Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
I was in a rear end collision on May 14th 2026 the impact of the speed totaled my car in my airbags did not deploy and from my understanding where the sensors are on my vehicle they should have I ended up getting a concussion and soft tissue damage because my head hit the steering wheel my seat belt did not lock either.
TRAVELING STRAIGHT ON CITY STREET, 30 MPH, WAS T-BONED IN CENTER OF DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY? DAMAGE TO BOTH DOORS, CENTER AND LOWER PILLAR, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL BAR BENT. CONCUSSION AND BRUISING FROM INSIDE PILLAR TO DRIVER. DRIVER WAS WEARING SEAT BELT AT TIME OF COLLISION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REMOVING ITEMS OUT OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE LIFTGATE INADVERTENTLY CLOSED AND STRUCK HIM ON THE HEAD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DEALER (BUBBA OUSTALET CHEVROLET CADILLAC, 819 N MAIN ST, JENNINGS, LA 70546, (337)-246-5041) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,966. *TT
VEHICLE IS ON STATIONARY STATE. (1) THE "REAR DOOR LIFT GATE WOULD DROP SLOWLY", BUT IT IS NOW BECOMING HARMFULLY WORSE AS BEING USED. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO POOR QUALITY PARTS ON THE LIFT ITSELF. THIS IS NOT COMMON TO HAPPEN IN OTHER AUTOS. REPAIR IS INEVITABLE. (2) THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT IS LOCKED UP. NO FORWARD OR BACKWARD MOVEMENT, ALTHOUGH IT IS RECLINING. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF VEHICLE IS MOVING OR NOT.
INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER CAR. THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS COMPLETED DAMAGED TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF CAUSING INJURY TO MYSELF AND MY WIFE. I ESTIMATE THE SPEED AT COLLISION TO BE AROUND 30MPH. I WAS TRAVELING WEST BOUND AT ABOUT 630PM IN THE EVENING, ON A FOUR LANE CITY ROAD WITH A CENTER TURN LANE. I WAS IN MY LANE AND FAILED TO STOP BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY WIFE SPOKE WITH THE REPAIR SHOP CLERK WHO INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH MANY EQUINOX'S UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. I BELIEVE THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF AND THEREFORE I
THE BOTTOM SEAM OF ALL FOUR DOORS HAVE BEGUN TO RUST. THE BACK TWO DOORS APPEAR TO BE WORSE THAN THE FRONT TWO. I, BY CHANCE, HAPPENED TO NOTICE THE RUST WHILE CLEANING OUT THE BACK SEAT AROUND MILEAGE 38,000 BUT IT LOOKS TO HAVE STARTED MUCH EARLIER BY THE AMOUNT ON THE BACK TWO DOORS. GM NEEDS TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION BEFORE THE DOORS RUST OUT. HOW DOES CANADA GET THE RECALL BUT NOT THE US, THIS MAKES NO SENSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE TRUNK DOOR OPENED AND CLOSED WITHOUT ACTIVATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME WRAPPING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND BOTH REAR DOOR HANDLES PEELED OFF CREATING VERY SHARP EDGES. WHEN TOUCHING THE HANDLE, THE SHARP EDGES FROM THE CHROME WRAPPING CAUSED LACERATIONS TO THE HANDS OF THE PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING, THE BACK HATCH WILL SUDDENLY UNHOOK. IT DOES NOT OPEN FULLY BUT UNLATCHES ENOUGH TO TELL THE CAR THAT IT IS OPEN. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHILE I AM DRIVING, CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER TO SHUT IT AGAIN. THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE HATCH IS NOW NON-FUNCTIONAL (CAN'T OPEN THE HATCH AT ALL) BUT THE HATCH IS STILL POPPING! I AM AFRAID THAT THE WHOLE WILL OPEN WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE A CRASH. *TR
WHILE CHANGING LANES DURING AN ICE STORM, THE VEHICLE'S BACK END LET LOSE AND THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND SLIDE INTO THE MEDIA AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PROJECTED INTO THE GUARDRAIL HEAD ON. NEITHER FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED NOR DID ANY OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY. *TR
I WAS DOUBLE PARKED, WITH THE GEAR IN THE PARKING POSITION, TALKING TO MY COUSIN ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. WE TALKED FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE. I WAS TRYING TO UNLOAD MY CAR TO TAKE SOME GROCERIES IN THE HOUSE. MY TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE (DRIVERS SIDE) TWICE BUT THE TRUNK STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. THEN I WENT AROUND THE PASSENGERS SIDE WITH INTENTIONS ON TURNING THE CAR ON & TRYING TO UNLOCK THE DOORS THAT WAY, BUT AS SOON AS I OPENED THE DOOR, THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS WITH MY 12 MONTH OLD SON IN IT. THE CAR WAS IN PARK. I TRIED TO SWITCH GEARS (WHILE STILL ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE) BUT THE GEAR WAS STUCK. (ALL OF THIS WHILE RUNNING WITH THE CAR) MY COUSIN & I WERE HOLDING ON TO THE CAR AS BEST AS WE COULD TO TRY TO SLOW IT DOWN TO AVOID THE BABY BEING INJURED OR ROLLED COMPLETELY AWAY FROM US. THEN I THOUGHT TO JUST TRY TO GET THE BABY OUT WHILE SHE HELD ON TO THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN THE SPEED. AS I WAS TRYING TO UNSTRAP THE BABY'S SEATBELT, MY CAR SWIPED ANOTHER CAR, TEARING OFF THE MIRROR & CREATING SWIPE MARKS, CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARDS, THEN I MANAGED TO FREE MY BABY. AS SOON AS I GOT HIM OUT, THE CAR HIT A POLE, WHICH SLOWED DOWN THE SPEED, THEN A TRUCK WHICH STOPPED IT. I SUFFER MULTIPLE BRUISES TO MY RIGHT LEG AND WE BOTH SUFFER MUSCLE PAIN THROUGHOUT OUR BODIES. *JS
LET ME TAKE 5 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME TO TELL YOU A STORY THAT MIGHT BE ALSO EXPERIENCED BY OTHER EQUINOX DRIVERS. ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO, EVERY TIME I WOULD GET INTO MY WIFE'S EQUINOX, WHICH IS UNDER MY NAME, I WOULD START A FIGHT WITH HER, BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD SMELL HUMID AND WILL PROMPT ASTHMA ATTACKS. ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE WOULD PICK ME UP FROM THE AIRPORT, THE CAR WOULD SMELL LIKE AN OLD WET-RUG. I WOULD TURN THE AIR CONDITIONER HIGHER AND THE SMALL WOULD BE WORST, SO I WOULD GET MAD AT HER AND ASKED HER TO SEND THE CAR TO THE CLEANING AND ALSO ASKED THE ORALLY CHEVROLET TO CHANGE THE AIR FILTERS. FOR 18 MONTHS MY WIFE AND KIDS WOULD SMELL THE SAME CHEMICAL, NOT KNOWING THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A LEAK FROM THE AIR COMPRESSOR, WHICH WAS LETTING POISON FREON GAS INTO THE SUV. PLUS I WOULD GET SO ANGRY AT MY WIFE FOR THE HUMID SMELL NOT KNOWING THAT IT WAS NOT HER FAULT. I HARDLY WOULD DRIVE THE EQUINOX, BECAUSE THE MOMENT I WOULD TURN THE AIR, I WOULD STOP BREATHING AS THE GAS WILL SPARK AN ASTHMA ATTACK. FINALLY, OUR AIR-SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING AND WE TOOK THE SUV TO THE SHOP WHERE THE CONDENSER HAS BEEN REPLACE AND THE SMELL AS AN OLD-RUG AND ASTHMA ATTACKS ARE NOT GONE. MY WORRY, FOR 18 MONTHS, MY KIDS AND WIFE GO TO BREATHE FREON A HIGHLY TOXIC GAS, WHICH GAVE ME ASTHMA ATTACKS. I WOULD LIKE IF MORE DRIVERS ARE SENDING COMPLAINTS ABOUT FREON GETTING INSIDE THEIR EQUINOX. THIS IS A HEALTH ISSUE THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPENED TO CONSUMERS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING NORTH BOUND IN LANE 3 TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED AT RED LIGHT. I WENT TO APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP NOTHING HAPPEN AS I WAS GETTING REAL CLOSE TO A STOPPED CAR MY FOOT REMAINED ON BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN NOTHING I MADE A SPLIT DECISION TO TRY TO DRIVE BETWEEN CARS IN LANE 2 AND 3 INSTEAD OF REAR ENDING THE STOPPED VEHICLE. I SIDESWIPED 3 CARS AND ONLY THEN DID I COME TO A STOP. MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED ALOT OF DAMAGE COMPARE TO THE OTHER CARS. WHEN THIS 2011 CHEVY EQUINOX IS FIXED I WILL NOT KEEP IT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I WOULD FEAR THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. IT IS AN UNSAFE CAR IN MY OPINION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN OPENING BOTH REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO OPEN THE REAR WINDOWS AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LIFT GATE CLOSED AND IMPACTED ON HER HEAD, AS A RESULT SHE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS UNAWARE THAT THE GATE WAS CLOSING SINCE THE WARNING CHIME ONLY RINGS TO WARN OF POSSIBLE OBSTRUCTION IT DOES NOT CHIME WHEN LIFT GATE IS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO ALTER IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,500. UPDATED 11/16/2011 *LN *TR
MY SPOUSE WAS OPENING THE DRIER'S DOOR AND THE TRIM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR (WHICH IS FIBER GLASS MATERIAL) CUT HER LEG ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT INCHES ABOVE THE LEFT ANKLE. THE TRIM STICKS WHEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPENED. IT TOOK 16 STITCHES TO CLOSE THE WOUND. THE TRIM NEEDS TO RE-FINISHED OR TAPERED TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM GETTING HURT. THIS IS A REALLY BAD CUT AND SHE WAS IN A LOT OF PAIN. UPDATED 06/08/11 *BF
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO CONTROL FUNCTIONS WERE NOT ACCESSIBLE WHILE DRIVING OR BEING RESTRAINED BY THE SEAT BELT. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO AGREED TO PROVIDE AN AFTERMARKET CONTROL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 700.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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