Which Used Chevy Equinox Should I Buy, and Which Engines Should I Avoid?

Which Chevy Equinox years have the fewest reliability problems?

The source set supports the 2018 Equinox as the clearest used-year choice, not a blanket claim that every later Equinox has fewer problems. Consumer Reports rates the 2018 model as having about average reliability compared with other vehicles from the same model year.

That year marks a break. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says the Equinox and GMC Terrain were redesigned for 2018. IIHS lists Good ratings for the 2018-2024 Equinox in driver- and passenger-side small overlap, moderate-overlap frontal, original side, roof-strength, and head-restraint tests.

Reliability and crash performance are separate questions. A clean 2018 still needs a VIN-based recall review. Consumer Reports lists five NHTSA recalls for the 2018 Equinox, so completed recall work belongs in the deal file, not in a seller's verbal promise.

A 2019 Equinox can also fit the search, with one sharp condition for AWD examples. GM recalled certain 2019-2020 AWD Equinox vehicles after finding that an improperly sealed fuel-tank seam could leak fuel near the fuel inlet. The recall remedy is a no-charge fuel-tank replacement. Check the 17-character VIN and confirm that repair before purchase.

The lower price on an older Equinox is not the whole price. A vehicle that needs engine work after purchase is cheap only on the window sticker.

Should I avoid a used Equinox with the 2.4L four-cylinder engine?

Yes, avoid a 2010-2013 Equinox with the 2.4L four-cylinder when it lacks records showing that its oil-consumption issue was assessed and repaired. Consumer Reports identifies 2010-2013 Equinox and GMC Terrain SUVs with the 2.4L four-cylinder as used vehicles known to burn oil.

This is not ordinary long-term wear reserved for high-mileage vehicles. Consumer Reports reports that some of these engines burned oil at any mileage. That changes the screening order: inspect the engine history before admiring trim, tires, or a low asking price.

GM's technical bulletin applies to 2010-2013 Equinox vehicles equipped with the 2.4L LAF or LEA engine. It tells technicians to inspect for external oil leaks before testing consumption. If the test shows more than one quart of oil consumed every 2,000 miles, GM directs technicians to document the result and replace pistons and piston rings.

The 2018 generation offers a different operating-cost choice. FuelEconomy.gov rates the 2018 front-wheel-drive 1.5L turbo with a six-speed automatic at 28 mpg combined. The front-wheel-drive 2.0L turbo with a nine-speed automatic is rated at 25 mpg combined and requires premium gasoline. For a buyer focused on the supplied fuel figures, the 1.5L has the lower stated fuel use: 3.6 gallons per 100 miles against 4.0 for the 2.0L.

What causes excessive oil consumption in older Equinox models?

In certain 2012 Equinox models with the 2.4L LEA engine, GM identifies piston-ring wear as the cause of excessive oil consumption. GM Special Coverage 16118 describes oil use of less than 2,000 miles per quart and says the condition can come with engine rattle or knock and an oil-pressure warning.

The repair path is specific. Under the special coverage, GM called for an oil-consumption test, then new pistons and piston rings when the condition was confirmed. That coverage lasted seven years and six months or 120,000 miles, whichever came first. A used buyer should not assume it remains active now. Read the vehicle's records.

Ask the seller for service invoices that show the test result and the completed repair. If there are no records, ask the independent mechanic to inspect for external oil leaks and assess the engine condition before purchase. A dipstick level can show the oil present on one day. It cannot prove the rate of oil use across 2,000 miles.

History reports have limits. The Federal Trade Commission states that a vehicle-history report is not a substitute for an independent inspection because those reports typically do not list mechanical problems.

The inspection file to request

• A written independent inspection report with the make, model, VIN, needed repairs, and repair estimates.
• For a 2010-2013 2.4L vehicle, records of oil-consumption testing and piston-and-ring work.
• Recall-completion confirmation tied to the 17-character VIN.
• The federally required Used Car Buyers Guide, showing whether the vehicle is sold as-is or with a warranty.

The FTC recommends paying for an independent pre-purchase inspection even when a vehicle is certified, dealer-inspected, or sold with a warranty or service contract. Paper tells part of the story. The inspection tests the rest.