2015 Chevrolet Equinox: Timing chain loosened causing engine failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2015 Equinox report: timing chain loosened causing engine failure. CarComplaints.com lists 6 owner complaints, average mileage 100,950 miles.
NHTSA has 231 owner complaints for the 2015 Equinox in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11738827 (filed 05/19/2026): “Rear main seal has blown three times since i purchased my vehicle from carvana. i’ve pulled the engine out myself as i cannot afford another $3,500 at the shop. i’m a single income household that makes too much for financial assistance. the chevy equinox was t…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11734409 (filed 04/28/2026): “The contact owns a 2015 chevrolet equinox. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started shaking abnormally before unintendedly decelerating. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with excessive oil co…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: new engine (6 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $12,000 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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