Vehicle report

2011 Chevrolet Equinox

Free recalls, owner complaints, and NHTSA safety ratings for the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox, plus how to check this specific vehicle before you buy.

The 2011 Chevrolet Equinox has 3 NHTSA recalls on record and 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Its overall NHTSA crash-test rating is 4 out of 5. Below is the full breakdown, plus how to check this specific vehicle by VIN before you buy in Alberta.

3

Open recalls

15

Complaints

4

Overall safety

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2011 Chevrolet Equinox recalls (3)

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

    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."

    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.

  • SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

    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.

    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.

  • SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

    GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC SRX, CHEVROLET EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN VEHICLES. THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ANCHOR MAY FRACTURE AND SEPARATE NEAR THE SEAT ATTACHMENT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

    Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PASSENGER AND/OR THE DRIVER SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AS NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 18, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

2011 Chevrolet Equinox safety ratings

4

Overall

4

Front

5

Side

4

Rollover

Source: NHTSA NCAP ratings.

2011 Chevrolet Equinox owner complaints (15)

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 119,000, and at the time of a Carfax report check, it was discovered that the mileage was 175,000.

  • AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    I was in a rear end collision on May 14th 2026 the impact of the speed totaled my car in my airbags did not deploy and from my understanding where the sensors are on my vehicle they should have I ended up getting a concussion and soft tissue damage because my head hit the steering wheel my seat belt did not lock either.

  • ENGINE

    Vehicle burns excessive oil. Have to put in a quart weekly. Check engine light comes on for camshaft sensor, they’ve already been replaced 3 times and the light won’t go off.

  • VISIBILITY/WIPER

    Wipers have stopped working, have had it repaired twice and they keep quitting.

  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. While driving at various speeds, there was a misfire coming from the engine while attempting to accelerate. The failure occurred while attempting to accelerate from a stop. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that a shaft inside the engine had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced with a rebuilt engine; however, the failure reoccurred approximately 4 months after the engine was replaced. The vehicle was returned to the mechanic, who diagnosed and determined that the same failure had reoccurred. The engine valves and exhaust were cleaned; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that smoke was entering the cabin of the vehicle and out of the exhaust pipe while the heater was activated. The vehicle was returned to the mechanic, who then diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced another time. The vehicle was repaired again. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

  • VISIBILITY/WIPER

    The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while the windshield wiper was activated, the windshield wiper arms detached. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    While driving, the car wouldn't accelerate even though I was pressing the gas pedal to the floor. It made funny noises and was jerking. I was told not to drive because of the danger to my engine. The engine light did come on

  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE

    The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the contact stated that once the fuel gauge displayed that 1/4 tank of gasoline was available, the vehicle jerked, and there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the pistons had failed, and the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

    The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the vehicle jerked, and an abnormal sound was heard coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the pistons had failed, and the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    I BOUGHT THIS OFF OF A PRIVATE PERSON ,SHORTLY AFTER IT STARTED NOT TAKEN ITS GAS AND DYING OUT ON THE HIGHWAY OR SHORT ERRANDS ,I STARTED PUTTING A BUNCH OF MONEY IN IT IVE REPLACED ALL I KNOW TO DO AND IT STILL WONT TAKES ITS GAS ,I HAVE BEEN STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION BEFORE BECAUSE I HAD NO PEDAL IF YOU TURN IT OFF IT STARTS BUT JUST WONT TAKE THE GAS ,I HEARD THIS VEHICAL WAS RECALLED AND I DONT KNOW IF ITS NEVER BEEN FIXED OR WHATS GOING ON WITH IT ,IVE HAD IT TO MANY MECHANICS AND NO ONE CAN FIX IT ,CAN YOU TELL ME IF ANY OF THIS IS ON THE RECALL LIST AND IF ITS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF IT ? I CANT DRIVE IT LIKE THIS ITS TOO DANGEROUS . I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 24 , AND ITS NEVER RAN SINCE WITH OUT ISSUES THAT NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM OF FIX IT THE RIGHT WAY ,THANK YOU

  • VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    three times now my gas pedal has stuck down to the floor and had unsafe speeds reaching 95mph this is unsafe for us and others on the road wrote GM several times now with no help from them this needs to be checked out for everyone out there how many wrecks and rear end collision happened because of this acceleration issue mine seem to happen when you take it off cruise control and then accelerate the gas pedal but he dealerships can't find an answer I am asking for your help before someone get killed because no one wants to take action

  • VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

    To whom it may concern: I am writing to notify you that I own a 2011 Chevy Equinox and take very good care of my vehicles. But I wanted to let you know that I have had three incidents in which the gas pedal sticks, and the vehicle goes up to 95 miles an hour. I have contacted the dealership and GM to let them know of this. They cannot explain why this is happening. GM just said trade it in. Well, that's a possibility and who says if the next person purchases it that this could happen to them. So far, we have been able to avoid an accident. I am wondering if anyone else has had this complaint because GM says no., I feel it has something to do with the cruise control that it has a computer glitz. Can you investigate this if anyone else has had this problem.

  • ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    Gas is getting into the crankcase because the GDI Fuel pump is faulty and is causing check engine light and the stability Trax light and caused the reduce engine power light and shuts engine off

  • STEERING

    The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who observed a small amount of fluid within the engine compartment. The dealer later determined that the fluid was power steering fluid. However, the dealer was unable to determine the exact location of the leak. The contact was advised to continue driving the vehicle for 1 week then return for a follow-up inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 149,000.

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    It burns oil excessively Stalls out while driving Stability traction control comes on Timing chain has to be replaced now Fuel pump needs replacement All this happened at same time My cost is 2700.00

Checking a used Chevrolet Equinox before you buy

The recall, complaint, and safety data above describes the 2011 Equinox in general. To know the condition and history of the specific vehicle you're looking at, check it by VIN. A VIN check shows whether this particular Equinox's recalls are still outstanding, and a full history report adds accident, title, and ownership records the data above can't show.

Before you buy a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox in Alberta:

See other model years of the Chevrolet Equinox, or browse more Chevrolet models.

2011 Chevrolet Equinox — questions and answers

Does the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?+

Our check found 3 NHTSA recalls associated with the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. Check the specific vehicle by VIN to see which remain outstanding, since some may already have been repaired. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.

How many complaints does the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox have?+

NHTSA lists 15 owner complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox in our results. Complaints are problems reported by owners and don't always lead to a recall, but a pattern of similar complaints is worth weighing before you buy.

Is the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox safe?+

The 2011 Chevrolet Equinox has an overall NHTSA crash-test rating of 4. Review the front-crash, side-crash, and rollover ratings above, and pair safety ratings with a mechanical inspection of the specific vehicle.

How do I check a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox VIN?+

Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN into our free VIN check to see recalls, complaints, and safety ratings for that exact vehicle, then run an Alberta Personal Property Registry (PPR) lien search before you pay.

Are recall repairs on a Chevrolet free?+

Yes. Safety recall repairs are performed at no cost by a franchised Chevrolet dealer, even for a used vehicle and even if you're not the original owner. Confirm the required parts are in stock before relying on the fix.

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