2014 Chevrolet Equinox · symptom sheet
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing
- 58owner reports
- 100,000median miles
- $5,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
225 of the 530 complaints on this car are about the engine. 58 of those describe engine failure.
Tick what matches of 58 reports
Engine failure on other Equinox years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These are the reports nobody wants to file. The engine started knocking or ticking, the oil light came on, and then it seized or had to be replaced. Some owners had the replacement covered under warranty or an extension, and plenty were told they'd pay. Several narrower sheets split this group into knocking, seized engines and rod bearing failure.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (51 reports) and the timing chain (10 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2014 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
12 of the 58 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,500 to $8,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 68,000 and 120,462 miles, from the 31 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 9 service bulletins or notices for the 2014 Chevrolet Equinox that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This service bulletin provides diagnostic aid information/procedures to perform inspections to determine if the engine needs to be replaced as opposed to just internal parts for knocking, rattle, squeak and/or squeal type noises from engine.
This service bulletin provides diagnostic aid procedure to perform inspections to determine if the engine needs to be replaced as opposed to just internal parts for knocking, rattle, squeak and/or squeal type noises from engine.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to perform inspections to determine if the engine needs to be replaced as opposed to just internal parts for knocking, rattle, squeak and/or squeal type noises from engine.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information on a rattle, tick, or knock type noise. Any drivability concerns they should be addressed prior to the following diagnostic progression.
5 more on the 2014 Chevrolet Equinox page.
What owners wrote
“Piston Rings leaked excessive oil which led to engine damage and engine failure. Engine could have caught fire or failed during driving. No warning lights came on to warn of the problem. The incident occurred 480 miles from home. It is a serious safety concern to the drivers and others on the road at time of failure.”
Filed Aug 28, 2023
“The camshaft sensors have been replaced when the code POoo14 made the engine light Activate. I'm worried that the timing chain could possibly cause an accident if it seizes the engine. I have under 73,000 miles on a 2014 Chevy equinox. Please advise Thank you”
Filed Jun 9, 2023 · 73,000 miles
“The engine oil evaporates. vehicle hesitates and backfire all symptom started at 125,000. was told I need a new engine.”
Filed Jan 10, 2023
“Unknown froze up and couldnât allow oil to go through and blew out valve cover and all the oil came out . There were 6 equinox in Tiffin area with the same issue !!!”
Filed Jan 4, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 58 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Windshield wipers stop working 159 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 115 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 87 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 75 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 54 reports
- Timing chain or cam phaser rattles 37 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 27 reports