The Chevy Equinox serves as a great price-friendly alternative to the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. However, not every Equinox model year is worth buying. Avoid the lemon years to make sure you buy the most reliable used Chevy Equinox option instead.

The Worst Used Chevy Equinox Model Years 

The worst Chevy Equinox model years have been determined by the people. Driver reviews from Car Complaints and the NHTSA have been compiled to compare each model year side by side. 

As a result, we can quickly see which model years have more problems than the rest. It’s important to note that these reviews come from real drivers, not professionals. They are honest first-hand accounts. 

The 2011 Chevy Equinox 

The 2011 Chevy Equinox has a surprising amount of engine problems reported. One major Chevy Equinox issue includes excessive oil consumption. One driver noticed that they were adding about 1 ½ quarts of oil to their Equinox about every thousand miles. 

Another driver read about the oil issue and followed dealership instructions to correct and avoid the issue. Then their check engine light came on, and the vehicle started running rough.

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Upon checking the oil with a dipstick, they found that it was pretty nasty and couldn’t be reused. When taken to the dealership, they discovered the driving chain caused a crack that made the oil become foul. This issue occurred before their Chevy Equinox reached 70k miles. 

The 2011 Chevy Equinox also had issues with the engine stalling. One driver experienced their engine stalling at 55 mph while trying to merge on the highway. One driver pulled into a gas station, then their Chevy Equinox stalled and rolled backward. 

The 2015 Chevy Equinox 

The 2015 Chevy Equinox is a more recent model year with various reported problems, including electrical issues. A few drivers were frustrated because their battery seemed to drain very quickly. Parking their Equinox overnight would zap it’s charge away. 

Other drivers noticed a variety of electrical issues, such as the radio turning on and off, the engine being slow to turn over, the computer freezing, and more. Drivers tried to fix these issues by replacing the battery, replacing a few electrical components such as the door switch, and more with no luck. 

There were a variety of engine problems reported from the NHTSA as well. Because the NHTSA is responsible for vehicle safety, they’re worth paying attention to. One driver received reports of a transmission issue, so they restarted their Chevy Equinox. When it came back on, it squealed and flashed a power steering error. 

Another driver had the Chevy Equinox randomly stall after sputtering, so they immediately drove home. The next day, they drove to the dealership, and the check engine light wasn’t on. The dealership failed to find any issues. 

After hearing a sputtering sound and seeing that their oil was low, one driver pulled over to discover a significant oil leak. It took the dealership eight days to repair the leak, and the driver discovered that this is a prominent issue among 2015 Chevy Equinox models that Chevrolet never issued a recall for.