2010 Chevy Equinox Problems
I just purchased a 4 cylinder 2010 Chevy Equinox, and am having one major problem (I don't know if it is actually a "problem", I'll explain below), and one thing I just want people to be aware of.
The main thing is how it brakes. It seems that around 25 mph (about where it goes from 4th to 3rd gear) when slowing down it will "self-brake". It does it from this point until maybe down to 10 mph, when it switches to 1st gear. I don't actually think it is braking on its own, but it feels like it. It seems a little jittery during this time. It does it with ECO mode both on and off, but seems a little less with ECO off (maybe due to how the ECO mode cuts off fuel at certain times).
I don't know if it is the way the tranny is geared, or the engine not being broken in, or the brakes maybe being adjusted too tight, or what. It has about 400 miles on it, seems to be happening less (not as extreme but just as often), but it might just be us getting used to it. We noticed it during the test drive but seemed worse once we got the vehicle. Also remember the 4cyl. LS trim we drove on July 2nd did it some (at the time thought it was brake assist kicking in, but after reading more about what the brake assist actually is it isn't that), but don't remember details (it was a month ago!).
Anyone else notice this with their new Equinox, or just on a test drive? I haven't seen anyone else mention it on forums, or auto magazine/web site test drives talk about it. I don't even know if it is a "problem" or just how it is, possibly related to something(s) they did to get better fuel economy.
Also, know many of the 1LT trims don't come with the USB port installed (need Vehicle Interface Package). They just forgot to put it in a whole bunch of 1LTs.
Also, OnStar says the microphone is bad. Using Bluetooth it sounds like the person talking (from the car) is really far away. Dealer says it should have the part in a week.
Overall, love the vehicle. Seats are comfy and it is very quiet. Interior styling is great (hard plastic dash, but it doesn't look "cheap"). Acceleration is good, love the Vehicle Interface Package features (an option), and moonroof.
The main thing is how it brakes. It seems that around 25 mph (about where it goes from 4th to 3rd gear) when slowing down it will "self-brake". It does it from this point until maybe down to 10 mph, when it switches to 1st gear. I don't actually think it is braking on its own, but it feels like it. It seems a little jittery during this time. It does it with ECO mode both on and off, but seems a little less with ECO off (maybe due to how the ECO mode cuts off fuel at certain times).
I don't know if it is the way the tranny is geared, or the engine not being broken in, or the brakes maybe being adjusted too tight, or what. It has about 400 miles on it, seems to be happening less (not as extreme but just as often), but it might just be us getting used to it. We noticed it during the test drive but seemed worse once we got the vehicle. Also remember the 4cyl. LS trim we drove on July 2nd did it some (at the time thought it was brake assist kicking in, but after reading more about what the brake assist actually is it isn't that), but don't remember details (it was a month ago!).
Anyone else notice this with their new Equinox, or just on a test drive? I haven't seen anyone else mention it on forums, or auto magazine/web site test drives talk about it. I don't even know if it is a "problem" or just how it is, possibly related to something(s) they did to get better fuel economy.
Also, know many of the 1LT trims don't come with the USB port installed (need Vehicle Interface Package). They just forgot to put it in a whole bunch of 1LTs.
Also, OnStar says the microphone is bad. Using Bluetooth it sounds like the person talking (from the car) is really far away. Dealer says it should have the part in a week.
Overall, love the vehicle. Seats are comfy and it is very quiet. Interior styling is great (hard plastic dash, but it doesn't look "cheap"). Acceleration is good, love the Vehicle Interface Package features (an option), and moonroof.
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If transmission is the problem, then GM will replace the transmission free of charge. What are you worried about? You have posted a lot of messages but so far I have only counted 2 different owners (on this forum) who have complained.
It also seems to start decelerating immediately when you take your foot off the gas, nomatter what speed you are going (to different degrees, though). In other words, it won't let you just coast like normal.
My question: Anyone have a 4 cylinder and NOT have this jittery problem or where it slows down dramatically from 4th to 3rd and from 3rd to 2nd when in the normal automatic mode? It doesn't seem to do the slowing down thing when shifting manually with the sport-shift feature.
Anyone else notice this HAPPENING for them?
I'm just afraid of going to the dealer, they do a scan, and say nothing is wrong because no codes came up. But this behavior is clearly not normal, even though it appears I'm not the only one experiencing these things. I'm just wondering hope prevalent this is. You'd think it would have shown up at some point with all the magazines and web sites test driving the thing for their evaluations of the model if it was with every 4 cyl., but this problem is nowhere to be seen in any "professional" review I've seen, and no one mentions it in any user reviews on any of the sites I've looked at.
Something like this (if it is indeed a problem) can likely be resoled with some tweeks to the cars computer.
We'll see what the dealer says tomorrow, but I plan on going on a drive with the mechanic if they tell me I'm nuts. It is so obvious I don't think it'll come to that. It also seems that while I'm not the only one who has noticed it, some have not. So it doesn't seem like it is "just the way it is", meaning it should be able to get fixed.
Everyone please keep posting your experiences in driving the new Equinox regarding the downshifting problems and jitteriness, especially the 4 cylinder. The input is appreciated.
But on forums I can't find anyone complaining about it except on the Equinoxes, and not everyone with Noxs is experiencing it.
I did get a response from the "Ask Fritz" thing on GM's Re: Innovation web site. Asked me for a phone number so they could call me to talk about it. I hope this is a step toward it getting resolved. I'm also in conversations with a different dealer, and will talk to them again tomorrow.
I will let everyone know what happens after talking to GM directly and this other dealer.
Anyway, this confirms the problems I've listed on this board (and some others have noticed in their vehicles/test drives) are not things that were designed to be that way on purpose, there is a problem with a batch of these trannys (at least it seems like it is a tranny problem).
I'll keep people updated after I talk to the GM Executive Office (hopefully they try and contact me on Monday at the phone number I gave them in my reply email to them wanting it to call me).
Please keep posting your eperiences with any downshifting or jitteriness problems on the Equinox. Also list if you are not experiencing these problems. Please list engine, and whether AWD or FWD.
I called the other dealer in town today (mentioned above) and asked them if they've ran into any of these problems on any of their 6-speeds. They said no. They did say some of the Allison trannys have some roughness to them, but none of the Hydramatics (of which are in the new Equinox). So the mechanic at the first dealership was, as expected, full of... well, you know. :mad:
So nothing new in terms of fixed or not, but I'm almost certain many of these trannys (or the computer component of them) are bad, based on many on here not experiencing these problems, driving the Malibu and it being fine, and this other dealer saying they've never heard of this problem on any of the other 6-speeds.
Hope to know more by the end of the week.
Just want to throw that out there as a cause as I’ve not see anyone else mention it and because I see a correlation between DFCO and the decelerations.
My major problem, which hopefully is fixed, started 5 days after I bought the Equinox. When I started the car for my commute home, a low battery warning appeared on the dash and the display indicated that it was going into battery saver mode. As a result, the AC and fan would not turn on. Being a 90 degree day, I was not a happy camper. The engine turned over easily, so I didn't think it was a battery issue. I drove it home and the AC and fan never kicked on, even after the battery had been charged by driving 40 miles. Later that evening I went out and the AC and fan worked. Go figure. The next morning, I started the car for my daily commute and the low battery warning was on again (no fan and no AC) so I drove it straight to the dealer. 5 days and two body control modules (BCM) later I got my car back. This seems to have worked. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. By the way, my rental was a 2009 Malibu. I really liked the way it drove.
Do you notice any of the transmission issues with your Equinox explained in this forum with the braking feeling with the downshifting, especially from 4-3 and 3-2nd gears? See earlier in this thread to see what I'm talking about further. I also drove a 2.4L 6-speed Malibu (tranny model 6T40, Equinox tranny model is it's brother, 6T45) and it was great.
The eco button should make the engine enter DFCO more aggressively. But my experience shows it does not enter DFCO much at all (eco on or off). Other cars I’ve had the ScanGauge in regularly enter DFCO when coasting. With the Equinox I only see DFCO when decelerating from ~60mph to about 40, and then again in the 20-25mph to 10mph range.
I know with some cars you can feel a little lunge when the RPM’s get too low and the motor has to stop DFCO. But I think what we are seeing in the Equinox is the opposite, increased deceleration when in DFCO. It’s not a deal breaker for me, I don’t find it annoying. But I would like to see GM tweak the transmission program. They just have to be aware of the issue.
Please call GM and let them know about the problem, or even go to your dealer (dealers have a direct means of letting GM know about the problem and if enough complaints are received by GM they come up with a fix).
So far two dealers say it is probably a computer problem with the tranny (as you also think it is), but they can't/won't do anything w/o a new program put out by GM. I am taking it to a third dealer tomorrow.
I have a feeling GM is going to be getting a lot of complaints about these in the next few months and they'll be forced to do something.
back2front on here said his dealer contacted GM and they are aware of the problem and working on a fix, but who knows how serious they are about fixing it and who knows when a fix might be coming. And this is assuming the people at his dealer were even told the truth by GM that they are in fact working on it.
We drove a RAV4 and thought it to be loud and unrefined. As for the other main competitors of the Equinox, we didn't drive the Honda CR-V because we don't like how it looks, and we didn't drive the Escape because after looking at the interior it wasn't as nice as some, especially the Equinox.
But we did drive many vehicles, including a lot of hatchbacks. The only other one we liked enough to seriously consider was the Nissan Rogue. It drove and rode great (might be a little firm for some), and was very nice inside.
Every auto line has problems. read the Honda message board and you will find people with issues (they will post more than the vast majority that are content). Some are throughout and some are small events that impact a small group. Take message board complaints with a grain of salt. I don't discount someone complaining about a problem like wallyuwl. I can only say we definately do not have a similiar experience.
Test drive your car thoroughly before you sign the papers. Have the salesman demonstrate your bluetooth, XM, Onstar USB, etc. Enjoy your car. I really believe Chevy got this vehicle right and I have been one of their worst critics.
PS Onstar eNav worked like a charm and got me through Chicago without any problems.
There seems to be an issue with the volume and tuning dials. The radio will start to tune to a diffferent station (AM 590, 600, 610, 600, etc...) all by itself. Just yesterday the volume started acted up and would get louder and softer. The tuning slider and volume slider appear on the radio screen, just as if someone was turning the dials. It seems to only happen when the interior temp is hot.
I called my dealer and he said to bring it in for them to look at.
I've also noticed that I am not getting very good fuel efficiency, definately not as advertised.
However...with all things considered...I still really like my Equinox.
I have someone I've been in contact with at GM's Executive Office. So far it has been an exercise in futility, but I keep pressuring her. If you email me (wallyuwl@yahoo.com) I will get you her contact information.
I would highly suggest going back to the dealer and describing your problem, and letting them know you are not the only one having the problem, but also that most others are NOT experiencing these problems and it is NOT "normal" for this or any other vehicle. This is the BS I'm getting from two dealers in town I've taken mine to. :mad: See if they know of an avenue for you to contact GM directly in the engineering dept. or something, or at least see if the dealer can call them about the problem (only if you trust they'll actually do it).
Anyway, going to the dealer(s) will put the problem into GMs database and give corporate another data point regarding the problem. The more people that complain to them and take it to dealers for the problem, the sooner they'll acknowledge the problem and get a fix.
Anyone have any suggestions/comments about this?
Also beneath the window buttons on the driver side there is a button and it will also lower all the windows [haven't used this one yet but the salesman showed me how it works].
That is the window lockout switch which prevents passengers (children) from operating the windows. I tried lowering all of the windows with this switch also and it didn't work.
By the way, did you may also lose use of the power windows if you disconnect the battery or drain it down? Instructions on how to reprogram the windows is in your manual.
It's amazing what you'll find out reading this manual since there are so many new programmed features.
So I'm glad to hear about this new GM program where you can return your vehicle for a full refund within 60 days, and am going to be contacted (so I've been told) by the manager at the dealer to talk about it.
There was also a person who works for GM and saw my posts on here and emailed me, said he'd get me in contact with an engineer. So far that has not happened, been about a month.
So if I return this vehicle I'll be in the market for another (I'm just waiting for GM to say it is not valid on recently purchased vehicles, and only valid going forward). Anyone have any suggestions? We liked the Rogue, but you sit lower than in the Equinox and it is a little smaller. The Murano is a little expensive and has bad gas mileage. Any suggestions?
If you still think the problem you're experiencing is limited to your vehicle and not all Equinox's just get a new Equinox. Obviously you'd be happy with the purchase if it wasn't for the issue, so find one that you think doesn't have that issue. Why settle for a vehicle you don't like (more expensive, worse mileage, etc) instead?
I am going to drive a Terrain when they come out in a couple weeks. Same drive train. I would love to keep the vehicle if the tranny was fixed, but GM is unwilling to even attempt to fix it. Simply putting in new tranny hardware/software that came from a different "batch" than the one the hardware/software in my vehicle came from would seemingly fix the problem, since two dealers insist it is a software issue (but they can't just reload the software). The dealer and GM at the national level won't do it. So I won't support them any more with an additional purchase.