2011 Chevrolet Equinox Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who observed a small amount of fluid within the engine compartment. The dealer later determined that the fluid was power steering fluid. However, the dealer was unable to determine the exact location of the leak. The contact was advised to continue driving the vehicle for 1 week then return for a follow-up inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 149,000.

NHTSA ID

11646752

Incident

Feb 26, 2025

Mileage

149,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15-20 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist was inoperable. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

NHTSA ID

11637702

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

Mileage

78,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that there was an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure started out intermittently and had gradually over the years became a reoccurring failure. The contact stated that the failure recurred at various speeds. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

NHTSA ID

11544392

Incident

Apr 13, 2017

Mileage

159,000 mi

Power steering malfunction and stop working while driving. Reported on many of these models.

NHTSA ID

11499733

Incident

Nov 21, 2022

Sometimes the past 2 half years the power steering goes out, a few years ago i took it to a dealer they did not find anything but its dangerous. I just seen on like that you all have a recall for it but its not showing on my VIN number,

NHTSA ID

11494596

Incident

Mar 4, 2020

purchased the car from some that passed away and did not get these items fixed before I got it. coverter/ lossing/using oil, and electric power steering system problem

NHTSA ID

11492887

Incident

Nov 9, 2022

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while his wife was driving in a parking lot, the steering became difficult to turn. The driver was able to restart the vehicle and the steering wheel started to operate as designed. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The contact called the local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Action Number: PE20009 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.

NHTSA ID

11443915

Incident

Dec 14, 2021

Mileage

114,000 mi

My car was purchased used at a Chevrolet dealership. I noticed right away that the carjerks when I accelerate, it also stalls when trying to accelerate when making a turn which cam cause an accident. The vehicle revs and slowly moves and then takes off. Its a dragging motion when driving its very slow. The steering wheel locks when turning as if I need power steering fluid. This car is a hazard, waiting to happen. When starting it, it makes this loud humming noise. I just had it inspected and the mechanic said the car was fine, but driving it is a different story.

NHTSA ID

11425815

Incident

Jul 20, 2021

Once on a while the power steering locks for approximately 3 or 4 seconds and a light that’s looks like some pliers lights up. It probably be a issue with the power steering motor.

NHTSA ID

11424633

Incident

Jul 12, 2021

MY ABS AND STABILITRACK LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WAS TOLD IT'S A BAD SENSOR AND REPLACE WHEN POSSIBLE. ON THE WAY TO TAKE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, (NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENTED) I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN I DEPRESSED MY BRAKES. IMMEDIATELY THE ABS AND STABILITRACK LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS MORE THAN 1/2' AND MADE A GEAR LOCKING SOUND. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP USING MANUAL DOWNSHIFT AND PUMPING THE BRAKES. WHEN PRESENTING TO MECHANIC, I WAS ADVISED TO ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE. READ THAT AGAIN. I WAS ADVISED TO ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE A BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11407934

Incident

Apr 8, 2021

Mileage

158,000 mi

FIRST TIME: MARCH 21 - NJ TURNPIKE. CAR "STABILITRAK ICON" AND SERVICE STABILITRAK" MSG & "TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR" LIGHT, THEN "BRAKE ICON" AND "ABS ICON" WITH "SERVICE POWER STEERING" MSG, THEN "SERVICE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM" MSG - ALL WHILE THE ICONS ARE ON - CAR LOST ALL POWER. CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NJ TURNPIKE AT ALMOST EXIT 18E/W. HAD VEHICLE TOWED, TOOK FIRST TO FIRESTONE A DAY LATER, THE FOUND A CODE THEY SAID NEEDED THE CHEVY COMPUTERS (P069E, U0073, D1231) - TOOK TO CHEVY A WEEK LATER (BELLAVIA CHEVY, RUTHERFORD, NJ), DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NO CODES - COULD BE THE BATTERY. WE CLEANED THE PORTS, CHANGED THE BATTERY. HAD NEW TIRES INSTALLED AT FIRESTONE ON 4/9. 4/9 PICKED UP THE CAR, THIS TIME DRIVING FROM NORTHERN NJ TO BROOKLYN AND THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN, ONLY THIS TIME, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VERRIZANO BRIDGE IN STATEN ISLAND. ALL THE SAME LIGHTS / SYMPTOMS AS ABOVE, LOST ALL POWER. MANAGED TO GET OFF AT THE 92ND STREET EXIT AND INTO A PARKING SPACE - TOWED TO PARENTS HOUSE IN BROOKLYN, MADE APPT W/ CHEVY DEALER FOR MONDAY 4/12 (BAY RIDGE CHEVROLET OF BROOKLYN). VEHICLE IS NOW WITH THEM, AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC - THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND FOR THE FIRST DEALER TO NOT BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE / GET A CODE AND THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN. I'M NOW OVER 500.00 IN DIAGNOSTICS FEES THAT DID NOT FIX ANYTHING. BOTH TIMES WERE HIGHWAY DRIVING, WEATHER CONDITIONS WE GOOD BOTH DAYS.

NHTSA ID

11407851

Incident

Mar 21, 2021

Mileage

86,707 mi

2.4 LITER ECOTECH ENGINE USED IN 2011 CHEVY EQUINOX IS IN CURRENT RECALL BY GM. GM IS USING VIN NUMBER TO PREVENT RECALL REPAIR TO VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2018 DURING RECALL. LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR WITH SUBSTANTIAL COST UP FRONT. DEALER IS AWARE OF ISSUE WITH VEHICLE FROM CONVERSATION WITH LEAD TECHNICIAN WHO HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DETER ANY REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE TO UP FRONT COSTS ONLY. VIN WILL NOT SHOW RECALL DUE TO GENERAL MOTORS COST OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11394902

Incident

Dec 6, 2020

Mileage

120,000 mi

I HAVE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST 6 POWER STEERING FAILURES WHILE DRIVING IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS (JULY 2020 THRU JAN 2021) THAT ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. FAILURES HAVE HAPPENED FROM 15 MPH TO 60 MPH. ELECTRIC ASSIST SHUTS OFF AND WARNING INDICATOR FOR POWER STEERING SERVICE COMES ON. DO NOT NEED TO BE TURNING IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY OR IN ANY PARTICULAR DIRECTION TO TRIGGER IT. HAPPENED ON HOT DAY IN JULY AND COLD DAY IN JANUARY AND TIMES IN BETWEEN. STEERING, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS, BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT. POWER STEERING CAN USUALLY BE RESTORED BY STOPPING VEHICLE AND TURNING SUV OFF FOR TENS OF SECONDS, SOMETIMES AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. POWER STEERING FUSE SEEMS TO BE FINE. IT SEEMS LIKE GM HAS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE NOT SOUGHT REPAIR YET BECAUSE I CAN'T PRODUCE THE PROBLEM ON DEMAND.

NHTSA ID

11389459

Incident

Jan 16, 2021

Mileage

65,000 mi

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING . IT DID IT TO MY WIFE ON 6/8/20 IN THE RAIN .IT DID IT TO ME 6/9/20. IT WAS DRY. IT HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES TO ME . IT DOES NOT STALL NO LIGHTS OR ANYTHING IT JUST STOP WORKING .ALWAYS WHEN TURN RIGHT . MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. IM NOT SURE MY WIFE WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT, *TR

NHTSA ID

11328141

Incident

Jun 9, 2020

Mileage

79,000 mi

LAST YEAR OUR TRANSFER CASE BROKE. FORTUNATELY THE FAILURE WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND WE AVOIDED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT DUE TO THE COMPLETE FREEZING UP OF THE FRONT END. WE SIMPLY STARTED DRIVING AND THERE WAS A LOUD CRACK AND THEN THE STEERING FROZE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, COLLISION OR ANY OFF ROAD OR ON ROAD EXPERIENCE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS. IT WAS CLEARLY A MAJOR PART THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL THIS WAY. THE MECHANICS HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. OTHERS SINCE HAVE SUGGESTED WE FILE A COMPLAINT AND SEEK COMPENSATION BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE. WE HAVE WRITTEN GM AND INCLUDED PHOTOS. WE ATTACHED THE REPAIR BILLS, WHICH TOTALED $4,466.63, AND ARE SEEKING FULL COMPENSATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

11321221

Incident

Jul 26, 2019

Mileage

94,745 mi

IN JAN 5 2016 MY 2011 CHEVY EQUINOX MILEAGE 56747 WOULD JUST STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF STEERING. DRIVING ON THE HWY IT JUST KILLED AND STARTED BUT DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE AGAIN THEN STALLED AGAIN COULDN'T STEER. GOT IT TO RAY CHEVROLET IT WAS MY CAMSHAFT POSITION ACTUATOR SOLENOID VALVE IN SEPT.2016 MILEAGE 80584 I HAD IT TOWED AGAIN AND IT WAS THE CAMSHAFT POSITION ACTUATOR SOLENOID VALVES AND IT BURNT MY ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AKA COMPUTER WHICH COST ME $800.00. SKIPPING FORWARD BUT NOT WITHOUT PROBLEMS THERE ARE MANY. AUG. 2019, I AM HAVING TO CHANGE CAMSHAFT POSITION ACTUATOR SOLENOID VALVES AGAIN DO TO STALLING ON THE ROAD WHILE I'M DRIVING NOT BEING ABLE TO STEER FOR THE THIRD TIME. IT'S SO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITHOUT WARNING IT WILL KILL ON YOU FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. THEN I WENT CHANGE MY OIL LIKE CLOCK WORK AND WAS TOLD I HAVE A VALVE COVER GASKET LEAK TO GO WITH THE SOLENOID PROBLEM. IT'S SO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FACT IT WILL STALL AT ANYTIME. IN AUG. 2019 MY PRESSURE SENSOR FOR MY RIGHT TIRE WENT OUT. NOW I CAN'T GET IT TO RESET AND MECHANIC TRIED AND SAID SENSOR NEEDS TO BE CHANGED REALLY. I CAN'T TELL IF I HAVE A LOW TIRE IT JUST SHOWS BLANK LINE ON ALL TIRES. NOW MY ACTUATOR BEND DOOR BROKE ON DEFROST AND IT'S HOT IN LOUISIANA. ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO. THIS CAR NEEDS A RECALL REALLY BAD. THERE IS NEVER A TIME WHERE THE CAR JUST RAN GOOD WITH NO TROUBLE. THINGS THAT BROKE ON THIS CAR ARE LISTED BELOW. AIR CONTROL IAC VALUE, ACTUATOR BEND DOOR, VALVE COVER GASKET, COMPUTER, PRESSURE SENSOR, CV JOINTS, INTAKE & EXHAUST CAMSHAFT POSITION ACTUATOR SOLENOID <>THREE TIMES

NHTSA ID

11253657

Incident

Jan 5, 2016

Mileage

56,747 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11244239

Incident

Aug 15, 2019

Mileage

112,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING CAR TREMBLED A LITTLE A MINUTE OR SO BEFORE IT SEEMINGLY LOST POWER, NO ACCELERSTION, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. LIGHTS REMAINED ON DASH BUT NO POWER. NO WARNING LIGHTS. NOTHING. THANKFULLY WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP NEAR SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THEBKEY AND CAR STARTED LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. THANKFUL I WAS EXITING A PARKING LOT, AND WASNT ON THE HIGHWAY LIKE I WAS JUST A FEW HOURS PRIOR. I COULDVE BEEN KILLED

NHTSA ID

11124466

Incident

Sep 4, 2018

Mileage

115,000 mi

ON JUNE 4, 2018 I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AFTER AN OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED. UPON LEAVING THE PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. AT A CERTAIN POINT IN THE TURN, THE WHEEL VIOLENTLY JERKS BACK TO THE CENTER POSITION. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AND IT WAS IDENTIFIED AS ANOTHER SPECIAL REPAIR BULLETIN ISSUED BY GM ON THIS SPECIFIC MAKE/MODEL. ON THURSDAY, JUNE 7TH, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETE. WHEN I ARRIVED TO PICK THE CAR UP, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE INFORMED ME THAT WHILE DRIVING IT FROM THE SERVICE CENTER TO THE FRONT OF THE DEALERSHIP HE NOTICED THE ISSUE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. CALLED THE FOLLOWING DAY, JUNE 8TH, WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AGAIN. PICKED IT UP, DROVE ABOUT 100 MILES BEFORE THE ISSUE REAPPEARED, THIS TIME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. MANAGED TO PARK THE CAR FOR 10 MINUTES, PROBLEM RESOLVED. PROBLEM REAPPEARED 50 MILES LATER. DISAPPEARED AND REAPPEARED FOR THE NEXT 200 MILES. CAR IS BACK WITH DEALER. NO INDICATION IF IT CAN OR WILL BE REPAIRED. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS. WHEN ACTIVELY MALFUNCTIONING, WHICH COULD START AND STOP AT ANY TIME, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO NAVIGATE A LEFT TURN, IT IS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT LANES, I SUSPECT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO QUICKLY VEER LEFT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I'VE BEEN ADVISED TO TRADE THE CAR IN. THE DEALERSHIP CURRENTLY HAS TWO IDENTICAL MAKE/MODEL YEARS FOR SALE ON THE LOT. IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE OTHER ISSUES GM HAS SOLD WITH THIS CAR, THE NEW STEERING ISSUE IS GOING TO HURT OR KILL SOMEONE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE IT DOES.

NHTSA ID

11101375

Incident

Jun 4, 2018

Mileage

89,000 mi

I OWN A 2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LS AWD WITH ROUGHLY 86,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING BACK AN APPOINTMENT THIS MORNING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND THE "ENGINE REDUCED POWER"/"SERVICE STABILITRAK SYSTEM" LIGHTS TURNED ON. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MORNING TRAFFIC THAT WAS GOING 70MPH (THE SPEED LIMIT) AND HIGHER. THE VEHICLE'S RPM REDUCED SUDDENLY AND DRASTICALLY, AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO SUSTAIN 40MPH. I WAS ALONE. I COASTED OFF THE HIGHWAY AS QUICKLY AS I COULD, STOPPED AT THE MULTI-LANE INTERSECTION, AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I COULD NOT RESTART IT. IT WAS 9 DEGREES OUTSIDE WITH SNOW ON THE GROUND, AND THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING IN THE VEHICLE, TOO. THE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN. I HAD TO WAIT OUTSIDE TO DIRECT TRAFFIC SO THAT I WOULD NOT GET HIT. IT WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. AFTER THE TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED ME THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, QUOTING ME BETWEEN $2300 FOR A USED ENGINE AND $6500 FOR A NEW ONE. CORPORATE HAS ONLY OFFERED 10% COST SHARE FOR A NEW ENGINE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND A KNOWN ISSUE BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ. THE COMPLAINTS ARE CONSISTENT AND POINT TO ENGINE FAILURE WITH TOTAL REPLACEMENT IN THE RANGE I WAS QUOTED. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND IT IS A SHAME THAT A VEHICLE WITH SO FEW MILES AND YEARS NEEDS THIS TYPE OF REPAIR! FURTHERMORE, I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR WORSE, AS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS! THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NO COLLISIONS, NO MAJOR DAMAGES, AND I HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. NOW I HAVE NO VEHICLE, NO POSSIBILITY TO RECOVER ITS VALUE, AND I AM DEVASTATED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL BLOW.

NHTSA ID

11072036

Incident

Feb 6, 2018

Mileage

86,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING, THIS WOULD HAPPEN DURING HIGHER SPEEDS ON HIGHWAYS AS WELL AS SLOWER SPEEDS IN NEIGHBORHOODS. THE POWER STEERING WOULD CEASE AND AN INDICATOR WOULD COME ON THE DASHBOARD TO SERVICE THE POWER STEERING. AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESUME.

NHTSA ID

11010453

Incident

Jun 14, 2017

Mileage

83,000 mi

I KEEP HAVING ISSUES WITH THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. CONTINUES TO SAY STABILITY TRACT, TRACTION CONTROL, ABS OFF. ISSUES WITH WHEEL SPEED SENSOR.

NHTSA ID

11004691

Incident

May 30, 2017

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AND THE SERVICE POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THERE IS A BUMP, HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME. POWER STEERING WILL BEGIN WORKING AGAIN AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES.

NHTSA ID

11003952

Incident

Jul 9, 2017

Mileage

86,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE TRACTION/STABILIZER CONTROL TURNED ON WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT AND A MESSAGE STATED SLOWING DOWN. THEN THE TRUCK STAYED AT 20MPH, I WAS KINDA ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST HIT SOMEONE. THE ENGINE SOUND GOOD. OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. WHY IS IT NOT A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10937171

Incident

Dec 19, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

DEAR SIR OR MADAM, AFTER LONG WAITING FOR THOSE ISSUES RESOLVE; I DECIDED TO CONTACT PROFESSIONAL. I PAID OVER 40K FOR THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE LOT OF PROBLEM. ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BROKEN AND I PAID 1400 DOLLAR. HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE CAR PLEASE CONTACT ME AS I WILL HIRED A LAWYER.

NHTSA ID

10919916

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

101 mi