This technical bulletin provides a procedure to Inspect harness, splice 6 wire pigtail connector. Replace Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) sensor on vehices that have the condition of Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) ON, Reduced Power Mode and DTCs
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Chevrolet Equinox cruise control problems
moderate 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
When does it fail?
Of the 15 cruise control complaints filed for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 17 model years of Chevrolet Equinox in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Car and Truck Fix it Right the First Time Issues
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2010 Equinox generates complaints centered on sudden power loss during highway driving. Multiple owners describe the vehicle dropping from normal cruising speed to 15 mph or near-idle, with the check engine light and "Engine Power Reduced" message appearing without warning. This happens most often in cold weather and has left owners coasting to shoulders and nearly rear-ended by traffic.
Dealerships point to the throttle body as the culprit—some owners paid $850 for throttle body and solenoid replacement, others had it cleaned. The problem recurred even after these repairs. One dealer confirmed the issue is common; another acknowledged the throttle "doesn't know up from down." Code P2135 (throttle position sensor) shows up in multiple complaints.
Engine stalling during acceleration is another recurring theme: owners trying to merge onto highways report the engine dying or the accelerator failing to respond, forcing restarts. One failure involved a fractured wave plate in the throttle assembly.
Owners also report rough idle with stalling at low speeds, jerky downshifting, and abrupt slowdown when disengaging cruise control—problems one owner says started the day they bought the car in 2009. StabiliTrak warnings light up constantly in some units, sometimes triggered by cold starts or reverse shifts. Engine knock and repeated oxygen sensor failures add to the frustration, with some owners replacing the same parts multiple times. Chevy has declined to issue recalls despite acknowledging these are known problems.
Same Chevrolet Equinox cruise control reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden power loss / limp mode (throttle body)
Engine power reduces abruptly to 15 mph or near-idle without warning while driving, often triggered by cold weather or specific driving conditions. Check engine and stabilitrak lights illuminate, sometimes with 'Engine Power Reduced' or 'Service' messages. Vehicle becomes nearly uncontrollable and poses serious highway safety risk.
When: Various speeds (30-75 mph); more prevalent in cold months; at 100,000+ miles; intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden deceleration to 15 mph or idle; Check engine light and stabilitrak warning; Engine power reduced mode message; No response from accelerator pedal; Vehicle becomes uncontrollable; Aggressive shaking before power loss; Sometimes unable to start afterward
Codes mentioned: P2135 (throttle position sensor), Service stabilitrak light
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body cleaning or replacement; one owner reported $850 throttle body + solenoid replacement; some failures recurred after repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevy said no recalls; some owners report dealer acknowledging this as common problem; Chevy bulletin exists for P2135 code and idle stalling issue per owner research
Engine stalling during acceleration
Engine stalls or completely shuts off when owner tries to accelerate, particularly when pulling onto highways. No accelerator pedal response. Owner must restart vehicle. Intermittent but occurs frequently. Dealership unable to diagnose root cause despite multiple visits.
When: During acceleration / highway merge; intermittent; frequent occurrences
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls with no accelerator response; Engine completely shuts off; Vehicle unresponsive during critical acceleration; Intermittent failures
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner reports contacting Chevy customer support; dealership unable to diagnose after multiple visits; owner states 2010-12 Equinox owners nationwide report same problem
Rough idle and stalling at low speed / stop
Vehicle chugs, loses power, and stalls when slowing down or at idle with foot on brake. Occurs at various fuel tank levels. Vehicle runs rough afterward with rattling/rubbing noises. Check engine light illuminates.
When: When slowing to turn, stop at light, or sitting idle; multiple incidents 2012-2013
Symptoms owners cite: Chugging and power loss when slowing; Vehicle stalls during deceleration; Rough running and rattling/rubbing noise; Check engine light
Codes mentioned: P0172 (fuel too rich), Bank One issues (oxygen sensor, fuel injection, or ignition misfire suspected)
Repairs/costs cited: O2 sensor replaced; vehicle stalled next day; codes rechecked
Jerking/rough shifting and cruise control issues
Vehicle jerks or shifts roughly when slowing down or shifting gears (2nd to 3rd). When cruise control is turned off, vehicle slows significantly and abruptly. Owner states this has been an issue since day of purchase (August 2009). Also reported as violent jerking while driving with check engine light.
When: Since purchase (August 2009); ongoing; occurs during deceleration and gear shifts
Symptoms owners cite: Rough or jerky gear shifts; Rough deceleration; Abrupt slowdown when cruise control disengages; Violent jerking while driving; Check engine light (in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body injector install mentioned in one case but not completed
Accelerator pedal failure / no throttle response
Accelerator pedal fails to respond when depressed, leaving vehicle unable to accelerate. One case involved fractured wave plate in throttle mechanism. Owner unable to control vehicle speed.
When: At 64,300 miles (wave plate case); 74,107 miles (transmission case); 182,372 miles (pedal case)
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal does not respond when pressed; Vehicle fails to accelerate; Unable to control speed
Repairs/costs cited: Wave plate replacement needed (not completed); transmission replacement (independent mechanic); one case involved accelerator pedal failure diagnosis
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in some cases; no recalls issued
Oxygen sensor and fuel system codes (recurring)
Bank 1 oxygen sensor repeatedly fails, triggering P0420 (catalyst system efficiency) and related codes P0346 and P0354. Owner reports having to replace O2 sensor multiple times. Issue occurs while driving and causes check engine light to illuminate repeatedly.
When: Recurring after new catalytic converter install; at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates repeatedly; Multiple O2 sensor failures; Repeated code triggers
Codes mentioned: P0420 (catalyst system efficiency - permanent), P0346 (camshaft position sensor), P0354 (ignition coil K circuit)
Repairs/costs cited: New catalytic converter installed; multiple O2 sensor replacements required; owner states replacements are expensive and repetitive
Engine knock, oil burning, and ignition issues
Engine produces loud, constant knocking noise that began shortly after purchase. Vehicle burns oil before expected intervals, causing check engine light. Smoke reported from engine. One case involved exhaust module and camshaft actuator replacement followed by abnormal engine knock.
When: Shortly after purchase (2009); ongoing; at high mileage (182,372 miles in one case)
Symptoms owners cite: Loud, constant engine knock; Excessive oil burning; Check engine light; Abnormal knocking sounds; Engine smoke
Codes mentioned: Bank One misfire suspected (from code check)
Repairs/costs cited: Exhaust module and camshaft actuators replaced in one case; owner suspects ignition misfire; knocking persists in other cases
StabiliTrak system malfunction
StabiliTrak light and service message illuminates repeatedly, sometimes constantly. Occurs multiple times during single drive. Also reported as engaging during startup or when shifting to reverse. System activates without warning, reducing vehicle control on highway.
When: Started 2 months after purchase (2015); now daily occurrence; intermittent to constant
Symptoms owners cite: StabiliTrak warning light and service message; Multiple activations per drive; Light on at startup; Engages when shifting to reverse; No apparent cause for activation
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports thousands of dollars spent; new transmission, throttle body, and wires replaced; no solution found
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty does not cover; manufacturer has not resolved despite thousands of complaints per owner
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
2010 Chevrolet equinox all of a sudden lost traction control and drop speed to 15 miles per hour. Error light came on stating "engine power reduction" and then "service ". Along with these error messages the icon for engine and stabilitrak came on after car lost most of its pwlower and traction. It was a cold night christmas 2016 but not as cold as other cities as we live in phoenix, az.…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2010 Chevrolet Equinox?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 73,000 and 109,000 miles, with the median around 87,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 73,000; a quarter make it past 109,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Chevrolet/Equinox.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.