2012 Chevrolet Equinox Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

354Engine complaints

51.9%Of all 682 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE354 · 51.9%

VISIBILITY/WIPER121 · 17.7%

POWER TRAIN82 · 12%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM66 · 9.7%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM54 · 7.9%

Share of the 682 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox overview page.

What owners report

“EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. WIFE GOING TO WORK AND HER VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. GOT IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT IT…”NHTSA complaint 10876136 — filed 06/23/2016

“JULY 10, 2015: I TOOK MY 2012 CHEVY EQUINOX LT (2.4 L 4 CYL) TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN KY. THE VEHICLE WAS AT 100,505…”NHTSA complaint 10836562 — filed 02/16/2016

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE…”NHTSA complaint 10819687 — filed 01/12/2016

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox: 354 of 682 complaints on file (51.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox have in total?

682 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 16 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 13 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.