Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Chevrolet Equinox problems

Owners filed 783 complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox with NHTSA between Dec 2010 and Nov 2026. The most-cited component is engine (386).

Complaints
783
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
30
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
41
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine386
  2. Power train145
  3. Electrical system74
  4. Visibility/wiper70
  5. Fuel/propulsion system61
  6. Electronic stability control (esc)55
  7. Air bags52
  8. Vehicle speed control50
  9. Steering43
  10. Engine and engine cooling34
  11. Service brakes24
  12. Structure15
  13. Seat belts13
  14. Fuel system, gasoline12

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20101
201147
201229
201333
201460
201565
201674
201784
201898
2019116
202052
202137
202230
202326
202411
202511
20269

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

386 reports3 crashes2 fires
“The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle, and the engine was rattling and vibrating abnormally. During the failure, there was no warning light illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and the local dealer were not yet contacted. No further information was available. The failure mileage was 168,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2026Fuel system, gasoline, EngineODI 11754526

Power train

145 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that while attempting to drive from a complete stop the following day, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2023Power trainODI 11560643

Electrical system

74 reports5 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2026Electrical systemODI 11746040

Visibility/wiper

70 reports
“The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the windshield wipers failed to function as intended. The contact stated that there was a sound coming from the windshield wiper motor; however, the wiper arms had seized. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while it was raining on a busy highway. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2026Visibility/wiperODI 11775259

Fuel/propulsion system

61 reports3 crashes
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 21, 2025Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11688729

Electronic stability control (esc)

55 reports3 crashes
“VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING ROUGH IDLE, POOR DRIVEABILITY, AND ALSO STALLED AT LOW THROTTLE OPENING WHILE LEAVING A PARKING LOT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH CODE P0010”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2020Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11365627
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.