2012 Chevrolet Equinox consumer reviews

I got this car to build my credit thinking my husband would drive it... i test drive it and fell in love. I love all the features and how much space it’s got. It’s perfect for my family and our needs

I was in love initially. Five days in and it is sputtering. Bought AS IS which means if I got a lemon I'm stuck with it. My husband bought it and paid the full amount so we wouldn't have a car note. It was shaking so hard at a red light I felt my heart racing out of fear that it would shut off.

My 2004 Jeep Liberty is more reliable than this vehicle. I have had nothing but problems since I purchased this vehicle. Within 2 weeks it was shutting off on me. Then it would stall whenever I had to idle for more than a few seconds. I have had to replace the fuel pump and after less than 2 weeks, I'm still having the same problem. The dealership charges $145 just to hook it up to the machine. The warranty from the place I purchased it was only for 3 months and the lemon law doesn't apply. DO NOT...I REPEAT... DO NOT BUY THIS CAR!!!

This car is great it meets all of our traveling needs and is very comfortable and gets great gas mileage. We have traveled to different states in it and was comfortable when we reached our goal.

This car meets all of my needs so far, has ample leg room and plenty of space, interior is nice I just love the chrome wheels!

Great car with a few minor issues but has a major issue that needs to be addressed and a recall issued. My mechanic stated that the catalytic converter and manifold crack are common issues with the 2.4L engine on the 2012 Equinox. At 94000 miles I've paid over $1000 to replace these items and do believe it should be recalled and replaced.

It all started when my car reached 150,000 miles. My check engine light came on. Brought it in. Minor issues then. But was told it’s a quart low on oil. My car apparently eats oil. Slight leak, can’t find it. Then major issues hit when my check engine light stayed on for months. Can’t figure out why. Then my traction control would all of a sudden come on while I’m going 65-70 mph. Major power drop in power. Scary as xxxx on the hwy. Car won’t go over 60mph. At around 175k miles refurbished computer put in. Seemed to correct the power transmission issue until my car hit 200k miles. Traction control comes on again and I add a quart of oil ever two weeks now. Scared to drive it. Really Not Happy with Chevy right now.

This car pretty much has everything, more than I have ever had on a car. Plenty of leg room, ample cargo space, love the white diamond pearl paint and the chrome wheels

Out of all the cars I have ever owned, this by far was a horrible experience! Curious how all these reviews are done back in 2012 claiming how great a car it is! I'd love to talk with some of those owners now! For the first several months my new 2012 Equinox was great! Then sitting at a stop light when the light turned green the car would not move fwd! Then it just slammed into gear caising me to almost loose control. Once stopped again same thing except I was prepared but now no fwd motion only reverse. Mind you I've have owned the car now for 7 months and less than 9000 miles on it. Had it towed to the dealer. After waiting for a couple days they stated it needed a new transmission I was shocked but the service advisor seemed like it was a common occurance with the Equinox line. Took 3 weeks to get the issued resolved through the warranty and a replacement transmission installed. So after nearly a month I have my new car back.. A few weeks latter my neighbor asked when they put Diesel engines in these cars? I did not understand until he told me to let the car idle and get out and listen. Wow it actually sounded like a diesle! Not being mechanically inclined for most things I asked him what he thought, he said let's check the oil. So upon checking it there was no oil on the dipstick. Which was odd as the dealer just changed the oil when they replaced the transmission as the on board computer said it was time. That was like 3000 miles ago. Neighbor had a case of synthetic oil that was the same for my car so he actually added 3 1/2 quarts to the engine (only takes 4.1) we looked every where for any signs of oil leaking nothing nada! Took it back to the dealer. Again dealer had it for another week said they found no issues. They changed and flushed the engine. So now I leave. About a month latter air bag lights come on. Back to the dealer again 3rd time in a year. Again takes them a month to replace the air bag modules since they were back ordered. (Quick recap 12 months of ownership around 11000 miles dealer has had the vehicle 3 times for a total combine almost 10 weeks) once again get the car back joked to the service advisor "so guess I will see you in a few weeks" he laughed and said or sooner! Well he was right 2 weeks latter same transmission issue as b4. Now I'm getting angry. Since the original was already replaced the dealership is now going to put in a remain since it no longer falls under the 3/36 etc. So another 3 weeks with no new car and I get it back with according to them a remain that had about 75k miles on it! Wow was not happy but no matter how much a screamed and yelled at Chevy or the dealership as well as seeking legal advice this was a legal remedy! So got the car back. Again about 3000 miles latter I hear the diesel sound again and Yeap right back to being 3 quarts low on oil! Right back to the dealer. Now they say that for $150 I can get a oil consumption test done and which the engine will be covered up to 150,000 miles. At this point I'm furious! They eventually wave the fee and perform the test and I'm told now that it is normal for these cars to use 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles! What kind if crap is that! After this last time I actually drove the car for more than 6 months without any problems that us until the passenger side front shock broke free from the car. Fortunately it was still under warranty and the service advisor who we now send Xmas cards too stated they had a few thousand cars that did not get the correct torque on the upper strut mounts when made. Another few days with out the car. Well I can go on and on covering the 7 years. I regretfully purchased as well as hanging on to it for as long as I did! 7 years 90,000 miles was in the dealership no less the 22 times covering at least 12 months combined mechanic time! As well as numerous other issues from bad a/c compressor to faulty tire monitoring system causing problems and yes had to start adding 3 quarts of oil every month or so in between oil changes! I might note that after 3 years even the head light Assemblies started to fade really really bad and the car was garage kept about 80% of the time. Over all this car was a nightmare e an though the majority of items were warranty related it got to the point where the car was not reliable at all! I hate car payments as it is but to make car payments on a car that spent a good portion at the dealers is even worse. Avoid this car!

Not sure what Chevy has done wrong? But our Equinox was a issue shortly after we purchased it new on Feb of 2012! Like all cars and anything else new you have high hopes and expectations, well the Equinox fell very very short.. At around 7k mile our front strut started rattling. Mounting bolts came off @ 20k miles we started having transmission issues that the dealer gave us run the around about since it was not consistent but it would occasionally slam into the next gear after sitting at a stop light or stop sign and it was time to move. Fought this issue for several month's. Finally at 30k mile the dealer supposedly fix the issue! During the same time frame we noticed a change in the engine noise. After checking it appeared the engine was 3 quarts low on oil. I am very strict with all vehicle services on all my vehicle's. The on board computer stated we still had 50% oil life remaining. So I put in oil took it back to Chevy. Only to have tgem tell me it's normal for these engines to consume a quart of oil about every 1 to 2 thousand miles! Which did not make sense. Based on there theory and the on board computer if I followed from that point on my engine would not only be negative (not really) 3 quarts of oil once the computer tells me at 15% oil life to pwrform a oil change which is about 7500 miles. The engine would blow up from no oil left! So I started doing oil changes at 3000 miles which with full synthetic started to get expensive. This continued until they realized lots if these engines were having a big problem. So for $158 labor the dealership would perform a consumption test and then extend your engine warranty to 150k miles. (They really do have a known issue just Google it) so had that done but still had to keep topping off the oil. At 3000 miles this oil would come out blacker than fresh asphalt! So now fighting trans slipping again at 60k miles that dealer will not cover any more and oil disappearing routinely. Car is only little past 3 years old at this time. A couple trans flushes seemed to help the slipping. At year 4 the defrost/floor selector stopped working cost to repair over $500 Due to mostly labor to remove the entire radio/center stack to replace Yeap you guessed it cheap part that chevy used and the service advisor knew all to well about stated he gets at least 2 a month in and or parts dept is usually out of stock for the upgraded part. As the oil issue continued throughout its life with us. Over the next couple year's went through other issues. 1/2 dash lights not working. Rear wiper stopped working head light switch went out all different times. Electric seat warmer. Rear hatch handle. Just could not deal with this horrible vehicle any more. At year 7 with only 86k miles on it we gladly traded it in. Sorry chevy you lost a lifelong customer! Purchased a 2019 Kia Sportage for less than what the Equinox cost me with more bells and whistles. I would avoid these lines of subs like the plague! I've owned several vehicles in my 52 years of life and I have never heard or seen of engines just using oil for no reason. I have a 02 chevy avalanche with 300k all original miles on it and the only oil it uses is a small drip from the rear main not enough to even notice on its dipstick. Also own a 2012 Kia Rio with 135k miles on it never a drop of oil and a flawless car if I may say! If you buy a Equinox hope you enjoy the dealership or other mechanic!