2017 Chevrolet Equinox Complaint Log

When I was exiting the expressway, my car suddenly stopped without any warning. I managed to restart it, but after driving just a few feet, it stalled again. I was able to restart it once more, but this time I could hear a knocking noise coming from the engine. I initially thought it couldn't need oil since I had an oil change just the previous week. I drove to a nearby gas station to check the oil level, and although the oil gauge indicated 91%, I found there was no oil in the engine. I added two quarts to get a few blocks to my destination. However, I soon noticed oil leaking out. I decided to have my car towed to a Chevy dealership, where I was informed that I had a blown rear main seal caused by a faulty PCV system. I was told that this situation was dangerous, especially since it occurred on the expressway. The repair cost over $3,000. I contacted GM to see if they could assist me with cost but was told only after I got the issue fixed they wouldsee what they could do. I've also noticed that many other 2017 Chevy Equinox owners have reported similar problems online. Could you please look into this?

The Rear Main seal failed which ended up causing issues with the timing belt and required pistons to be replaced as well. The safety of the vehicle was at risk because it was spewing oil all over the place while I was driving which could cause the roads to be slick and cause others to crash. Let alone the oil spewing everyone could cause further damage to my own vehicle. The dealer confirmed there is a bulletin for this exact issue and also advised me that in my small local area there was 6 others in the past 3 weeks who had the exact same issue. Several others I know who have this vehicle also had it happen to them within the past few years. There was 0 indication of anything that something was wrong until it just happened all of the sudden. It cost $6500 to fix and GMC will take 0 responsibility for their own willful misconduct.

EGR valve froze cause the rear main seal to blow, has timing chain fixes. Now having more issues again.

114k miles and the PCV valve was collecting condensation which froze. This caused a build up of pressure and blew the rear main oil seal and timing chain. No warning, no dash lights, nothing. Oil life at 35% and over 1,000 miles before due for next oil change. Went from running fine to DEAD in less than 1/4 of a mile.

I am having this same issue with my 2017 Equinox as stated in the below information. It currently only has 58390 miles. I have already paid over 700 to try and fix and now they are telling me it is going to be another $5040.00.I feel like this should be covered by the class action lawsuit. The lawsuits against General Motors allege that the 2.4-liter EcoTech engines found in model year 2010-2017 Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain SUVs burn excessive amounts of oil. The safety risk posed by the apparent defect is substantial, the lawsuits claim, given that an engine operating without sufficient oil could wear down and fail prematurely, even during the course of normal operation, due to friction. According to the lawsuits, General Motors, for its part, actively concealed from consumers that its Equinox and Terrain vehicles suffered from an oil consumption defect. Worse, the suits say, GM allegedly failed to offer vehicle owners and lessees any help by way of repairs or recalls.

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly went into LIMP Mode. The traction control, the stability-track warning lights, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to The Race Car Factory, where it was diagnosed that the engine's rear main seal was blown. The mechanic determined that the rear main seal needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer provided no further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000. The VIN was not available.

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 71 MPH, the engine lost power with the check engine and stability-track warning lights illuminated. The vehicle entered LIMP Mode. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to a local gas station. The contact approached the gas station, and the vehicle shut off. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test was performed; however, the mechanic could not determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the PCV valve had frozen due to the cold weather. The contact was informed that the failure then pressurized the crankcase valve and blew the engine oil seal. The contact was also informed that the timing chain had failed and caused the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 68,000.

The PCV Valve froze last week causing pressure to build up and blew the rear seal. All the oil leaked out and caused a grinding noise and the vehicle shutoff on its own. This I have seen is an ongoing problem with the Chevy Equinox. I was quoted $3800 from the dealer to repair.

Two massive oil leaks experienced while driving during cold weather months. One two years ago (Feb 2023) and the other January 2025. Both instance caused by Rear Main Seal and led to mass oil loss while operating and vehicle almost shutting down on roadway. There appears to have been bulletins sent to dealers from GM on the matter but no indication to customers of the potential dangers.

Rear mail oil leak Engine gone timing chain failure allowed the engine pistons to contact the engine valves thereby damaging the valves and pistons.

REAR MAIN SEAL GONE BAD DUE TO ENGINE DEFECT NOTED IN GM SERVICE BULLETIN PIP5093C WHICH IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE ENGINE.

On 1/5/25, the rear main seal ruptured due to a known issue in the vehicle's PVC system, causing severe oil loss, potential catastrophic damage to the engine, loss of power, possible accident and/or injury. The problem was confirmed by a local Chevrolet dealer, with an estimated repair cost of $4000. The failure occurred without any vehicle warning lights activating.

Majority of the oil leaked out of the vehicle, the low oil light never came on. Car was towed to the shop after I was told not to drive it, as the engine will most likely seize up. The shop found that the rear main crankshaft seal was blown out and leaking to access crank case pressure due to a PCV orifice plugged, not letting the engine vent.

Oil leak caused by insufficient ventilation and excessive oil burning caused rear main seal and timing chain belts to fail. Oil warning systems were too late in warning about problem until engine stalled out and all oil was consumed, causing engine failure. No low oil warnings came up until minutes after the initial engine shutdown. Research has shown that this has been a known chevy problem since 2017, with a recall being issued earlier on but no known recall now. Dealer has confirmed issues and also that the engine design is flawed and leads to oil burning excessively

Engine oil consumption is bad to the point that it consumes 5 quarts of oil a week to the point that the engine seized from lack of oil and went into maintenance mode shutting down while driving leaving me stranded in the side of the road

PVC port plugged during freezing weather caused excessive crankcase pressure causing the rear main seal to blow out resulting in the loss of engine oil. Went to 2 different repair shops who confirmed each other’s diagnosis. At minimal mileage for a 2017 year car, the engine had to be replaced at considerable cost. The car was continuously maintained by a Chevrolet dealership, with records to support that maintenance.

Driving to work, my car decided to die upon stopping at a stop light. I managed to get it to start again and coast to work, but upon reaching the parking lot, it died yet again. I allowed it to stay parked while at work, when leaving it seemed normal, mind you it hasn't made any noises. I went to leave; it died yet again at the stop sign. I just put a brand-new battery in it, so I knew that wasn't the issue. I took it maybe 200 feet down the road and it died again. This time, I noticed a bunch of oil on the ground. Since this traumatic event, I took it to my local dealership to have it diagnosed. They found that the timing chain and guide broke, and this pressure caused the seals to also blow. I spent $3,600 to fix those in hopes this would bring my car back to normal use. Unfortunately, there was more damage than expected and the bearings at the bottom of the engine went out, which the mechanic then explained to me would cause them to replace the pistons and other parts and it would be more feasible to get a new engine. They said this was due to the engine overconsuming oil and causing the oil levels to be much lower than they needed to be even with normal maintenance and tops offs in between routine oil changes. This could have caused an accident as when the vehicle would die, I had no time to get to a safe spot on the road. This did not cause any warning lights, notices, messages or signs that something was wrong. I have reached out to the dealership and GM for further assistance to look into this matter as the ECOtec engines have been known for this same issue in the 2013-2016 models but have refused to speak further about the 2017 to current models. GM customer service informed me that due to the engine stating it had too low oil, they were refusing to assist me in anyway.

VEHICLE STALLED WHEN DRIVEN OR STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. ABNORMAL NOISES COMING FROM ENGINE. WHEN ENGINE OIL WAS CHECKED, NO VISIBLE OIL WAS AVAILABLE IN THE DIPSTICK. INSERTED DIPSTICK A COUPLE OF TIMES TO ENSURE CORRECT MEASUREMENT. EXTREMELY LOW OIL LEFT IN VEHICLE. VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE BURNING OIL. DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES READ BY OBD2 TOOL WERE: P0011,P0191,P228D,P0089 AND P0014. WHEN INVESTIGATING ONLINE, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW BEING IGNORED BY THE OEM.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 55,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 128,826.

Timing chain broke guides and jumped timing which resulted in engine failure. There were no lights indicating a problem before. Engine had to be replaced by a service repair shop.

Driving down a 4 lane busy highway. Going 65 when the car made a pop sound. We pulled over. Car caught on fire 5 mins after we were out

The contact owned a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while stopped in traffic, he was involved in a rear end crash. The contact stated that the vehicle was pushed forward by the impact into the rear end of another vehicle. The contact stated that the rear end of the vehicle was crushed in to the rear wheel wells, and the front end of the vehicle, the hood, front bumper, and grill were also crushed back into the front wheel wells. The contact stated that the front air bags had not deployed after being pushed into the rear of the other vehicle. The contact was not sure what happened to the other two vehicles. The contact stated that the Police were called and EMS was also on scene. The contact stated that a Police report was filed. The contact stated that he was not transported to the hospital, but later had been taken by a friend to seek medical attention. The contact stated that the jolt of the impact had caused a concussion. Additionally, there were some bruising from the seat belt to the left shoulder. The contact stated that after the crash the seat belt failed to retract and the issue might be due to a sensor failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later declared a total loss by the Insurance Company. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

Had car over 5 years from 11/2019 to current and had no issues at all. No check engine lights, nothing, and kept up on all routine maintenance. Car started up just fine drove on interstate from about 10 miles came to my exit and vehicle turned off and tried to restart itself. Car never started again. After getting it towed home replaced the started and that wasn’t the issue towed it again to Firestone they could tell me what the problem was because they don’t do engine work. Finally took it to a Chevy dealership who stated the timing chain broke and we need a whole engine replacement for $9600. Now we are stuck without a vehicle because of know issues GM AND Chevy have been aware of.

Our 2017 Chevy Equinox, engine 2.4l, is using excessive oil. Doing research it sounds like this is a known well known problem. what is Chevrolet doing to fix this issue?

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The contact was adding one quart of oil weekly. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at 25 MPH, but was able to restart. While at a stoplight, the vehicle stalled. There was an abnormal knocking and rattling sound coming from the engine. The engine warning light was illuminated. The reduced engine power message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

Engine failed in traffic at stop sign Numerous reports of burning oil Quickly and engine failing... Could happen at any time anywhere leaving one stranded and at risk of collision or crime... After having it replaced at 64000 miles it did the same thing 1 year later. Cost 10000$. Thousands of people have reported this defect.

Car is 7 years old and only 65,900 miles (purchased new and oil changed every 4000 mi) when timing chain noise started - approx April 2024. Chevy dealer in area and independent mechanic could not find the issue and diagnosed as exhaust sound though Chevy has known issues like this with 4 cylinder engines). Car was traded Aug 2024 (has since been sent to auction due to unknown engine damage) and discovered upon trade it had catastrophic engine failure. For months car was driven at times with small children when engine could have seized up and caused a crash. No engine lights or indication of an issue other than diesel engine sound when car was running.

1.What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? •The vehicle purchased from UTICA PREOWNED, a 2017 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LT with VIN [XXX] , experienced a complete failure of the engine system. It is available for inspection upon request. 2.How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? •The failure of the engine system in the vehicle posed a significant safety risk as it rendered the vehicle inoperable. This could have resulted in potential accidents or breakdowns, endangering both my safety and the safety of others on the road. 3.Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? •The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. However, the vehicle’s condition has been confirmed as non-operational by the auction from which it was sourced. 4.Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? •The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. However, it has been inspected by the auction where it was purchased, confirming its non-operational condition. 5.Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? •There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms indicating the failure prior to the purchase. The vehicle was represented as being in good working condition by [XXX] during the negotiation process. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was a loud sound coming from the exhaust and there were exhaust fumes entering the cabin of the vehicle while starting the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.

While driving everything went blank on my dashboard even radio screen then steering wheel locked up on me for maybe 1-2 seconds then that’s when I got a quick flash come on dashboard and said service power steering or steering wheel. And quickly went away. This could have risked me and my 2 year old toddler life. I took my car back to dealership Lexus of Dayton but they said there was nothing showing on my dashboard. I told them that it went away. So they suggested to take it to a Chevy dealership because it may be cheaper to have it put on a diagnostic because they would charge me 189.00 to do so. Which I feel I shouldn’t have to pay for.

While I was driving the rear main seal went out and I lost all my oil. Luckily I was close to home,could have blown my motor. This is a 1500.00 to a 2500.00 fix. This happened around feb.26 2024 and my car is still sitting I'm my drive until I can save up the money to fix it. Also the few places I have called around to fix it have had other equinoxes in for the same thind,22 that I know of.

On 2-11-24 a light came on about system reset plus speed reduced to 20. I drove home 4 miles. Called Chevy Corp. Told needs to be checked. Dealership said if drivable come in.Light was safety to get off Rd or to garage. Timing chain slipped and chewed up teeth spreading metal everywhere and killed motor. No warning. It's a known prob with Equinox as I have seen class action lawsuits. Advisor even said need another lawsuit to solve it. Tried going thru insurance but advisor said normal wear and tear. Chevy dealership or corp will not help or give me a rental car. $10300 to get a refurbished motor and hope it doesn't happen again. Same car burns oil had sensor issues on block and every 1-2 years battery dies. Paid 65 to replace it one time under warranty. Timing chain doesn't slip they break to stop car. Advisor says a few mechanical issues caused it. To me it shouldn't do that if made rt. I could have been in an accident if on highway. Insurance won't cover under comp part of policy yet if hit and totaled it's paid.A diff garage said belt or chain shouldn't need replacement until 100k miles. I only have 77k.

Took the vehicle in due to poor function to be addressed and the vehicle was found to have no oil in the engine. 5 quarts of oil was just placed in the engine at the beginning of the week and was told that the engine is burning oil very badly. This is very concerning as I am seeing that other people are having this exact issue, often while driving on the highway. We are only driving this vehicle if absolutely necessary and do not have the money to replace the engine and the pistons. We have been diligent with frequent oil changes but we cannot keep pouring oil in this vehicle only for it to be gone within days or hours. This is a huge safety risk and could cause injury or death to myself, my children or others on the road. The check engine light came on after the oil was added. Took to our mechanic and they confirmed that the entire engine or at least all the pistons will need to be replaced in order to make this vehicle safe for driving. Called General Motors about this issue and was informed this very vehicle is in class-action lawsuit for the very same thing my vehicle is experiencing and that a recall should be coming out, but no one knows when this recall will come out. This is a common problem seen with the equinoxes and it needs to be fixed by the dealer or General Motors.

Was in an accident, where my front bumper was hit going about 60 and air bags did not deploy.

No problems with car Oil life says 19% told by chevey dealership service department don't have to change oil till 0% Filled up car at gas pump and pulled away In middle of turning reduce power alarm, traction control and check engine yell at me I was just able to get the car into a parking spot Take car to chevey dealership service department and they said It is turning of too easy meaning the timing chain slipped and there is NO oils on the dip stick even though it was just there to get oil change at 6K and oil life reader say 19% No sound, No hard turn over, No shifting issues I was glad I wasnt on the highway for it to slipped without warning while driving

I was driving when my car started knocking. I pulled over on the highway and noticed oil all over the undercarriage of the vehicle. I immediately drove to the dealership and had the mechanics take a look. They came back and said, "The rear main seal was leaking due to a plugged PCV port that froze because of the cold weather. This caused high crankcase pressure to build, which blew out the rear main seal." Looking online, I found that this appears to be a common problem. The dealership said they could fix it by drilling the hole in the PCV port bigger, but there is currently no recall on this issue. Just to replace the seal, they are charging $2500, with an additional few hundred dollars to enlarge the PCV port. Thankfully, I was able to pull over and get it to the dealership. I can only imagine how bad things could have been if I hadn't been in a relatively safe spot.

My son was driving and all of a sudden the check engine light came on, it got really loud and stalled out while he was driving. Luckily he was on a road with a low speed limit. If this had happened on the highway it could have been extremely dangerous. He is a 16 year old new driver. We took it in and were told the rear main seal blew and we need a new engine. Apparently this is a know issue with this car. We are now in the process of installing a new engine on a car we have taken very good care of with less than 100,000 miles and still has a car payment. There were no prior warnings and the issue was confirmed by the dealer.

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, there was white smoke coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. There was a trail, and a puddle of oil underneath the vehicle. The contact who is an independent mechanic and stated that there was a rear main seal leak, and the engine might need to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.

I am writing to address a critical issue involving my 2017 Chevrolet vehicle, which poses a significant safety hazard. I purchased this car from Faulkner Subaru in Bethlehem in 2022. The specific component failure relates to the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system, particularly the lack of a traditional PCV valve and the presence of a fixed orifice vacuum port in the intake manifold. This component is available for inspection upon request. The safety of myself, my passengers, and other road users was compromised due to the sudden and significant oil leakage caused by the malfunctioning PCV system. This not only endangered our safety but also posed a serious risk to others on the road. While the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, it is a well-documented issue with ongoing litigation against Chevrolet. However, there are currently no active recalls addressing the problem. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The incident occurred suddenly while driving, with the strong smell of burning oil and subsequent oil leakage being the first indications of a problem. Your immediate attention to this matter and intervention on behalf of affected consumers is crucial. I urge Chevrolet to address this safety concern through a formal safety recall and to take responsibility for rectifying this manufacturing defect.

PCV valve froze causing rear main crankcase seal to break and massive oil loss. Fotunately I was able to get home and not have the engine die on the road in -10 degree Fahrenheit temperatures.

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started shaking. The contact continued driving and the vehicle started to shake excessively. The message “Engine Power Reduced” message and “Stabili-trak” warning light illuminated before the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to get the vehicle parked in a parking space and turned the vehicle off. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,200.

Oil leak caused by insufficient ventilation and excessive oil burning caused rear main seal and timing chain belts to fail. Oil warning systems were too late in warning about problem until engine stalled out and all oil was consumed, causing engine failure. No low oil warnings came up until minutes after the initial engine shutdown. Research has shown that this has been a known chevy problem since 2017, with a recall being issued earlier on but no known recall now. Dealer has confirmed issues and also that the engine design is flawed and leads to oil burning excessively

The PCV System froze causing the rear main seal to blow on my 2017 Chevrolet Equinox Premier. No prior warnings such as check engine light of any kind. In a matter of one minute I was driving 65 miles an hour on the highway to a warning popping up on my LCD screen stating "engine oil pressure low - shut down engine now". Didn't even have an opportunity to shut it down, within 30 seconds of that message the car shut itself down. This could have caused injury to myself and others but i was able to get to shoulder before total engine failure. This happened after several days of below 0 temperatures, snow and ice.

I was driving my vehicle when it started putting at a red light. I was close to my place of employment so I drove it the few blocks there and parked it. When I went to start it on my lunch break I heard a bunch of rattling under the hood and it wouldn’t drive. I checked the oil and realized All of the oil had leaked out.

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle began to hesitate and shake, prompting the contact to tow the vehicle to be diagnosed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined there was no compression in cylinder #2. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 89,000.

My 2017 Chevrolet Equinox has a cracked exhaust manifold which is causing fumes smell of gas and oil burning and the engine smoking profusely and inside the car. I researched online and found a lot of recalls for Chevy Equinox with this same issue.

Our temperature recently dropped below zero temps. Our PCV system froze which caused an obstruction. This caused the crankcase to pressurize blowing out the seals, losing all oil, and catastrophic engine failure. Our safety could have been impacted as we live in a rural community with subzero temps. Being stranded without service on a phone or vehicle to stay warm could have catastrophic consequences on human life. Losing engine power on a busy road could lead to a crash etc. The problem was confirmed by the dealer. This is a known issue in 2.4L engines as seen in bulletin 14882 from March 2015. The vehicle was inspected by the GM dealership in our town who confirmed this was the issue. There was no warning prior to the failure- the incident happened while driving home from work- at the time of failure the stabiltrak and reduced engine power came on.

While in rush hour traffic in temperatures at 5 degrees or lower my car came up with a warning light of "Engine Power Reduced" as I proceeded to cross over to the right lane of the highway in order to pull onto the shoulder of the road the car lost all engine power. The car was towed to a Chevy dealer for assessment of "rear seal blown causing oil leak and ruining the engine causing needed replacement" My safety & that of other vehicles around me were in danger from the engine power going from 55 to 0 in moments in rush hour traffic in extreme temperatures. The car was assessed by the repair shop & our auto insurance.

Cold weather here apparently caused the rear main seal to blow out and leak all of my oil out of the vehicle very quickly. Now I’m left with a car that will not run, extended warranty will not cover. I’ve read MANY stories of the same exact thing happening to equinoxes. If this is so common why is it not covered? I have 2 small children 6 and under and work full time. I cannot afford a new vehicle. So disappointing this is such a common problem yet not covered at all leaving people without a vehicle.

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that upon pulling out of the driveway, she observed that oil had pooled underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the PCV valve was clogged. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 90,000.