2017 Chevrolet Equinox · symptom sheet
Timing chain or cam phaser rattles
- 29owner reports
- 100,000median miles
- $6,500median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jan 13, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
190 of the 273 complaints on this car are about the engine. 29 of those describe timing chain failure.
Tick what matches of 29 reports
Timing chain 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
This sheet is about a rattle from the front of the engine, often at its worst right after a cold start, that dealers trace to the timing chain or the cam phasers. It's heavily concentrated: the 2017 to 2019 Ford F-150 accounts for about four in ten of these complaints across the site.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the timing chain (27 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
10 of the 29 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,270 to $9,600.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 73,000 and 103,000 miles, from the 9 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2017 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 Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0008 or P0009 may be set. Technician will need to inspect for loose timing chains or tensioners.
What owners wrote
“EGR valve froze cause the rear main seal to blow, has timing chain fixes. Now having more issues again.”
Filed Mar 7, 2025
“Timing chain broke guides and jumped timing which resulted in engine failure. There were no lights indicating a problem before. Engine had to be replaced by a service repair shop.”
Filed Feb 20, 2025
“My son was driving when the Pvc froze in very cold weather causing the rear main seal to leak oil, ruining the timing chain. Vehicle not drivable. Very expensive repair and could have been even worse if he had not pulled off he highway when he did. Can't believe GM knew about this problem for years and did nothing to solve it.”
Filed Nov 23, 2023
“I had no warning lights car was driving fine no hesitation when stopped to turn car off it wouldnât start back up had it checked by a shop said the engine is completely gone due to no compression and possible timing belt or chain broke. Uses excessive amount of oil the car does not even have 100,000 miles on it”
Filed Aug 16, 2023 · 100,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 29 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
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 75 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 49 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 47 reports
- Engine leaks oil 35 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 30 reports