Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Chevrolet Equinox owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My wife was driving home from work to eat lunch as with any other day and all of a sudden the vehicle started shaking violently, the check engine light came on along with a "reduced engine power" message and an exclamation mark. I've done a ton of research and have seen this show up as a common issue with many GM models. I found the GM TSB 11273 that describes the exact condition we are having. Want to know the problem? My wife's 2010 Equinox isn't listed in the TSB!!! I do not understand this at all. I've called GM to explain the situation and they will hear nothing of it and are telling me they will not cover the expense. It makes no sense to me how they admit fault and pick of the cost of the exact same repair on other GM models but they will not pay for the repair on my vehicle for the exact same problem. …
While driving 55mph, the check engine light appeared on the display. Shortly after, a message reading "service stabili trak" appeared. Then, another message appeared "engine power reduced". My car started shaking fiercely and I could not go above 30mph. I felt like I was sitting on a ticking time bomb. Then, the car shut off automatically. I tried restarting the car. It seemed fine but minutes later the same things happened. I took my vehicle to have it diagnosed at advance auto parts. I received the following codes: u0100 (engine control module), p0324 (knock control system), & p2135 (throttle position sensor). I then took my vehicle to a Chevrolet dealership who kept my vehicle 5 days. During this time, they could not diagnose the root of the problem, could not fix the issue, and returned my vehicle to me. …
While operating vehicle, (anywhere between idling to travelling 40 MPH) the "service stabilitrak" message will appear on console between tachometer and speedometer. Driving the vehicle any further will cause the instrument panel glitch, and all readings will go to zero (tach, speed, temp) while engine is still running. Further operation will create sudden jerks in the transmission until the transmission goes to third gear and remains until engine is cut off. After cutting off engine and trying to restart, the instrument panel will go directly to "service stabilitrak" message and the engine won't turn over. Have had the vehicle towed three times on separate occasions after not starting back up. Have already spent over $2K is different diagnosis and repair/replace actions. …
I bought my used 2010 Chevy Equinox from the dealer, and 2 weeks later the service stabilitrak light came on. Took it to the dealer, they did an alignment and the same day the light came back on with traction control light. The next day I went to the grocery store, and when I tried to start it to leave it wouldn't start. After 2 tries, it finally started but then the reduced engine power light came on and wouldn't go above 25 MPH. Eventually the vehicle powered down and I had to pull over for a tow truck to come. The Chevy dealer said it was the main timing chain (not covered) and something else in the engine but I would have to pay for labor to disassemble it. My car has been out of service and sitting at the dealer for now 10 days. Luckily I wasn't on the highway when this happened, and decided to go to the store before heading to work. …
2010 Chevrolet Equinox all of a sudden lost traction control and drop speed to 15 miles per hour. Error light came on stating "engine power reduction" and then "service ". Along with these error messages the icon for engine and stabilitrak came on after car lost most of its pwlower and traction. It was a cold night christmas 2016 but not as cold as other cities as we live in phoenix, az. Thankfully I was in our neighborhood when my [redacted] daughter and I lost power instead of being on the freeway but this is a major safety issue with these cars. I've recently read many complaints from Equinox owners who've dealt with this same issue. The dealership said it was the throttle body and solenoid valves and charged me $850.00 for a repair that I truly feel needs to be under a recall given the safety issue of losing power and traction while driving without warning!!! …
A couple of days ago I started experiencing issues with vehicle. At speeds over 60 the steering wheel would shake and when coming to a stop the car would do a rocking motion. Today on the highway the car was driving fine than randomly a light popped on that said low oil consumption turn off engine and the car began excessively smoking from under hood. I pulled over and checked I the oil and it was empty added 4 quarts it was still empty looked under car and oil had leaked everywhere. No prior warning lights or check oil or low oil pressure lights were on. I get proper oil changes when due. A couple of moths back I was having several electrical issues with the vehicle as well were the lights on the dash would pop on and off air and radio would turn itself on and off, doors locking and unlocking etc. …
This car burns oil fast and I learned the hard way. 2 years after buying the car all the pistons in the engine bent due to lack of oil. When the car was getting fixed the mechanic said it was bone dry and I had just had an oil change 2 months prior. $3,200 later the car was fixed, but it still had issues shifting. In colder weather the car felt like it would barely move. I had no real mechanical issues until a year later. I had driven it 45 miles and stopped at a gas station, when I went to turn the car back on all of the emergency lights came on as well as the 'stabilitrak' light and the car wouldn't move. The only way I could get it to move was by turning the traction off, and was thankfully able to drive it home. I got it into the GM dealership and they said the stability track and the crankshaft needed replaced. …
I recently bought this vehicle use it was wondering why the owner got rid of it now I know. There is obviously a problem with the hill assist on this vehicle and I have seen complaints on the form that other people have had the same problem and not known what it was. The problem I'm having is when the hill assiat engage's it will not disengage like it's supposed to. I actually had to have a mechanic reset the whole computer to get it to disengage the other day and remove the battery terminal today to get a disengaged. I even called the dealer today at they weren't aware of any problems they had no idea what I was talking about convenient. Several mechanics know but the dealer doesn't want to acknowledge the problem and they want me to pay to have it diagnosed. I've already diagnosed it, I just want toknow what the fix is. …
Four times within the last two months the stabile symbol, check engine symbol, and reduced engine power alert have come on. The first time happened when I was parking, the 2nd time when I let the car warm up, the 3rd time when I was doing 60mph on the expressway and the 4th time when I had gone about 5 blocks on a city street. Each time I was driving, the car slowed down and became hard to control. I was able to get off the road and cut off the engine. After sitting for about 5 minutes, the reduced power alert went off and I was able to drive. The check engine light stayed on. After about a day the check engine light went out. The car will run OK for a day or two and then start to act up again. I was told that it probably has something to do with the gas medal, however the dealer hasn't been able to detect a code. …
Driving down the road going 55mph and all of a sudden I loose speed control to almost 20 MPH. I try to press the gas to accelerate and it feels like the brakes are being pressed down. Have to press gas pedal almost to the floor to get it off the road safely. Immediately turned on emergency flashers to alert vehicles behind me. Stabilitrk light and tc light comes on. I have read plenty of forums having this same problem with the 2010 cheverelet Equinox and nobody seems to know the solution to this problem. Have had several mechanics and break specialist look at the problem and they are confused to why this is happening. I have a small child in the back seat. Thank god we weren't on a 70 MPH highway and that happened. There could have been fatalities. I dont have any mechanic receipts because they dont know what to start to fix the problem with. …
Traction Control complaints in other Equinox years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox?
NHTSA has 50 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, 6% of the model year's 784 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2010 Chevrolet Equinox traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet Equinox traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.