2015 Chevrolet Equinox
Common Problems
Ranked from 327 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
18 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Windshield wiper failure
105complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe windshield wipers suddenly stop working during heavy rain, causing loss of visibility and potential accidents.
- 2
Timing Chain Failure
53complaintsHigh severityEngineThe timing chain breaks, leading to engine failure and potential damage to other components.
$900–$2,500est. timing chain/phaser service · 5–12 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
High Oil Consumption
51complaintsHigh severityFuel systemThe engine consumes excessive amounts of oil, often requiring frequent refills.
$400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Windshield wiper transmission failure
49complaintsHigh severityOtherThe windshield wipers stop working during rain, causing zero visibility and nearly resulting in collisions.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Airbag malfunction
47complaintsSafety riskElectricalPassenger-side airbags fail to deploy during a collision, posing a risk of injury or death.
- 6
Engine stalling and rough idle
41complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine stalls at random times, especially when cold, posing a safety hazard and driving danger.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure
21complaintsMedium severityEngineThe stop-start system fails, causing the engine to stall at idle, especially during cold weather.
$150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Excessive Oil Consumption Leading to Engine Failure
21complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine consumes excessive amounts of oil, leading to engine failure and requiring replacement.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Engine Stall During Operation
19complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine unexpectedly stalls during operation, often without warning lights or error codes.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Windshield Wiper Malfunction
10complaintsMedium severityOtherWindshield wipers fail to operate properly, creating a significant visibility hazard during rainy conditions.
- 11
Timing Chain Failure Causing Engine Malfunction
8complaintsHigh severityEngineThe timing chain fails, causing engine malfunctions such as stalling and reduced power output.
$900–$2,500est. timing chain/phaser service · 5–12 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Air Bag Deployment Issues
6complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe air bags deploy unexpectedly or fail to deploy when needed, posing a safety risk.
- 13
Engine check light persists
4complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe check engine light remains on despite multiple repairs and oil changes, indicating ongoing issues.
- 14
Engine Knocking and Seizure
4complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine produces a knocking sound and eventually seizes, requiring immediate attention and potentially leading to engine failure.
- 15
Engine rear main seal failure
4complaintsHigh severityEngineThe rear main seal blows out, causing oil to leak and potentially leading to engine failure.
$200–$1,600est. oil-leak repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 16
Engine timing chain issues
4complaintsHigh severityEngineTiming chain issues cause the engine to stop unexpectedly and require expensive repairs.
$900–$2,500est. timing chain/phaser service · 5–12 hrs laborGet local quotes - 17
Airbag Deployment Failure
2complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe airbags do not deploy during a collision, increasing the risk of injury or death.
- 18
Engine Excessive Oil Burning
2complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine burns an excessive amount of oil, leading to potential engine failure.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.