Chevrolet Equinox
1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo from the Gen 5 Ecotec family. 170 hp, decent low-end torque, permanently overwhelmed with 3,700 lbs of SUV. Wastegate actuator wears suspiciously early, coolant losses pile up after 50,000 mi. Adequate when new, tedious after four years.
Adequate when new, tedious after 60,000 miles
The 1.5L LYX is fine in town and already gasping on the highway. Wastegate actuator weakens from 8,000 mi, coolant loss starts around 50,000, and winter highway runs mean high rpm because 6th gear is locked out below 15°F. A family hauler that does the job and nothing else.
Engine Weaknesses 3
The 1.5L LYX commonly loses coolant at hose joints on the engine or radiator. If ignored, overheating and head gasket damage may follow.
Symptoms: Dropping coolant reservoir level, sweet smell, coolant under the car
The mechanical vacuum pump on the 1.5L wears internally and releases metal particles into the engine oil. Can cause bearing damage if undetected.
Symptoms: Hard brake pedal, metal particles in oil filter at change
The 1.5L LYX wastegate actuator weakens from about 8,000 mi, causing erratic boost, with full failure common around 15,000 mi. Triggers P0299 underboost.
Symptoms: Weak acceleration, jerking under load, check engine P0299 underboost
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.