2012 Chevrolet EQUINOX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
683 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
81,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 498 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 354 of 683 complaints (51.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 100 | 14.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 61 | 8.9% |
| Braking behavior | 45 | 6.6% |
| Steering behavior | 41 | 6.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 17 | 2.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 354 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 121 |
| Power Train | 82 |
| Electrical System | 67 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 54 |
| Unknown Or Other | 53 |
| Steering | 36 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 26 |
Engine: 354; Visibility/Wiper: 121; Power Train: 82; Electrical System: 67; Fuel/Propulsion System: 54; Unknown Or Other: 53; Steering: 36; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 26
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 51 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 53 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 114 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 113 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 137 |
| 150,000 and above | 30 |
Under 25,000: 51; 25,000 to 49,999: 53; 50,000 to 74,999: 114; 75,000 to 99,999: 113; 100,000 to 149,999: 137; 150,000 and above: 30
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (137). 185 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 31 |
| 2015 | 38 |
| 2016 | 39 |
| 2017 | 86 |
| 2018 | 117 |
| 2019 | 112 |
| 2020 | 83 |
| 2021 | 54 |
| 2022 | 30 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2011: 2; 2012: 17; 2013: 16; 2014: 31; 2015: 38; 2016: 39; 2017: 86; 2018: 117; 2019: 112; 2020: 83; 2021: 54; 2022: 30; 2023: 19; 2024: 21; 2025: 14; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 100 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 61 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 45 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10465801 · 2012-07-16 (July 16, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE A FAULTY FUEL PUMP WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AGAIN AND THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO BAD WIRING AND A FRACTURED TERMINAL ON THE FUEL LINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,400. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510165 · 2013-04-30 (April 30, 2013)
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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465439 · 2012-07-12 (July 12, 2012)
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 COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE REPAIRS WOULD REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT FOR THE PAST 100 MILES, THE FAILURE HAD NOT OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,800.......UPDATED 08-03-12 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10465439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509948 · 2013-04-29 (April 29, 2013)
UPON ACCELERATION, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION UPSHIFTS INTO 2ND GEAR IT WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE WILL REV UP BUT THE VEHICLE JUST COASTS. IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE GAS IT WILL EVENTUALLY SLAM INTO GEAR AND WILL RESUME DRIVING BUT HAS ERRATIC AND HARD GEAR CHANGES AND MAY ALSO GO BACK INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN. THIS WILL LAST FOR THE ENTIRE DRIVE CYCLE UNLESS YOU PULL OVER AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH RESETS THE SYSTEM. IT DOES NOT TURN ON THE CEL LIGHT OR STORE ANY FAILURE CODES OR INFORMATION. IT IS A I…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10476904 · 2012-09-24 (September 24, 2012)
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 "NEUTRAL" AND THEN "PARK", THE MOTOR CONTINUING TO "REV". I DROVE ABOUT 50 FT TO THE TOP OF THE HILL, PUT THE GEAR IN NEUTRAL, THEN PARK, AND THEN SHUT THE MOTOR OFF. I LET THE CAR SIT ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND STARTED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE "REVVED" AS BEF…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,920 miles reported. Look up ODI 10476904 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10484341 · 2012-11-13 (November 13, 2012)
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 BRAKE BUDDY NON-FUNCTIONAL.*JB UPDATED 11/27/12 UPDATED 02/11/13.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10484341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10435675 · 2011-11-15 (November 15, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CONTACTS ERRONEOUSLY BRUSHED AGAINST THE ROLLER BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY AND WAS CONCERNED WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, STATING THAT THE COMPONENT WAS POSITIONED AWKWARDLY ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHERE HIS HANDS WERE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS D…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10436139 · 2011-11-16 (November 16, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,177. UPDATED 12/16/11*LJ UPDATED 12/22/11
Owner-reported narrative. 2,177 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10505507 · 2013-04-03 (April 3, 2013)
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 I COULD GO 15 MILES HOME. I THEN MADE A CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AFTER CALL THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND THEM TELLING ME IT WAS ANYTHING THEY DID, REPORT IT TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505507 at NHTSA ↗