Used 2012 Chevrolet Equinox Consumer Reviews
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Transmission Trouble & Haven't Made 1st Payment
notsogreat, 04/10/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
82 of 84 people found this review helpful
I was so excited to get my new Equinox (6 cyl 2LT until 37 days and 1,800 miles later. The transmission is bad- at least so far the shift solenoids. We were told they had to order those parts first before they can tell if there is any additional damage to the transmission. If this doesn't fix it, they will begin replacing parts. They'd don't have a clue when we'll get it back and I'm worried it will be a lemon. With problems like this so soon, GM should be falling all over themselves to get us a new identical vehicle at no extra cost to us. At the very least, they should start with replacing the entire transmission and not just tinker around with it. Are we upset?? You bet....
Never again!
Gman, 02/19/2018
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
30 of 30 people found this review helpful
Purchased my 2012 Equinox brand new and it now has 140,000 miles. It has had numerous issues throughout the 5+ years I have owned it. A number of those were covered under warranty but thousands of dollars worth of repairs were not. From day 1, my Equinox never came close to the gas mileage they claimed. I tested under multiple conditions and always averaged 25 mpg on the highway versus their false claim of 32 mpg. At about 80k miles it started burning excessive amounts of oil and now burns about 1 quart per 1000 miles. After 100k miles the Chevy Equinox begins self-destructing. In addition to the above issues mentioned (and also unmentioned), after 100k miles I have had to pay for replacement of the timing chain, rear main seal of engine (major repair requiring removal of the transmission), cracked exhaust manifold, oxygen sensors causing vehicle to stall at any given stop light, etc..., just to name the items that come to mind. Bye, bye, Chevy.....Never Again!
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2012 Chevrolet Equinox for sale near you
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- LT 4dr SUV w/1LTMSRP: $2,99559 mi away
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Been great so far
Chuck Hoover, 10/31/2015
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
76 of 79 people found this review helpful
Bought my 2012 new, it now has 42000 miles on it. It has NEVER been in the shop for anything except oil changes and tire rotation.I have a 4 cyl.FWD will get 33 mpg on highway going 65..about 28 going 78. about 20 in stop and go city driving. It does make a jumpy transmission shift if you hit the gas while it is downshifting on occation not always. Has not been great in snow but didnt have the right tires on it. Just now put better tires for snow on it last week.I drive to Florida 2 times a year from Pa. it is very comfortable.Change oil every 5000 miles.After reading about the poor oil consumption I will start watching it now. Havent had any oil problems yet.
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An Engineers Review of the 2012 Equinox
Eric, 09/18/2015
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
135 of 143 people found this review helpful
We have own our 2012 Equinox since November 2011. This a very good value for the money. My wife and I both choose this vehicle after test driving this SUV along with Honda CRV, Ford Escape, and Toyota Rav4. Ride I am very pedantic with vehicles and so the ride of a vehicle is the first thing I check out. The triple door seals and the acoustic dampening of the engine make for a very quiet ride. The 18 inch wheels and suspension make for a very smooth ride -- even over rough terrain. Seats The seats in the equinox are the most comfortable seats in its class. The leather interior do not feel cheap, like it does in the Rav 4 or Escape. Powertrain The engine is seems to be a good balance of performance with economy. We tend to get about 24 miles per gallon in the Equinox which is probably related to the hills of San Diego and the fact I tend to drive close to 80 on the highway. I have experienced a rough shift in the transmission once or twice. I think that is something that could be improved upon. Controls The controls are very well thought out throughout the vehicle. You do have to lean forward to touch all the buttons on the infotainment system but you the gear shift is in a nice nature position for the drive unlike the CRV with the shifter growing out of the center stack. One change that I would like to see in the Equinox is a push button start. I had a friend of mine drive it who was use to driving an audi and he had trouble putting the key into the ignition. I think the new Ford Escape push button is very well done. No repairs needed We have never had to repair the Equinox since we have purchased it almost 4 years ago. We have only had oil changes and tire rotations. Cargo The cargo capacity is not huge but after observing the other SUVs and they are the same in size. You will want to be very careful in picking out strollers that fit inside if you have young children or babies. If the stroller collapse flat and long they will be a tough fit. If they fold in half you will not problem. All in all, I would recommend this vehicle to any wanting a Small SUV. Everyone I know who has purchased one love them.
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Jumpy Shifting and Stalling Out
Ryan Toombs, 04/24/2015
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
102 of 108 people found this review helpful
My wife and I bought the 2012 Equinox only a month ago as a Certified Pre-Owned with only 39,000 miles on it. One short month and 1,000 miles later, the check engine light came on. The actuator had to be replaced. No big deal since it was under warranty. The vehicle also shifts very hard/jumpy, like you are being slowly rear-ended. We recently stalled out in a McDonald's drive-thru because of this issue. I was told that the hard shifting of the Equinox is one of the biggest complaints they receive at the dealer. They informed me it is just how the vehicle drives and that I would get used to it. My wife doesn't want to get used to it. No going back for me, but hopefully I saved you trouble!
PROBLEMS PROBLEMS & MORE PROBLEMS
Anonymous, 10/17/2018
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
28 of 29 people found this review helpful
Worst car ever. Timing chain problems. The terrain is also very similar as it has the same motor. Timing chain in terrain is warranties up to 120k miles so why wouldn't the equinox have the same warranty if it's the exact same motor?? That's stupid. The timing chain will literally ruin the motor. I am currently in the process of spending thousands of dollars trying to get this fixed and mine is a 2012. My aunt bought brand new and same exact thing happened to her. I am a single mom and bought my car less than 100k miles and its failing. Transmission problems, timing chain is bad and now I get to see if I need to replace the motor. This is the second car I've bought from GM and I will never buy again. Most of their cars are built with unreliable motors. They are so focused on making it look pretty and techy that they forget reliability is of most importance.
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Equinox LTZ
norwin, 07/19/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
59 of 64 people found this review helpful
We bought the 4 cyl LTZ in May 2012 and we are happy with the performance and styling of the vehicle.I was a little leery of buying a 4 banger but after a 900 mile trip was pleasantly surprised with performance and gas mileage. The first tank (in ECO mode) got 31.4mpg at 65 to 75mph with ac on,2 people and luggage on board. Sure, its not going to perform like the big boys, but I feel comfortable with it's power in traffic and never feel like I have to "get over get run over." Subsequent mileage checks for the type of driving we do are in 28-29mpg range.
Excellent Vehicle
nrp0714, 01/05/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
22 of 23 people found this review helpful
Recently bought 2012 Equinox LT2 with 6cyl and leather. Super comfortable seats, lots of room and rides/drives really well. MPG is around 24 combined. Back up camera is helpful, info screen is very cool. There is not one thing about it that I would complain about. Auto climate control and heated seats are great. We got the two-tone interior and it looks sharp. Great vehicle for the price
Watch the rings
Bakiton2005, 03/24/2018
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
I purchased this vehicle new because of high reviews. At first everything was as suggested. Everything about the all wheel drive and braking system was correct. Loved it. It handles and drives very well in all weather conditions. I live in West Virginia so we have everything from all seasons of the year to mountains and curves. Fuel economy was I thought very good at about 25mpg. We took it on many trips and it was as comfortable as you would expect. Now the bad. Going from a stop to go the throttle response is very poor and hesitant. The transmission is sloppy and on many occasions is doesn't seem like it's ever going to shift down when you hit a hill and sometimes shifts ruff when dropping or shifting up a gear on flat land. The engine is the main problem with the vehicle. I did not know that it was burning oil the whole time I had it. I was never notified that they have a major problem with the rings which caused the motor to burn oil and because it burnt off through the exhaust you will not know unless you check it every 1000 miles. I found this out at 65,000 miles and Chevy did repair it. Thank God for the 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Also found out the hard way that pcv valve can build up water and if it gets to cold will freeze and blow out your rear main seal which in turn blows up the motor. So at 138,000 miles I had to replace it. Oh and by the way make sure you always turn off your windshield wipers because if you had them on when you get out and that night it snows or freezes when your wipers come on the transmission has these cheap plastic pieces that hold it together and they break easy. That's about a $150 if you install. Basically chassis good power train not so good.
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dimming of interior lights
dissapointed20, 12/17/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
I know I can not be the only Equinox owner with the crazy intermittent dimming of the interior lights..at times it is so dark you can't read the speedometer..I understand the concept of dimming lights but this goes beyond the normal. I have had the sencor replaced 3 times and told this is normal..has anyone else monitored their dash as carefully as I have..this can't be a normal occurance..and the snow senor pops up at 37 degrees no matter whether its in the garage or on the road..this dimming is a big issue. And the gas milage is over-rated- poor
ECO Mode is a bit squirrelly
pawcoboss, 08/22/2011
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
37 of 40 people found this review helpful
Just bought a 4 cylinder Equinox. Have less than 500 miles on it. Good looks, great value, very comfortable, not going to win any races. Mileage claims I knew going in were significantly overstated but that's O.K. 30 years ago I bought a 1981 Cadillac Eldorado with the V-8-6-4 engine. State of the art technology @ the time. The only trouble was that the car seemed to be driving you rather than you driving it since it would decide when to run on 8 or 6 or 4 cylinders. A real technical flop for GM as it was discontinued after one year. Driving the new Equinox in the ECO mode reminded me of this- shifting into 5th or 6th gear and slow to respond on the downshift. I've since turned it off.
OIl Burner
beverly greene, 05/02/2018
updated 11/04/2019
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2012 Equinox 2 years ago and I have had nothing but problems with the motor. I received a letter from Gm saying they put the wrong Piston Rings in the motor causing it to burn a lot of oil. I had to go thru 8 Months of oil Consumption testing to prove to them that it was loosing a lot of oil. Every thousand miles I had to take it in and have them check the oil level and have them document it on a piece of paper I had to keep in my glove box. After month 8 I went in and raised heck and demanded they fix it, I had enough. They got permission from Gm to take the motor apart they replaced all of the pistons, timing chain, oil pump, barring's and other nuts and bolts plus a full oil change. You would figure this would solve it but it hasn't now I have creamy residue on the dipstick every time I check the oil, they said its just moisture. No its called blow by and it means something is still not right. They will not check it and told me if I'm still loosing oil that it is ok to loose 1 quart every 2,000 miles. So I have had enough and I am getting rid of it as soon as I can.
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Too good to be true!
Catherine Dauthier, 11/30/2018
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
19 of 20 people found this review helpful
Be aware before purchasing a 2010, 2011, and 2012 and possibly newer models as well. There are a couple of defects Chevrolet is well aware of but is pretending they don't affect the 2012 models even though the work order distributed to the dealer's mechanics includes the same major problem on the 2012 that is on the 2011 and 2010 models....same repair sheet lists the 2010, 2011 and 2012 models. I have since heard that some newer models were affected as well. My timing chain was changed twice, and other major parts (rods, pistons) as well on the motor and the title Chevrolet gave to the problem was something relating to the oil. In other words, the cars was not burning oil nor was oil leaking...it was just not there in a very short time after an oil and filter change. The shop foreman told me that even if a brand new motor is installed, the problem still exists. The problem doesn't exist on every single Equinox, but when the problem does exist, it gives the owner pure hell. The second problem might not seem as a big problem, however, I could have very easily been killed and other people in traffic as well. The windshield wipers and how they were installed were also defective. Thank God I was on a country road that I was extremely familiar with when I was caught in the hardest rain I have ever driven in. Yep....windshield wipers quit. Luckily, I was able to see the white line out of the right passenger's window and crawled a few miles until I got to a gas station with a cover overhead. Had I been on the Interstate, it definitely would have been lights out for me as well as others. The "defect" was the wipers sit inside of a metal tray with no way for the water to run off, therefore, the wiper parts rusted to the point of not working. I had heard of a problem before I had mine and also heard on the same radio station that after Chevrolet had decided the correct way to handle the situation owners would be notified. In the interim, the owners can go ahead and have theirs fixed and would get reimbursed. Well....after my paying $469.00 to have them fixed I was more than happy to do so as I had never been so scared in all of my life when the wipers quit with the violent rainstorm. Needless to say, I called Chevrolet and they told me that the recall were for only the ones built in Canada and especially the ones in Ontario as they have really bad humidity. I tried to explain to the Chevrolet lady about Louisiana's humidity but I felt it was no use. To add salt to a wound, I did a little investigating and discovered that all Equinoxes are made in Canada, therefore, all windshield wipers are made in Canada. She led me to believe the windshield wipers made in the States were all fine. I must sound like a Southern hick. Even still at night when I close my eyes, I imagine myself in a severe rainstorm where I can hardly see where I am going on a 6 land highway, then to make matters worse, my windshield wipers die, and I'm wide awake!!!!!!
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MPG
impala0169, 08/24/2012
updated 03/27/2018
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
31 of 34 people found this review helpful
Just a not for some complaining about there MPG. Watch your driving habits. I have corrected mine and it makes a difference. Stopping and starting at stop lights. I watch mine and just got back from a 1000 mile trip.I wrote down my speeds and what the control said I was getting. On the interstate at 69mph I was getting 28.3mpg. On a stretch of road off the interstate where I drove at 58 and got 36.3. Both were flat roads and both were at no stopping for almost a hour on each road. The entire trip gave me 29.3 mpg with 90 % of miles on hwy and the rest city. Now you know you stop and go alot.Thats where you should study your habits. I have the same thing with the transmission jerky. UPDATE 9-22-16 Watch the back hatch connection. Comes loose and you start to hear it rattle over bumps. Shifting still is a bit rough/jerky/ Have 45000 miles. It was a nice on a 8000 west coast trip. Average MPG was 25.8. Handle the 9000 ft climb over mountain. Also hit 104 mph coming down. Like others I noticed radio reception is not great. We get xm over the summer months for $25 which helps. I thought Chevy hit a home run when I heard great things about it. Well I thought is was also great when I bought it. Now after 4 1/2 years its a double or a bit more. Not sure I will buy another chevy. Might look at other brands next time.I was always a chevy owner from the day I started driving. This is the 7th chevy bought brand new and to this day they have not been able to surpass the Cavalier. Owned 2 and still have on and its 16 years old and very little to fix on it. By far the best bang for the buck. To bad they stopped making them update 3/5/2018 Great car. No problems at 63000 miles. Drove it to California and had 26.6 mpg almost 6800 drive. Traded it in for 2018. Hope all goes like last one.
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Body Module Failure a Deal Breaker
Alan, 05/22/2016
updated 05/26/2020
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV AWD w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
31 of 34 people found this review helpful
If your body control module fails, like mine did, the failure mode could be dangerous. When it failed, the power door locks, transmission control, and key ignition release failed simultaneously. It was frozen in 'Park', with no option other than to disconnect the transmission control to move it. I had an older Altima that I could have used to get to work, but it took a tow flatbed, and knowledge if how to put the car in 'Neutral' manually from underneath the car. Repair was covered by GM, but I lost my trust for this vehicle. I would have engineered a failsafe akin to a limp-home mode that would allow an owner to get the Equinox to a safe location. I'm curious as to what would have happened if this module failed at highway speed.
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Better equipped and built than the competition
labluebabe, 07/15/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
We test drove the new Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape, Nissan Rogue, Hyundai something and a few other SUVs. The top of our list was the Equinox, Escape and CX-5. The Ford and Chevy were our two favorites, but at the end of the day the Equinox was cheaper for the fully loaded version and came with a 100k mile/5yr warranty, vs the 60k on the Escape. We got the LTZ loaded with FULL LEATHER seats, not partial leather in the Titanium (beware! you can find full leather Escape Titaniums but MOST of the Titaniums are PARTIAL leather where just the middle insert is leather!). To anyone looking at new SUVs, be sure to test drive BOTH the V6 and 4 cylinder Equinox, there's a huge difference in power!
Best vehicle ever
Karen Finch, 08/23/2016
updated 02/26/2019
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
We were so happy with our 2012 Equinox that we bought another one in 2015.
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Comfortable, economical & reliable.
Glenn Davis, 09/01/2016
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
Purchased as a certified vehicle from my local Chevy dealer in July of 2014 with 33K on the odometer. Got new tires as part of the deal. Up to 114K miles and I can say it has been an excellent vehicle for my purposes. I travel to BPCR matches all around the country (3-trips coast-to-coast thus far) and it hauls all my (and often another competitor's) gear with zero complaint. New tires every 80K and Mobil-1 every 10K and its keeps on trucking. Think the next one will have the V6 for a bit more umph in the mountains, but the 4cyl averages just under 30mpg at 73mph on the interstates. Especially like its smaller size when in the city. Easy to maneuver/park and handles great (probably has to do with the quality Goodyear tires I keep on it) for an SUV. Have hauled as much as 1500lbs. Zero problems other a warped front rotor that was replaced ($48 part) when I had the pads replaced at 93K miles. Highly recommended.
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Relatively Happy
Zachary A. Horn, 03/24/2015
updated 03/27/2017
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
22 of 24 people found this review helpful
This car was great for the first few years I owned it. I bought this car new with 15 miles on it in early 2012. I drive about 30,000 miles a year between work and personal use, and performed all recommended maintenance. Around 50k or 60k miles the car started running rough in between oil changes. When I started checking the oil levels more frequently I noticed it was using 2-3 quarts of oil in between oil changes (performed every 5,000-7,000 miles even though the owner's manual recommends 15,000). At 80k the timing belt broke. At 85k it used 3 quarts 1,500 miles after an oil change. It is currently at the dealership having the engine rebuilt. Fortunately I have 15k of warranty left. Update 03/24/217: I'm currently at $138k miles and haven't had any further problems with the engine or reliability. I just paid the car off, and hope to go a few years without a payment.
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If you have one, Get rid of it or by a lot oil
charles, 08/19/2015
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
27 of 30 people found this review helpful
If you have the four cylinder model you'll need a new bank loan for the amount of oil it uses. I've had to have the top end rebuilt at around 50,000 mi. It uses 3-4 qts/5000 mi synthetic oil change at the dealership. (It's the only way to keep the warranty valid) Service blamed the top end repair on the "owner" for not changing the oil often enough and "Chevrolet made it right." The oil has been faithfully changed at 7500 mi. Suggested changes are 10000 mi. What a load of Cr*#p when you read all of the forums with users complaining about the crummy engine. Chevrolet should recall the vehicle for defective engines. This is my last Chevrolet..... Government Motors needs help!
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First 1000 miles
bannon, 11/10/2011
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV AWD w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
Put my first 1000 miles on it, and so far no complaints. Fuel mileage over all is 24 mpg, getting around 29 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg in the city. I driver around 70 mph on the highway to give you an idea. Ride is smooth and quite! Plenty of power for this size of vehicle from a 4 cylinder engine. Chose the Equinox over the Terrain due to the cool blue/white interior lighting, the red of the Terrain is tough to take on a long trip. Now will see how it holds up over the years and miles.
Great vehicle all around, but...
candurandu, 10/02/2011
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
I use the Equinox for work and drive it in all conditions like rain, snow and total darkness. Like others have said, acceleration is adequate and MPG is so-so. The exterior look is handsome, if somewhat generic and reliability has been outstanding. The only real beef I have is a personal taste issue and it has to do with interior color choices. My Chevy has a black interior with a weird gray fabric on the seats and backrest all set off with red stitching. Really? Someone looked at this design and decided middle America would go crazy over this tonal mishmash? I think many sales have been lost due to this corporate decision as it appears to not be very stain resistant.
Good Overall Value and Style
wavesherwood, 06/23/2013
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
Great versatility. Beautiful vehicle in and out. Only problem we have had so far is the rough engine idle which dealer says is unduplicatable but they did update computer program. that helped some, but we are still experiencing some intermittent rough engine idle especially when sitting at stoplights. Blind spots and camera depth perception makes backing up tricky.
Love it!
gobigredaz, 02/16/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV AWD w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
We love our new car. It is sporty and fun to drive. I like having the back up camera so I can see what is going on behind me and thankfully I had it the other day or I would have ran over a dog that was behind me.
Love/Hate vehicle
Li, 02/21/2018
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV AWD w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
I bought this car New in 2012. At the time it had everything I was looking for in an SUV. Unfortunately it disappointed me. Gas mileage was pretty close to what was advertised, comfort and room was good. It handled well in the snow. The reliability was good till I hit 30,000 miles. I had a major timing issue that would have been a costly repair had it not been under warranty. Talked to several other Equinox owners and they too had the same issue with theirs. I gave it a chance and continued to have other problems with this vehicle. Chevy should have issued a recall but not. After other repairs started to surface early in its car life, I made the decision to get rid of it before it nickel and dimed me further. I got rid of it at 70,000 miles when normally I'd keep my car till it's 100,000 miles. I traded for something other than chevy. Unless you like to work on vehicles, I DO NOT recommend this vehicle.
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Mechanical nightmare
Kathleen, 03/01/2016
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
25 of 28 people found this review helpful
I bought this car new and have had many mechanical problems. Excessive oil consumption lead to major repairs. Just replaced the cam actuators due to oil sludge even though I never skip an oil change. GM denied my request for reimbursement. I am not keeping the car and will never own a Chevrolet.
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wish I never purchased this car
Tricia Kelly, 03/16/2015
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV AWD w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
24 of 27 people found this review helpful
Purchased my 2012 equinox in April 2012. Had to call the dealer within a few months due to the fact my check engine light was illuminating from my dash. Was spoken to like I was a moron & told to tighten my gas cap. Did not fix the problem. It would go on & of constantly whenever where ever. The dealership would humor me & reset it when I complained. Then my equinox started consuming oil at an outrageous rate. In between oil changes I am constantly adding 2-4 quarts. I have to constantly check my oil, usually at every fill up in fear of my engine consuming all of it considering consumption is only getting worse. I have under 50k miles & have preformed all scheduled & preventative maintenance
Perfect
William, 03/23/2016
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Bought this car used in 2013 with 14K and it's been perfect ever since. Now just hitting 50K and have had absolutely zero issues with anything. It's comfortable driving to the store and it's comfortable driving for hours on a road trip. GM seems to have a bad rep with reliability but I don't see why, this car is great.
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Never buying Chevy again
Kbgourley, 02/18/2019
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I have only had this suv for 2 years and already cost me a new engine! Got the engine replaced 6 months ago and they are telling me again the engine is bad. I take it for regular oil changes and everything! There is only 113000 miles on this thing too.
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Thank you, Husband
Barbara Shrum, 04/26/2016
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
My husband bought me this car after a back injury when my 4-wheel drive truck was too rough for me to drive. I have loved it! The seats are so comfortable, even on long trips. The power rear liftgate was a lifesaver for getting things in and out. And it looks snazzy too. The navigation system and Onstar always made me feel safe traveling alone.
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2012 Chevy Equinox 1LT AWD V6 w/ All Star Package
islandreamer1, 03/22/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV AWD w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
17 of 19 people found this review helpful
This is our first American/Canadian vehicle and SUV. We were narrowing down the comparison to this and the Kia Sorento. After test driving both, it was not hard to decide on the Equinox. The only advantage we saw with the Sorento was the larger size, optional third row and 10 year warranty. At least this time, Chevy has matched Kia's mileage warranty at 100,000 miles. The drive on the Equinox was smoother and quieter. Console design on the Equinox is more appealing to the senses. Just went over 1300 miles and have been averaging 20 mpg on mix city and highway driving. OnStar is a nice feature but costly. Actual highway mileage remains to be seen. Got it at about $500 below invoice:-)
Poor gas mileage - please do not disregard
robertlynnb, 09/12/2011
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
43 of 51 people found this review helpful
the macysmom9 review is exactly what we have found with our 4 cylinder Equinox. I actually took the car back to the dealer to see if there is some computer reprogramming they can do (they say there is not). Anyway, I just wanted people know that the car does not get anywhere close to the rated 32 mpg. Since the only reason I got the 4 cylinder was for the gas mileage, if I had it to do over, I wish I had gotten the 6 cylinder. I am very disappointed that Chevy can "game" the government tests to get high mpg numbers that most people will never achieve.
Nothing but issues
Katie, 02/16/2019
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Bought our 2012 Chevy equinox new and planned to drive it until it dies. Well, not even 100,000 miles on it and it’s dead in the driveway right now. Almost all highway miles and all maintenance done as recommended. Starting at 30,000 miles I raised a concern about how the brakes sound to the dealership. I was told “brakes make noise. It’s normal. It’s the #1 search on google.” Would not even ride with me to see what I meant. Something is rubbing when braking at slow speeds and something clunks loudly when braking in a turn. Then we notice that the engine is loud. Ended up having the timing chain replaced. Now it idles very hard and sputters. The muffler needs to be replaced, even though it’s been parked inside most of the time. Check engine light comes on and stays on even after the dealership “fixes” it. We are getting an emissions code, which is lovely since we have to pass an echeck to renew our registration where we live. Now it’s sitting in the driveway and won’t start, even though we just got home from driving it about an hour ago. All of this makes me so angry because I love driving this car. The exterior is exactly what we need, the body is nice looking, steering is sharp. It’s fun to drive. Everything else is just dying a slow death. I’m ready to trade it in for something more reliable.
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New Equinox LS is a real value
mfj949e, 10/24/2011
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
In general the 2012 Equinox LS seems to be a great small SUV for the price. With only 1,000 miles on the vehicle I really appreciate the comfortable seats and tight ride. Of course time will tell. The only negative is the somewhat disappointing fuel mileage. I was able to squeeze 29 mpg on a road trip and that's 3 mpg less than the EPA/GM calculated highway mileage. Other than that this SUV seems to be all that it claims to be.
It’s an okay car.....
BAJA, 10/18/2019
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
So my dad purchased this car last year in July with 84+ thousand miles on it. After the first couple of months it’s been very good it’s roomy and very spacious and the leg room is amazing. Trunk space is okay but our 05 Santa Fe had a bigger trunk. Fuel economy is okay, we average around 18.7 mpg. We took the car on our first road trip to Alabama and we had no problems and the seats remained supportive throughout the entire trip. What I like about this car is the sound system and it’s very good for it to in a base model. Now after awhile we noticed that the car burns oil quickly and it’s ridiculous. We just reached 104 thousand miles and the transmission went out and the car been in the shop for about two weeks. We got the car back 2 weeks ago and the transmission shifts so smooth it almost feels like we have a CVT. So fast forward to now the check engine came on at 104 thousand miles and we got 4 codes one of them being a fuel injectors and on top of that the headlight went out so now we only have one. So to summarize this up I don’t suggest you to purchase this vehicle there’s many other choices to look in but if you’re in need for a vehicle you can get this but trade it in within 2 years.
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Best decision I could have made
justsayin, 02/14/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I just bought the 2012 Equinox. It is my first new car purchase and I couldn't be happier. The ride is smooth, the leg room is outstanding and I feel very safe driving it in less than ideal conditions.
Un Equalnox
William Rowles, 07/08/2018
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
The vehicle has been very reliable, and durable. Got into a serious accident two years ago, not only was I not injured I drove it home. Now have 75,00 miles on it and have to replace the brakes soon, it still passed inspection, replaced the tires at 50,000 miles. Gas mileage for an SUV is very good, and although it's a little under powered it gets me where I have to go.
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Great Car But Has Rough Idle at Times
sos7, 01/23/2013
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
14 of 16 people found this review helpful
I got my 2012 Chevy Equinox back in April of 2012. I love the car but at times the car has a rough idle, and is even worse with the "ECO" button on. It doesn't get the gas mileage that GM has promised.
Great car until 70,000 miles! Then a total lemon
Family driver, 08/01/2019
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
This was a great car for our family for 6 years, then it started to burn oil and have a ton of engine/transmission issues. The car would stall during acceleration (extremely dangerous) and has some other design flaws in the engine that lead to expensive repairs. To top it off Chevy won’t admit that the 2.4 engine is prone to these issues.
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11,000 and going strong
chickn, 09/12/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I have 11,000 miles on the car and it is going strong. It is a 4 banger. I pull a 12 ft utility trailer with a Gravley z155 mower on the trailer with no problem. The car shifts fine, especially if I hold a steady foot on the gas. I get 26+- mpg around town and 26.5 to 30 +- highway, with just myself and my lady in the car. She said it shifted a lot going oover the mountains this summer going to Detroit from NC. She had 2 teen gals and their gear with them. I would say the shifting would be normal for that. The only issue I have with the car is the A/C dash vents.the one on the dash, right of the steering wheel tends to blow either on my face or chest. Can't turn it enough to the right.
so far so good
tcs4886, 05/22/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
bought this vehicle on 1/19/12, it has 4,700 miles on it and havent had any problems with it. Fuel economey has been about 24 mpg around town. I downgraded from a 2004 Tahoe to try and get rid of paying $120 a week in gas. I pick apart every vehicle I own and havent found to many things i dont like so far. Biggest downside is the lack of power. Downgrading from a V8 in my old vehicle to a 4 cyl was hard enough, but it really could use a little more power. It is a very comfortable vehicle with plenty of front and rear leg room and do i dare say..its ACTUALLY pretty fun to drive. no trips to the shop except for an oil change. best vehicle I have had yet in snow. hopefully the good luck goes on
Great vehicle so far
mcclane, 10/25/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
We bought our equinox new 4000 miles ago and it has been all we hoped it would be. I read a lot of good reviews on it so we decided to take the plunge and buy one. We wanted a bigger vehicle without giving up a lot of mpg. We have the 4 cylinder LT model and average over 29 mpg. The majority of our miles have been highway but on the highway we get between 30 and 31 mpg. I'm 6'2" and it's comfortable to take on longer trips. The moving backseat is also fantastic. We have it up the majority of the time to add to the storage and all the way back when we have friends in the back. They have more then enough room (as did I when I tried it out in the back once). Overall, very happy.
Classy but costly
Kenneth Boser, 03/02/2018
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
It's a classy looking car, easy to get in and out of and a pleasure to drive..at first. We purchased the Equinox because Chevy was boasting a higher gas mileage, but we were rather disappointed that it does not get any better gas mileage than the other car we had previously. Also, a year ago we had to replace the timing chain and cam gear which was very costly. Currently, we are experiencing strong fumes in the car and the car vibrates so badly any time we have to stop: i.e.: traffic light, road construction, etc. It has been diagnosed as having a cracked manifold; again, this will be a costly fix. The car is comfortable, but is very noisy; it is difficult to carry on a conversation with passengers.
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A goodie
Lyle Jones, 10/22/2016
updated 10/26/2020
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
This is a very nice car to own. Ease of handling. Good appearance. Comfortable. A little slow on acceleration uphill. The wife likes it. Update: It is starting to burn oil. One quart per 2500 miles. We've had trouble with the tire pressure sensors. We're at 5500 feet above sea level and when the seasons change from hot to cold the sensors show low pressure when there is no low pressure.
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Equinox = Disaster - STAY AWAY
Brian, 03/06/2017
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 16 people found this review helpful
I've driven cars for more than 30 years now, and owned a real variety in that time. Without a doubt, the Chevrolet Equinox is the absolute worst car I have ever owned In 30 days, I have had more than $6,000 in repairs done to the abysmal, wheezy 4 cylinder engine. This included timing chain, valves, heads, pistons, and the ancillary parts that go with those repairs. (Thankfully I have an extended warranty) Even after being essentially "rebuilt", the engine idles roughly, gas mileage is terrible (the only way this thing gets 32 MPG is to be towed by another vehicle getting 32 mpg), it clatters and rattles and sounds like a diesel and now I have had acceleration surge once which nearly caused a crash. The transmission is in another league altogether. It's an automatic that feels like an old manual in terms of shifting. There is a terrible lag between gears that makes you feel like the transmission is hesitating or slipping. Combine that with the raspy, wheezy engine and it sounds like the car has emphysema. Truly an embarrassing. Mine is the LTZ model so it has all of the options, including the Pioneer audio system which is just muddy sounding and no better than the standard sound system. The leather seats are hard and flat but not totally uncomfortable. They are, however, very difficult to get into thanks to the oddly vertical and oversize side bolster. All of that being said, the Equinox does have a very comfortable ride on the open highway but quickly becomes choppy and unsettled on uneven pavement. It's reasonably quiet but not overly so, due in no small part to the poor engine. The instrumentation is great, with large, legible dials and logically placed gauges. A nice touch is the redundant digital speedometer between the analog speedometer and tach. The headlights are powerful and if you have the optional fog lamps, the lighting is superior. The Equinox handles well, with nicely weighted steering and a taut suspension that pushes back when pushed. Cargo space is really poor due to the rake of the back window encroaching over a foot into an already tight cargo space. Back seat ingress and egress is poor also due to the rake of the back door in relation to the seat cushion location. I've heard this all before too... 2010 was the worst year, buy a 2011 or newer and you'll be OK. Then it was 2011's are bad too but they got the bugs worked out in 2012 and newer. The absolutely horrible reliability of this car is it's legacy and believe every other review that says "run - don't walk" away from the Equinox. Cars like this are what almost killed GM and are the best advertising for the Japanese and German brands.
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VERY SATISFIED,GET ONE
jeepguyracing, 11/18/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV AWD w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
We got this vehicle just before taking our annual trip from pennsylvania to michigan and got about 35mpg most of the trip.going just a little over the posted speed and it would fall to 32mpg still very good milage for a 4 cylinder with 4 adults and 1 child and the back packed to the roof with suitcases.We drove just about everything forein and american made .I dont know what half these people are thinking,They get a 4 cylinder with 185 horse power in a mid size SUV and expect to get the gas milage of a chevette.I just chalk it up to most of you dont know how to drive anyway.And if you let your car sit and idle while it warms up your wasting gas and killing your average miles per gallon.
EPA mileage a joke -- but I love the SUV
d2h2o, 06/28/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
Picked up mine on December 1, 2011 -- and have enjoyed the ride ever since. Right now I almost have 7000 miles on it and no problems what so ever! I appreciate the room for the driver and passengers. Love the radio, automatic air setting. Drivers seat is very comfortable.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
rumblev, 11/03/2011
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I was dying for an Equinox and nearly bought a 2010 and boy I am glad I didn't! There is a huge comfort difference! I was worried about backseat space for my 9 and 5 year old but there is more room than I imagined and the trunk space is more than I need as well. The driver and passenger is beyond comfortable and I love the touchscreen radio and the controls on the wheel. My husband couldn't understand why I wanted one but now he loves it too! Gas for me so far was what I did in a 2005 toyota corolla ce. To me its a great vehicle inside and out! I don't think I have ever ridden in a more comfy vehicle. I will try to post when I have put more miles on it (so far 400)
Worth the buy
worththebuy, 03/20/2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LS 4dr SUV (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I purchased this vehicle in July 2011. It was certified preowned with V6 per my request. Drive this 3000 miles a month due to my 10 hr weekly commute out of state for work. Anyway while I agree with others it sucks in city driving, its great for highway. Manage to get 25 mpg at 70 mph. Got this vehile when it was almost 19K miles. Now I'm approaching 49K miles. Not had one problem with it. Great runner for me. Purposely wanted a V6 for the ride and ease of driving conditions. Didn't think 4 cyl would handle the PA's valleys on the interstate roads. Thinking trading in for newer Equinox so I can have factory towing package (hd springs & shocks, beefed up tranny cooling lines).
Poorly designed ventilation outlets
drivetrain1, 03/17/2014
updated 09/19/2016
2012 Chevrolet Equinox LT 4dr SUV w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Poorly designed position of the a/c ventilation outlets. The driver's side vent is positioned way too low on the dash board. The steering wheel blocks the airflow no matter how I have the wheel tilted. The air deflector has limited range of motion and does not deflect or direct the flow of air properly. I can adjust the air vent (left of the radio cluster) to point directly on me, but then my passengers in back seat complain of no air. The summer heat here in Central Texas can be quite unbearable! The driver of ANY vehicle should have access to sufficient ventilation from the left air vent. REVIEW UPDATE******* Here it is now almost end of year 2016. Come on GM!! Still poorly designed ventilation air ducts. I know people that have purchased an Equinox and have had complaints from back seat passengers of not getting any air. Still, the steering wheel blocks air flow from driver side air vent. When will there be an interior redesign? Looks like a "Wal-Mart style" of cheap design. Why can't the Equinox have similar dash design of the Cadillac SRX? Looks like it is on the same chassis. At least the SRX has rear air vents on the center console directing air to back seat passengers.
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