Which Chevy Equinox years should you avoid?

This blog will answer the following questions: which Chevy equinox years should you avoid? What are the common problems in the Chevy equinox? Which year Chevy Equinox are safe to buy? What are the specifications of the latest Chevy Equinox?

Which Chevy Equinox years should you avoid?

The Chevy Equinox manufactured in the following year must be avoided because of the safety and reliability problems:

• 2007-2010
• 2011-2013
• 2015

The faults in each of the production years of Chevy Equinox are explained below:

2007-2010

Chevrolet launched the first generation of the Equinox model in 2005. There are several problems in both the gasoline engines of the chevy equinox. Some of the critical problems are engine oil mixing with the coolant, white smoke coming from the exhaust, and a drop in performance.

These problems are due to a badly engineered cylinder head gasket in the diesel engine. The cylinder head gasket is between the cylinder head and the engine block. Engine oil and coolant are separated with the help of an opening in the cylinder head gasket.

The cost of replacing the cylinder head gasket is very high as both the 3.4 and 3.6 L engine options are V6. It can cost 2000-2500 USD to remove the cylinder head and install cylinder head gaskets.

Another problem is in the HVAC or air conditioning system of the first generation of Equinox. Many customers reported that the heater does not heat the vehicle interior. In cold countries, it is also incapable of defrosting the windshield.

There are several motors in the HVAC housing that control the flaps. The blending air flap in the affected models does not operate as the linkage connecting the motor to the flap brakes. 

New HVAC housing cost up to 800 USD and required major disassembly in order to replace.

2011-2013

The most severe problem in these models is related to the power steering system. Customers reported that the power steering assist fails when the vehicle is running in and in worst cases, it is not even possible to turn it.

Before the complete malfunction of the power steering system, the steering becomes hard to operate and there are grinding noises coming from the steering rack. To rectify the fault, the hydraulic power steering pump needs replacement and the cost of the new pump is 250-300 USD.

Another problem in the high mileage chevy Equinox is the engine oil consumption. It is present in the 2.4 liter Ecotec engine. In order to increase the performance, Chevy used a direct fuel injection system with separate oil spray nozzles and a positive crankcase ventilation system to lower the friction between moving components.

But the engine oil found its way into the combustion chamber, the use of thin oil scraper rings did not prevent the oil from the oil spray nozzle to enter the combustion chamber. The Positive crankcase ventilation system also carried engine oil along with the crankcase glasses.

GM faced many class action lawsuits due to excessive oil consumption issues. Customers of Equinox received free repairs and also extended warranty of 120,000 miles or 7.5 years. If the vehicle is out of warranty then the repair cost is 3000-4000 USD.

2015

The 2015 model also suffered from engine oil consumption problems. Due to the engine oil burning in the combustion chamber, spark plugs are also damaged. The electrode of the spark plugs gets covered with heavy oil deposits.

Some of the engines were also affected due to timing chain issues, although the number of complaints was low. The cost of engine repair for oil consumption cases is around 3000 USD.

Another problem in the 2015 model is battery drain even when the ignition is off. The cause of the parasitic battery drain can be a faulty ignition switch or one of the control units that is preventing the onboard electrical system from entering sleep mode. 

What are the common problems in the Chevy equinox?

The common problems in the Chevy Equinox are given below, these problems are present in all the Chevy Equinox models. 

• Airbag light- Airbag systems consist of seat belts, airbags, and crash sensors. The airbags in the front of the Equinox are known to deploy even without any cash signal. Chevy also issued a recall after the cases were investigated by NHTSA.
• Oil Leaks- Apart from internal oil consumption, the equinox model also suffered from external oil leaks that resulted in low engine oil levels and loud noises from the engine. The oil level sensor was also not effective to warn the driver until the oil level was too low.
• Poor fuel efficiency and acceleration are present due to low fuel pressure or bad ignition coils. The cause is usually not the same and requires further diagnosis to rectify the concerns.

Which year Chevy Equinox are safe to buy?

The Chevy Equinox manufactured in the following years is safe to buy because of fewer complaints received from the customers even after driving for 200,000 miles.

• 2009
• 2016
• 2017
• 2020
• 2021

The 2021 Equinox is the best and most reliable model in the Chevy Equinox product range. It also has a 5-star safety rating by the NHTSA. The ride quality is good even on rough roads, the fuel consumption of the 2021 model is 26 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highways.

One of the weak points of the Chevy Equinox is the poor fuel economy which is no longer present in the 2021 model. 

The safety rating of the 2016-2017 model is also 4 stars, there is also an advanced driver assistance system like a surround-view camera and automatic brake only at slow speeds. The fuel consumption is 28 and 39 miles in the city and on the highways respectively.

The 2009 Chevy equinox is the best model if you are looking to buy a used car. It has great mileage on the highways and the number of complaints is very low. Moreover, the large V6 engine is capable of towing more than 3000 pounds. 

The only problem in the 2009 model is poor visibility from the tailgate and cramped luggage compartment due to its Crossover compact SUV design.

What are the specifications of the latest Chevy Equinox?

The specifications of the Chevy Equinox are given below, Chevy launched the third generation of the Equinox in 2018 and unveiled its facelift version in 2022.

Conclusion

This blog listed the problems in the worst years of the Chevy Equinox models. All the good years of the Chevy Equinox are also given in the blog. The worst problem in the Equinox is the oil consumption, in some models, it even resulted in damage to the moving parts of the engine. Poor safety ratings by the NHTSA also did not help the sale of the Chevy Equinox.