Transmision problem on 2011 Equinox with just 88,000 miles.

Asked by papo1 Jun 25, 2016 at 01:54 PM about the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox 2LT FWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My 2011 Equinox has only 88,000 miles and for years I have had a noise and bad shifting which I informed the dealer about. They said it was normal. Well this NORMAL problem turned into a Real expensive Transmission issue. I went to the dealer about it and they said that all though it does not have 100,000 miles yet it does have more than 5 years (by 5 months) so it is out of warranty. They said they could put in a new transmission for 4200.00. I Think this is very abusive on the part of GM to know about problems with the transmission and not say anything about it hoping the warrantee would expire. Now I need a new transmission  or rebuild one for a car that is only 5 years old. No car this new should need a transmission. But How do I fight "City Hall" in this case?

23 Answers

230

I just replaced my transmission on a 2011 Equinox. Not a happy customer. 5000$ later. My next set of wheels will not be a GM product!

21 people found this helpful.
200

2011 equinox..107,000 miles....transmission just went out. damn Always loyal GM customer.....never again!!

12 people found this helpful.
200

Tow truck driver and mechanic said more Equinox trans problems than any other vehicle.

8 people found this helpful.
70

January 2019 had to have a new transmission installed. My 2011 Chevy Equinox only had 5,900 miles! Cost for new transmission (not at dealership) $2500. I'm researching and will write GM about this.

7 people found this helpful.
140

I have a 2011 Chevy whose transmission went out at 77,000 miles or so. Spent $3600 to get it fixed. Then 6 months and 4,000 miles later the engine goes bad, they're saying I need to rebuild my engine. This car is total garbage. I'm going to take it in to a GM dealer, if they dont handle it, I'm going to contact Chevy themselves, and if they dont take care of it I will definitely make a complaint to the BBB. This is happening in way too many equinoxes for them to let it slide.

14 people found this helpful.
40

Trans went out in my 2011 Equinox. 54100 miles. Bad torque converter, wave plate failure. Costed $3400 to rebuild at Aamco.

4 people found this helpful.
50

Bought my 2011 Equinox new and to date as of 4/7/19 have 56,000 miles. Tranny is broken. Will run in low and reverse locks up in drive. Will have to find a shop to repair it. I spent $900 last year having the dealer replace the ABS magnetic plates on the front rotors because the glue joint came loose.

5 people found this helpful.
70

I have had 3 chevys with 4cyl. 1 had no problem . 2000 Jimmy trans went out 87,000. Now 2011 Equinox trans went out 85,000. Going to put used trans in and trade. Equinox with 6 cyl has heavier trans no problem with them. George

7 people found this helpful.
70

Same as most of you. My 2011 Equinox is just shy of 90,000 miles and out of nowhere my tranny went out. Saying $5000+ to fix depending on who I call. I had the engine replaced months before the 5 yr warranty expired because it was faulty. Last year I replaced the exhaust manifold because it was just about broken in half. I love this year so much, but there has been a lot of major problems! Prob won't go with a GM product next time around.

7 people found this helpful.
80

Transmission just went out in my 2011I Equinox. How can this be happening to so many people and yet there is nothing we can do about it? It cost me $3900. My car only had 78,000 miles on it. So sad. I used to love GM cars.

8 people found this helpful.
40

Same issue. 2011 equinox transmission went out on my way to work this morning. So disappointed in GM lately. I've been a loyal gm customer for my entire life. We own a 2017 Silverado, 2017 Malibu, and the 2011 equinox. By this time next year there will no longer be a gm vehicle parked in my driveway

4 people found this helpful.
50

Have a 2011 Equinox with 134,000 miles. The transmission also went out; was told we have a bad drum because the wave plate broke which will require a new torque converter among other costly items to replace. Final price: $3600. We also had a code 460 come up. Apparently that will require a catalytic converter, too!

5 people found this helpful.
80

Everyone here need to file a complaint with https://www.nhtsa.gov Web Result with Site Links NHTSA

8 people found this helpful.
20

im having similar issues luckily I still have my extended warranty for the next 3 months . I told our local Chevy dealer that its having a loud thump sound when I go into reverse. they said that it could be anything, im going to show them these threads and hope they will just fix it. otherwise im screwed unless I extend my extended warranty...

2 people found this helpful.
40

I had to replace my 2011 Equinox LT's transmission at 97,000 miles. $4300 I have had it since 2012 and it has always had a hesitation on shifting, but nothing happened until recently in 2019. The previous owner was Enterprise Leasing. Today, March 12, 2020 I spent $1058.87 replacing wheel bearings & ABS wheel speed sensor, 4 spark plugs, a Disc Brake Pad Set, Control Arm & Ball Joint Assembly, Wheel Hub Assembly. Just bought new tires last year. I always have the oil changed on time.If anything goes wrong on the engine it is a total loss for me. My vehicle was paid off, but I had to borrow the $4300 for the transmission replacement. Now I had to put the $1058 on a credit card as I don't have the money to rebuild my car.....GM should take care of the catalytic converter problem under warranty.

4 people found this helpful.
50

2011 equinox purchased at 80 thousand miles 6 months later transmission went out at 91k haven’t even had truck for a year this blows

5 people found this helpful.
50

Same here I’m so pissed 2011 Equinox is a literal POS !!! Oil consumption problems faulty transmissions windshield wipers bust off out of nowhere .. these cars are GARBAGE !!

5 people found this helpful.
50

I have 2011 Chevy equinox bought it in 2015 only at like 54k miles . Engine (90k mi) went out in 2016 exactly one year from warranty expiration. Bought a new one from GM wasTold it was gonna be $7000 somehow went to $3500 when I made a stink. It’s 2020 and now code p0776 and P0700 came up it’s my solenoids in transmission . Hubby works at repair shop got piece for $320 that’s the whole control module and 7 solenoids from GM . Nonetheless I’ve spent a lot of money on this car for engine and Transmission .

5 people found this helpful.
230

Yup all of these repairs seem to be a replay for me. They at least gave me a vehicle during repairs. Due to COVID parts were stuck somewhere. I was driving a 2020 equinox for 2 months. Have to admit it was a nice ride. Still love my old equinox until she breaks down again.

2 people found this helpful.
20

I think is better to leave GM and let them sell their vehicles to themselves. For my case I have to ask a friend to drop me to work every single day, because my 2011 Chevy Equinox is having a million problem that I can't afford to fix

2 people found this helpful.
20

Funny how GM knows the issues with this generation of the Equinox (this was the second one, from 2006-2013, I think) including this ridiculous transmission issue and the disappearing oil trick, and have never offered any type of assistance with repairs. At least I have learned to research a make/model’s history before buying.

2 people found this helpful.
30

I ended up replacing my entire engine at 57,000 miles, out of warranty. Contacted GM, they were no help at all. That cost me nearly $10,000. I am now shopping for anything other than a GM product and I only have 112,000 miles on this vehicle.

1 people found this helpful.
35

GM knows about this. Won't make it right. My car is 2011 and not under any recalls. 3rd owner. 120K miles. Milky chunks in oil, excessive oil consumption. Valvoline said to come every 2 months for this vehicle to get full synthetic oil change (every mechanic KNOWS this 2011 chevy equinox is garbage. Every time I go to get oil change done they said it was near empty- no oil light comes on! I also add a quart in between changes!!!! Car has ticking noises - i was told it was timing chain. Was also told it has cracked exhaust manifold. STALLS at intersections occasionally and when turning it hesitates-SCARY!!!!!! Do NOT buy GM!!! No warning lights come on if you have low oil or low tire pressure and the stalling never through check engine code either. Backup camera only works half the time and get annoying intermediate buzzing sounds from radio/speakers. Sure I forgot a lot of problems. This car also is very bad on gas. They basically told me there's nothing they can do and good luck. I will NEVER buy GM or CHEVY again.

1 people found this helpful.

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