Used 2011 Chevrolet Equinox Consumer Reviews
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Pile of garbage.
Tom Lamothe, 04/21/2016
updated 04/24/2017
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
115 of 122 people found this review helpful
I have owned this vehicle for about 18 months. It was purchased off of my parent who bought the vehicle new. In the first 3 years of them owning the vehicle, they had to have several things repairs: Driver's seat, fuel pump/timing chain and some other minor issues. When I bought the car off of them, it was as if a self-destruct button was pushed. Immediately we found rust on the bottom of the rear doors (at 38,000 miles). This was repaired by the dealership under warranty. Shortly after I noticed that the vehicle was losing oil quite rapidly and seemed down on power. After (no lie) 12 visits to dealerships (one of which I refused to deal with any further as they wanted me to drop the vehicle off for the entire day for an oil consumption test), to monitor the oil level, they finally agreed to rebuild the engine (45,000 miles) as well as fix a transmission leak. Upon vehicle inspection, they also "discovered" that the AC condenser was leaking and needed to be replaced and that the rear brakes were "metal on metal" and needed to be replaced. All told there was over $7,000 worth of work done. $700 to replace the condensor. I refused brake replacement, another story, but it turned out that there was more than half of the braking material left and no need whatsover to replace the pads or rotors as we were quoted. one year later and we are back at it. At 58,000 miles, the rear differential is now leaking. The vehicle is still under the mileage for the powertrain warranty but past the time limit by 4 months. This repair was quoted at 600-700 dollars to replace an axle seal. This vehicle is now being traded in as I cannot deal with the sheer level of crap that is the 2011 Equinox. To summarize, 2011 Equinox with a 2.4 L engine only having 58,000 miles has had the following major issues: 1. Burning over 2 quarts of oil per 1000 miles. (Engine rebuilt) 2. Fuel pump and timing chain replaced. 3. Rust repair 4. Transmission leak repair 5. AC condensor leak 6. Seat issue recall repair 7. Rear differential leaking. The other minor issues I have had include random electrical gremlins that cause the auto headlights to come on randomly in direct sunlight, slipping serpentine belt that causes dimming of interior lights on occasion. On the surface this is a great vehicle. The interior is spacious and comfortable, the outside is relatively unobjectionable, It has several higher end features like Satellite radio, heated seats, etc. but the build quality is abysmal. I would not recommend this vehicle to my worst enemy.
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Loud engine knock at cold start up.
arveejay, 05/15/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
46 of 50 people found this review helpful
The car is very comfortable to drive with lots of leg room. It handles just fine, looks great and rides great. My only concern so far is the 2.4L engine rattle at cold start. It sounds like there is no oil in the engine for several seconds and then quiets right down. Even after dealer changed the oil and filter at 1000 miles the noise is still there. If my dealer can fix the noise before the engine shells out, I'll be very happy with it. I'm sure I won't still have it when the warranty is nearing running out.
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Worst Car I've Ever Owned. No GM Support
bradjohnson08, 11/18/2014
updated 05/19/2017
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
37 of 40 people found this review helpful
UPDATE 5/18/2017 - I bought a new car last week and I made sure it WAS NOT a GM product after their terrible vehicle and customer service. Also, 5 family members have bought new cars since this ordeal and even they decided to not buy GM solely based on how terribly they treated this incident. To boot, 4 of those family members retired from GM. Keep alienating yourself GM and I doubt you'll get a buy-out next time! UPDATE 11/18/2016 - I have now found out that GM has owned up to ALL of the issues I had with this vehicle that they FLAT OUT DENIED and were never willing to help me when I had them for several years. They have now sent out notices to replace entire engines and more for these vehicles experiencing the issues that I was having with mine the whole time I "owned" it. However, since I was forced to sell my vehicle due to the challenges it presented on a daily basis I am left with a different car and 5 more years of payments instead of the GM Equinox that would have been paid off some time ago. This just furthers the bad taste in my mouth and pure disdain I feel for General Motors. GM IS BY FAR THE WORST COMPANY/VEHICLE BRAND in quality as well as customer service. I might as well have just threw my money at them to rent it for years then give it back to them to fix and sell again. What a joke - My family and friends have now listened to my story and NOT ONE of them have bought a new or used GM vehicle and have branched out to the "foreign" makes that they have always said they would "never" try due to loyalty to a brand that doesn't understand how to properly appreciate it's customers that tried to stick with them until they felt unwanted and forced to move on. The only way that GM would ever possibly get back in good standing with it's irate customers is if they learned how to treat them and offer real incentives when they encounter issues. UPDATE 5/18/2016 - This car was the biggest mistake I've ever made in terms of a large purchase. After 2 years of constant circles with GM and them continuing to own up to their short comings they finally made me an offer to turn in or replace. They offered $6,500!!!!!! and they said this was "generous" since it was used and had lots of issues. Keep in mind - these are issues they denied until this point and refused to assist. I hit my breaking point and decided to go to another local dealer of a brand I swore I would NEVER drive because I'm a "GM person from a GM family" but after I walked in the doors and they offered me OVER DOUBLE to turn it in and buy a car from them that has higher ratings and WAYYYY less expensive - not to mention for american made than GM and their false claims. I normally wouldn't even turn in a car because they offer so little but I didn't wish to look an individual in the face and sell them this hunk of crap. I knew this dealer would go through and replace the things that GM refused to do over the years. In closing - I will NEVER own another GM car and my whole family that is brand loyal and over 10 family members who retired from GM have said they will never own GM, as well. Another case of GM not understanding it's customer base and selling an inferior product for a premium then not backing their garbage models and wiggling out of everything to not help. I am now paying off a new car instead of riding out my Equinox until the wheels fell off because, sadly, the wheels will fall off an equinox before it hits 50,000 miles. PLEASE - IF YOU'RE READING THIS - SAVE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY AND DON'T BUY AN EQUINOX. ON SECOND THOUGHT, DON'T BUY GM AT ALL BECAUSE THEY WON'T HELP YOU WITH THEIR PRODUCT EVEN IF IT'S CLEARLY A LEMON OR PROBLEM-RIDDEN IN WARRANTY PERIOD. February 2011 7,099 miles - Complaint of jerkiness while shifting. Weird shifting. Action taken Seat belt recall, nothing done concerning our complaint except charge us for an oil change. November 2011 17,683 miles - Further shifting issues and chugs while driving. Loud ratting and grinding from under hood by engine. Knocking in back. Slow to take off from a stop. Has stalled 2 times driving. Action taken Reprogrammed engine control module. Said they couldnt duplicate the rest. April 2012 22,365 miles - Stalled more times. Knocking in engine and rattling. Still shifts incorrectly. Sputters and stalls while driving. Transmission leak.
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Good and bad points
chrisco716, 09/05/2012
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
34 of 37 people found this review helpful
Have owned 2011 LT2 Equinox for about a year and a half. Bought it new. The Good - Nice looking and drives pretty well. Comfortable for passengers. Good options like heated seats, power everything including automatic opening tailgate. AWD. Nice computer. The Bad - Does not achieve expected mileage. We consistently average a little over 19 mpg in mixed driving conditions. Only about 24 mpg highway. Drivers seat uncomfortable... I have to put a rolled up towel in the bottom back to keep from getting back pains. The Ugly - It's a dog driving in the mountains or even getting up to highway speeds. The automatic transmission also seems a bit rough when accelerating hard.
Seeking new car ... definitely not another Equinox
Dee, 11/07/2015
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
43 of 48 people found this review helpful
Nothing but repair issues from about 50,000 miles forward. Thank god I had purchased an extended warranty. Had a/c compressor and condensers replaced multiple times. Oil burning issues resulted in complete overhaul of engine. Now having catalytic converter issues .. presumably due to the oil that had been burning for 5,000 miles while engine consumption tests were being run. I would be broke if it weren't for the extended warranty. Trying to limp to the end of my extended warranty but the engine light is back on again. On a first-name basis with everyone in service at the dealer. On the bright side, the interior was comfortable on all those trips to the dealer. I've hauled a lot in the past 4 years and the interior has withstood. Mileage has always been disappointing. Unless I was coasting on a downhill, I never approached anywhere near 30 mpg. Acceleration sluggish. Huge blindspot due to pillars and side mirrors. Intermittent remote issues.
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DO NOT BUY THIS CAR
tbarnes1, 10/17/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
60 of 68 people found this review helpful
I am the type of person that usually reads reviews and discards the few out there that may be negative. I plead with you to not disregard this review. I purchased a NEW 2011 chevy equinox back in March and have nothing but problems with it since I drove it off the lot. Have intermitent stalling, engine hesitation when accelerating, and rattle at startup. I've taken it back to the dealer 3 times to resolve the issue (every time leaving with them saying it's fixed). Just had it stall YET AGAIN. I've submitted paperwork for Lemon Law b/c I WANT MY MONEY BACK. Do NOT buy this car if you are looking for a reliable vehicle. Now I have to fight to keep my family safe & get my money back!
Overall view.
Robert Poole, 09/10/2015
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
25 of 28 people found this review helpful
I read all reviews. The sluggish start problems I corrected with a computer module reprogram. As for A/C compressor problem my vehicles is noisy also. I will install an aftermarket model compressor. Other than that I have no complaints. I drive all GM products and recognize some short comings. My vehicle has 45000 mi. and uses no oil between 8000 mi changes. Mileage is 25 on average city/hwy mix, I run 70 on interstate. I am a mechanic aircraft and car. I can overcome small problems. Thats my perspective.
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Good car to own.
topg3ar, 12/08/2013
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
24 of 27 people found this review helpful
i purchased a LT2 2011 Chevy Equinox AWD 4cylander which is 1 step under the v6 a few months ago pre-owned , ive had it for a few months now and have no issue with it , mechanically the vehicle runs perfect , basically fully loaded just not a v6 power , over all its a really great car for new family.
Why I would purchase Equinox...
chevyequinox1, 03/07/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
50 of 58 people found this review helpful
I usually don't write reviews on the websites; however, for the Chevy Equinox-I WILL! Chevy Equinox vs GMC Terrain (side note: thousand or more for the same features on the Equinox, the basic GMC Terrain cost about the same as the LT1 Equinox with extra features) First, MPGs is the common talk on the website; 32 MPGs (not a lie-it is possible driving 50 mph to 60 mph with ECO and RPMS under 2). Side note with the ECO button; keep ECO off when driving in stop and go traffic. Set ECO on when driving at steady speed 55 MPH for miles! Never turn on ECO while trying to reach desired speed... I got 28 MPGs on Highway, 24 City/Highway, and 19 city driving only (1,500 miles on NOX)
Equinox Lemon
Rachel, 04/19/2017
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I bought this vehicle used with 70,000 miles on it. I bought it from the original owner who said they had no issues. Usually two owner vehicles are a pretty safe bet because people take care of them when they have owned them for a while. I brought it home and about 2k miles later, noticed how loud the engine had become. I took it into the dealership and they said it needed a new timing chain. The vehicle was still covered under the factory warranty so that was a relief. After the repair, and after reading reviews, I decided to purchase the extended powertrain warranty costing me $1800. Few thousand miles later, it's burning oil. Took it BACK in, dealership replaced pistons, rings, etc. Paid only my deductible for the warranty ($100). TWO MONTHS later, vehicle transmission starts hesitating/slipping. Back to the dealership we go. Get the phone call that it needs a whole new transmission and SURPRISE the warranty only covers up to $3k leaving me with a $1200 bill! This vehicle has been NOTHING BUT HEADACHES and is in the repair shop almost more than I drive it. At this point, it has a whole new engine and transmission so maybe I can get another 30k miles out of it...who knows. This is only the MAJOR repairs, too. I have replaced other things like the throttle body sensor which cause the vehicle to basically shut down and not go over 30 mph which is awesome on a busy 55 mph road. *eye roll* Rant over. DO NOT BUY THIS VEHICLE. Save yourself the money, headache, time, everything. I will be going back to Toyota when I chuck this POS
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This SUV is full of trouble, potentially deadly
Wasim Quddus, 01/29/2016
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
38 of 44 people found this review helpful
We got brand new chevy euinox in 2011. I had to take it to dealer twice with engine trouble. My wife drives it -very mildly. It has very low millage. She had it stall in the middle of the road two times. It would just loose power suddenly. She would start it and it would run a little before stalling again. Finally it would not even start. The enigne light would come on. This happened twice. Thankfully she was not in highway when this happened. She also had kids with her. Imagine if this happened in high way at high speed. By God's grace, she and the kids have been spared from horrific accident due to this failure. The car dealership was another unfriendly experience. I took it to the same dealer who I bought the car from. They are so nonchalant about the whole event, as if it is the most expected thing on earth to happen. They were very late diagnosing the problem, leaving us without a car when my wife needed the car for going to work (dont know if that is a bad thing or not, given the nature of its serious trouble). All in all, it has been a very bad experience. I will not look forward to buying another chevy any time soon.
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Lots of features, disappointing MPG
angieb25, 01/10/2012
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I've had my Equinox for about a year now and have had no problems. It drives smooth. It's roomy. I like how the back seat slides back and forth, so you can add room where you need it. I like how the sunroof slides AND tilts. I really like having a USB port. It makes it so easy to listen to my music. The rearview camera is very helpful, and almost neccesary. The stereo sounds good too, but you may have to adjust it to your liking. I like the fact that I was able to go 8,000 miles before I needed an oil change. And even though I don't have AWD, it handles the snow and ice well.
Great but Disappointing MPG
brucebolen, 02/12/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Great looks, quality interior, comfortable and quiet ride, adequate power. Sound system and use of switchgear totally OK. Great back seat room. Build quality seems solid except chrome door trim along windows. LTZ has great features but lacks homelink. Memory on drivers seat needs more automation (button has to be held down while it moves, easy to hit the wrong button). Gas mileage not anywhere near advertised and 600 mile range is a total joke. Best case with soft, steady pedal is 29 highway at 55 mph, have really tried hard to get more by coasting, no hard passing, easy acceleration. Gas tank can take 2 more gallons after (legal) auto cutoff (we can't fill our own cars in Oregon)
Loving my Equinox!!
4hotrod, 06/28/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2011 Equinox on May 31st. This is after 2 yrs of test drives & reading reviews. We had it narrowed down to the Hyundai Tucson and the Equinox, we even drove them both to the same place for side by side comparison. I just turned over 3000 miles and average 27-28 mpg combined city and hwy. I anticipate that it will keep improving as it breaks in more. I drive 140 miles a day round trip to work and the comfort is unbelievable, rear leg room is amazing and I like being able to increase the storage in the back my simply moving the seat forward a little bit. Minor body adjust was needed in rear quarter panel after 200 mile, due to squeaking noise but all else is perfect.
Things To Consider
suv4years, 05/02/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
32 of 38 people found this review helpful
I have owned three Trailblazers and loved them. The Traverse was too big for me and has low mpg. I bought the Equinox last week because of its size and mpg ratings. On the first tank of gas around town I got 26 mpg according to my math, 25.2 according to the car computer. This will improve after about 1500 miles.
Do yourself a favor and RUN away from this car!
Amy, 09/16/2015
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
14 of 16 people found this review helpful
Purchased the car used, a little over 100K miles on the car when we purchased. A few hours after we left the dealership, the car began idling rough when stopped, hesitated when you try to accelerate, and an engine light came on (P0420). The car began rough idling anytime it wasn't in motion > 10mph. The engine shakes very hard. The car continues to run 3-6 seconds after you remove the key. When you accelerate from a stop or when coasting the car jerks forward like you stomped on the gas pedal. Sometimes when you try to accelerate the car just kinda sits there for a few seconds before it decides to move. It sounds like a big diesel truck when you crank the car - so embarrassing. These issues continued to happen the entire time we were taking it to the dealership, and still happen today. The car also only get about 22 mpg highway / city combined. We took the car back to the dealership not even a week after purchasing - they replaced spark plugs and sent us on our way. The engine light returned again (P0420 and P0303). Took the car back and the dealership replaced the 3rd coil pack. Engine light returned again - dealership said it was some kind of seal and it was "fixed". Engine light returned again - dealership "couldn't duplicate" the issue and insinuated that it was fine. Kept insisting that the car does not have any issues when they have it and they have tried sitting, slow driving, etc. I recorded the issues on my cell phone and text them to the dealership. Suddenly their story changed to "clearly there is something wrong with the car and we need to get it fixed asap." No kidding... We opened a case with GM customer care (don't even waste your time there). GM told us to take it to a certified dealership and have diagnostics run ($100). They told us if it was a manufacturer defect they would cover the cost of repairs and reimburse the $100 diagnostic fee. It turned out to be a known issue - also a manufacturer defect but suddenly GM decided they couldn't cover the cost of repair because the car had over 100K miles. They knew this BEFORE asking us to take it to the dealership to begin with. They told us the fix was to have the catalytic converter and O2 sensor replaced ($1500). We took the car back to the dealership we purchased it from, and they sent it to another repair shop because they couldn't fix the issues themselves. Not even a week after the catalytic converter and O2 sensor were replaced the issues returned. I've given up hope and I've had it with this car. We tried to trade it in, but nobody will give us anywhere near what we paid for it because it runs like crap and sounds awful. Just praying the car doesn't die before we can pay down the balance enough to be able to trade the car without losing thousands on it. Seriously, do yourself a favor and stay away from GM cars. Worst car buying experience ever. My 13 year old Honda with almost 200K miles ran better than this 4 year old car. Seriously regret spending money on this POS.
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BAD BAD Choice in a vehicle..
redding63, 12/31/2013
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Where do I start... first of all I owned the vehicle for 5 days to have it taken in to the dealership for costly repairs! Yes my warranty covered it but still, I had to have the water pump,fuel pump and timing chain all replaced! Then a month later the check engine light comes on so I called On Star to have them diagnose the issue,come to find out its misfiring.AND we smell gas in the oil AND our remote start wont work because of the check engine light that's on.The dealership has us waiting a week to bring it in. Not only is that bad business ,but to find out they may or may not give us a rental car to drive. Do I feel safe in this vehicle? NO absolutely NOT!
Worse car ever
Rob, 02/06/2018
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
It's all about problems on this car. I bought brand new and so far i had 6 major fixes. The last one out of my pocket: 1) oil leak at 7K miles 2) freon leak at 10K miles 3) oil deep stick dry every 2K miles when it had 30K miles. GM would consider that normal 4) burning oil continued at 50K miles and GM issued a recall. They replaced the timming belt, and leaky fuel pump. 5) burning oil continued so they replaced cylinders, rings and spark plugs. 6) at 70K miles car shut with engine loss power alarm and engine alarm. I had to pay 930 dollars to replace throttle box and 2 cam solenoids. I called GM and they will not issue additional warranties. What is next???????? THis is a car that will break and have to trash under my budget. Please DONT BUY GM. They are a piece of garbage. I was reading everyone that has this problem on chevy equinox. How is it possible that GM is allowed to sell this car? Does it meet the EPA standards????? I doubht it...
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Why Chevy Still Doesn't Get It
dhoff457, 11/16/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
17 of 20 people found this review helpful
We bought a 2011 Equinox and loved it - until yesterday. Five months old and the car simply died - while driving on the highway at 60 mph. Not what you'd expect from a new car - stuff happens but what happened next clarifies why with all the gains they've made, Chevy has a LONG way to go when it comes to understanding and serving their customer. When we the car died, we were able to pull over and call OnStar. They remotely diagnosed the issue (power train and transmission problems). But at this point they told us we needed to call ahead to the dealer to let them know we were getting towed there and they would not forward their diagnosis info to the dealer ("they'll run their own").
Where do I go from here?
meshellyvette, 09/30/2013
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
I am reading the many reviews about the 2011 Chevy Equinox and surprised on how many people are experiencing what I am. I do not feel safe in this vehicle and cannot get the problems fixed. I have brought it in four times for the same problems and each time the story is the same-they can't replicate the problems. It idles rough, runs rough has poor acceleration and hiccups when driving. The gas mileage is not good and every time I go to get the oil changed it is on the low side. I haven't experienced an actual full-on stalling but it sure feels like it is going to and some people have experienced that. I have felt nervous pulling out into traffic as of late worried it will stall. I am stuck
Shagged
cleopatra402, 05/31/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
After reading positive reviews,on 1/7/2011 we purchased a 2011 Equinox 2LT mostly for the advertised 32mpg and style. I have had nothing but disappointments. The dealer replaced the wipers, battery, starter, brains,and something in the transmission.The engine made a horrible loud grinding noise at start up. It felt like it was in the shop most of the two months we owned the car. We traded a 2002 Sequoia with NO issues. I wanted NEW so I wouldn't have issues. After many phone hours, alot of gas and time we got a new 2011 2LT replacement on 4/6/2011. Within the first week of owning the new one, the engine started making grinding noises and stalled while driving it. It is currently in the shop!
2011 Equinox air bag problems-vehicle not safe
Barry McClorey, 09/24/2018
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I have a 2011 Chevy Equinox. About 6 mos. ago, the "service air bag" light came on. I took it to local mechanic. He could do nothing so I brought it to Chevy. They analyzed it gave me a price of over $600.00! I asked why isnt this a recall because its a life safety issue, and they couldnt answer me (I could tell the guy at the desk was embarrassed) By the way, the air bag isnt working because of this trouble light. I googled it and, what do you know, hundreds of complaints out there with the same problem. Looks like not enough people killed yet for Chevy to open their wallet. If you want to keep your family safe, stay away from Chevrolet. Barry McClorey
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6 cylinder AWD 2LT
1307ztluts, 02/20/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I love my new Nox, only had it for 5 weeks and put about 1000 miles on but has been wonderful during the winter months with all the snow we have had here in Iowa. I have never had an AWD before and it has a different feel to it then the FWD and of course lower GPM but so far has been worth it. Love the quality of the interior. My last vehicle was a Mazda CX7 and that thing was definitely lacking in quality! Also love the bluetooth feature in the car with my phone, I always missed cell phone calls when I was driving because I had my radio too loud, now it just cuts out the radio when it rings and I don't have to dig for it in my purse!
poor gas mileage
sonnyh777, 02/13/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I am very disappointed with the gas mileage. I took a trip to Florida on straight flat roads and could only get 23 mpg. It had 4800 miles when I took the trip. I am used to getting 32/34 mpg on my 2006 Impala and it was a 6 cyl. The only reason I selected the Equinox was for the advertised great gas mileage. We had planned on taking a road trip around the country, however, with this mileage we will have to cancel. I wish I had kept my Impala!!
Equinox V6 LT2
red_rider, 05/25/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I recently purchased an Equinox and absolutely love it. I'm glad I got the v6, because it is perfect when you need that boost of speed. I currently get 19.8 mpg driving 90% city and 10% highway. This is because I coast a lot of the time when I see a red light. I think eventually it might hit 19 mpg, but I'm not really looking for good gas mileage since I drive maybe 100 miles a week.
Everything I hoped for
JH, 11/01/2010
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
After many hours of research on different small SUVs, we chose the 2011 Equinox. We've had the Nox a little over a month and it's everything I hoped it would be. Mocha Steel/Brownstone Leather is a great combo. Build quality is better than I expected. Once I understood that this SUV is not a Corvette, I don't mind if it's slow off the line. I don't mind the Gas filler is on the right side, same as my wife's BMW. I don't mind the door lock switch is on the dash, same as the BMW. I've not taken it on a long highway drive yet but so far I've gotten 27.9 in mixed driving.
Good value for the money
azdriver1946, 08/31/2013
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I bought the 2011 Equinox in Nov 2010. It now has over 35k miles on the odo. Only problems noted so far: needed to replace left rear turn sig light bulb, right rear speaker rattled. Gas milage (in Ariz at mostly 70 plus on highway): in town 22, on highway 29. Granted it's not the 32mpg noted by EPA, but it's fine for over 70mph. No rattles, drives mostly OK, but acceleration from start a bit lame at times. Glad I bought the car. No issues with blind spots.
As advertised
ronguy, 05/02/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I have owned my 2011 Equnox 2LT FWD now for 2 months and am very pleased. I initially took the car on a 740 mile round trip the 1st week and only got 28 mpg. My city driving averaged 18mpg. Now after 2 months and 2000 miles I have just been doing city driving and am getting 21.87 mpg in the city. There are stretches of 1/2 mile or so before I hit a light or stop sign. The amount of stops vary depending where you live so maybe I live in an area that requires less stop and go. I do drive with a light foot and realized that if I release my foot from the gas pedal after it goes into the 2nd gear and then reapply lightly the instant fuel mileage gauge immediately jumps to 22-28 mpg from 12-16 mpg
Nice Vehicle
jeffskiing, 07/19/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I bought a LT2 with the V6 engine. I've had it for about a week now, and love it. It handles very well, and the interior quality is very good. The steering wheel controls take some getting used to, but are great! I have had several compliments on the car.
Bought my 2011 Equinox March 2011
triciag1, 06/05/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
The first day I got my car it had to be put in the shop for a week to change out a module for the on-star/Bluetooth. A couple weeks later had it in the shop for 16 days due to transmission problems. Dealer put a whole new transmission. Im not very happy at all !!! Just not sure the quality is what it should be in the equinox. I love the look of the car and the way it handles. Im just very concerned about the dependability. If I had to do it again Im not sure I would buy the Equinox !!
Great SUV
Sue, 11/07/2010
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
We bought the Equinox just over a week ago after trading in our 2006 Equinox. The upgrades from the older model are great! I love everything about this SUV, from the upgraded interior to the updated exterior. This thing looks sleek, rides nice and is great on gas. I love the XM radio and onstar system. We are looking forward to adding another one to our driveway! I wouldn't buy anything else!
Great Suv to Look At
robgrv, 03/23/2012
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Engine had lots of power and ran well new till it got about 300 miles and then it started "fishing" GM's words. they replaced cam censors. Then it ran good for awhile and then started again. The more miles I put on it the worse it is getting. GM won't fix
not happy
sonny, 12/03/2010
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
its a gas saver but we had the equinox for at least 3 months. The headliner sagged then the transmission is out for the 1st time. Now we got the equinox back from the shop it took 2 weeks for us to get it back, no more then 5 hours later back to square 1 with the transmission.
Poor investment
teddy21, 04/28/2014
updated 05/03/2017
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 17 people found this review helpful
As far as the ride quillity, it was a great hwy car , fit and trim great, room was also good. But when a car company developes A car company you think they would test this engine for problems, leaks, burning oil, ruff idle and so on.
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WORST VEHICLE EVER
Pam, 10/05/2016
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 17 people found this review helpful
I bought the car used from Carmax with 35,000 miles on it. Unfortunately I did not do much research, I loved the look of the car and went for it. The first 8 months were good. Then a self destruct button turned on and ever since January of 2016 I've been in and out of the repair shop. It's never anything minor and all known issues to Chevrolet. However, they don't care about their customer's so what the hell. The first incident I was driving in the middle of a snowstorm to pick up a friend from the airport. Out of no where the vehicle refuses to accelerate and some message comes us with stability trac, reduce engine power...turns out the throttle body needed to be replaced. Ok, there's $200 + tax deductible I should be good to go. Nope. The following month I'm driving, no warning lights, no nothing and I'm backing out of a driveway (I drive for UBER) and my car will not get into gear. Eventually I get out of the driveway and my car goes into limp mode...come to find out the TRANSMISSION went out at 42,000 miles!!!! Another $200 + tax deductible. The following month I get a regular oil change and 2 weeks later new tires and the mechanic tells me I have no oil in my car and suggested I get an oil change. Ummm excuse me, I just got one 2 weeks ago. Fortunately there was a "service bulletin" for this and Chevy replace the Pistons and Timing Chain. I don't understand why a recall was not done as this is a serious issue. Anywho, 2 weeks later I notice a huge oil spot in my parking spot....well one of the gaskets that was replaced was defective and had to go and have that replaced. The Chevy dealer tried charging me my deductible to get that replaced, but after pulling up paper work that this was covered under the repair done just two weeks ago, I should not have to pay. One would think my troubles would be over. Nope. Check engine light comes on for the Camshaft Position Actuator. Then I get a letter for yet another service bullet for the catalytic converter. However, Chevy will not fix it until it causes a problem. Just yesterday (Oct. 4, 2016) I had the Fuel Pump replaced as part of a recall. A recall Chevy did not make me aware of. I got that email from CARFAX. The amount of time I have to take off of work for this car to get replaced is absurd. I can only imagine what problem will arise next month. Do yourself a favor and avoid this car at all costs....You will pay more in the end.
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TO AVOID
Alex, 08/04/2016
updated 08/07/2017
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Very disappointed with the vehicle. And GM in general it is the second GM vehicle I had to get rid off during last 3 years.First was bought new in 2010 and I traded it in 2014 with only 65 000 miles. I got rid of Equinox with only 93 000 miles.Even when I test drove it the acceleration was somewhat sluggish , but since I LIVE IN A NOT VERY POPULATED AREA and all the entertainment options seemed attractive I bought it used with 88 000 and drove it only 5000 miles before trading it in.Had to change some suspension parts , windshield washer had to be fixed , heater was Ok , but A/C was pretty lousy and you could smell gas .Bluetooth hands free system was a joke to make it fully functionable you have to subscribe to onstar and pay like $ 30 monthly.Handling was Ok , but it had a turn radius of a military tank,custom Pioneer speakers did not sound that great.Best MPG I ever reached was around 22.At about 93000 while on a freeway all gauges started dancing I started losing power , then it felt like if someone hit the brakes.I pulled over and gave engine some rest and drove home on a small country road vehicle felt like if someone mad was dancing on accelerator's pedal.I drive my family in this pos vehicle so I considered trading it in even though I lost $ , I gained experience and GM lost another customer for life.I am not paying American price for Chinese quality. My Korean KIA and Japanese Nissan impress me much more than GM's chevys with Chinese parts inside.
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Air cond vents & actual gas mileage
rheda, 07/31/2012
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
1) The placement of air conditioner vents on the dash is bad. If you are the driver, both of your vents are positioned where the air only hits your hands & the back of the steering wheel. I did not notice this when I bought the vehicle or I would not have purchased it. If they would have left out the little storage compartment & put the vents closer to the middle of the dash, you could feel the a/c but as it is, your face gets hot and your hands freeze. 2) Most importantly, this car DOES NOT get close to 32 MPH. I've driven it for nearly 2 years now and even on long trips, the best mileage I've ever gotten was 23.5. They need to be more realistic in advertising.
Run as far away from these vehicles as you can!
Carlos, 07/13/2015
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
We purchased our vehicle, 2011 LTZ 4 cylinder with navigation and rear dvd player, brand new. Now 4 years later it is on its 3rd transmission and has been at the dealership more times than I can count. The navigation unit would reset to Washington DC as a starting point whenever we tried to located an address and the clock hardly ever worked. The dealer tried doing a software reset and ended up replacing the unit when it was 1 year old. When it happened the 2nd time they said the unit was out of warranty so we had to deal with it. The fuel efficiency is a joke. GM stated this vehicle at 32 mpg and we average 21 on mixed city driving. Our warranty is almost up and we're already looking to trade this in.
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STOP SELLING THIS CAR
D.Cole, 07/09/2018
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I bought this car used a little over a year ago and i've hated since a month after. I noticed a month later that the car was ticking when you turned on the heat. Over time the the ticking/knocking got louder and then the car started shutting off constantly. We took it and and was told that the timing chain needed to be fixed ($1400) while there we were told the exhaust manifold had a huge crack in it and needed to be fixed (another $600) so we payed to fix them. then the battery died. leaving me and my child stranded. Next issue the car eats oil so quick. We have to put oil in the car almost every 30 or it goes completely dry. I mean bone try... like how does that happen? we keep up with oil changes and everything. and it doesn't help with the amount of oil that burns from this stupid car. next issues.. now the a/c blows hot air (its summer time here) so we have to ride with the windows down. Also the amount of gas this thing runs through.. omg... ugh.. i can't wait to get rid of this awful car. it is the absolute worse. ABORT MISSON!!! DO NOT BUY THIS P.O.S!!!
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GM, better without you
Lorraine Roberts, 10/20/2018
updated 10/25/2021
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
I am an original owner of a well maintained 2011 Chevy Equinox, mileage 37,600, used daily but not for long trips. I had no issues with the vehicle until 9/28/2018 when my vehicle broke down and I had it towed to a local shop. After running tests the mechanic advised me the transmission had to be replaced. I called GM Customer Service, and we agreed that the warranty had expired but due to the fact that the mileage was so low a case was opened. It was suggested by the GM rep. that, if they would consider assisting me with the transmission costs, it was advantageous that they provide towing of my vehicle to an authorized dealership for a diagnosis. Shortly after the vehicle arrived I was advised by the dealership that I was responsible for a $170 diagnostic fee. After waiting a few days I told GM I needed a rental car because I live alone and there is no public transportation. They said they would include the rental and related costs when reviewing my case. After five days GM transferred my case to the next level because the dealership was not cooperating and the repsaid he did not have sufficient authority to deal with it. He did say that he would make a request that the next rep make a commitment to me for the escalating car rental costs. After two weeks, the diagnostic report confirmed that the transmission had to be replaced. GM called and said they would do nothing for me. I was left with a disabled vehicle requiring a new $4500 transmission, in a dealership I did not like, a car rental fee of $450, $170 diagnostic fee and 2 weeks of aggravation. Had I not called GM my car would have been repaired locally and on the road in five days. The transmission should have not failed on a vehicle with 37,600 miles.
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V6 Equinox 2011
oscar007, 12/26/2010
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT1 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
We have owned our Nox for 2 weeks. We drove most of our 3700 on a 3300 mile road trip. 2 adults and 3 children with luggage. We drive speed limits for the most part and got 20 to 23 mpg averaging 21.8 overall. The cars computer rated it at 21.8 and so did our manual entry.miles on
Vehicle Vibrates at highway speeds over 50 MPH
navyofficer211, 03/10/2014
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Overall, I was pleased with the 2011 Equinox LTZ in the winter conditions. I put more highway miles on it than in actual weather conditions. My odometer read 28,000 when I had the first incident of a vibration over 50 mph and the check engine light came on briefly and stayed on for an hour or so. I thought it was the tires, so I had them checked, I had new summer all season tires on, and the tires were fine, and so I had the vehicle checked for mechanical problems, no codes were discovered and the check engine light went off. A week ago my odometer reads 87000 and the same situation occurs with this vibration, the difference is that it occurs at all speeds now, not just highway speeds.
Worst Chevrolet Vehicle Ever
MzP, 09/20/2016
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
My family has owned Chevrolet Vehicles for over 60 years and the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox is the WORST vehicle we've ever owned! It has been in for recalls and "special policy bulletins" for Cam Shaft Position Sensor, Transmission, Oil Consumption, and now the Catalytic Converter (oh and how convenient, they cover the converter, but not the sensors connected to the converter...which are another $400+) and several issues. It stalled in heavy traffic, is sluggish at times, and nothing but a constant headache. Stay away from this vehicle at all cost...Chevrolet has lost my business forever, I will never own another Chevrolet product again!
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LOVE IT!
Brittany, 08/18/2015
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Bought my Equinox used from my local dealer. I went from a 2013 Malibu, to the 2011 equinox and I couldn't be more pleased. This car is perfect for me especially since I have a child in a car seat. Easily fits 3 car seats on the back seat. NO problems at all. First owner took very great care of the care and kept maintenance up as well. It does get expected gas mileage 30+ hwy and roughly 23+ city. Not to mention the DVD system works flawlessly and my baby loves it! I've seen the bad reviews on these cars so I guess every car is different bc so far I haven't had a problem out of mine!
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Don’t buy this car!
Michaela Kemp, 06/29/2018
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I’ve not even had this car(2011 Chevy equinox) for a year. Already have had to replace my catalytic converter twice, and now my exhaust manifold needs replaced. Ive also replaces the entire ac unit. I’ve dropped $1800 on my car and I only paid $8000 for it. My check engine light always comes on and I’ve had it in and out of the shop almost every month since 4 months after owning it. I’m really regretting buying this car
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Excellent buy
Anonymous, 12/07/2010
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I am so happy with my choice, I test drove similar crossover vehicles such as honda,kia,hyndai,nissan, ford escape, ford edge and they could not touch the quality,smooth quiet ride of the equinox. I took my time in shopping for 2 months. I Love Love the mileage I'm getting, great execeration. I feel like I'm riding in a luxury car instead of a suv. I get mucho compliments all the time on it's exterior style and looks. I got silver metalic exterior with all black interior and 18" polished alum wheels.
My Equinox
rockthehouse, 10/13/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I own a 2011 Equinox bought it one year ago. Have had no problems. I bought the 3.0L v-6 because of reviews I read about the v-4. The car has great pick up and smooth ride. The seats took alittle adjusting to get them comfortable. My husband complains about them. The other con is the venting system is strange where the vents are. They are blowing at my arm while I'm driving or at my face. You'd think after all these years they would get that right. I liked my Trailblazer better where the vents are. The Equinox feels like a luxury car and the trailblazer felt like a truck. Which wasn't bad just different.
Very pleased with Equinox
johndg, 06/27/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LT2 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
We purchased a 2011 Equinox LT2 in January 2011. My wife wanted leather heated seats so we were required to buy the LT2 model. The vehicle our dealer found for us had the optional sunroof and power rear hatch, and is painted black with a black interior. We now have more than 10,000 miles on the Equinox and have had only one problem - it failed to start (jump starting worked and we took it to a dealer where the problem was fixed.) This has since been a recall item which requires that the dealer reprogram one of the onboard computers - it has been fixed on current production vehicles.
WHAT A JOKE...DO NOT BUY ONE
sickened3539, 09/12/2011
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This car is probably the worst car I have purchased, and I have purchased some pretty bad cars. At a little over 1,000 miles it decided to randomly stall while driving! The cam shaft actuators have been replaced THREE times and it still doesn't work. The thing sounds like a diesel semi when you turn it on, has replaced the oil pump. And since I purchased it, it has been in the shop SIX times and is currently there again and has been there for over a week and still unable to be repaired. Chevy's customer service is a joke and they refuse to do anything about it except to continue to repair the UNSAFE vehicle. DO NOT BUY ONE!
Worst Purchase Ever
Unhappy Customer, 06/15/2016
2011 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I've only ever driven Honda's and made the leap of trying a 2011 Chevy Equinox. I bought a used Chevy with 67k miles on it, and 5k miles later, the A/C goes bad. The air condenser is leaking and Chevy charges over $800 for a repair. Of all my year's driving a Honda, I've never once had an A/C break and I've driven them well over 175k miles. So much for buying an American car. It was a waste of money to buy something so un-reliable. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone.
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