NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Engine went into limp mode with now warning. I recieved a reduced engine power warning and the vehicle lost acceleration on the highway almost leading to an accident. I had the car towed to Coggin GM for diagnostic and was told that my throttle body has to be replaced. I was advised that this is common issue with this engine and notify due to a recall of older equinoxes
Safety Complaint: Engine Stall/Loss of Power at Highway Speeds – 2014 Chevy Equinox Incident Details: • The Failure: While driving, the vehicle suddenly stopped responding to the accelerator. I was forced to navigate through highway traffic to the shoulder with no engine power. Once stopped, the vehicle would not restart. • Warning Signs: Leading up to the event, the Check Engine light and Battery light flickered intermittently. • Diagnostic History: Prior to the breakdown, a technician replaced the starter and checked the battery, yet the Check Engine light remained on. The engine exhibited high RPMs (reaching 3,000+) during normal acceleration before the total failure. • Safety Risk: This defect caused a complete loss of propulsion in high-speed traffic, placing myself and my infant in immediate danger of a high-speed rear-end collision.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started driving sluggishly and failed to accelerate properly. Additionally, the contact reported excessive oil consumption, although there were no external leaks found. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was driven to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with a timing chain failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE ALREADY PAID $2,500 TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE I LIVE TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN, AND IT'S DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. I'M HAVING TO CONTINUOUSLY PUT UP TO THREE QUARTS OF OIL IN IT EVERY 2 TO 3 WEEKS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NO BULLETIN ON MY VIN NUMBER. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR A YEAR AND A HALF AND BARELY PUT 4,000 MI ON IT. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. MY NEXT STEP IS TO SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY.
See attached document for complaint.
Wipers stopped working sounded like they were grinding when they stopped.
THE ENGINE FAILED. MY SAFETY WAS NOT AT RISK. THE PROBLEM WAS CONFIRMED BY AND AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE CAR WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A MANUFACTER OR THE POLICE. AND THERE WAS NO WARNING LAMP OR MESSAGES.
The Stabilitrac , brake & Traction control would not reset. Took to shop replaced ABS module & T/C switch. Cost me $1999.32 to fix. Problem solved.
Passenger occupancy sensor malfunction cause the service air bag message to pop up. It will put my passengers of my family or my girlfriend at risk without passenger air bag toggled. Getting taken a look at the car repair shop.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera image was black. The contact stated that upon shifting from reverse(R) to drive(D), the rearview camera remained engaged for an extended period. Additionally, the contact stated that while reversing on one occasion, the failure recurred, causing the rear end of the vehicle to strike an unoccupied parked vehicle. There was no injury sustained. The rear end of the vehicle sustained minor damage. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
The vehicles electrical system failed or faulted while operating. Engine went into a slow mode while operating in traffic. After stopping vehicle would not restart. very dangerous for an elderly person operating the vehicle.
There are several 2010-2014 Equinox that are having same problem. The oil smells like gas, and it burns through 4 quarts of oil before I hit 3,000 miles. I see that in 2019 there was a class action lawsuit against Chevy for putting the wrong pistons and O-rings in the 2010 through 2014 Chevy equinox 4 cylinder models. I believ this is the issue and what is causing the burning oil issue for my vehicle. I have never recieved any recall for this. Please advise on what to do next to rectify this issue.
The most noticeable things wrong are the RPMs and the oil consumption. The RMPs fluctuate at idle, hinting at a misfiring of the pistons, which you can hear when it sits at idle. The second thing is I top off the oil with a quart of oil every gas fill up. The engine light keeps popping on even after engine repairs are done. The exhaust manifold and catalytic converter had to be fixed and that didn't solve the problem. The pistons' psi was tested and one piston had a psi of 70 while the other 3 tested to 125 psi. This is low for all the pistons with a possible broken seal on the one or something else. Chevy recommended 7500 miles between oil changes, but it should be 3000 to 5000. I think in the car's early life, oil changes were not as frequent as they should have been causing damage to the engine that is showing problems now. Having to add a quart of oil at every gas fill up can cause serious damage to the engine and other parts of the car as well, and already has. I will attach a recent repair at Chevy and screenshots of what Google said Chevy recommended for these cars at first. Now realizing that 7500 miles is more than twice as long as it should be for an oil change, Chevy will say 3,000-5,000 for an oil change. But now the range is 3,000 to 7,500. This is not reliable information for these cars. I don't trust my vehicle to go over 3,000 miles due to the oil consumption. The RPMs still fluctuate and the engine light came back on. I suspect something deeper in the engine is wrong, which if it is not fixed, more damage to the engine and car is inevitable.
The engines in the 2014 equinox has a defect just like The Silverados.. they should have had a class action suit against that as well I've spoke with many ppl who had issues with their 2.4 eco tech engine it bucks at the stop signs cuts off and high fuel consumption
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The blank warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the Camshaft Position Actuator Solenoid Valve. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 17-NA-098; but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.
One computer shorted out of 22 on the car cause major repairs
started the car .i noticed the their was no door chime with the door open, no radio , radio display dear, no seat belt warning chime, no rear backup display camera. i drove car down to corner stopped and made right turn and everything was all right ,everything worked OK. this morning got into the car and no door chime,no seat belt chime no radio or display no back up camera, no on star . called my friend over and he checked the fuses .he checked fuse #9 radio fuse OK except for little tarnish on legs,checked display fuse #15 checked OK tarnish on fuse legs, checked the amplifier fuse #31 checked OK. but he replaced the fuses anyway, with new fuses. started car same problem as above o difference , one can drive the car lights ,turn signal bulbs OK
Service Stabilitrak, Power Steering light, Check Engine light. Door locks lock and unlock continuously. Randomly has No acceleration, causes jolting at a low speed. Available for inspection asap. The code “UO101” comes up in a diagnostic test. Overall, the car basically shuts down while driving at no specific speed. Safety of myself and others is at risk because this can cause an accident resulting in being rear ended/collision with car and other vehicles as it randomly happens when driving. I took my car to the dealership on 3/5/25 and expressed this issue and they could not diagnose it as it was not physically happening after I dropped it off to them. They had the car for 4 days and couldn’t duplicate the issue. They gave back the car and told me there was no issue with the vehicle and it is continuing to happen again. They told me to get proof of the incident on video when it happens again. (I was able to get a video today 4/3/25) There is no warning before this event happens. It will go away and not happen for a few days and then the next day it is not drivable. I am concerned for the safety of myself and others and would like to find the cause of this once and for all. I’d like for the dealership to not send me away without a reason why this is happening or fixing my vehicle.
Safety Complaint – Sudden Oil Loss and Engine Failure – 2014 Chevy Equinox Hello, I am reporting a serious safety issue involving my 2014 Chevrolet Equinox with the 2.4L Ecotec engine. My vehicle began consuming oil at an abnormal rate without any dashboard warnings in early 2025. The oil level would drop dangerously low between regular oil changes, and the problem escalated quickly. I had to carry oil and a funnel at all times to avoid engine damage. Despite proper maintenance, the engine failed and required replacement on March 27, 2025, at a cost of $11,879.28. The replacement engine includes a 3‑year or 100,000‑mile warranty, but it is the same Ecotec design. Approximately one month after the replacement engine was installed, I experienced another incident requiring service. This occurred despite the engine being brand new and under warranty, raising concerns that the defect may still be present and that the vehicle may remain at risk of sudden failure. This sudden oil loss and subsequent incident created a safety hazard, as the engine could have seized while driving. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can track the defect and evaluate whether further investigation or recall expansion is needed.
PVC value defect blowing rear main seal out ! Paid $3100.00 2 years ago . Went out again defected!!!
I got to work and my check engine light came on. As I was parking I received an error message that said decreased engine power. I turned off the car and the car would no turn back on. I had it towed to my mechanic and he told me today that the engine was low on oil. That caused the timing chain tensioner to relax the chain and the timing jumped. When that happens in those engines it damages the cylinder head. The engine will need a new cylinder head and a rebuild of the timing system etc. That would include new pistons as well. That would be about 5500 to do or I’d need to buy a new engine would be about 7k or just over installed. I was well within the oil change guidance on the sticker as well as the oil change guidance in the car menu.
Two weeks of zero degree weather caused the rear main seal to fail causing a large oil leak that could have resulted in the engine locking up if I had not noticed oil running down the driveway. Repair shop advised this was a common problem with the 2.4 liter engine caused by a failure of the PCV system and there is a service bulletin on this problem. GM has not recalled these engines to correct the known problem.
While my daughter was driving in very cold weather ...she here a pop sound and ALL warning lites fir low oil came on...she stopped immediately..the car was towed and a blocked frozen PCV vent caused the rear seal to blow...GM is aware of this defect with no intention to reimburse for repairs
Rear oil seal leaking the connecter piece burst and is causing the oil to leak all out and making the car die. It is a know issue and recall but my vin number does not match. The vehicle is un drivable at this time.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH in cold weather, the vehicle was shuddering. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the work garage, where the contact noticed that a significant amount of oil had leaked onto the ground. A mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the main crankshaft seal had failed because the PCV system had frozen. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance in covering the repair under Technical Service Bulletin: Bulletin No: PIP5093B. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the contact became aware of smoke in the rearview mirror and heard a loud thud. The contact exited the highway and drove to a gas station where the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact stated there was oil dripping from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The local dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 176,014.
My car is equipped with the 2.4L ecotec engine and has insane levels of oil consumption. Since my last oil change 2000miles ago I've added 5 quarts of oil. A few days ago the car started making a ticking sound while driving, the car then began surging and tried to take off while i had my foot on the break, and started to overheat and then shut off at a light. I was able to restart the vehicle and had no per on the rest of the drive. When I got home I checked the oil and the dipstick was dry. I received no warning light or indication that this was the case.
I was driving in busy traffic with no warning signs, no check engine lights when all of a sudden my engine lost power an would not restart. I had to get a tow from Kentucky to Michigan to a near by Mechanic where he ran a boroscope. The timing chain failed which then valves hit the pistons. I know this has been a big problem for this year equinox.
I have had several codes pop up on my Equinox, such as P0016, P0017, P0089 and P228D. All of these codes are between the Crankshaft position, variable timing position and high pressure fuel issues. I almost wrecked my SUV because of these 3 factors and I have seen thousands of videos on YouTube with other people having the same issues. This is beyond dangerous to be out on the road driving and these codes pop up causing "Reduce Speed" warnings and "Stabilitrak". This will be the 2nd time I've had to replace the Crankshaft position sensor and Variable Timing Solenoid, along with a brand new timing kit that I had put on right after I bought the car over a year ago, that is now in need of repair. There has to be some way that Chevrolet can fix these issues for those of us who buy their vehicles. They are supposed to be safe, dependable, durable and last longer than what they do before they start having all of these issues. I have had so many problems with the last 2 Equinox's that I have owned and each one of them have all had the same error messages pop up within a year or less of driving them, some have lasted over a year. I as a vehicle owner should not be held responsible for these kinds of issues going on in a vehicle that I still owe for. Chevrolet needs to understand and take care of their customers to prevent accidents from happening, vehicles from breaking down after short periods of time and replace/repair these malfunctions at their cost so that people like me don't keep going out here spending hundreds of dollars for the same fix after a year or 2 replacing, and it sometimes still not even fix the problem. There are so many others out here with the same exact issues that I am having, P0016, P0017, P0089 and 228D codes all dealing with fuel, vehicle speed, Stabilitrak, etc. Something has to be done about this and there has to be a way where they can be fixed for longer than 50,000 miles
I woke up one morning to take my daughter to school as I drove away and came to a stop sign my 2014 Equinox started bouncing/shaking tremendously while idling at the stop sign. I turned around and drove back home (1/2 block away.) We had the vehicle towed to a mechanic shop where we were told that the engine is bad and would need to be replaced. This came as a shocker since the vehicle only has 130K miles on it and there were no warnings of engine problems.
The temperature sensor keeps breaking down after using the car under normal conditions for 1–2 months of use. I have changed it a few times, as well as the electrical harnesses and connectors, and the problem persists.
I bought a new 2014 Chevy Equinox with the base 2.4L engine at David Maus Chevrolet in Sanford Florida My car suffered a sudden, premature engine failure on August 2024. even though we have religiously changed the oil every 3,000 miles My car is at 152000 miles stop working and unfortunately and the engine cost repair is near around $3000. Not including labor. I was told by my mechanic the Equinox has has a recall on burning oil however was 2011 to 2013. Seems as chevrolet still has not fixed this problem. My Vin # was not in a class action suite of recall. I need help for Chevrolet replace the engine on my car
I have a 2014 Chevy Equinox 2LT - VIN [XXX] - 2.4L I4 F DOHC 16V Engine Oil Consumption Recall – my engine is consuming oil, I do not see an external engine oil leak on the ground. There is an active recall for the 2013 Chevy Equinox LT – 4 cylinder engine for the internal engine oil leak, allowing recall repair/replacement of the engine pistons and rings, I would like my vehicle included in this recall, since the same exact engine oil consumption is taking place with my vehicle. I have to add at lease 2 quarts of oil each month. My vehicle has a little over 202,000 miles on it. Please respond to my request. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Went to go start my car for work one morning and my car would not start my car check oil light never came on and no messages the night befor and it said I had 36% oil left and my engine is gone....
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound, shuddered, and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The engine had been replaced approximately two years prior due to a similar failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
While driving down the interstate at approximately 70 mph the equinox would locks would start to cycle and at the same time the service stabiltrak and service power steering line would come on and the vehicle would drastically slow to around 30-40 mph, almost causing an accident. This is a well known issue with Chevrolet and they have not tried to resolve the issue. This is going to cause major issues when someone gets in a wreck. There is no definite fix out there for this issue and Chevrolet needs to be held accountable for this and fix this issue.
Car can not hold oil. It uses a lot of oil. Plus the engine went out due timing chain belt and clogged pcv valve. Costing thousands of dollars. Plus I’m locked in car payments for a vehicle that has known issues.
The contact's brother owns a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. Additionally, the contact stated that while the driver was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal rattling sound and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The driver was unable to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where an independent mechanic inspected the vehicle, and informed the contact that the timing belt or the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Oil consumption issue with no warning and no indicator lights. I get regular oil changes and was never told I was ever low on oil. Engine was running with no oil and cause pistons to misfire and vehicle began stalling with my young children in the vehicle. Piston damage has caused metal shavings to enter engine and engine now needs to be replaced with 61,000 miles on the vehicle. My safety and my children’s safety was risked with no warning and no indication there was any issue, which could have resulted in an engine fire. Two different repair shops said this is a common issue with the equinox and has been involved in class action lawsuits in other states for models 2008-2017. I have called the dealership which resold the vehicle to me used knowing there was an issue and didn’t disclose any information regarding this and they have refused to do anything for me except for so the repairs and have me pay out of pocket because they say there is no issue large enough for a recall.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, there was an abnormal oil odor detected. The contact pulled over and noticed there was a puddle of oil on the roadway. The contact checked underneath the vehicle and noticed oil on the undercarriage. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under TSB: 14882 Special Coverage Adjustment – Plugged PCV Orifice in Intake Manifold. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the repairs were not covered. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
The contact owns 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while his daughter was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering. Additionally, the vehicle stalled while at a complete stop at a traffic light. The contact stated that his daughter verified that the vehicle had sufficient fuel. The contact's daughter was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving; however, the vehicle stalled while at a complete stop at another traffic light. The low oil pressure warning light was illuminated, and there was smoke entering the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that his daughter exited the vehicle and went to a Police Station for assistance. The vehicle was pushed to Police Station. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under Technical Service Bulletin Number: 14882. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.
The engine suddenly lost power and by the time we got it home it was knocking really loud. We just had it serviced a few months before for oil change and tune up. When I checked the oil it was completely empty no low oil light or anything came on there were no oil leaks. When we contacted the garage they informed us that there has been problems with the engine burning excessive oil. I looked it up and seen there is litigation for this same engine for same issue in different states.
high oil consumption, plugged/damaged PCV valve. This is a known problem with 2010-2014 chevy equinox and a special coverage was issued in 2015, but not all affected vehicles were included in this special coverage, but my vehicle was not included even though the model, year, mileage, and specific issue are all the same as other equinox's that do fall under this special coverage. The special coverage needs to be extended to additional vehicles and Chevy will not address this complaint from me directly. The safety issue is that this problem was going on for months, but the check engine light did not go off to alert me of an issue. I noticed a sound when the vehicle was idling and when my car was suddenly not making it to the next scheduled oil change without being extremely low on oil. Had I not noticed the sound or checked my oil level on the spot (which the average consumer may not due) my engine would have seized up on the highway because it was down 3 quarts even though I had a recent oil change. The car does not make it between standard oil change time frames of 3,000-4,000 miles due to the heavy oil consumption from the defective pcv valve.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The contact stated while her daughter was driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The contact's daughter pulled into a parking lot, where the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound and stalled. The contact stated that her daughter attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle jerked and failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was stopped, and the vehicle was parked at a local shopping center while shopping. Upon returning to the vehicle, the contact's wife attempted to start the vehicle, however the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed timing chain. The contact was informed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The contact also stated that on several occasions while the contact was driving, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle and drive to his destination. The failure had been reoccurring for approximately six months. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The motor burns oil really fast I go through about a quart a week there are problems with motor I've had my mechanics check it out and they say that the rings need to be replaced but also I've been reading in and everybody's everybody else has your same year models have the mechanics that said that the wrong pistons and rings are in the motors which is why we are burning so much oil I have kept up on the maintenance I've done everything I was so sweet doing but it's going it's damaging the motor having the wrong parts and motor
HAS BAD STEERING RACK THAT SHOULD OF NEVER GONE BAD and the exhaust resignatior rotted out which should never happen
“Check engine” light came on recently (September 30th) accompanied by a rattling noise and smell of something burning inside the vehicle. Stopped at O’Reilly’s Auto Parts to have them pull the code before heading to auto shop. Code pulled was P0014 stating issue with exhaust camshaft. Took vehicle to Techway Automotive shop for diagnostic and let them know the code that was pulled at O’Reilly’s. Mechanic completed diagnostic and stated vehicle is consuming oil rapidly causing the engine pistons to “come apart”, specifically the piston rings and seals due to the high oil consumption and that the engine will give out sooner or later, worse case scenario the engine will blow or will cause a fire. Mechanic stated this is a common issue with these vehicles and it cannot be repaired, only complete engine replacement will “fix” the issue but would still require frequent oil level checks every 1000 miles or less. Burning smell and loss of power is very concerning to myself and passengers safety. I have found multiple accounts from others with the same year, make, model and engine type dealing with the same issues or worse. Several have already experienced the worst of it which is their engine catching fire. I was unaware of this being an ongoing issue until it happened to me and I started finding all of these other accounts of the same issues but no sign of recall for this vehicle even though there appear to have been recalls and class action suits filed for older and newer vehicles of the same make and model with similar issues. This needs to be addressed and repaired or fully compensated by the manufacturer since they have been aware of this problem since their 2010 models.
My car is sucking my oil extremely fast and my gas Mileage sucks I'm in and out of the shop several times for the same thing because my car likes to jerk me around. Ever since I got it in 2021 one, now it's 2023 and still to this day. It doesn't, they? Can't find out why. It's a big safty issue does it even going 70 on the freeway
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle failed to restart and was later towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026