Total Complaints
354 filings
CHEVROLET EQUINOX · model year
354 NHTSA complaints, 29 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
New Car Assessment Program
The 2017CHEVROLETEQUINOX carries 354 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 29 crashes, 7 fires, 30 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 4/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2017 EQUINOX is engine with 172 filings, followed by unknown or other (35) and power train (31). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2017 EQUINOX, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
354 filings
Crashes Reported
29 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 172 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 35 |
| POWER TRAIN | 31 |
| AIR BAGS | 19 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 19 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 12 |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 10 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 7 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 5 |
| SEAT BELTS | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 5 |
| WHEELS | 4 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 3 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 3 |
On 1/27/26, while driving at highway speeds, I received a "Reduced Engine Power" alert. I was forced to pull over immediately; the vehicle stalled before I could reach a complete stop. This left me stranded in dangerously cold temperatures for an extended period while awaiting a tow. Upon inspection, I was informed that the engine has failed and requires a complete replacement. This is highly distressing for several reasons: * Low Mileage: The vehicle has only 54,000 miles and is well under the expected lifespan of a modern engine. * Meticulous Maintenance: As a loyal customer, I have had every scheduled oil change and service performed at my local Chevrolet dealership. My service history will confirm that this vehicle has been maintained to the highest standards. * Brand Loyalty: I have been a dedicated Chevrolet owner for years, having purchased five brand-new vehicles from your dealerships. I chose Chevrolet based on a reputation for reliability that, in this instance, has not
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and the vehicle decelerated to 5 MPH. The contact stated that the message "Vehicle Entering Power Saver Mode" was displayed. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that when the vehicle was restarted, the message âEngine Oil Level Low â Shut-off Immediately" was displayed, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear main seal had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
Mileage: 880,000
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. While the contactâs son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly started shaking, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear engine seal had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Mileage: 130,000
Due to cold temperatures, the main rear seal blew causing engine, coolant and intake systems to fail. Full replacements are now needed.
2017 chevrolet Equinox LT with a 2.4L ecotec engine. The PCV system froze due to the cold weather conditions caused the rear main seal to blow futher causing cylinder scoring to the engine. I got it checked out by a local mechanic that actually works with the extended warranty company called Silverrock that's provided from the dealership Drivetime from who I financed the truck from. The mechanic shop name is hoekstra muffler and alignment located at 722 W 151st St, East Chicago, IN 46312. They were the ones to diagnose the problem and provided me with a diagnostic sheet for this issue. The vehicle has not been checked by a chevrolet technician yet. I took the truck in for a regular maintenance oil change on January 8th at Walmart in portage, indiana. My truck was driving fine and suddenly on January 20th my truck seized on the highway on my way to work at 7am. A warning light marking low oil pressure turn off engine was marking on my dashboard. After i was in a safe spot on the side of
The contact owned a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle collided with a deer. During the crash, the air bags became inoperable and failed to inflate or expose themselves out of the housing, and an âAir Bag Needs Serviceâ warning message was displayed. The contact also noticed a strong fume-like odor following the impact and stated that the air bag system appeared to engage but did not deploy. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not towed, and law enforcement advised the contact that the vehicle could be safely driven home. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was later deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance agency. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.
Mileage: 104,000
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to restart with a knocking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that oil had seeped out of the vehicle, a seal was fractured, and the engine had seized. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
There is water my oil and I have a blown head gasket. I get all maintenance done and have oil changes on time
1.Since I bought the car it has needed oil on a weekly basis. I took it in for repair it had something to do with the oil consumption device $2270.00 to fix. 2. timing chain went out had to fix that too $$$$ 3. While driving along the car at rush hour the car suddenly died without any warning. Had to go off the road clipped a tree and all the cars behind me looked like billiard balls going in all directions so as not to rear end my car. EXTREMELY UNSAFE CAR ð¡ I CANT BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED EVERY OTHER YEAR FOR THIS ENGINE ISSUE AND NOT THE 2017!!!!!!!!
1.Since I bought the car it has needed oil on a weekly basis. I took it in for repair it had something to do with the oil consumption device $2270.00 to fix. 2. timing chain went out had to fix that too $$$$ 3. While driving along the car at rush hour the car suddenly died without any warning. Had to go off the road clipped a tree and all the cars behind me looked like billiard balls going in all directions so as not to rear end my car. EXTREMELY UNSAFE CAR ð¡ I CANT BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED EVERY OTHER YEAR FOR THIS ENGINE ISSUE AND NOT THE 2017!!!!!!!!
1.Since I bought the car it has needed oil on a weekly basis. I took it in for repair it had something to do with the oil consumption device $2270.00 to fix. 2. timing chain went out had to fix that too $$$$ 3. While driving along the car at rush hour the car suddenly died without any warning. Had to go off the road clipped a tree and all the cars behind me looked like billiard balls going in all directions so as not to rear end my car. EXTREMELY UNSAFE CAR ð¡ I CANT BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED EVERY OTHER YEAR FOR THIS ENGINE ISSUE AND NOT THE 2017!!!!!!!!
Received a report from local auto repair and they found that the oil main seal is leaking. Issue happened in the highway and car automatically turned off the engine. I was not in an accident as there was no one else on the road and I was able to push it to the side. When the car turned on the wheel was stiff and hardly moved to the right or left. The warning received before the shut off was the service stabilitrack issues and when checked all oil completely depleted from the vehicle.
Received a report from local auto repair and they found that the oil main seal is leaking. Issue happened in the highway and car automatically turned off the engine. I was not in an accident as there was no one else on the road and I was able to push it to the side. When the car turned on the wheel was stiff and hardly moved to the right or left. The warning received before the shut off was the service stabilitrack issues and when checked all oil completely depleted from the vehicle.
I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety defect involving a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox that experienced a sudden and complete loss of engine power while the vehicle was in motion. While traveling approximately 50 mph in active traffic, the engine abruptly shut off and the vehicle immediately lost all ability to accelerate. The loss of propulsion was total and occurred without warning. There were no warning lights, alerts, or indicators of a low oil or engine condition prior to the failure. Moments before the shutdown, the engine began making an abnormal mechanical noise. A video was recorded during the incident while the vehicle was still operating in traffic. The recording captures the engine failure in real time, including the vehicle decelerating from approximately 50 mph to a complete stop as the engine shut down. I was able to coast into a breakdown lane and then into a nearby parking lot, narrowly avoiding a collision. A sudden loss of propulsion at this speed and
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The contact was adding one quart of oil weekly. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at 25 MPH, but was able to restart. While at a stoplight, the vehicle stalled. There was an abnormal knocking and rattling sound coming from the engine. The engine warning light was illuminated. The reduced engine power message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
Mileage: 69,000
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The contact was adding one quart of oil weekly. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at 25 MPH, but was able to restart. While at a stoplight, the vehicle stalled. There was an abnormal knocking and rattling sound coming from the engine. The engine warning light was illuminated. The reduced engine power message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
Mileage: 69,000
The 2.4L engine is experiencing significant issues, including power loss and rapid oil consumption. The power loss has been observed while driving on both expressways and city streets. The oil burning commenced less than a month after an oil change, resulting in an oil level of zero. This situation poses a risk of accidents and endangers the occupants of the vehicle. An independent service center has confirmed the problem. The center determined that a new engine is necessary as the issue cannot be resolved. There have been no inspections by manufacturers, law enforcement, or other relevant authorities. Additionally, there was no warning about the oil being low to the point of being absent from the engine. The code for the power failure, P0303, was obtained from the service center. It is imperative that this issue be addressed promptly. Either the engine should be recalled or the vehicle should be repaired. Otherwise, I will be compelled to purchase a new engine or a new car.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - 2.4L engine failure. PCV system froze Dec 05 2025. Crankcase pressure increased and caused the rear main engine seal to fail, which inturn allowed all the engine oil to leak out. Due to oil starvation the timing chain components failed. Additional internal engine damage is possible, but not yet confirmed. Failed parts will be available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Engine failure while driving with no notice. Happened on a day with sub zero wind chill. Stalled vehicle poses a safety risk to occupants and other drivers. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? UNKNOWN Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? UNKNOWN Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when di
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, there was an abnormal odor entering the cabin of the vehicle while the air conditioning system was activated or turned off. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was a leak in the exhaust pipe, and that the exhaust pipe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
Twice the exhaust has leaked into the cabin to the point where it is very noticeable. It causes headaches and breathing problems. GM has known of this issue for several years and it has been reported several times. GM placed a bandaid on it knowing it would fail.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.