get it fixed, but I don’t feel like it should be something that was not recalled because it’s not right

15mo ago
Brakes 1

the abs light came on the dash and traction control.i was driving in a rain storm and went around a corner and front end started to slide.was only going 35 mph so I didn't lose control.this happened on.04/15/2025 .if I would have been going any faster I would have lost control.this is very dangerous as I realized. it should be fixed by GM for safety concerns.

15mo ago
Engine 1

My check engine light has been on and I've had people with machines to turn it off. It came back on each time. It is available for inspection. I don't feel totally safe as I don't know when or where it might fail and what that would look like. No, the it has not been inspected by anyone. The only warning I have is that the check engine light stays on.

16mo ago
Engine 1

In 2023, I purchased my 2012 Chevrolet Equinox from a private seller. It was in excellent condition, inside and out with only 75,000 miles on it. She had purchased it brand new. The vehicle was serviced and maintained regularly. She gave me all the receipts and service records when I signed the title. Everything was fine until it hit 76,000 miles. Without any type of warning, the motor went in limp mode and wouldn't accelerate over 24 mph and the valves were rattling very loudly. I immediately pulled over and called triple A and got towed to an auto repair shop. The triple A dispatcher told me what the problem was as soon as I told him it was a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. There was NO OIL in it. Sure enough, the mechanic added 5 quarts of oil and it thankfully, I had pulled over immediately before it blew the engine. I'm a [XXX] so I really don't know how mechanicals and motors work but the gist of it, as explained to me by Chevrolet dealers and mechanics have, the 2012 Chevrolet equinoxes are notoriously famous for excessive oil consumption due to faulty Pistons. CHEVROLET SHOULD'VE INCLUDED THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL IN THE RECALLS! I will NEVER purchase another Chevy or GMC. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

16mo ago
Engine 1

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the engine revved up abnormally. While driving at various speeds, there was a humming sound coming from the underbody of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the catalytic converter had failed, the throttle body failed, and the exhaust manifold had fractured. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and confirmed there was no recall on the VIN. The failure mileage was 137,000.

16mo ago
Body 2

My Vehicle had an open Recall N192268180 TAILPIPE EMISSIONS - OXYGEN SENSOR. I made an appt for the recall for 1/20/2025 at Capital Chevrolet in Wake Forest, NC. The appt was cancelled and rescheduled for 2/10/2025 due to them needing to order parts for the recall. On 2/10/2025 my vehicle was dropped off and i was told it should be finished by end of day 2/10 or early morning 2/11/2025. On 2/11/2025 I called the dealership to see when my vehicle would be ready and was told the recalled part caused damage to my Catalytic Converter and they would need to replace it but this would be covered under the recall. At that time I asked about a Loaner car from the dealership because they were estimating 3 additional days and I do not have another vehicle to use to get to work or transport my children. The dealership reached back out to me on 2/12/2025 to say I did not qualify for a loaner because it is outside my vehicles extended warranty but they would have the part in hopefully that day or the next. I followed up on 2/13/2025 and was told they did not have the part yet. On 2/14/2025 I contacted the dealership to see when they were estimating I would have my vehicle done and was told that I could pickup my vehicle that day even though the repair was not complete because it was drivable and they just were waiting on a harness. i was scheduled to bring my vehicle back the following Monday for the harness to be installed. On Monday, [XXX] when I went to start my vehicle to take it to the dealership it made unusual noises then cut off and will not turn back on. I have left voicemails for the dealership and the manager, and I have contact my insurance to have it towed to the dealership but at this point I have missed a week of work causing me to lose income and do not have the $168 needed to tow the vehicle to the dealership. I have attempted to get assistance from the dealership and the manufacturer with no solution offered other than to pay out of pocket to tow it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

16mo ago
Engine 2

purchased this car in June 2024.didnt notice it was leaking oil until having oil changed.the mechanic said the engine was dry with not much oil.the mechanic told me the oil pan seal is bad.i checked and it doesn't take a gasket,and the oil pan must be removed and a sealant must be applied rather than a gasket form.this 2012 Chevy equinox ls ,and does not have a gasket form only the sealant.if the engine doesn't have oil the motor could lock up in traffic and cause accident.suspension is noisey like bushings are bad and need lubrication but no where to lubricate.

18mo ago
Engine 1

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that upon slowing down, the vehicle rocked back and forth violently. The contact stated that the check engine and reduced engine power warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 23 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was informed that there was excess crankshaft pressure, the crankshaft faces were faulty, and the pistons needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.

19mo ago
Engine 1

Why is consuming a lot of oil This car the mileage is Les the 130000 I buy and didn’t know the issue Can you please fix it Sometime I hear noise from the engine

19mo ago
Body 1

My drivers side wiper blade stopped working while the passenger side is still working. I saw a recall for this linkage on the site but it’s not for my specific VIN. Additionally, my catalytic converter has damage due to excessive oil consumption. Halfway through my regular oil changes the oil is almost completely empty. Again, there’s a recall on this for my specific make, model and year but not for my VIN. I feel these should be covered to be fixed by manufacture due to symptoms equivalent to recall.

20mo ago

680 total

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