Chevrolet Equinox Diesel
1.6-liter turbo diesel from Opel/GM Europe, briefly offered in the Equinox. 137 hp, 40 mpg, theoretically the long-distance variant. In practice EGR valve and DPF fail early and repeatedly, parts supply in the US was a problem from day one. Discontinued after two years.
The oddity nobody bought and nobody kept
A 1.6L diesel in a US compact SUV was always an experiment. 137 hp, 40 mpg, great idea — until the EGR valve fails for the third time at 15,000 miles and DPF regen in city traffic becomes a gamble. Discontinued after two years.
Engine Weaknesses 1
The 1.6L LH7 diesel shows repeated EGR valve and DPF failures — multiple replacements seen as early as 15,000 mi. Discontinued after two years.
Symptoms: Regen freezes, power loss, check engine light, limp mode
Vehicle Weaknesses 6
Recall 23V013 covers 2021–2022 Equinox: fuel pump module may not provide consistent fuel flow, causing engine stalls. 16,023 vehicles affected.
The 9T50 paired with the 2.0L LTG shows rough shifting on some units with slip between gears and noticeable shudder around 1,800 rpm.
2018–2020 Equinox: missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap cause transmission oil leaks and can lead to loss of propulsion.
2018 Equinox tops CarComplaints' brake category: pedal becomes hard, effort increases. Average repair $1,600 at roughly 54,000 mi.
On the 1.5L LYX, Chevrolet locked out 6th gear below 15°F via software to prevent charge air cooler icing. Result: high rpm on the highway in cold weather.
The 8-inch MyLink touchscreen freezes, reboots spontaneously, or the lower half becomes unresponsive. Cause: software or comms module.