What 682 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox EV

The trailing arm bracket rotten through the frame. This is due to premature rusting/rotting of the frame. Apparently Chevy has had this problem, every I spoke to kept saying "check with Chevy for recall" The dealer tried to fix the problem by (modifying the trailer arm? not sure what that means) but approximately two weeks later it went through the frame again. Took it back to dealer but they were unable to fix this problem and sent me on my way. It was a very good thing that while driving this vehicle nothing major happened. I found a body shop that tackled this and fixed the frame. It was very expensive and I feel Chevy should be responsible. I have attached pictures that the R&M Auto Body gave us.

NHTSA ODI 11456850

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the rocker panel of the vehicle had been rusting. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the driver’s and passenger’s side outer and inner rocker panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11420824

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A DEALERSHIP IN LEXINGTON KY 6K AND UNDER. I HAD TO CHANGE THE BREAKS AND I WAS UNABLE TO JACK THE CAR UP. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE AUTO SHOP THE FRAME AND ROCKER PANELS ARE RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS MADE IN CANADA AND I SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE FRAME IS WEAK. WHAT SHOULD I DO AND IS THE RECALL STILL VALID?

NHTSA ODI 11414088

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR AN INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROCKER PANELS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME COULD RECEIVE A TEMPORARY REPAIR HOWEVER, THE REPAIR WOULD NOT FIX THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL AND ALSO THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,515.

NHTSA ODI 11322808

I HAVE RECENTLY WENT TO A GARAGE FOR A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE AND TO SEE IF I COULD INSTALL A HITCH KIT. COME TO FIND OUT THE FRAME ITSELF IS ROTTING INTERNALLY TO EXTERNALLY. THIS STIRRED UP SOME CONCERN BECAUSE I NEED AN INSPECTION COME JUNE OF THIS YEAR AND IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THE ROT. MY CHEVY EQUINOX IS ONLY A 2012. BEING THAT I'VE ONLY PERSONALLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A YEAR, AND IT IS ONLY 8 TO 9 YEARS OLD, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS KIND OF ROT THAT EXISTS IS BAD. I FOUND THIS OUT JUST THIS PAST WEEK.

NHTSA ODI 11322812

HAD FUSES CHECKED BECAUSE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LIGHT DON'T WORK WINDOW DON'T GO DOWN MANUEL SHIFT DON'T WORK AND REAR LIFTGATE GOES UP THEN QUARTER WAYS DOWN THEN BACK UP THEN COMES DOWN ON YOU NOW IT GOES UP BY IT'S SELF ALSO IT WON'T LOCK.IT WILL GO UP WHEN IT'S STATIONARY

NHTSA ODI 11207609

AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM - AIRBAG MESSAGE CAME ON CAR WAS PARKED AND WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON HUSBAND MESSAGE SHOWS UP AND WILL NOT GO AWAY. . FOR NO REASON. THE FRONT BUMPER POPS OUT ALSO, FOR NO REASON AND IMTHE PLASTIC PARTS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE ARE BROKEN AND DON'T KEEP THE BUMPER IN PLACE. AND MY CAR MAKES A WEIRD RATTLING NOISE . AND IT STOPPED PICK UP UP SPEED WHEN I TURN MY AC ON .BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WON'T PICK UP SPEED . I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD A WARRANTY AT THE TIME SO WHEN I CALLED HEY SAID THEY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR . THE AC STARTED GOING OUT 2 AND A HALF YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT IT . THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY JUMP , IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT MY VEHICLE BUT IT WILL JUMP JUMP WHEN I'M WAITING AT A RED LIGHT AND I THINK THE COMPRESSOR STOPPED WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11204337

MORE THAN ONCE WHILE DRIVING I HAVE GOTTEN POWER STEERING WARNINGS WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE LOCKED UP IN THE PROCESS AND TOOK ALL OF MY MIGHT TO TURN AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE CONSTANT OIL CHANGES AND WAS ISSUED A RECALL LETTER THAT THE OIL CENSOR WAS OFF LAST MAY AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID NO SUCH RECALL EXISTED. RECENTLY MY MECHANIC SAYS THE TIMING IS OFF, AN ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING HAS COME UP MORE THAN ONCE AND I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR ALL TOGETHER FOR FEAR IS STOPS WITH MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF IN IT. THE FIRST TIME IT CAME ON TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS AT AN INCREDIBLY BUSY INTERSECTION AND COULD NOT GO OVER 20 MPH, IT WAS AS IF I WAS DRIVING IN NEUTRAL. I TOOK MYSELF AND CHILDREN STRAIGHT TO THE MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE AMOUNTS OF REPAIRS IS MORE THAN THE CAR MAY BE WORTH. I SEE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH ISSUES MATCHING MY OWN AND CHEVROLET HAS DONE NOTHING. MY SCREEN RANDOMLY GOES OUT, THE RADIO GOES OUT, THE OIL CENSOR HAS STOPPED COMING ON, ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON AND OFF. MY RADIATOR WAS RECENTLY REPLACED AS IT WAS RUSTED AND OVERHEATING THE CAR. A CAR THIS AGE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS MANY ISSUES. THEY MUST LIE IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.

NHTSA ODI 11091545

ALL FOUR DOORS THE PAINT IS BUBBLING AND THE DRIVERS DOOR THERE IS RUST ALL THE WAY ALONG IT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THE SERVICE REP AND THE HEAD OF THE BODY SHOP BOTH LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. CAR SITS IN THE GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER, AND IT GETS IN TOWN DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11090794

INSIDE DOOR PANEL SHOWING RUST ON ALL 4 DOORS, SOME MORE THAN OTHERS. COMING FROM BOTTOM WHERE SKINS CLIP ONTO DOOR FRAME. SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A 6 YEAR OLD CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11075364

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE WERE FRACTURED AND HAD HOLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (TURNER BUICK GMC, 612 E MAIN ST, NEW HOLLAND, PA 17557) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $9,600. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 866-790-5600 AND STATED THAT GMC REFUSED TO COVER THE EXPENSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,559.

NHTSA ODI 11030342

ON MAY 27TH I WAS OPENING THE LIFT GATE TO UNLOAD ITEMS. THE CAR WAS OFF. I OPENED THE LIFT GATE USING THE BUTTON UNDER THE HANDLE.THE DOOR OPENED FULLY. I REACHED IN THE CAR TO REMOVE LUGGAGE. THE DOOR CLOSED QUICKLY ON MY BACK AND STOPPED JUST BEFORE PINNING ME IN THE DOOR WAY. THE DOOR IMMEDIATELY OPENED A SECOND TIME AND I MOVED QUICKLY OUT OF THE WAY. AS SOON AS IT OPENED FULLY,IT SLAMMED COMPLETELY SHUT. I AM STILL UNABLE TO USE THE LIFT GATE SAFELY.

NHTSA ODI 10994526

CONTACTED CHEVY/GM FOR MY DOORS RUSTING OUT ON THE BOTTOM SEAMS, THE LOCAL DEALER SAID GM WOULD NOT COVER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THE RUSTING IS "NOT THROUGH" THE METAL, WHAT DO THEY WANT! A VEHICLE WITH HOLES IN THE DOORS!!! HOW "SAFE" IS THAT GM!??? THIS VETERAN DOES NOT UNDERSTAND A PUBLIC TAXPAYER BAILOUT AND THIS IS HOW THEY WANT THE VEHICLE THAT YOU OWN TO BE!??? SHAME ON GM AND CHEVROLET!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA ODI 10923897

THE DOORS ON MY CHEVY EQUINOX ARE RUSTING/ BUBBLING OUT ALONG THE BOTTOM SEAM, IT IS NOT MOVING!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10919725

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SIDE PILLARS ARE SO WIDE NEAR THE SIDE MIRRORS THAT IT CAUSES A FOOT WIDE BLIND SPOT WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT AND ALMOST SEVERAL OTHER ACCIDENTS. I HAVE HEARD THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS. THIS BLIND SPOT CAUSED ME TO HIT A POLE WHILE TURNING AND PULLING OUT OF A PARKING AREA.

NHTSA ODI 10908351

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOORS WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THAT MAKE AND MODEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

NHTSA ODI 10864124

MY INSIDE DOORS ARE RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE. WE WERE SMELLING A MUSTY SMELL AND JUST DISMISSED IT UNTIL WE LOOKED AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL DOORS THAT ARE RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE. I BELIEVE THAT THE SEALS ARE DEFECTIVE ON THE DOORS WHICH ALLOWS WATER TO SIT

NHTSA ODI 10852557

DOORS ON LOWER HEM SEAM HAVE THE PAINT TO POPPING OFF LEAVING BARE METAL TO RUST. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER CARE CLAIM #81571836632. THEY CAME BACK WITH ME AFTER TALKING TO DEALER FOR ME TO PAY THE DEALER $300 FOR REFINISH DOORS. IN CANADA GM IS REPAIRING UNDER WARRANTY WITH SERVICE BULLETIN #15136B UNTIL MAY 2017. WHY REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY IN CANADA BUT NOT THE USA. VEHICLE IS IN MICHIGAN. REPORTED TO DEALER DURING JULY 2015, WENT BACK OCTOBER 2015 TO HAVE DEALER FIX. CUSTOMER & DEALER NOT WILLING TO PRESS GM WARRANTY TO COVER REPAIRS. DEALER STATED HE SEE THEM ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10781414

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE OPENING THE DOOR, THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST ON THE SEAM OF THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WITNESSED THE RUST ON ALL FOUR DOOR SEAMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON ALL FOUR DOOR HEM FLANGES AND THE RUST NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,556.

NHTSA ODI 10734560

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10704439

WE WERE SITTING STILL AT TRAIN CROSSING WHEN WE WERE STRUCK FROM THE REAR AND WAS SHOVED FORWARD 8-10 FEET INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. WITH ALL OF THE REAR AND FRONT DAMAGE, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. ALSO, BOTH FRONT SEATS BROKE LOOSE FROM THE SEAT BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE SEATS TO THE FLOOR. MY WIFE (PASSENGER SEAT) NOT ONLY BROKE LOOSE BUT THE SEAT TWISTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10554862

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AT AN ANGLE TO THE CURB WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED CAUSING IT TO JUMP THE CURB AND HIT A TREE NEAR THE CURB CAUSING CAUSING OVER $6000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10550676

2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *SMD A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH, AS THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. THE NEXT OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON JANUARY 2, 2013. THE CONSUMER STATED BEFORE SHE COULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON ITS OWN, AS IF SHE HIT A STONE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE DEALER CALLED THE CONSUMER TO LET HER KNOW, THEY ORDERED SOME BOLTS, SO THEY COULD BE BOLTED TO THE FRAME. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE OF A GRINDING/GRATING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A HIGH RATE OF RATE SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 03/27/14

NHTSA ODI 10543705

FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES THE REAR HATCH WAS OPEN AND HAS UNEXPECTEDLY COME DOWN AND HIT PEOPLE IN THE BACK. NO BUTTONS HAVE BEEN PUSHED TO START THIS ACTION. ONE TIME THE HATCH RAISED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CHEVY DEALER HAS STUDIED THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED TWO PARTS WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT GET MORE INFORMATION FROM GM CENTRAL ON SOLVING THE PROBLEM. A PERSON WITH A GM TERRAIN HAD THE SAME PROBLEM DURING THE TIME I HAVE HAD MY EQUINOX PROBLEM. I BELIEVE HE IS IN PHILADELPHA, BUT I HAVE FOUND HIM ONLY BY AN INTERNET NAME OF "PHILLYTHEKID" AND DON'T KNOW IF HIS SUV GOT FIXED. I BELIEVE THERE MUST BE A GM ENGINEER WHO DESIGNED THE HATCH SYSTEM, (WHICH IS TERRIBLY COMPLICATED), AND THIS PERSON COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL CONTROL BOXES INVOLVED, AND NUMEROUS INTERLOCKS. BUT NO ONE CAN REACH THIS PERSON THROUGH CHEVROLET DEALERS AND CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PEOPLE, AND THAT AMAZES ME. THE ONLY REASON I FIND FOR SUCH A FIREWALL IS THAT GM DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND TIME AND MONEY ON A PROBLEM THAT IS NUMBERED IN TENS, NOT THOUSANDS. THEY WOULD JUST AS SOON WE FEW PEOPLE GO AWAY AND BUY ANOTHER BRAND. I CAN FIND SEVEN INSTANCES OF UNEXPECTED HATCH ACTIONS ON THE NET THAT ARE FROM VARIOUS GM SUVS. THE GM DEALERS HAVE FOUND NOTHING IN THEIR GM SITES. I WANT MY CAR FIXED SO NO ONE WILL BE HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10459992

2012 CHEVY EQUINOX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BLIND SPOT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE PEDESTRIANS WHEN THEY WALKED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BLIND SPOT WAS CAUSED BY THE SIDE MIRROR AND THE DOOR FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10453037