2017 Chevrolet Equinox: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
271 NHTSA owner complaints · 0 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The second-generation Equinox (2010–2017) with the 2.4-litre four-cylinder is known for consuming oil, which leads to timing-chain wear and, if neglected, engine failure; General Motors extended the warranty on the piston rings. The complaint counts are steady rather than spiking, and the 2016–2017 years score 86 and 91. Read the full note on the model page. 2017 specifically: a year the record favours — 271 complaints, score 90/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze and Equinox: the four-cylinder years to watch, including 2017 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 271 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 30.11
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
My car was in Clarksburg Crown, Mitsubishi, and a lot that had no monitoring, and it was a sticker saying the car was not ready to be sold, and I still went with it trusting the crown Mitsubishi Car associate however there are fuses added to my car weather from them or from car auto tunes in Morgantown I’m not sure but my car has the ability to run without my foot on the gas or things happening to my to my accelerati…
The contact owns a 2017 Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced oil consumption failures. While examine the vehicle he contact discover very little oil was present although oil was recently added to the engine. The oil light warning light did not display and no oil leaks were present. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who was unable to determined the cause of the failure. The local deal…
My car started to use a lot of oil, and upon my regular oil changes it would always be very low, but oil was not leaking out of the car. it got to the point that i had to put oil in often to operate the car. it got to the point that it would cut off on me in school lines. after dealing with this over a period of time it sounded so bad that the express oil change facilities refused to change my oil because they said i…
Recalls: 0 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
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What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 23 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,650
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine178 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other35 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train32 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Fuel/Propulsion System20 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Air Bags19 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Electrical System18 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
Other Chevrolet Equinox years
Chevrolet Equinox years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (178 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 90/100, computed from 271 NHTSA complaints and 0 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox's most common problem?
178 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox cost to run per year?
About $5,151 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $25,758 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 271 complaints, 0 recalls on record
- 271 NHTSA complaints on record (30.1/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (45.5/yr)
- 0 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems