I STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE AT 28000 MILES. HAD SERVICED BUT AFTER SEVERAL MILES NOISE STARTED AGAIN. NOISE CONTINUES SO SERVICE IS NEEDED(10-2-13). I HAD SEVERAL GASKETS, SEAL, BOLTS,FUEL PUMP(WHICH WAS LEAKING RAW FUEL INTO INSIDE OF ENGINE), BALANCE CHAIN, TIMING CHAIN, GUIDE FOR TIMING CHAIN(WHICH GUIDE AND DEBRIS FELL IN OIL PAN), AND TWO TENSIONER REPLACED AS WELL AS OIL LIFE MONITOR…
2010 chevrolet Equinox powertrain problems
moderate 173 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
173
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE RPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
IN MOTION VEHICLE WOULD NOT GET OUT OF SECOND GEAR FORWARD AND REVERSE, TECHNICIAN STATES WAVE PLATE BROKEN THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANT IN 2014
WE WERE JUST GETTING TO THE END OF HIGHWAY ENTRY RAMP AND WE COULD NOT GAIN SPEED AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP VERY HIGH BEOFRE IT STARTED SLOWING DOWN. PUT THE CAR IN MANUAL MODE BUT COULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. WE WERE FORCED INTO ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AT ROUGHLY 30MPH.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2010 chevrolet Equinox?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 173 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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