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U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Chevrolet EQUINOX: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 354 of 683 complaints (51.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation10014.6%
Transmission and shifting618.9%
Braking behavior456.6%
Steering behavior416.0%
Electrical and battery issues253.7%
Fuel system concerns172.5%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine354
Visibility/Wiper121
Power Train82
Electrical System67
Fuel/Propulsion System54
Unknown Or Other53
Steering36
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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00051
25,000 to 49,99953
50,000 to 74,999114
75,000 to 99,999113
100,000 to 149,999137
150,000 and above30

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20112
201217
201316
201431
201538
201639
201786
2018117
2019112
202083
202154
202230
202319
202421
202514
20264

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

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 10444273 · 2012-01-17 (January 17, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,048.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,048 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444273 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10450747 · 2012-03-08 (March 8, 2012)

CHEVY HAS KNOWN FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS THAT ANDROID AND BLACKBERRY PHONES DO NOT WORK WITH MANY NEW CHEVYS. THEY HAVE A SOFTWARE GLITCH THAT THEY CAN NOT REPAIR. THIS MEANS THAT OWNERS ARE NOT ABLE TO SAFELY USE THEIR PHONES WHILE IN THEIR CARS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I PERSONALLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAD A BLUETOOTH IN IT. I MAKE AND RECEIVE A LOT OF CALLS WHILE IN MY CAR AND I CAN NOT DO THIS SAFELY WITH THE EQUINOX. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450747 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10453002 · 2012-03-26 (March 26, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A GROANING NOISE WAS EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER IT WAS TURNED AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHILE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,100. UPDATED 7/20/12 *CN UPDATED 07/30/12

Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453002 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10453037 · 2012-03-20 (March 20, 2012)

2012 CHEVY EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BLIND SPOT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE PEDESTRIANS WHEN THEY WALKED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BLIND SPOT WAS CAUSED BY THE SIDE MIRROR AND THE DOOR FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10453037 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10459992 · 2012-05-30 (May 30, 2012)

FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES THE REAR HATCH WAS OPEN AND HAS UNEXPECTEDLY COME DOWN AND HIT PEOPLE IN THE BACK. NO BUTTONS HAVE BEEN PUSHED TO START THIS ACTION. ONE TIME THE HATCH RAISED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CHEVY DEALER HAS STUDIED THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED TWO PARTS WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT GET MORE INFORMATION FROM GM CENTRAL ON SOLVING THE PROBLEM. A PERSON WITH A GM TERRAIN HAD THE SAME PROBLEM DURING THE TIME I HAVE HAD MY EQUINOX PROBLEM. I BELIEVE HE IS IN PHILADELPHA, BUT I HAVE FOUND HIM ONLY BY AN INTERNET NA…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459992 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10462314 · 2012-06-19 (June 19, 2012)

SIDEWALL DAMAGE TO TIRE. PURCHASED 03/12 AND THE VEHICLE HAS 1200 MILES ON IT. NO WRECKS OR ACCIDENTS IN CAR. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462314 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

11V511000 · Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems

Reported: 2011-10-19 (October 19, 2011)

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 REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM" (TPMS). THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ILLUMINATE THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WHEN THE PRESSURE IN A TIRE IS 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE. ON THESE VEHICLES, THE LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL THE TIRE PRESSURE IS MORE THAN 25% BELOW THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE PRESSURE.

Consequence: 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 RESULT IN PREMATURE OR IRREGULAR WEAR, POOR HANDLING, AND POOR FUEL ECONOMY.

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 1-866-996-9463.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
14V447000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust

Reported: 2014-07-23 (July 23, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

Consequence: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V502000 · Electrical System:Ignition | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)

Reported: 2016-07-05 (July 5, 2016)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

NHTSA campaign record ↗