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2010 Chevrolet Equinox Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 784 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, most often about the engine (38% of complaints, typically around 82,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Equinox model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2010 Chevrolet Equinox problems
Engine
300 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
Vehicle burns large quantities of oil, often in short periods of time. (we will check oil, it's fine, and then a few days later we've burned two quarts.) this requires US to pull over rapidly and find new oil to prevent engine failure, making it a major safety hazard. We've burned 1 to 2 quarts of oil every 1,000 to…
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox the contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired by the dealer. The contact was informed that the pcv positive crankcase ventilation had seized, which over pressurized the…
Transmission
182 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 83,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
My cars ch ed ck engine light has popped on and off since I git the car in july and the TPMS gauge has been on since the first week I got the vehicle. It was raining and my car began to start initiating thetraction control but my car started to skid and the check engine light came on. I drove for 15 minutes between…
I was driving in the highway 93, when suddenly the wheel start to be very hard, at this moment I was trespassing other car and for very close I couldn't complete the operation. I almost hit the other car, could cause a very bad accident because the speed. Unfortunately everything end okay, I was able to control the…
Visibility and wipers
158 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles. Parts named most often: defroster/defogger/hvac system, windshield wiper/washer, windshield, sun/moon roof assembly.
On 8/20/2016 I was driving on a busy interstate in pouring rain with my windshield wipers on high when the wipers went left and stopped. This left me in a very dangerous situation. I pulled onto the shoulder to wait for the rain to let up so I could re-position the wipers. I tried to use them again but they still did…
While driving on interstate 290 (ny), a heavy rainfall started. Driver put wipers to high speed and wipers stopped functioning. Wipers were at the end of the wipe sweep. Driver was able, due to the prior use of "rain-x" to see to exit the road. Wipers did not regain functionality, after vehicle was stopped and wipers…
Electrical
81 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, software, ignition.
Was driving vehicle when all of a sudden entire dash lit up and car stalled. Messages included service stabilitrak, service ABS, engine light, and service traction control. I lost power, power brakes, and power steering and coasted vehicle to a stop. It took a couple of tries but finally got the car to turn over…
I have owned this auto, which I purchased from a chev. Dealer in atmore, al dec 2011; first sign of trouble was notice to replace electronic board, and battery which was run down & alleged due to fail., replaced under bank service warranty, plus $110. From that point onthe car would start unattended, and parked…
Air bags
57 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 61,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
The contact owned a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. While driving 35 MPH, the contact attempted to avoid hitting a deer and struck the guardrail. The air bags failed to deploy. The emergency onstar system responded and called the police and ambulance. The vehicle was towed to a collison center where the vehicle was diagnosed…
Takata recall. Bumped a curb (front driver's side) at a low rate of speed (on a regular road making a left hand turn) and all airbags deployed even though there were no passengers. Front tire was resting at curb (did not go over curb because was not going fast enough). Ended up with a broken nose, stitches on…
Other or unspecified
52 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles.
While driving the engine speeds up but the car will not move almost like it is out of gear..it revs and then will be ok and back to normal speed and I was on a surface street. No one was behind me.luck for me. At times makes a high pitched sound while this is happening. The nearest dealer is not 20 miles from my home.…
As I was approaching to a stop light my truck began to shake and vibrate as it was trying to shut itself down. As the light turned and and I tried to push the gas peddle, the car went a little then stopped. I cranked the key again, started, then shut off. Now this has happened before my the truck would start back up…
Stability control
49 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles.
This car burns oil fast and I learned the hard way. 2 years after buying the car all the pistons in the engine bent due to lack of oil. When the car was getting fixed the mechanic said it was bone dry and I had just had an oil change 2 months prior. $3,200 later the car was fixed, but it still had issues shifting. In…
This SUV has had a new transmission, motor and now it has been just cuts out and no power and on the message center says stability track light we have put a new battery and brought it to two different gm certified car garages and no one knows what to do car is unsafe when it just decides to randomly stall out and has…
Fuel system
48 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
When gas is added to vehicle gas tank. The engine is hard to start. Appears as if engine is flooded. Will eventually start after several attempts.
Exhaust leak between the manifold and catalytic converter with only 57,000 miles. Dangerous odor and potential carbon monoxide exposure. There was no incident that could have caused this problem. Mechanic states that problem has been common among gm suvs this past year.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2010 Chevrolet Equinox recalls
Electrical: ignition
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in park, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Seats: power adjust
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Visibility and wipers: defroster/defogger/hvac system
Risk: Driving without a functioning defrost system can decrease your visibility under certain driving conditions and could result in a crash without warning.
Fix: Dealers will replace the computer module in the center instrument panel free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during january 2010. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
Full defect summary
General motors is recalling certain model year 2010 chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 103, "windshield defrosting and defogging systems and with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 101, controls and displays". The software in the center instrument panel can cause the heating, air conditioning, defrost, and radio controls, as well as the panel illumination to become inoperative.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Momentary increased steering effort
Summary
On june 1, 2020, the office of defects investigations (odi) opened pe20-009 to investigate instances of a momentary increase in steering effort after the vehicle is driven in a straight line for a period of time due to an issue with the steering gear in model year (my) 2010 through 2012 chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain suvs.if the electric power steering system fails to operate as intended, the driver will experience momentary increased effort when attempting to turn the steering wheel from the straight-ahead position. For this condition to occur, the driver would need to have traveled in a straight line at a sustained high speed, without turning the steering wheel, for approximately 30 min
Front wiper transmission inoperative
Summary
On december 13, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) upgraded rq18-002 to an engineering analysis (ea19-005) to further assess the my2010-2016 chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16v-582, addressing this issue in the my2013 subject vehicles, my2013 was not included in the analysis. To date, odi had received 998 complaints with allegations of the front windshield wiper failing in adverse whether conditions, while the vehicle was in motion.general motors (gm) initiated safety recall 16v-582 on august 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the model year (my) 2013 chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain. Failures were attributed to wa
Windshield wiper transmission failure
Summary
On november 2, 2018, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a recall query (rq18-002) to assess the scope of recall 16v-582.general motors (gm) initiated safety recall 16v-582 on august 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the model year (my) 2013 chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain. Failures were attributed to water and debris intrusion into the windshield wiper assembly ball joints, leading to excessive wear and eventual detachment of the affected ball joint with an attendant loss of windshield wiper function. The recall remedy addressed these conditions with the installation of an improved windshield wiper motor/transmission assembly and the relocation of a drain hole on
Questions about the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (300 complaints, typically around 82,000 miles); transmission (182 complaints, typically around 83,500 miles); visibility and wipers (158 complaints, typically around 95,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 5, 2016 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2010 a bad year for the Chevrolet Equinox?
- It is the most complained-about Equinox model year since 2000, with 784 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.